Has anyone ever taken Diazepam in place of klonopin for anxiety/panic attacks, extreme anxious behavior? I am taking Celexa/Klonopin together for my condition however I have been given and kept to only 20/ .5mg per dose or as needed every month... The doctor seems to be so unbelievably concerned about addiction/and too, eventual outcome of the addiction properties of Klonopin and eventually tapering off... I have been on Klonopin several times now in my time of being on psych meds and in Florida was eventually switched to the use of diazepam... some side effects that are getting more prevalent now are itching, mostly on arms, crying excessively, withdrawing a little more than in the last 4 months and chills... I am beginning to think that it is the taking of the klonopin here and there throughout the month and then running out of course and feel that all these things are connected. What are your views on Diazepam/in same family as drug(s)... versus Klonopin... my groupie/d.com members/friends , could you please help blaze 22 with this...
Klonopin/Diazepam?
Question posted by blaze22 on 22 Feb 2011
Last updated on 23 October 2023 by 11Soxsthedog
5 Answers
Can't sleep been told it will help me
Hi blaze 22, I was on Klonopin 0.5 mg for a about 6 months and during the weaning of period was prescribed 5mg Diazepam daily. It helped me a lot and when I stopped taking Klonopin I never had any reactions.The diazepam worked well for me and now I am on 5mg diazepam at pm + 30 mg Mirtazepine at bedtime. This combo has helped me lead a normal life so far. But all this was on my docs advice .Consult your doc and follow his advice faithfully.
I was switched from klonopin 2mg 3xday to diazapam 5mg 3xday and had horrible side effects. Crying, dizzy spells, sleeping and more. In my opinion, Klonopin works much better. Hope this helps!
Late post , but the equivalent dose of CV klonopin to valium switch would be 120mg of Valium, not 15, that's why you were hurting.
Hey Blaze,
To help you compare the different benzodiazapenes, try googling "comparison of benzodiazapenes" and several sites will come up with useful info. I just tried this and thought I would share with you.
Laurie
Thank you... but you are doing so well with my questions that I hadn't thought of it... no just kidding... will look that up... blaze22
Hey Blaze,
You might benefit from a change in your antidepressant such as to Paxil that is more likely to address the anxiety along with the depression. I don't think based on what you say that your doctor is going to be too keen on prescribing the benzo no matter which one you take. I would definitely tell him about your sleep problems and crying and withdrawness and get his opinion as to what to do. Put the ball in his court, then after he has a chance to respond, ask him about changing the antidepressant or increasing the benzo to daily. I really recommend ativan for people who are older. How old are you? can I ask that question? lol
Anyway, just my thoughts. Keep in touch my fellow groupie,
Laurie
43 yoa, I have taken paxil, it did not work for me, was on it in 98, was not on it long... Some of the worst for me and I mean really bad... Trazadone, Serzone, Paxil, Prozac, Elavil... not too bad but was stuck on that due to left seeing a nurse practitioner... wasn't happy with the care really, and have been on a couple of other's... The only other, that I would even consider is zoloft, but the reason there, you can not get this med for or on the $4.oo list at the or my personal pharmacy... I also get help on my klonopin... get back with me... oh, aside from my father, his mother was born and raised in Savannah, GA, she ended up taking care of me, helping my father due to an overdose with my mother when she was 24, i was 4... I lived in Florida for 30 something years, and have been as far ... on the east coast, PA... Great grandparents lived in NC, very familiar with all those areas... blaze22
Hey Blaze,
You have tried alot of medications. I understand your frustration and wish I make a suggestion as to what you could try that you haven't already. Maybe when you speak with the doctor and explain your symptoms, he will have some suggestions. Keep a journal of your feelings and behaviors to share with the doctor. That way you put the ball in his/her court without sounding like you are drug seeking or overly reactive.
Please keep in touch, it will help to express your feelings and these folks understand.
Laurie
Hey Blaze,
Let me just share a little info about the differences between the activity of diazepam and klonopin.
Diazepam has a more rapid onset of .5 to 2 hours then Klonopin which is 1 -4 hours. The elimination of diazepam is 20 - 80 hours while that of klonopin is 30- 40 hours.
So, that means that diazepam acts quicker and depending on the person stays in the body longer. Diazepam and klonopin are both benzodiazapenes, as you know, so they are both prescribed for anxiety while diazepam also is prescribed for muscle spasms.
You may well get better relief from valium (diazepam) but that would be up to the doctor. Can't hurt to ask him/her. Sounds like he is very reluctant to prescribe the benzo in the first place so be prepared for his answer.
What dose of celexa are you on? Maybe you need a dose change or a switch in the antidepressant? Just my thoughts since you speak of crying and withdrawing.
I do wish you the best Blaze and keep in touch,
Laurie
Hi, thank you for such a speedy response... well see that makes no sense, if klonopin is the lesser then why the extreme careful walk on what I am taking now... i was on alot higher doses in Florida, than I have been here in Iowa... no I do not want to be knocked out, and am functioning o.k. when it to my being a full time mother, cooking, (love to cook), crafts, alot of reading and being with my children and hubbie... I am on 40 mg of celexa which this medication will tell you that anything more than 60mg, has shown in clinical trials that the effect is no stronger and has not been found to make a substantial difference with the illness at that level... 60 mg is supposedly the highest safest dose for this particular psych medication... Which is fine I mean the higher the dose the stronger the side effects etc. I am feeling that there must be some real concern over mal-practice scare and so on... which I can understand, I just find it odd about the dosage level on the klonopin...
perfect example, I tried to just go on the 40 mg of celexa alone last night and woke up with my jaw so tense, muscles tense and about 5 hours of intermittently waking up all night, I am not a tosser and turner, once my head hits that pillow I need to be asleep or I just get back up... any more advice and from what info you see here, what else do you think? p.s. you really know your meds... thank you so much... your help is always appreciated... blaze22
Blaze
just wanted to touch base with you, this doctor sounds like he is terribly concerned about the word benzodiazepams period, that being said I have taken Valium in the past and it has helped me not only with being nervous but with other physical symptoms as well, I believe Valium lasts longer and has the ability to calm you down, I am not really familiar with Celexa, it might be that you need a change with both medicines, Valium will also work with other antidepressants, It concerns me about you feeling sad and withdrawn, it also sounds like you have been on the Klonopin for a good period of time, I think you can be honest and upfront with him and it may just need to be that he needs to understand that you are working in the midst of a difficult time meanwhile you just keep on hanging in there, I care about friendships, I hope that you will soon be feeling much better. I am always willing to listen and to lend an ear, you feel free to always utilize the friendship best wishes, Caringsonbj (Billy)
Thanks, well as I said, it just came to me last night that I have been on diazepam in the past, once in Lake Butler FL and again in Fernandina, Beach, One M.D... was of Asian descent, the other was American, part Italian and this one is of Indian Descent... It is odd how it works out but my daughter has never had an on-going or pediatrician that wasn't of Indian or Asian descent, and I must say that they were all good doctors... Same with my youngest son, and then my first born mostly American Doctor's... but still all really, really good doctor's... I am going to have to do my homework and find all these psych... because I have seen some in 3 diff states because of moving most of my life... The craziest thing is, is that the first one was stating that I was extremely Bi-Polar, but have not been diagnosed like that since.This was in 89-90...
That psychiatrist wanted to hospitalize me but on a like I guess an agreement of more than a verbal sense rather than me being forced or baker acted and I turned him down due to situation... There are at least, I believe 16 diff psychiatrist that i have seen and can not remember any of their names... Not really males, but mostly females, not to put down my own gender, from who I have known in the past are like walking darn'' pharmacies and I always end up with a hard time over just two... don't get it??? I guess once they pull up information on my er visits since being a baby... or a young girl, they are like whoa''''''Let's just say that I am extremely accident prone... but yes thank you for the ongoing information, please get back with me again on this one after you read my update... thank you so much blaze22
Please see continuing comments below... very important, and too take in to the account that I am still trying to stay sober myself after years and years of drinking, but am no where near where i use to be... still a fighter... trying to keep up with all and so much information from so many and it is so unbelievably helpful... thanks to all you you... blaze22 laurie please speak again...
Related topics
celexa, klonopin, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diazepam
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
