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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Diphenhydramine (DPH), hydroxyzine & other non-GABA anxiolytics

G

greendrugz4me

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Joined
May 22, 2011
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Just wondering about taking a small dose (like if you were taking it to sleep, not trying to fry balls on the stuff ) of diphenhydramine to mitigate the anxiety I get after smoking weed. I read its a mild anxiolytic. I know this would not be a good habit to get into, in the long term I plan to exercise (raise serotonin levels) and meditate so I can feel relaxed after I smoke. But I feel like this would be a very relaxing experience.
 
hydroxyzine & other non-gaba anxiolytics

Hey guys, first post here, so I hope I'm not doing anything against the rules. :)

Long story short I've been taking benzodiazepines to treat my anxiety and insomnia on and off approaching two years now. Started off with Temazepam 5mg a day and eventually upped to about a maximum of 20-30mg a day after which I stopped for a few months, then started taking Clobazam 20-30mg every few nights for the last 6 months.

Problem is trying to get off the benzo's. I went about it the wrong way a number of times now - I stop cold turkey and each time I do, after approximately two weeks off I get hit with extreme anxiety and panic attacks. This time I'm going to try to taper off slowly. In saying that, it doesn't help that I have an uncomfortable heart condition wherein the heart skips beats a good 10 times a minute - which I can feel in my chest - of course adding to the anxiety.
Now, I'm not a scientist and my knowledge of the brain and chemical structures is next to nil, but from what I've read benzo's, being active upon the GABA receptors affect the cardiac system similar to alcohol, so all seems well while I'm taking them but when I stop, the frequency and effect of this arrhythmia is highly accentuated, leading to further anxiety.

As a reference, in the period of time I was off the Temazepam for a couple of months, unless I drank too much or did other drugs the condition had subsided and was almost unnoticable. Regrettably I started taking benzo's again due to unfortunate life circumstances.

And yes, I've been to a number of doctors and had tests done regarding this condition whom have all said it's not dangerous, but might get annoying - still, this doesn't help the anxiety associated with it.

This is where I've been doing a bit of research into non-GABA reactive anxiolytics and stumbled up Hydroxyzine. It seems to be really be worth a try, especially as a helper to coming off the benzo's and keeping me stable. To my surprise there's not much else out there to combat anxiety other than Hydroxyzine (not available in australia) and Buscopine (which I hear doesn't do too well against panic attacks).

[snip]

Thanks guys [snip] any help would be appreciated as I am at my wits end trying to get off these bloody benzo's.

Also, anyone who has had experiences with Hydroxyzine, please do post - I am most curious.

Cheers.
 
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welcome to bluelight!

alright, you cannot ask about sources, period. even if the drug is legal somewhere, somehow. this drug is Rx only is the states anyway.

do you know how to edit your thread? you can do it yourself, or post that you can't and i will.

you can still ask about benzo alternatives.


sounds like a frustrating situation, btw.
 
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I do apologise. Not my intention to do anything illegal and thank you for clearing up the prescription question.

Still very interested to know of peoples experiences with Hydroxyzine, or if anyone does have suggestions for alternative non GABA anxyolitics.

Thank you
 
I realize that Wikipedia refers to Diphenhydramine as a "mild anxiolytic", but this is simply incorrect. Diphenhydramine is sedating and perhaps calming in this way, but it is not an anxiolytic at all and it is not a suitable treatment for acute anxiety. Furthermore, paradoxical reactions are not uncommon with Diphenhydramine and some individuals find it stimulating as opposed to sedating.

Taking 25 - 50mg after smoking pot is not going to hurt you. The only way to find out if Diphenhydramine is going to produce the effects you desire is to try it.

Edit: If cannabis is giving you anxiety, the best way to deal with that is to not use it anymore.
 
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grrr8Dane said:
I realize that Wikipedia refers to Diphenhydramine as a "mild anxiolytic", but this is simply incorrect. Diphenhydramine is sedating and perhaps calming in this way, but it is not an anxiolytic at all and it is not a suitable treatment for acute anxiety. Furthermore, paradoxical reactions are not uncommon with Diphenhydramine and some individuals find it stimulating as opposed to sedating.

Taking 25 - 50mg after smoking pot is not going to hurt you. The only way to find out if Diphenhydramine is going to produce the effects you desire is to try it.

Edit: If cannabis is giving you anxiety, the best way to deal with that is to not use it anymore.
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I know, but I've enjoyed weed so much in the past I dont see why now all of a sudden it makes me anxious. Why should I have to give up something I enjoy(ed) so much? Its my life and my mind. I should have the power to feel how I want to feel.
 
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Hydroxyzine is a good anxiolytic, but quite weak. I take 100mg to potentiate my methadone.

But if you're really anxious, it works quite well.
 
Hydroxyzine is kind of like super strong benadryl (antihistamine). I have heard anecdotal reports of its effectiveness, but I am not convinced of its efficacy in combating benzo withdrawal.
 
I personally don't think hydroxyzine would help with benzo withdrawals considering it's an anithistamine. That can be a difficult process requiring a taper using a benzo like diazepam usually. I'd taper off the benzos and then once no longer dependent you can see if hydroxyzine is effective for you. I had a bottle of the 50mg hydroxyzines and I found it to be a very very mellow anxiolytic so I mainly used it to potentiate opiates. More sedating (like diphenhydramine) than anxiolytic IMO.
 
I've actually had doctors recommend diphenhydramine (DPH) to me as an anxiolytic before. It is quite effective as a broad sedative (not without side effects, of course).

I'm interested in this as well. It is a great sedative drug, but I've never really used it for anti-anxiety purposes.

Edit:

Because the diphenhydramine as an anxiolytic and hydroxyzine/other non-benzo anxiolytic threads are both active and dealing with very similar topics, I have merged them together.
 
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I also had a psychiatrist reccommend diphenhydramine as an anxiolytic, but I take it when I get allergies and it's never done any good for my anxiety other than take a little edge off because of its sedative properties. Hydroxyzine has better anxiolytic effects than diphenhydramine IMO. I would be interested in trying Pregabalin (Lyrica) for it's anxiolytic properties even though it is a GABAergic
 
I do believe diphenhydramine has anxiolytic effects, but very weak anxiolytic effects. I believe it's anxiolytic effects stem from the sedation and the calmness that diphenhydramine produces. It's nothing all that great, but taken in doses of 50-100 mgs, it does produce marked sedative effects and with that sedation usually comes calmness and so one might feel mild anxiolytic effects. Not all people will experience this, but some do.
 
Hydroxyzine is weak but it does have anxiolytic properties and as kokaino said about DPH, its most likely due to the calming sedation. It isn't so effective for severe & chronic anxiety but if you are really stressing out you could pop 50-100mg and see how you react. However it won't help with benzodiazepine withdrawals and its not a "great" substitute to benzos but nonetheless it still is one. If you are looking for a less addicting non-benzodiazepine then check out pregabalin. Pregabalin is incredible for benzodiazepine. After an 11 year benzodiazepine habit I was able to taper off using the Diazepam taper with pregabalin and I felt very little discomfort. Its also great anxiolytic, works especially well with social anxiety. I'd suggest you ask about it. Great alternative to benzodiazepines.
 
K'd-OUT-in-AZ said:
Hydroxyzine is weak but it does have anxiolytic properties and as kokaino said about DPH, its most likely due to the calming sedation. It isn't so effective for severe & chronic anxiety but if you are really stressing out you could pop 50-100mg and see how you react. However it won't help with benzodiazepine withdrawals and its not a "great" substitute to benzos but nonetheless it still is one. If you are looking for a less addicting non-benzodiazepine then check out pregabalin. Pregabalin is incredible for benzodiazepine. After an 11 year benzodiazepine habit I was able to taper off using the Diazepam taper with pregabalin and I felt very little discomfort. Its also great anxiolytic, works especially well with social anxiety. I'd suggest you ask about it. Great alternative to benzodiazepines.
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Never heard of Pregabalin before, and it actually sounds quite good especially for the purpose I'm after. By what you say this might be a great help towards a way out from the benzo's. Will ask my doctor about these. Thanks heaps mate :)
 
zuus said:
Never heard of Pregabalin before, and it actually sounds quite good especially for the purpose I'm after. By what you say this might be a great help towards a way out from the benzo's. Will ask my doctor about these. Thanks heaps mate :)
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Your welcome. I suggest that you do! You might feel high the first couple weeks on it...once you get past the 50-150mg (low) doses you'll be started on.
 
zuus said:
Never heard of Pregabalin before, and it actually sounds quite good especially for the purpose I'm after. By what you say this might be a great help towards a way out from the benzo's. Will ask my doctor about these. Thanks heaps mate :)
Click to expand...

if you don't have insurance or your insurance won't cover the lyrica i always suggest getting gabapentin...they both are lifesavers for w/d and lyrica especially is a great anxiolytic for SAD
 
Hydroxyzine is more sedating than anxiolytic, but relative to antihistamines, it's the strongest anxiolytic. I just didn't like the extreme sedation from 100mg hydroxyzine. 25mg-50mg is the sweet spot for potentiating opiates/relieving anxiety. Although, the sedation from 100mg helped when I was tapering benzos.
 
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