charlotteshead Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 I have treatment resistant depression, but I feel as though the rest of my dx's are resistant as well. I have PTSD, anxiety disorder nos, dissociative disorder nos, derealization disorder, BPD, and ADHD. I've been on over 20 different meds. When I do find something that helps, it never lasts more than a year. It's not just psychiatric meds. I used to take Percocet 10/325 for pain. My father in law took it as well, a real big guy, and it'd knock him out cold. Me, a 5'5" 145lb girl, and I was able to drive, work, and function normally on 3 pills daily. I tend not to get side effects either. Anyway, I've been on Valium PRN for almost a year. I was on 5mg for about 8-9 months, taking 1 pill maybe 1-2 weeks. Sometimes went weeks without it, never had withdrawal. Pdoc just upped dosage to 10mg, and I haven't had it for about a month, It's doing NOTHING for my anxiety. I took 2, so 20mg...still nothing I know everyone reacts to these different but is there a stronger med? Does anyone else struggle with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Some people have different reactions to different benzos. What symptoms specifically are you trying to treat with the Valium? (presumably something in the anxiety land, but anything in particular stand out?) I wouldn't want to suggest other benzos to try, but it is worth noting that sometimes one will help when another doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlotteshead Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 I was prescribed the Valium mainly to thwart my extreme attacks...I wouldn't even call them panic attacks because they're so beyond that. They are dissociative, violent, and often cause me to go into a psychogenic seizure. I also take the Valium for bad anxiety aggravated by, say, being in a mall...I get that pain chest,fast breathing, paranoid thoughts, it took the edge off. I took 30mg last night and finally felt a relaxing effect. But I do not really want to be doing that without my dr okay-ing it first. Maybe I'm experiencing my body just being used to it? Abut how's that possible when I barely ever take it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bueler Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 No, you should not adjust dose of a benzodiazepine without your doctor okaying it. Your doctor might be able to try you on another one or increase your dose, but you shouldn't do it by yourself. Messing with them can cause seizures, addiction, dependence, withdrawal... be very careful and discuss it with your doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Everyone's different. Some meds will be stronger for some people than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Ativan: Helps me with extremely painful migraines, we aren't sure why. Helped with DH's seizures when he was still having them regularly. Has a pretty short half-life, good for things like panic attacks. Klonopin: Gives me Klonopin rage: about 2 hours after I took it, things got thrown and broken. YMMV. Has a long half life (not as long as valium). Good for anxiety, seizure prevention, and sleep. Xanax: I use this med for GAD, and even though it is supposed to be too short lasting, since I couldn't take Klonopin. I have been pretty happy with it for over 8 years. Although I am coming off wellbutrin, since we think that has ticked up my base anxiety level. But I could be wrong. Valium has a very long half-life, but is not considered as strong as Xanax (but remember, ymmv). I think some people on the boards use librium, maybe they'll be able to say something about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessamine Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I go against the grain with valium and xanax. Xanax does nothing to calm me down what so ever, just makes me feel like I've been drinking. Valium does the same but actually does calm me down. It's really only good for instant relief in a severe attack though. I'm too scared to take it on a daily basis. I have never been prescribed klonopin so can't comment on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brokendishes Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 My sister had that problem with antidepressants--she took every kind there was for 25 years and they finally all stopped working. For anxiety, I like Xanax but if you have a tolerance issue, you might do better with a cocktail of some kind. Have you talked to your shrink about mixing you up something stronger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateislate Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I'm like Jessamine on the Xanax - I get no anxiety relief from It, I just get a drugged, out of it feeling when I take enough. The cocktail that I'm on has been very good for my anxiety, even though some of it - like Wellbutrin - is counterintuitive. so benzos are hardly the only effective medication for anxiety. Also there are a lot of non-medication techniques that can go a long way towards helping with anxiety. You should check out the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook- which is probably the best self-help,book for dealing with anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeremonyNewOrder Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I've taken Ativan, valium and restoril and they all did nothing for me. My regular meds have done more for my anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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