Being prescribed two benzos at once is possible, but most doctors are probably going to stray away from it. That's all I can really offer on that.
I've not really gleaned which way my physician leans on this issue. We've addressed my GAD and panic attacks with Alprazolam, but still discussing treatment for my insomnia. I wonder if Temazepam might be well advised as a treatment for both (GAD and insomnia), providing a longer anxiolytic response pertaining to my GAD with intent to delay/reduce panic attacks, and administered at night to address my insomnia. With the Alprazolam on hand for acute treatment when struck by a panic attack.
(a) Z-Drugs and temazepam
Temazepam seems to be a comprehensive winner in this department thus far. In your experience would you say there are less (negative) following-day-effects from Temazepam over Zolpidem? Not to mention possible "strange" side-effects during the night.
(b) Diazepam for the win! Haha It's just the generally perfect benzodiazepine to use ... therapeutically! I used to have a script for daily 10mg Valium, I miss it dearly! ...
Diazepam also seems to be a preferred anxiolytic. You consider it better than Temazepam regarding question (b)? Were you prescribed the 10mg Valium for GAD?
Yes, it is possible to get two benzodiazepines, in the case where you need a short acting/onset one for panic disorder and a long acting/onset one for generalized anxiety disorder.
This applies to me to a T. I suffer (escalating) panic attacks,
and GAD. Yet I've only been prescribed Alprazolam to treat the panic attacks as they had escalated to a point of being potentially disastrous.
I'm not quite sure what you're diagnoses is but unless you have these two coexistent anxiety disorders which are very severe, you have absolutely no reason to be taking two benzodiazepines. Simple as that.
I certainly concurrently suffer from both, however my GAD appears to be intensifying to the point where it resembles agoraphobia at times.
As said before this is highly subjctive to each person. It's kind of like, everyone loves OxyContin, but I would prefer MS-Contin by 10 fold as the morphine doesn't make me itch nearly as bad as the oxy, I get less irritable, I don't have stomach issue, and I don't get the head high (like I said, I'm weird). MS is so much more clear headed, and I don't become an asshole on it. It's pretty much like being sober, excetpt my pain levels have gone down to a 4 or 5 depending on dose.
Fair point. I tried MS-Contin (orally) once before and found
no therapeutic or recreational effect. Constipation from OC is discomforting though, and I find it too stimulating/arousing to get a proper restful sleep whilst on Oxycodone. Its pain relief is a blessing though.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THOUGH: I've tried diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Aivan), alprazolam (Xanax). triazolam (Halcion), and estazolam (ProSom).
Out of the ones I've tried, I'd say diazepam, triazolam, and estazolam are the most sedating (hell, diazepam metabolizes into temazepma) and was made for sleep (hence why the biggest pill is .5mg) and estazolalm maks you be able to fall asleep, without knocking you out. Though, the two times I've had 2mg of it for sleep (~ 2/3mg of Xanax) I able to fall asleep in institution (which is difficult on it's own), I was able get sleep within 20-30 minutes and woke up 6 hours later, fully rested (which never happens - EVER) and was ready or the nest day of group therapy. I'll quit going on about ProSom though lol.
Diazepam appears to be making ground on Temazepam as both an anxiolytic and sedative! I think I will mention it to my physician at our next appointment.
Valium - it's one of the best for baseline anxiety; you'll still have panic attacks, but they won't be nearly as bad, and if you doctor gives you another for breakthrough, Xanax is best followed by Ativan for panic states or extreme pain they'll give you IV Ativan which works exrksxtemely fasl.
Xanax - Hands down the best panic attack killer; saved my ass a few times (and it's a great substitute for for alcohol when you take enough; though I have an extremely high tolerance, and don't condone taking 10-20mg of Xanax a a time.
ProSom - Hands down the best drug for sleep that I've tried. I can take it and be ready for sleep in 20 minutes, get 6 hours of sleep, and feel more rested than I ever have in my entire life.
Ativan - The best for anxiety. It also has a 95%+ BA no matter the RoA, and it works really quickly.
Thanks so much for your detailed response. It appears that Diazepam, with Alprazolam for breakthrough treatment, is the way to go. Or are you suggesting Ativan would be better for breakthrough panic attack relief?
This thread was left open as long as it was because it generally stayed within bounds of therapeutic benefits of gabaergics, but it has crossed the line.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me a private message.
Closed.
Thread has been cleaned up to this point. Further discussion is to be limited to therapeutic benefits of various GABAergics, and to stay away from the recreational merits of one over the other.
Re-opened.
Thanks, Venrak. Much obliged.
Ok fair point but, being an ex Benzo fiend I've tried as many as I could get my hands on, and although I've only tried 18 out of around a possible 40 I still believe for the most part the differences are extremely subtle, they pretty much all help reduce Anxiety, promote sleep, and are known to relax muscles, act as an anti-convulsant and induce Amnesia, many of these factors vary between different Benzos, but by and large the majority produce these effects to a varying degree.
I agree. But onset time, half-life, intensity of different variables; anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant, etc. all vary
enough to necessitate the right treatment for the
individual.
The main differences generally are the onset of action and the duration of action. Obviously this is all matter of opinion.
What I have tried -
Alprazolam (Fast acting)
Bromazepam
Clonazepam (Useless)
Diazepam
Estazolam
Etizolam
Flunitrazepam
Flurazepam
Lorazepam
Lormetazepam
Midazolam (IV for medical procedure & Oral)
Nimetazepam
Nitrazepam
Oxazepam
Phenazepam
Pyrazolam
Temazepam
Tetrazepam
Fair to say your experience lends credence to your opinion.
Temazepam - best for getting to sleep, and best for waking up feeling refreshed and not groggy. I'll also be able to get good sleep the next night after having taken it, so I don't need to take it every night.
Alprazolam - best for severe panic/anxiety
Lorazepam - good anxiety relief without heavy sedation; I suggest this one over alprazolam if you are going to be in a classroom and need to pay attention, and want to avoid becoming too sedated.
Thanks, CH. Your opinion seems consistent with the general consensus which is generating enough anecdotal (near empirical) reports to compel me to enquire about concurrent prescribing of both Temazepam (or Diazepam) with my existing Alprazolam prescription.
Would you say that Temazepam and Diazepam share similar prolonged anxiety relief, but Temazepam the more sedative and thus better suited for insomnia treatment than Diazepam?
