I experience PTSD symptoms. (I'm Diagnosed) I was taking Clonazepam T.I.D. for 6 years, but it's effect's dropped-off rapidly. I kept a timer to take a dose every 8 Hours. If I forgot a dose, within hours I went into withdrawal.
I am young 30's, slim/ healthy BMI, not much body fat, But a healthy weight. For my height. 5'11/12". 125-135 Lbs depending on holiday season! Mostly muscle, I'm not weak. Once I was 110Lbs... Yikes! I looked like a ghoul.
I lowered my Clonazepam from 4Mg to 3Mg... That was hellish. Asked my doctor to switch me to Diazepam. Because of the longer half-life/ reduced withdrawals. Now I take 20mg, 10mg and 30mg at night. (60mg Diazepam daily) Starting with 30Mg Diazepam 1.5mg Clonazepam for a month. Then 60mg Diazepam. Easy transition.
Instead of 1.5mg/1mg/1.5mg. (4mg) Self tapered to 3mg...1.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.25mg (Clonazepam)
Diazepam's major effects are shorter acting than Clonazepam. 5-7 Hours V.S. 6-9 Hours for me.
But Diazepam wavers down over 12+ hours. More like 3 days. Clonazepam, for me... felt like it was "gone" in 24 hours. Though it was in my system. I didn't feel it after a day.
Diazepam, doesn't drop like a rock after 10 hours, and hit me with crippling withdrawals.
I CAN forget a dose, or take one if I remember. Without waiting over an hour for withdrawal relief.
Not for the elderly or those who metabolize differently. It seems my metabolism is fast. Diazepam is a life saver, compared to Clonazepam. Faster acting, longer acting, NO DEPRESSION.
It does make you drowsier. I can see why 60Mg is the max dose for anxiety. I should not drive any heavy equipment!
Diazepam, the 2nd medically approved Benzo. Best for tapering. Not too potent. Comes in small doses, 2mg. (Split that into 1/4rs for reduction.) A wide range of effects/receptor action, to help transfer's from other Benzo's.
I don't think I could function without it. I am still terrorized by nightmares and hyper-vigilance. 10+ years after the major traumatic event.
Diazepam > Clonazepam and other Benzo's I've tried. (Lorazepam, Alprazolam, Oxaxepam Clonazepam and Diazepam)
Grey-market Benzos. False presses. Grey market Alprazolam/lorazepam/Benzo analogues. Thienotriazolodiazepine's [Etizolam]...(possible opiates) STAY AWAY!!! I had I had a friend O.D/./die from "Percocet" filled with fentanyl.
Long term, for sleep/anxiety/Hyper-vigilance/insomnia/flashbacks/night terrors. Diazepam is my drug of choice. It's not perfect. But it's better than over 6 other medication's/combinations I've tried.
Please, don't start taking Benzodiazepine's until you have exhausted all options. I'm physically/mentally addicted. It's just as bad as heroin. Except you can die from Benzo W/D... It's worse than Alcohol and Delirium Tremens. Opiate W/D death's are rare/ Except for synthetic opiates like Methadone. The only positive is routine dosing. Making it seem less "addictive."
I've been an alcoholic. Dying in bed for 3 days, sweating and twitching. (I had to show my doctor, I quit booze, before he would prescribe benzos) I've only taken Tylenol 3's... After the dentist.
But I know GABA W/D can kill. Where as Opiate's are much less likely to cause fatal effects, during W/D.
I wish "Valium" wasn't so taboo. I would have been taking it sooner. In a lower dose.
But my Dr. prescribes Clonazepam as the major benzo. We started @ 2Mg then after a month to 3mg. Then 4mg. He even considered 5Mg, I said: no way.
I've tried, SSRI's/SNRI's, TCA's like Amitriptyline. Anti-psychotics like Risperidone. (Risperidone made me want to commit suicide.) Offered Trazodone repeatedly. I won't take any anti-psychotics after Risperidone... But I am already hooked on GABA (Positive allosteric modulators.)... I'm not messing with my brain, anymore than possible.
Diazepam is the best for me... If you are elderly or have a slower metabolism/Higher BMI. Maybe ask about Oxazepam/Shorter acting Benzo's.
Consult your Doctor. !!!
Low body fat affects Benzodiazepine action. (ProteiRead More Read Less