Anyone take Valium???

[kandb]

I have anxiety issues and doctor gave me some 5mg tablets of valium for our last trip to WDW since I don't like to fly. I had to go to the dentist this am and felt anxious about going, so I took a 5mg tablet. ( I had never taken them when I had to fly). Even though I felt OK, when I was in the dentist chair getting worked on, my heart was racing. I have had anxiety attacks before and have had the whole racing heart symptoms but I was so surprised with the valium that my heart raced. I didn't have anxiety but had just the racing heart. When I left the dentist, my heart stopped racing. I hate anxiety! Is this normal for valium? Am I on the wrong medication? Thanks for any info.

 

[JennyDrake]

You need a different med. Valium does NOTHING to/for me. My GF has the experience that you did. Ask about Xanax.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Ativan is another you can ask your Doc about for anxiety (or panic attacks which can cause a racing heartbeat)

 

[PatsMom]

I take Ativan (lorazepam) for anxiety. It works pretty well. When my sister in law went to Disney, her doctor prescribed Xanax for anxiety and it really helped her out with the flying.

 

[Mama Who]

I'm a big fan of klonopin, personally.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I hate the dentist and am prone to panic attacks. One dentist I saw gave me the same med and I had the same reaction. She said she thought that I still had a panic attack, but the meds made me to where I did not care that I was having one. I don;t know if that is true and I never saw her again.
I now go to a differernt doctor and get gas when I go and it helps me tons, but it does not work for everyone.

 

[kandb]

Thanks for all the responses. Much appreciated. I am hesitant to try a new medication because I don't like to feel "out of it" or woozy and valium does not make me feel either. I am wondering if I took maybe 10 mg of valium if it might help with the heart racing. The thought of getting gas almost gives me an anxiety attack. I might have to just try another medication though. Thanks, have to get another 2 root canals and 3 crowns. Maybe all the anxiety is from the bill is going to be!!!

 

[clm10308]

The racing heart might not have to do with your anxiety. I do not have anxiety issues and have never taken any of the medications discussed, but Last year when I had to have crowns replaced, the large amounts of local anesthesia caused me to have a rapid heartbeat. This happened on two senate occasions. On other visits to the dentist for other procedures, I did not have any issues.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Another fan of Xanax...it's fast acting, so you don't have to wait for it to kick in. It will make you sleepy if you're sitting (like on a plane), but if you're up and around you should be okay. It doesn't make (at least me) you feel "out of it", just calmer. I've tried Valium for anxiety and it does NOTHING.

My biggest fear is being somewhere where there aren't any hospitals around (I know sounds silly!) It started when we were moving from Missouri to Colorado....I was following my husband, who was towing a car in the middle of no-where Kansas, at night time in the snow. I was so anxious, and then started thinking I was having a heart-attack. Then all I could think was "we are in the middle of nowhere, if I have a heart-attack, I won't be able to get medical help in time".

 

[kandb]

Scrappy, I don't think how you feel like being close to a hospital makes you feel calmer, is silly at all. I have learned with anxiety, it's all about feeling "safe". Also, I did have alot of novacaine at the dentist, it lasted for like 6 hours, so maybe did have something to do with the heart racing. Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

I had the same thing happen to me at the dentist without the Valium. When I mentioned it to the dentist, she said that their Novocaine has epinephrine in it. You should call and ask. They were having a hard time numbing me and after two shots I thought I was having a heart attack and I was shaking so bad. She had to go and get some epinephrine free Novocaine.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I take Ativan (lorazepam) for anxiety. It works pretty well. When my sister in law went to Disney, her doctor prescribed Xanax for anxiety and it really helped her out with the flying.

I was on it for years! They tried me on Xanax and that actually gave me panic attacks It relaxed me sooo much, I swore my heart was stopping and I was going to die.. I went into full blown panic attacks, that was when they switched me to the Ativan. I took that for about 10 years, then they weined me off and now I am fine.. I take nothing!! My heart still races once in a while, but no panic attacks.. it is just too much caffine when that happens

 

[kandb]

Thanks for all the info. It's funny, when I was leaving the dentist, I mentioned that I thought I needed more valium because even though I didn't feel anxious, my heart was racing. The dentist was standing there and said to me "maybe it's from the local anesthetic". To be honest, I have had novacaine many times before and that's never happened, but this is a new dentist and she started a root canal and said by looking at the x-ray she was shocked I wasn't in alot of pain. When she gave me the novacaine she also commented that it was alot and on previous times I have had it, it usually wares off in a few hours after treatment but this times lasted for hours. I will call and check with her about the epinephrine free novacaine. Thanks so much.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks for all the info. It's funny, when I was leaving the dentist, I mentioned that I thought I needed more valium because even though I didn't feel anxious, my heart was racing. The dentist was standing there and said to me "maybe it's from the local anesthetic". To be honest, I have had novacaine many times before and that's never happened, but this is a new dentist and she started a root canal and said by looking at the x-ray she was shocked I wasn't in alot of pain. When she gave me the novacaine she also commented that it was alot and on previous times I have had it, it usually wares off in a few hours after treatment but this times lasted for hours. I will call and check with her about the epinephrine free novacaine. Thanks so much.

Yes, this is a very common reaction. The same thing happened to me when I had a root canal. I thought I was going to jump out of the chair!

 

[viluvsdisney]

Please do your homework on benzo side effects and withdrawal. It doesn't take a long amount of time (about 7 to 10 days, in fact) before your brain can be chemically altered by a benzo and you will find yourself in withdrawal. I know from experience...xanax, valium, klonopin, ativan (etc) all very serious drugs. The anxiety you experience now is nothing compared to the anxiety theses drugs can cause. Please be educated about them.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Please do your homework on benzo side effects and withdrawal. It doesn't take a long amount of time (about 7 to 10 days, in fact) before your brain can be chemically altered by a benzo and you will find yourself in withdrawal. I know from experience...xanax, valium, klonopin, ativan (etc) all very serious drugs. The anxiety you experience now is nothing compared to the anxiety theses drugs can cause. Please be educated about them.

I Agee if you take then habitually, but if you just take every once-in-a-blue moon (like flying, or Dentistry), Xanax actually it very fast-acting, and has a short duration and is usually ou of your system within 72 hours. If you you take it only once or twice a month, you're not going to get addicted or have withdrawals.

 

[viluvsdisney]

And my hopes are to have folks educate themselves about the drug. They can be used for a "once only" type of event (dentist, flying, etc). Although, even for that use it would be considered "off label." Benzo drugs were made to be an anti convulsive drugs, but, also happen to reduce anxiety. I share the information (as I am still healing from a benzo disaster) in hopes that people educate themselves about the strength and seriousness of benzodiazepines. I am not an addict.....my suggested script was for 7 days (to help reduce anxiety related to a back injury) and I found myself in a world of hurt and a very serious w/d by following an uneducated Dr's recommendation for short duration of benzos. I do not take the phrase "pop a xanax" lightly. They are not meant to be a sleep aide or used occasionally, even twice a month is too much, to take the edge off stress. They are not like a tylenol or aspirin and can not be used as needed. Unfortunately, I am now an expert (much to my dismay) on benzos. I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy to experience what benzo withdrawal (from a .125 - a micro dose - once a day for 7 day script) will do to you. I can appreciate your offering of info that they are safe and ok for a one time event beacause that may be your experience. I'm just asking folks to consider my information and experience and not assume these drugs as "safe" or no big deal and realize most GP Dr's a very unaware what these drugs are meant for and what damage they can do. It's all about educating yourself so you know both sides of the possibilities. If you're wanting more information - look up "Benzo Withdrawal" or "Benzo Side Effects." My story is not the only one....this drug only takes a very low dose and short amount of use with very high consequences.

 

[Tink_Kel]

They can be used for a "once only" type of event (dentist, flying, etc). Although, even for that use it would be considered "off label." - What exactly do you mean by "Off label"?

Benzo drugs were made to be an anti convulsive drugs, but, also happen to reduce anxiety. - Xanax are prescribed primarily, but not exclusively, for anxiety and panic disorders.

They are not meant to be a sleep aide or used occasionally, even twice a month is too much. They are not like a tylenol or aspirin and can not be used as needed. That's exactly what some are prescribed for, to be used as needed (for panic attacks/extreme anxiety)

Unfortunately, I am now an expert (much to my dismay) on benzos. I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy to experience what benzo withdrawal (from a .125 - a micro dose - once a day for 7 day script) will do to you. "- You must be very sensitive to medication, if you had withdrawal from what pretty much equaled 1/4 a normal dose, once a day, for only one week.

I'm just asking folks to consider my information and experience and not assume these drugs as "safe" or no big deal and realize most GP Dr's a very unaware what these drugs are meant for and what damage they can do. " - Yeah, I'm sure my Internal Medicine doctor doesn't know a thing he's talking about!

I am not trying to be condescending, but it would be VERY uncommon, taking 1/4 a dose for 7 days to cause addiction or withdrawal.

There are many people out there with real, diagnosed, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Panic Disorder. This drug may be the only way they can function, or make them "not feel like they are dying" if they take it. If I have a panic attack (which isn't often), I start choking, a warmth spreads across my chest, my hands tingle, my heart palpitates, and I think I'm going to die of a heart of attack. If I "pop a xanax", these intense feeling go away. You will not get addicted or have withdrawals if you take intermittently (i.e. once or twice a month). You are the exception, not the rule.

 

[viluvsdisney]

I am not trying to be condescending, but it would be VERY uncommon, taking 1/4 a dose for 7 days to cause addiction or withdrawal.

There are many people out there with real, diagnosed, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Panic Disorder. This drug may be the only way they can function, or make them "not feel like they are dying" if they take it. If I have a panic attack (which isn't often), I start choking, a warmth spreads across my chest, my hands tingle, my heart palpitates, and I think I'm going to die of a heart of attack. If I "pop a xanax", these intense feeling go away. You will not get addicted or have withdrawals if you take intermittently (i.e. once or twice a month). You are the exception, not the rule.

Hmmm...thanks for the empathy? It was an internal med doc that prescribed my script. You can do a search or visit a benzo recovery forum (loads of stories like mine) if you choose to know the FULL scope what benzos can do to you. Best of luck to you... I hope you never know what benzo withdrawal is like.

 

[Tink_Kel]

Hmmm...thanks for the empathy? It was an internal med doc that prescribed my script. You can do a search or visit a benzo recovery forum (loads of stories like mine) if you choose to know the FULL scope what benzos can do to you. Best of luck to you... I hope you never know what benzo withdrawal is like.

About as much empathy as you've shown all on this thread for their legitimate feelings of anxiety. One or two pills does not an addict make. I mentioned you may be sensitive to medications, I was being serious, not unsympathetic or sarcastic...my mother is one of those people, that is super-sensitive to almost every medication. You too, may be one of those people, because I'd definitely say you are in the minority that a quarter of a pill once a day for seven days would give you withdrawals. I would mention this to any doctor you see in the future, so they are aware that you may have hyper-reation to certain medications.