Source
r/Anxiety•
Rowrowrowrows

Xanax and Diazepam

Medication

My GP prescribed me Xanax (0.5mg) and Diazepam drops for anxiety and panic attacks.

I didn't ask for them, I just went to see her because I am feeling like shit, getting daily episodes of rapid pulse + difficulty breathing in the most random situations.

Anyway, now I've done some reading of the addictive nature, and just the thought of taking either one of them and getting addicted is making me anxious.

Her only instructions were to "take as needed" and not at the same time, and see "which works better for you."

I'd rather not, you know, experiment on myself. But she seemed to think taking these would help me.

Does anyone want to calm me down, share experiences, or tell me to throw the prescriptions into trash?

Posted Jun 22, 2022, 2:34 PM UTC

15
Scuba_jim•

I’ve not taken Xanax but I have had in my time escitalopram, setraline, and duloxetine as long term, once a day type things- is this what they recommended for Xanax? I can say that each drug has had different effects and different adverse reactions (setraline is my personal favourite because it seems to work well with therapy and doesn’t have as many side effects) but regardless, in my experience being on the medication is a thousand times better than being without.

I also have a stock of diazepam for acute attacks. I have heard that they are addictive so I’m careful with them (no more than one every four days or so and I’ve had months in between taking one) and if I need more than what I’m comfortable with I will talk to my GP to let them know. Diazepam is good for literally “taking the edge off”- it doesn’t take away the anxiety but makes it a good deal more manageable.

If your GP has given you a good treatment strategy then I would consider you sticking to it. Medication has made me somewhat OK compared to a rough alternative.

1
ABoutDeSouffle•

Both Alprazolam (Xanax) and Diazepam are addictive as members of the benzodiazepine family. However, they are not like crack cocaine, it all depends on whether you are able to take them responsibly - like once per week. If you are, and you do not up the dose, they can be very effective against anxiety.

You just cannot say "fuck it, I'll just take them daily". That way lies disaster.

1
RowrowrowrowsOP•

Thanks! The answer is I don't know. I have zero experience with addiciton. I'm closing in on 40yo, I've never smoked, I drink socially. In summer maybe once or twice a week, but I can go months in winter when I don't have a drop of alcohol.

I haven't done drugs (prescribed or illegal) ever in my life.

1
Vooyak•

Benzos are the most effective meds against panic attacks because they literally blocks some signals inside your brain. When you take it everyday your brain adapts to this dose and your level 0 is on benzos so you need to take more to feel anything. This is how it works so you imagine how difficult is to stop taking them :P take them when you feel the panic attack is coming. You can take them every other day, sometimes when you need even few days in a row and nothing will happen but then you need to take a break. Just don't take it everyday longer than 1-2 weeks because when you stop you will have a bad time. So yea test them on yourself and see how you react, nothing wrong will happen :)

1
purpleisafruit1•

I can only advise re. diazepam, but I’d encourage you to try it when you’re feeling extremely anxious. It’s true that benzos are addictive insofar as if you take too much of them, you’ll have to keep increasing the amount you take to reap the same effect. But if you’re responsible with them and only use them when you really need them, they’re wonderful. I only take 4mg at a time when I need to and that’s a very low amount. So you can definitely avoid the addiction if you’re responsible and save them for anxiety/panic attacks etc.

1