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Benzo question for switching from Valium 10mg a day to Xanax.

marsnd

marsnd

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
88
Location
wisconsin
Will the transition be really rough? I know that Diazepam ( generic Valium) has a stronger half life, and effects the brain with different properties than the fast acting benzo xanax. I've been on both at different times in my life. I've never made this transition though. I was on clonopin, and than put on valium, now transitioning to xanax here in a couple days. Just trying to see if anyone has done this before themselves, and how their experience was. I appreciate the feedback.
 
You will be fine Valium is a cousin drug to Klonopin it should be a smooth transition as long as your getting 10's
marsnd said:
Will the transition be really rough? I know that Diazepam ( generic Valium) has a stronger half life, and effects the brain with different properties than the fast acting benzo xanax. I've been on both at different times in my life. I've never made this transition though. I was on clonopin, and than put on valium, now transitioning to xanax here in a couple days. Just trying to see if anyone has done this before themselves, and how their experience was. I appreciate the feedback
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i've never gone from one of those meds to the other, but i've used both. and i think you'll be ok. it should be smooth.
 
Althodius_Trismegistus said:
You will be fine Valium is a cousin drug to Klonopin it should be a smooth transition as long as your getting 10's
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The clonopin to valium was good, no problems. I'm a little worried about the valium to xanax that I'm about to start. Different type benzos, way less half life with the alprazolam. Appreciate your feedback
 
paranoid android said:
Ive used both and you should be fine imo. Just be aware that xanax doesent last nearly as long as valium
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100% right about that. I've been prescribed xanax and was on it a long time. I was switched to clonopin 6 years ago, and that was my everyday med. I'm switching from 10mg of valium, to 3 mg xanax. I just started a new position at work, and hope I'm not withdrawing in between the transitions
 
From 10mg Valium to 3mg Xanax and you’ll expect withdrawal? Brother you’ll be high as a kite
 
I just want to feel normal. The half life is really strong with valium. It's one extreme to the other, as far as benzos go. If I can get away with less, I most diffently will. Maybe I'm overthinking this? I've read about difficult transitions, and everyone's experience is their own. I just hope I'm not sick. I just took a promotion at work, and really don't want to be worried about withdrawals while I take on this new responsibility
cnnka said:
From 10mg Valium to 3mg Xanax and you’ll expect withdrawal? Brother you’ll be high as a kite
Click to expand...
cnnka said:
From 10mg Valium to 3mg Xanax and you’ll expect withdrawal? Brother you’ll be high as a kite
Click to expand...
 
This is strange @marsnd

You are implying that your current dose of Diazepam (Valium) is 10mg? Is that 10mg per day?

The conversion ratio is thus:

10mg Diazepam = 0.5mg Alprazolam

If you're only taking 10mg Diazepam a day, 3mg Alprazolam is approximately 6x higher than that dosage. There can be a little bit of variability with Diazepam based upon a person's genetics. This isn't an issue with the other Benzodiazepines you listed. At any rate, this is a significantly higher dosage. If you just want to feel normal, taking a dose this size is likely to make you sedated.

Yes, Diazepam tends to last a bit longer. The transition between these Benzodiazepines provided the dose is correct should never be overly stressful or painful.
 
I take 10mg of valium throughout one day. I break it up into 3 doses that equal 10mg total. I have access to 3mg of xanax a day. Was told to take 1mg every 6 hours in place of the valium, I will no longer be taking the valium. I still have my 30mg dose of temazepam at bed too. I think the higger dosage ratio is because of the half life here. The valiums half life is about 4- 9x longer. I think that's the disconnect here.
 
You will likely feel overwhelmed by 3mg of Xanax, which is a much stronger dose than 10mg of Valium. I am unsure whether your condition demands that amount, but the contrast is substantial. If you were fine with 10mg of Valium, you probably do not need 3mg of Xanax.

If I were you, I would try 0.25mg of Xanax every six hours instead of 1mg and observe the effect. It may well be sufficient.

Again, I cannot say whether your condition requires so much, but I would proceed cautiously because the difference and the dose are both large.

I have used Xanax daily for two to three years, taking 0.25mg twice a day and sometimes three times. My doctor allowed up to 1.5mg daily, but if I manage with less, I prefer that.

I recall taking 3–4mg in one sitting when I was younger, which felt like a scene from Wolf of Wall Street.
 
Keif' Richards said:
This is strange @marsnd

You are implying that your current dose of Diazepam (Valium) is 10mg? Is that 10mg per day?

The conversion ratio is thus:

10mg Diazepam = 0.5mg Alprazolam

If you're only taking 10mg Diazepam a day, 3mg Alprazolam is approximately 6x higher than that dosage. There can be a little bit of variability with Diazepam based upon a person's genetics. This isn't an issue with the other Benzodiazepines you listed. At any rate, this is a significantly higher dosage. If you just want to feel normal, taking a dose this size is likely to make you sedated.

Yes, Diazepam tends to last a bit longer. The transition between these Benzodiazepines provided the dose is correct should never be overly stressful or painful.
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Echoe'd -- I thought it was 10mgs = 1 but I never look at the chart and presume kief to be correct.

You should be fine as long as you take it easy
 
Hey again @marsnd :)

I try not to overload people with superfluous, potentially confusing information. We are now at a point in our conversation where we can't ignore some of the more complex characteristics of Diazepam (Valium) and still give you the best information.

Diazepam has complex pharmacokinetics that make it harder to predict outcomes in given individuals relative to say, Alprazolam (Xanax). Diazepam metabolism is heavily mediated by a person's given enzymatic levels and processes. There are at least 3 enzymes (2C19, 3A4 and 2B6) involved in the drug's metabolism. The drug is metabolized into further active Benzodiazepines, Desmethyldiazepam (Nordazepam), Temazepam (Restoril) are initial products, further metabolized into Oxazepam (Serax) before elimination.

You can see already how this shit gets hairy. Now, Desmethlydiazepam has a very long half-life, yes. However, in individuals with healthy, normal liver function, this product only becomes significant following repeated administration leading to steady state levels of said drug, which contributes majorly to a person's chronic treatment with the drug. For intermittent usage, the long-acting metabolite should not be a major concern in terms of predicted effects.

Similarly, the fact that everyone possesses different enzyme levels and efficacy, this leads to a variability in Diazepam's absolute potency. For this reason, you will often see 0.5mg - 1mg Alprazolam = 10mg Diazepam. It is not inappropriate to state this range. I generally choose to state 10mg Diazepam = 0.5m Alprazolam for the sake of easier math and conversions.

This gives people a good place to start. It is something that people need to experience themselves and decide where they think they are on that continuum. Bear in mind, a person with a stronger reaction is converting more Diazepam into Temazepam/Desmethyldiazepam.
 
marsnd said:
I take 10mg of valium throughout one day.I break it up into 3 doses that equal 10mg total. I have access to 3mg of xanax a day. Was told to take 1mg every 6 hours in place of the valium, I will no longer be taking the valium. I still have my 30mg dose of temazepam at bed too. I think the higger dosage ratio is because of the half life here. The valiums half life is about 4- 9x longer. I think that's the disconnect here.
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So 30mg of valium a day? you will be fine BUT i feel xanax feels great in the first moment or few hours but has to be the sweet spot, which of course you will seek that the next day and so on, and tolerance builds fast...so try to only use it when you really need it to chill from anxiety. Try not to take the last 1mg of the day.

Less is better in the long run with Alprazolam whereas valium & klonopin - less just lasts all day but ultimately need to use caution ⚠️ and sparingly with all benzos.
 
Opana313 said:
So 30mg of valium a day? you will be fine BUT i feel xanax feels great in the first moment or few hours but has to be the sweet spot, which of course you will seek that the next day and so on, and tolerance builds fast...so try to only use it when you really need it to chill from anxiety. Try not to take the last 1mg of the day.

Less is better in the long run with Alprazolam whereas valium & klonopin - less just lasts all day but ultimately need to use caution ⚠️ and sparingly with all benzos.
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No, lol Sorry, I tried to make that as clear as possible. 10mg total. It's a 10mg val, that I took in 1/4 pieces throughout a day. So just 10mg (or even less) a day. Now I been on a long acting benzo for 3 years. Before valium it was clonopin. I ran out of both, and now I still have xanax bars (yes real), and temazepam for sleep. My question is will my xanax be able to replace the missing valium in my daily routine? The half lives are so different. Not looking to get high, just get by my day to days without being sick
 
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Just knowing that you have Temazepam when needed for sleep and Alprazolam for "desperate" situations is a sound mindset to be in.

As @Opana313 mentioned "less is more".
I couldn't agree more.
Respect the medication and they will, in turn, respect you too. Try not to over think it and you will be good. Lastly, no need to take a dose if it isn't absolutely vital, all you need to do is the best you can at your new work environment and try not to let the meds take up all your thought process. They are there in case of "emergency", and IME, this is when things start coming together.

Good luck - you got this under control.


PS. 0.5mg Alprazolam is more than enough for the "bumps in the road". Try to "Navigate" around these if possible, because it's the only way to overcome or divert them from holding you back.
 
I just have to remind you that Xanax will kick in in 30min. So, watch out that you don't try to take more once your inhibition is released. You might go for an extra dose. Xanax does that to some people so make sure once it kicks in that you don't take more. I can control myself with Diazepam, but it's not the same as when I take Xanax. One time I went through an entire bottle of Xanax in one night.
 
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