9th April 2006
Hi Everyone,
I've had issues with panic and anxiety since I was a teenager. I'm now 44 and since the "hormonal changes" have begun it started getting worse. I went to my GP who gave me xanax as needed and suggested I see a Pdoc. The Pdoc threw a fit over the benzos saying they were nothing but an addictive tool and that I should be on an SSRI. I had taken serzone a few years ago but it kept me up for about 3 nights. I told the Pdoc about this, but he totally blew me off about it and prescribed Effexor. I took one dose of Effexor and had a hyper serotonin reaction that REALLY set the anxiety loose---worse than it had ever been in my life. I went back to my GP who put me on valium at 10 mg/daily. This all happened a couple of years ago and I'm now down to valium 5/mg daily. I still have problems with the anxiety, but it's better. This is where my confusion comes in though. My GP says valium is a safe drug that I could stay on and I wouldn't necessarily have to increase the dosage. However any other doctor I've been to (OBGYN, Endo) have acted like valium is the most evil thing ever put on the earth (along with any other benzo). They've even suggested anti-psychotics over benzos. In the experience of people here is this true, or have benzos just fallen out of favor due to newer drugs coming along? It's my understanding from several friends on SSRI's that they've had to increase their dosage or change SSRI's as time went on and had some withdrawl if they stopped. I don't understand what the difference is in this and what can happen on benzos. I'd appreciate any ones thoughts on this as I am VERY confused at this point. Thanks so much.
I've had issues with panic and anxiety since I was a teenager. I'm now 44 and since the "hormonal changes" have begun it started getting worse. I went to my GP who gave me xanax as needed and suggested I see a Pdoc. The Pdoc threw a fit over the benzos saying they were nothing but an addictive tool and that I should be on an SSRI. I had taken serzone a few years ago but it kept me up for about 3 nights. I told the Pdoc about this, but he totally blew me off about it and prescribed Effexor. I took one dose of Effexor and had a hyper serotonin reaction that REALLY set the anxiety loose---worse than it had ever been in my life. I went back to my GP who put me on valium at 10 mg/daily. This all happened a couple of years ago and I'm now down to valium 5/mg daily. I still have problems with the anxiety, but it's better. This is where my confusion comes in though. My GP says valium is a safe drug that I could stay on and I wouldn't necessarily have to increase the dosage. However any other doctor I've been to (OBGYN, Endo) have acted like valium is the most evil thing ever put on the earth (along with any other benzo). They've even suggested anti-psychotics over benzos. In the experience of people here is this true, or have benzos just fallen out of favor due to newer drugs coming along? It's my understanding from several friends on SSRI's that they've had to increase their dosage or change SSRI's as time went on and had some withdrawl if they stopped. I don't understand what the difference is in this and what can happen on benzos. I'd appreciate any ones thoughts on this as I am VERY confused at this point. Thanks so much.