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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:55:04
Hello Folks,
Can anyone give me a rundown of the difference between Ativan, Xanax and Valium? My pdoc was planning to put me on Ativan to help deal with some anxiety in addition to my depression (for which I take Parnate). I wanted to make sure that this was the right benzo to go with.
Thanks!
Posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:57:02
In reply to Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:55:04
Let me add that I was on Klonopin a while back and gave me serious bouts of depression.
> Hello Folks,
>
> Can anyone give me a rundown of the difference between Ativan, Xanax and Valium? My pdoc was planning to put me on Ativan to help deal with some anxiety in addition to my depression (for which I take Parnate). I wanted to make sure that this was the right benzo to go with.
>
> Thanks!
Posted by Phillipa on March 2, 2007, at 22:55:51
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:57:02
First are you new to benzos? Klonopin made me feel suicidal and I wasn't. So I relate with that. Xanax has a slight antidepressant effect. Short acting. Ativan I liked haven't taken in years. The valium is the longest lasting but all and all I'd either take the fast acting xanax or ativan. Good luck. Love Phillipa
Posted by rjlockhart on March 2, 2007, at 23:16:41
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:57:02
I posted a long post a long time ago, about benzo's their effects, thats why i called it the benzo spectrum.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/596838.html
I wasnt on Xanax at that time period, but now i am on xanax, xanax eases sometimes euphoricly anxiety, for only 2 hours, ok, but ativan i think would really good with parnate.
Im glad i rerember i posted this.
Matt
Posted by yxibow on March 2, 2007, at 23:42:41
In reply to Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:55:04
> Hello Folks,
>
> Can anyone give me a rundown of the difference between Ativan, Xanax and Valium? My pdoc was planning to put me on Ativan to help deal with some anxiety in addition to my depression (for which I take Parnate). I wanted to make sure that this was the right benzo to go with.
>
> Thanks!
Valium has more than a 24+ hour half life and in my opinion is the best choice for long term benzodiazepine management because its easier (relatively, don't get me started..) to come down off of.Ativan and Xanax have a more immediacy effect than Valium (which still has a bit more than Klonopin which is generally very subtle). They're generally used for short term management of extreme anxiety.
But some people find that only one of the three "works" for them; in which case if it was Xanax I would depart from my loath of patent extension and say that Xanax XR (24 hour half life approx) would be better.
Ativan has about a 12 hour half life, give or take, it would be a twice daily agent typically.
Xanax can have as little as 2, maybe up to 4-6 hours of half life, making it a 4x a day drug for some people, which is why managing it is hard because there can be interdosal withdrawal with long term use.
Posted by valene on March 3, 2007, at 9:23:10
In reply to Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 2, 2007, at 21:55:04
Xanax IR works for me and has for 25 years without upping the dosage. Half-life is 6-20 hours according to :
http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-x01.html
I find that 8 hours between doses works for me but everyone is different. I tried valium once to taper down my xanax and found it more sedating; xanax a bit more anti-depressant.
Ativan is similar to xanax with a bit longer of half-life but I have heard of more people becoming tolerant to low doses of ativan and having to go up in dose, than xanax. This is not a proven fact however. Just my experience. Hope this helps some.
Val
Posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2007, at 17:55:07
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium » Dan Perkins, posted by valene on March 3, 2007, at 9:23:10
Valene interesting up to l0mg a day as my next door neighbor teaches school and takes 6mg a day with lexapro l0mg. Love Phillipa ps she says she has taken much higher doses if she extremely nervous.
Posted by Dan Perkins on March 3, 2007, at 18:54:18
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium » valene, posted by Phillipa on March 3, 2007, at 17:55:07
So, it's sounding to me from all the messages above that Ativan would indeed be a reasonable place to start, with Xanax as another possible option if the Ativan doesn't hold its own (please jump in here if anyone thinks otherwise).
It also sounds like Xanax's anti-depressant (or perhaps just euphoria-inducing) effect could be interesting. I'm a bit hesitant about the Xanax, though, because when drugs of any kind spike my mood too noticeably, instead of becoming addicted, I usually become wary of the med and stop taking it.
Any suggestions on how to start w/Ativan? Such as dose amount, schedule, etc?
Posted by yxibow on March 3, 2007, at 21:49:35
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 3, 2007, at 18:54:18
> So, it's sounding to me from all the messages above that Ativan would indeed be a reasonable place to start, with Xanax as another possible option if the Ativan doesn't hold its own (please jump in here if anyone thinks otherwise).
>
> It also sounds like Xanax's anti-depressant (or perhaps just euphoria-inducing) effect could be interesting. I'm a bit hesitant about the Xanax, though, because when drugs of any kind spike my mood too noticeably, instead of becoming addicted, I usually become wary of the med and stop taking it.
>
> Any suggestions on how to start w/Ativan? Such as dose amount, schedule, etc?Ativan, as noted 2-3 mg spread twice or three times a day.
I'm still not too clear on the "antidepressant" effect of Xanax. It's euphoric to an extent for the benzodiazepine-naive individual who takes it occasionally but I am still wary of a drug that has to be given at least 3 times a day and has a very short half life. But that's just my concern -- that's why I save it for immediate relief and rarely take it. Same really goes for Ativan.
For a long time some years ago I took a 3 times a day agent not used alot but also for anxiety -- Tranxene, and I dropped it cold turkey. Not a good thing. Caused spasms in my scalp and the ** of a doctor gave me only half back because she really was actually benzo hating, the script started from an off-campus doctor. A top class medical school with an on campus clinic failed me. I still have some wierd side effects 10 years later, even with the Valium I take. But that could be a rarity of my chemistry.
So that's why I'm leery of dose schedules of medications that have such short half lives.But, some people really do notice differences between benzodiazepines... I switched from Klonopin to Valium because I felt Klonopin was too subtle.
However you pick it, take it as directed and try not to miss doses if you wish to take a shorter half life agent.
-- tidings.
Posted by Dan Perkins on March 4, 2007, at 10:02:23
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by yxibow on March 3, 2007, at 21:49:35
With Ativan's short half-life, is there any crash as it leaves your system? And if not a true crash, what is the feeling a few hours after your dose? Does the anxiety come back same as or worse than before?
THX!!!
Posted by yxibow on March 4, 2007, at 15:55:03
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 4, 2007, at 10:02:23
> With Ativan's short half-life, is there any crash as it leaves your system? And if not a true crash, what is the feeling a few hours after your dose? Does the anxiety come back same as or worse than before?
>
> THX!!!
If you have had a panic attack and you take Ativan (or Xanax) PRN (pro re ne, as necessary), its likely it will quell the episode and you will emerge a bit less frazzled.
But if you take Ativan round the clock and then forget doses and start doses and forget them again, same goes for Xanax, instead of reaching a steady state on the drug, you are going to have a lot of peaks and valleys of blood level of the agent because of their shorter half life.
So you could feel a "crash" or more likely, interdosal or rebound (worse or equal as before) anxiety.
Its the same thing as quickly withdrawing from a benzodiazepine but not quite as harmful or ferocious.
Posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 18:26:52
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium » Dan Perkins, posted by yxibow on March 4, 2007, at 15:55:03
Just don't forget your dose. I had no problem with either med. Good luck on your choice. Love Phillipa ps you will feel yourself starting to get anxious not bad and remember it's time
Posted by rjlockhart on March 5, 2007, at 22:17:16
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium » Dan Perkins, posted by yxibow on March 4, 2007, at 15:55:03
Ativan did wear off in about 6 hours and i could feel it. Well actually 5, but everone's metabolism is diffrent.
Go for Ativan, i liked it, its smoothing, not as tranquizing as Xanax, buts its a mere mellow, moderalely potent benzo.
Xanax is difficult to manange when you have to take it over and over again. I hate it, i split my bars into 1/4's and take it, it only lasts freaking 2 hours. Ativan is more easy, more calming, i think its really is a good benzo its just not talked about very much.
Rj
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 19:35:50
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by rjlockhart on March 5, 2007, at 22:17:16
Matt they also have long acting xanax taken twice a day I learned this today at my pdocs. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dan Perkins on March 7, 2007, at 6:10:25
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium » rjlockhart, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2007, at 19:35:50
> Matt they also have long acting xanax taken twice a day I learned this today at my pdocs. Love Phillipa
I've never taken xanax or xanax xr, but from several of the posts that I've read, it doesn't seem that xanax xr works very well in delivering a steady dose of the drug over time. It sounds like many who have tried the XR also need to take regular xanax.
I hate the idea of having a short acting pill that I'll have to take more than once/day, but it doesn't sound like Xanax XR solves the problem
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2007, at 18:36:38
In reply to Re: Ativan v. Xanax v. Valium, posted by Dan Perkins on March 7, 2007, at 6:10:25
Dan I had heard that also and questioned the pdoc about that exact thing and he said he's had great results with it but who knows? love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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