Benzos that are less habit forming

[shreddedlettuce]

She gave me alprazolam at a very lose dose and the choice of 3 SSRI's. I'm hesitant to take an SSRI for some reason, I don't know.

A SSRI could be exactly what you need, or it might not be.
The only way to know is not to be too hesitant about it.
Give them a try and see how you respond to them (usually about 2 - 3 weeks before you will be able to tell).

 

[debaser]

OP, you can try buspirone too, it is an anxiolytic that is non habit forming. You have to give it two weeks, though.

 

[Workin2005]

She gave me alprazolam at a very lose dose and the choice of 3 SSRI's. I'm hesitant to take an SSRI for some reason, I don't know.

Which SSRI's did she offer? I would be MUCH more hesitant to touch benzos than SSRI's. Coming off SSRI's is a breeze compared to a benzo.

If I were you, I'd start the SSRI's. They will take 2-3 weeks to kick in. During that time MAYBE take a very low dose of Xanax just once per day. Try not to take it every day...only when you absolutely need it. After the SSRI'S kick in, stop the Xanax completely.

The problem is, Xanax works so well that you'll quickly get psychologically addicted and start thinking you always need it. Initially it will be a head game of thinking you need it when you don't. It then quickly turns into a physical addiction and you actually will need it just to not feel sick. It happens so fast and when it does, you'll wish to God you could go back in time and have never touched a benzo.

I don't mean to sound "preachy". I've been in your shoes and struggled with severe anxiety and insomnia in college. Now days though, there are so many non addictive medications to treat anxiety. They won't be as effective as xanax (though they are very effective) but they also don't require months if not years to recover from.

I wish you all the best in whatever you decide. Keep us updated. ;-)

 

[Moe-D]

Hydroxyzine works..
Oxazepam is pretty mellow and sedating IME.
Ask for 0,5mg clonazepam? Less sedating benzo for me so far, and it works great!

 

[cook]

I think oxazepam is the safest benzo there is when it comes to habit forming. But indeed it is rather sedating.

 

[DJ Pickles]

Definitely have to echo what everyone else is saying, that benzos are best avoided at all costs. However, if you do have to take a benzo for your anxiety, I definitely recommend avoiding Xanax and Klonopin, and maybe opt for Valium or Ativan. I took Xanax for only a few months for anxiety and when I stopped, the withdrawals were nasty as shit. Like everyone is saying, all of them are habit forming, but Xanax is definitely (IMO anyway) the most potent and easiest to get hooked on.

Which SSRI were you offered? I've taken Celexa (generic citalopram) for a few years to treat my anxiety and it has been tremendously helpful. The only thing with SSRIs is that some people get sexual side effects from them. I was lucky and did not get these, so it might be worth giving a try. Anyway, whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck as someone who can understand struggling with anxiety issues. Peace and love

 

[Escapedysphoria]

SSRI's were a disaster for myself, but best of luck for you. They do work, along with benzodiazepines, to cure anxiety in some individuals.

 

[lostinspringtime]

I'm starting on zoloft tomorrow. If anyone's been on it and has any experience of how it was would be helpful, a bit nervous of the side effects. But you all were very helpful.

 

[HCandKROD]

Any benzo in very short term use is effective for anxiety. Have you tried any relaxation techniques? I have PTSD and was rx'ed Xanax for years. I was at 6mg's a day when I decided enough.It took me 8 months to withdraw using Valium.I've been benzo free for 5 months and am still whacked from withdrawal. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but I would suggest looking for alternative therapies if possible. Good luck

 

[Workin2005]

I'm starting on zoloft tomorrow. If anyone's been on it and has any experience of how it was would be helpful, a bit nervous of the side effects. But you all were very helpful.

Zoloft is a great drug that has helped many people. It's one of the safest SSRI'S and has been around for years.

I took Zoloft for just over a year to help with anxiety. I took 25 mgs to start with and went up to 50 mgs before tapering off. Most people feel it kicking in around week 3.

I didn't notice any side effects except maybe a slightly lower sex drive around the 6 month mark. My doctor gave me some Viagra which had me "up" and going (no pun intended) in no time. I realize Viagra isn't suppose to increase sex drive directly but it sure seemed to for me! ;-)

Anyway... I'm happy to answer any questions. Best of luck.

 

[cook]

I've been slightly worried that oxazepam is classified as possible carcinogenic. But in reality it probably doesn't matter.

 

[Workin2005]

lostinspringtime,
How are things going?

 

[laCster]

I've been slightly worried that oxazepam is classified as possible carcinogenic. But in reality it probably doesn't matter.

most benzos are very very slightly carcinogenic (definitely less than alcohol atleast), with certain ones being more so than others.

 

[mrflowers00]

why am i the only one suggesting librium it's the first benzo ever made it's not very sedating or fun to take and takes the edge off of anxiety

 

[Psychonauticunt]

Hey everyone. So, right now I've been prescribed xanax to manage anxiety. It's not prescribed for daily use, but my anxiety has been out of control lately. I have limited experience with other benzos and will be talking to my doctor. But because they are addictive doctors are hesitant about prescribing them to me for daily use. Any medications you have found helpful and not as sedating as xanax? It makes me quite tired and I can't function fully on it.

Does it warrant, in your opinion, prescription for daily use? Use as needed for acute treatment rather than daily medication for prevention is probably better if you can manage that, and for that Xanax is pretty ideal - strongly anxiolytic and fast-acting, but also so short-acting that you needn't be medicated all day (unless you're on the XR). Xanax, for me, is among the least sedating benzos; I find almost all its properties, apart from anxiolytic effect and amnesia, quite weak, although in those two it is very strong. Diazepam and lorazepam are also good anxiolytics, and quickly absorbed, but both are considerably longer in action than Xanax (and diazepam has mild but long-lasting active metabolites), and I find both to be more sedative.

Clonazepam is as non-sedative as Xanax for me, but it's long-acting and takes a while to come-up so that's better suited for daily maintenance treatment.

As for being habit-forming, I find that quickness of onset is a decisive factor, but the key variable for me is personal preference. Whatever benzos you enjoy the most, you will find more habit-forming than the rest. Objectively speaking, oxazepam is probably the least habit-forming - it takes 2-3 hours to reach full effects, and if I recall correctly is only a partial agonist while almost all other benzos are full agonists. From my experience, however, oxazepam is almost as sedating as it is anxiolytic, and slow absorption means it must be taken pre-emptively; that meant that in order to not feel anxious and be able to go about my daily business, I would be so drowsy that if I went to bed I would fall asleep. I'd have to take at least 50mg for noticeable anxiolytic relief, and at that point I was barely functional.

I've had the most success with alprazolam and clonazepam, but lorazepam and bromazepam (unavailable in the States I think) have been suitable too.

 

[kokaino]

All benzos are habit-forming but some are more prone to be abused than others. This is especially true of the hypnotics. Some of the less troublesome benzos are chlordiazepoxide, oxazepam, clorazepate, tetrazepam, and a few others.

 

[Laughing Man]

Slow onset, long lasting benzos are low risk for dependency and the reverse is true.
I have tried most every SSRI since Prozac but in the end, I settled on mirtazapine.
It helps me sleep easier.
I use diazapam 3 X 10 mg/day and 2 x MS Contin 100mg/day.
I am stimulated by all opiates so a month ago I began taking just one MS Contin in the AM.
That helped me sleep, still getting analgesia and no withdrawal symptoms.

 

[Laughing Man]

why am i the only one suggesting librium it's the first benzo ever made it's not very sedating or fun to take and takes the edge off of anxiety

Few Docs prescribe Librium anymore. It is out of fashion and if you know enough to ask that can brand you as a seeker.

 

[Dunno]

Definitely not Alprazolam. Is there anything out there that comes close to a benzo?

 

[Jabberwocky]

i find all benzos habit forming depending on when you are taking them.
if you are taking them for genuine anxiety - they are an instant fix, and you'll realize by popping a pill you can remove it.
if you are taking them to black out and forget life - well..... not much more to say on that

the LEAST habit forming benzo that i was able to withdraw of relatively easily and gain the anxiety relief from was bromazepam. oxazepam had similar effects in that it wasn't habit forming but didn't hit the right spots for my anxiety personally.

the MOST was definitely lorazepam and xanax, if i have them in my house, they will be eaten. they are nasty little buggers which make me feel so good.

the most horrible withdrawals for me was valium. even thinking of them now i shudder.

i have also tried pregabalin for anxiety - it works after a week, but its also a bitch to withdraw from/stop taking.

anxiety in my opinion shouldn't be treated with benzos unless it's a serious last case issue... if you can, don't take them, honestly. you'll regret you ever started.

i have also tried zoloft, celexa and the old classic prozac, but they all seemed to make me more anxious, even to the point of suicide at one point (on prozac).

someone mentioned buspar earlier in the thread that i think works wonders for my anxiety. i take it in the evening now, not sure if its addictive, but my anxiety seems more in control that it was.