Valium vs xanax

[tinymontgomery]

Can some one provide the differece and what one would be better for anxiety and mixed with lexapro?

[Pharaoh]

1. valium is extremely

addictive..............and a spiral downhill if used regularly.

[Pharaoh]

3. I'm on Ativan (lorazepam)

for the occasional anxiety or panic attack. It's very helpful and not very addictive. I would try that first.

[tinymontgomery]

4. Thanks

[elleng]

10. Valium is 'co-addictive'

with alcohol, that is, its very bad for alcoholics to take it as it works in the same way.

[tinymontgomery]

11. Did not know that

thanks.

[Digit]

14. I remember a doctor prescribing Valium to me in the 70's for panic attacks

I took it for awhile and then stopped. I did not have any withdrawal and have not had it since.

Back then, same doctor prescribed black beauties to me to lose weight. Yes, I lost weight, but did not get addicted.

The only thing I have managed to get addicted to is cigarettes.

Is it possible that it is only a segment of the population that becomes addicted?
If so, I really feel for them, but have wondered why I did not become addicted.

[qb]

2. Xanax is also very addictive if taken continuously.

I use it on an "as needed" basis (0.25 mg once or twice a week). For a while I was taking about 0.25 mg/day and had no withdrawal symptoms when I cut back. It has been very effective and fast-acting for my anxiety. I have no experience with Valium or Lexapro.

[tinymontgomery]

5. Right now he has me on Valium

I'm not sure whether to ask to switch to xanax instead.

[hiaasenrocks]

7. Everyone has different experiences with these drugs, as I'm sure you know.

But I have been told that most of these basically work the same. This is a completely layman opinion but I think your results matter more on getting the right dosage.

[EFerrari]

8. All three of the drugs mentioned in this thread can be addicting.

That's just the baggage they come with.

Imho -- so check behind me -- Xanax seems to be longer acting, which can be a good thing and a bad thing (should you need to go off of it).

I've been on both, and in my chemistry, needed less and less every year. So, even in the late 80s when Xanax became politically incorrect, it wasn't a big deal to switch to the new sexy tranq of the moment, klonopin. That's worked just as well for me and, I've been off of that for about 8 months now.

The thing that sold me on klonopin is that the withdrawal is much less difficult than the one for Valium or Xanax. If I can't afford my doc or my meds or in the event of the world exploding, lol, I can manage the symptoms of a klonopin withdrawal much, much more easily than any of the other meds. fwiw

[hiaasenrocks]

6. I'll second that opinion on Xanax. I've had positive results with it.

I take it every day, same dose (.25mg). Actually a few times per day, and always before I go to bed. I have insomnia sometimes, but it's all related to anxiety and a racing mind; the xanax calms that. I do not have panic attacks going to bed.

I haven't taken valium.

[elleng]

9. Just checked on Ativan,

as my mother and others with dementia, in nursing home, are given it as needed. I request it toward the end of her day when she's being very 'difficult.'

Very interesting to me to learn about it and its relation to valium.

http://www.google.com/search?q=adavan&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N

[uriel1972]

12. all the benzo's

are addictive and you become increasingly tolerant with time, they are best used as short-term 'band-aids'. Swapping one for the other probsbly won't make much difference long term. Addiction is a hell of a thing and you don't want it on top of what you got in the first place. Unfortuanately some medico's seem to hand em out like lollies

[mdmc]

13. xanax uber alles

valium just to party. Xanax should bump up the peace of mind that lexapro should be giving you (imho).

[Stump]

15. Never tried Valium

except once on a flight to Germany and didn't notice the effects too much. I take a 1mg Xanax when I have a bad day and really need to chill out and sleep really, really good. I get 30 of them at a time and they last about 4-6 months. Some weeks I might take one for 5-7 days straight, and not take any for a month or two. Never had any withdrawal symptoms. But when I need one, it's a lifesaver.