My Valium Experiment

[AngelaMarie]

Anthony,
In general SSRI's didn't help me. They only worsened everything for me. Numbing me didn't help my pain or situation. That is never what I wanted. I always want to overcome. I am not saying it doesn't work for others, however.

I just try to find short term help through medication. I want to deal with my situations. I think you are the same.

 

[anthony]

Yes... I think the experts have gone a bit beyond just what some want though in their findings. I have been off meds for years, refusing to take them because they kept trying to shove some anti-depressant down my throat, which only made depression worse when enduring it, not better.

I think the experts are really onto something due to technological advancements. The problem though, is that most physicians won't begin to change for many years, because that's how long it will take them to learn / unlearn the existing pax medica model in relation to PTSD.

 

[Iam]

Thanks for the info Anthony. I am seeing a MHPN for the first time on the 6th. She specializes in PTSD so I will bring it up to her. On reflection I know that I get a quick sad feeling when my thoughts stray to certain things. I never thought of it as anxiety, but after thinking about it, that's exactly what it could be, which in turns causes the sad feelings. It will be interesting to see what the MHPN says too. Your whole post leaves me hopeful and actually happy now that I am going to see her. Thanks so much :)

 

[freakofnurture]

Treating the anxiety will become the majority treatment for PTSD in the coming years, not treating the depression via an anti-depressant, often making the depression worse as a majority basis.

What you say about this whole topic sounds logical.

Maybe my depression cleared up only incidentally when I got on my SSRI, but I'm not sure. It would have been a huge improvement (from over half a year of constant high pressure to end it all to not-so-bad-now-let-me-finish-my-degree) without any reason that I am conscious of. I am currently in the perfect environment for experiments, but I don't know if I'm daring enough.

 

[adrian_newbridge]

Just to add to this, SSRI's totally messed me up, and anti psychotic drugs were horrible, then I tried Lyrica, a nerve pain drug which was found to help with anxiety, all it did was made me more suicidal and led me to self harm more. I found Vallium really helped. I only take it as and when now. Either 2.5mg ar 5mg about three times a week, sometimes none at all for a month at a time.
For those of you taking Seroxat please be careful, it's been known to contribute to so many suicides. My son in law being one of them.

 

[anthony]

For those of you taking Seroxat please be careful, it's been known to contribute to so many suicides. My son in law being one of them.

Sorry to hear that Adrian....

 

[Nicolette]

Sorry for your loss Adrian.

 

[ikop]

Anthony, you are 100% right about depression in ptsd. I think every human with severe anxiety, startle response will have depression, nothing to do with low serotinin.

<edited: unreadable>

 

[a3a2]

I wonder if you could "juggle" xanax and valium in order to avoid becoming addicted and tolerent, so you wouldn't have to be off them for two months of the year. My concern for that is especially for Nicolette. Her own ptsd will likely be severly triggered by any withdrawal symptoms you exibit. I have no idea what valium withdrawal is like, but having been on the receiving end of my husband's withdrawal from SSRIs and SNRIs more than a few times....I would fear for her mental well being.

The information has given me a lot to think about concerning my own use of SNRIs and SSRIs. I always get the most relief from a half of the smallest dose of xanax or a whole dose if I am really in a bad spot. Haven't tried valium.

 

[Gamereign555]

Yeah I kinda like valium because its strong enough for overall relief without causing too many urges for the next dose.
Its also strong enough to substitute for some sleeping pills which is always nice to not have to take those, especially when its anxiety that is keeping you awake. Its more useful than Restoril in my opinion because you can take it during the day. Pretty good for preventing the escalation of anxiety into panic, It could also be used for panic.

I would ask about the valium to stretch your need for the next xanax, it seems like it would work well because valium would last a lot longer, its not as good relief but valium is excellent as a benzo you could use to get off other benzos. Infact if I had to ween off any benzo, I would switch to valium and ween off of the other drug substituting with valium, its long lasting effects would keep you from withdrawing so quickly, like with klonapin, xanax or ativan.

Ashton manual has an equavilentcy guide you can use to determine the appropriate dose of valium to equal the strength of the drug your taking if thats needed. The guide was actually made with the intent on using valium as a substitue for any other benzo and some other benzo like drugs to ween off and eventually be free from benzos all together. Her reason for suggesting valium was because of the drugs long half life to prevent having big withdrawal effects from the process. And also because Valium comes in an easy to deal with dose, in its smallest form it comes in 1mg tabs which you can cut in half for 1/2 mg doses.

 

[Nicolette]

Well, as an official observer the valium experiment is working exceedingly well with Anthony coping with situations which normally would have knocked him over.

My recent sickness was a huge unexpected test and no signs of crumbling during the worst of it. He was a bit wobbly one day prior to my surgery but he stepped up and was brilliant. It also took for me to read him and, despite wanting him to stay with me longer at the hospital, acknowledging that he needed to go home and sleep. And when home supporting him going for his walk rather than my preference of wanting him to stay home as I felt so dreadful. Teamwork.

It also seems that a layer of onion skin has been peeled back and below is an even more loving man :inlove:. As Anthony would say - he has been able to remove the edge of anxiety with valium which could have normally escalated without it.

Couldn't be happier!

 

[The Albatross]

Following along... but part of my personal experience was being raised by my mother 11 through 17 by a mom whacked on valium. I'm doing better, though not "ideal" on L-Glutamine, an amino acid. If I go whack again, I'll deffinitely pursue Anthony's route though.