Must stop taking benzo's from doc :(

[Clown]

In this month I have taking like 150pills oxzepam 10mg this month ( 5 each day atleast) while the normal is 3 each day. now my doc called me and wanted to put me on SSRI only and have give some benzo's for the first weeks because of the negative side effects from the srri. but afhter that she only wants me to me to prescribe benzo's for special moments ...... because she says they are highly addictive and afhter a while they don't even work anymore for anxiety, so now I only got ssri and some few benzo's pill left.

But I read some people taking benzodiazepines every day for years..... do they still help against the anxiety afhter all these years ??? ( for me the anti-anxiety effect of benzo is lowered now I must take 8 pills to feel the same effect at the beginning with 2 pills, and that only afhter 1 month)

 

[elek2ronik]

It's really annoying that many doctors don't want to prescribe benzo's (diazepam, oxzepam, etc..) yet they are so willing to shove SSRI/SNRI's down a patients throat. Both are physically addicting. Many doctors now days though, don't want to raise any red flags due to prescribing too many 'addictive' medications like benzodiazepines and narcotics.

Anyway, so you're at around 80mg of oxzepam a day correct? You'll definitely feel some withdrawal symptoms if you were to stop taking them. So I would taper yourself down, assuming your doctor prescribed you enough, to around 20mg a day. Like with any addicting medication (benzo's, narcotics), it's really best to control your dosages. Sure, you can take them for years like many people, but your tolerance is going to blow through roof, and those 8 pills (80mg) a day will continue to go up to achieve the same affect.

While I hate SSRI/SNRI medications, honestly I would give it a shot. The main reason, is that it will allow you to taper off the oxzepam comfortably. If you experience mild side affects, they will go away so I wouldn't worry too much about that. I don't recommend that you cut off the serax/oxzepam too quickly though, because you don't want those withdrawals trust me.

If this combination doesn't work for you, don't be afraid to tell your doctor that it isn't working and ask what "we" should try as a next step. If all else fails, you can always look for another doctor. I've been to many doctors and have taken several medications, and I know good doctors are sometimes hard to come by.

 

[Clown]

I readed that afhter 2 months of benzo's you can be addicted , but thats not my main problem. I read that if you use them every day for weeks their Anxiolytic effect reduces. I only have used for 3 weeks and already feel that they are not working as good in the beginning

 

[Davevanza]

But I read some people taking benzodiazepines every day for years..... do they still help against the anxiety afhter all these years ??? ( for me the anti-anxiety effect of benzo is lowered now I must take 8 pills to feel the same effect at the beginning with 2 pills, and that only afhter 1 month)

Hi,

I am on Clonazepam 2mg, daily, prescribed by my psychiatrist.

And he said, I could take it for the rest of my life.

Clonazepam has a long half life, around 39 hours.
It is actually the metabolite of Nitrazepam ( a hypnotic, that helps to sleep).


As with your Oxazepam intake, the therapeutic range here, in Australia is, 3 to 4 tablets daily.
But it comes in 30mg per tablet.

So the highest end would be 1200mg, and you are taking around only 80mg.

Well, different countries have a different regulation, and remember, the best advice to seek is your doctor as he knows you better.

Hope this info is useful.

Kind regards,
davevanza

 

[ronniemexico]

Tolerance to benzo's can build up rapidly - as you know after only a month. They are also HIGHLY addictive, my brother took clonazepam for anxiety and his dosage was quadrupled from 1 mg to 4 mg after only three months. When he wanted to stop because the side effects became too much it took a long time of gradually reduced dosage to get off of it.