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Can Valium Be Taken Safely Instead Of Xanax?
Posted on
Thu, 10 Mar 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 10 Mar 2016
Answered on
Tue, 24 May 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Doc gave me 0.25 Xanax it I want to change to valium what is the valium doses exchange
Brief Answer:
It's tricky
Detailed Answer:
The key point is that you are talking about the most rapidly removed type of benzodiazepine (xanax...working for about 4 hrs) versus the longest acting one (diazepam/valium working for about 12 hrs).
Depends.
If used for sleep, I dont recommend valium you will be sleepy the next day but, obviousy the smallest dose 2 mg or maybe half of a 2 mg valium BUT, using it 12 hrs before when you want to be awake might be a good option ( 8pm maybe 5 pm NOT midnight)
if used for episodes that can be scheduled (dentist, MRI, flying) then 2 mg.
if someone has liver disease, don't take valium
if it is all the time as a preventative, then valium is better, but cognitive behavioral therapy (there are good apps for it!) or antidepressants with anxiety effects like paxil or remeron are probably better. In either case the dose needs adjust ment and you would start on the lowest dose ( 2 mg twice a day) and work upward weekly.
0.25 is often good; it is really really rare that addicts use the very lowest dose.
It's tricky
Detailed Answer:
The key point is that you are talking about the most rapidly removed type of benzodiazepine (xanax...working for about 4 hrs) versus the longest acting one (diazepam/valium working for about 12 hrs).
Depends.
If used for sleep, I dont recommend valium you will be sleepy the next day but, obviousy the smallest dose 2 mg or maybe half of a 2 mg valium BUT, using it 12 hrs before when you want to be awake might be a good option ( 8pm maybe 5 pm NOT midnight)
if used for episodes that can be scheduled (dentist, MRI, flying) then 2 mg.
if someone has liver disease, don't take valium
if it is all the time as a preventative, then valium is better, but cognitive behavioral therapy (there are good apps for it!) or antidepressants with anxiety effects like paxil or remeron are probably better. In either case the dose needs adjust ment and you would start on the lowest dose ( 2 mg twice a day) and work upward weekly.
0.25 is often good; it is really really rare that addicts use the very lowest dose.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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