Using Diazepam sporadically for anxiety

Thanks for your response. I have been prescribed it a few times over the last 18 months.

Im just frightened to take it more than 3 days at a time because you hear such horror withdrawal stories.

I do live in misery. Attending the hospital on more than 60 occassions its ruining my life.

ive tried them Lee the latest one being lexapro which made me suicidal.

about the benzo,I have taken Alprazolam for 10 years. In the beginning it was on and off,had major health events,and other awful stressers, I have been diagnosed general anxiety disorder,I also in the past had panic attacks. Anyway I used to think the med,which was Dr prescribed was amazing and through the years,it was,it allowed me to live a very normal life,fast forward to now. After awhile it just won't work that well,that's why just stick to taking it ocassionally. I took it daily for years,with doctors knowledge. My doctor who prescribed it just retired. Now thinking about any Benzo has changed a lot..negative press,hence doctors either don't prescribe them or most will only for a short amount of time. I now pretty much am being forced to quit taking it,even after taking it as prescribed for years. my suggestion is take it as little as you can,in all honesty from talking to my present doc,she thinks soon people will not be prescribed it. And all on it will be forced to taper off,which I am doing very slowly. I would not of taken it,if I know all I do now.

Has your doctor offered any alternatives to the Xanax your're tapering? Im in the same boat you are in. Anti depressants just dont cut my disabling anxiety.

Hi,I am on a very slow taper,finally found a doctor willing to take it slower, she has brought up the antidepressants to me,so far I haven't taken any,my sister in law has major anxiety and was taking a benzo as needed,she took them while starting the antidepressant,so far it is working nicely for her, I have people in my family they didn't help and one that it helped some with depression.. I start counseling this Friday to try and manage my anxiety better,also I was given the okay to try CBD oil. I am nervous,however that being said, I really don't think the anxiety med was helping much with anxiety anymore as I was getting withdrawal symptoms between doses. Hopefully after a time off them,the anxiety will lessen as in the end they barely helped and I think even caused symptoms. Some days I actually feel less anxious then when I was on the higher dose..so I'm reluctant to start another med.

Can I ask what anti depressants you've tryed,also have you been on them long? I know they take awhile to work. How's the tapering,perhaps its too fast?? I left a more detailed message,it's waiting for a moderator I see.

Im using Prozac 10 mg. I havent started tapering yet as my Im trying to get stable on the Prozac first. I really dont think its working for me. I'll be discussing this with my doctor tomorrow. This is turning into a nightmare.

I have been looking up antidepressants in regard to how each one can help anxiety. Different ones are rated higher than others as far as how they affect anxiety and or depression. One that is rated very high for anxiety is lexapro,you actually can Google consumer reviews for different antidepressants and read comments from people on how they worked for them.. My sister in law is having very good luck using Citalopram,she is taking 20 mg. I don't know,very confusing. I don't know if I should take one or not as I think I was having inter dose withdrawals as I had been taking it for years and my med was short acting. Honestly at times I feel less anxious not taking it as much..but I am scared of having no help with a med if my anxiety after coming off it is bad. Maybe your dose just isn't high enough. I have started very slowly tapering,at this point it's been manageable. I will never be anxiety free totally,but who is.. I go to my first counseling apt. Friday to try and find ways to manage Anxiety. Feel free to message me if you ever want to.

Thanks for your reply. Im thinking dosage also, just hate to go up if i dont have to. We'll see. This is going to be quite a journey!