Diazepam For Social Anxiety

[PaulNI]

Hi guys, I need some advice.

I've been prescribed Sertraline for social anxiety and I want some advice on whether or not I should take it.

Basically I have really bad facial blushing i.e. my face goes bright red when I get embarrassed and it's really noticeable, the sort of thing that some people like to torment me with when they notice it when something triggers it.

Anyway it's been a life long affliction and I hate the problem (biggest cause of misery in my life), so I fear social situations which is a usual trigger point and I always feel very anxious due to this problem and constantly on end in those situations.

I've been prescribed Sertraline, even though I made it clear I wanted a Benzodiazepine. The doctor would not give me a Benzodiazepine due to the addictiveness of them.

Anyway last week I managed to get my hands on a couple of Diazepam (2mg) which I cut in half (1mg) and took one before a social situation, freakin wonder drug for me! Totally different person, I didn't have a care in the world and it gave me exactly the effect I was looking for and that night I had a great time.

I can only describe the effect as this 100% calm and relaxed feeling which is exactly what I want for these situations

The problem I have with Sertraline is I have to take this every day, that does not suit my needs/requirements because I don't need nor want a permanent mind altering drug. All I want is a fast acting tablet like Diazepam that I can take in social situations where I may get anxious, mainly a weekend thing for Friday/Saturday.

Furthermore I'm not even sure I would build up a tolerance to Diazepam if I only take it occasionally for social anxiety. Anyway I'd really appreciate your advice from anyone who has taken Sertraline, the biggest issue I'm gonna have is getting the doctor to even consider my needs as my doctor seemed so against me using any form of Benzodiazepine.

Or should I just try the Sertraline anyway?

[shine]

I was just prescribed klonopin last Friday. The catch to it is I have to have lab work done (urine analysis) my phyc wants to see if I am doing other drugs! I got lucky! She told me that she will only put me on a low dose and that it is only temporary. I didn't ask for them if you do that they won't give anything like benzos to you because they get offended. It would be like telling them you know better than them.'Benzos are highly addictive and a lot of the times abused. I am sure most phsycs won't give you benzos for just high anxiety, you would have to have panic disorder with palpitations and shaking. I have all of this and I still almost didn't get them. If your not happy with your doc in the long run switch. Just be careful because you can be charged for doctor switching for prescription meds especially pain killers and benzos. Hope this helped!

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:06 ----------

oh another thing is she put me on paxil. This is going to be long term help for my panic attacks and high anxiety. The benzos are just to help me through it all till the paxil fully kicks in. I feel for you.

[southey]

I'm the same, in certain social situations that I may normally avoid or be a wreck, a small dose of Diazapam can transform me into a different and better person. A night that could be hell can become a pleasure.

I use Diazapam, now my health anxiety is under control to allow me to enjoy certain social situations. Some people get drunk for it, some snort for it and a lucky few seem blessed and are totally at home in social gatherings. For me occasionally, Diazapam is my drug of choice and I'm not ashamed to use it so I can act normally around others.

You will eventually build up a tolerance even with occasional use. I guess over several of years I have taken about 100-150mg in total. I started at 2mg for quite a while and still get a small effect off 2mg though now usually take between 5 and 10mg during an evening out to really benefit. I hope this dose keeps working for a good while?

So far I have no addiction issues but this could be down to the sporadic usage, maybe 4 times a month but usually less.

Steve.

[PaulNI]

I was just prescribed klonopin last Friday. The catch to it is I have to have lab work done (urine analysis) my phyc wants to see if I am doing other drugs! I got lucky! She told me that she will only put me on a low dose and that it is only temporary. I didn't ask for them if you do that they won't give anything like benzos to you because they get offended. It would be like telling them you know better than them.'Benzos are highly addictive and a lot of the times abused. I am sure most phsycs won't give you benzos for just high anxiety, you would have to have panic disorder with palpitations and shaking. I have all of this and I still almost didn't get them. If your not happy with your doc in the long run switch. Just be careful because you can be charged for doctor switching for prescription meds especially pain killers and benzos. Hope this helped!

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:06 ----------

oh another thing is she put me on paxil. This is going to be long term help for my panic attacks and high anxiety. The benzos are just to help me through it all till the paxil fully kicks in. I feel for you.

Yeah this is pretty much the experience I've had so far, although I trust my doctor I feel I know what works best for my body. It really is a frustrating situation, I am trying the Sertraline but I find it absolutely useless and I hate the side effects of it.

I'm the same, in certain social situations that I may normally avoid or be a wreck, a small dose of Diazapam can transform me into a different and better person. A night that could be hell can become a pleasure.

I use Diazapam, now my health anxiety is under control to allow me to enjoy certain social situations. Some people get drunk for it, some snort for it and a lucky few seem blessed and are totally at home in social gatherings. For me occasionally, Diazapam is my drug of choice and I'm not ashamed to use it so I can act normally around others.

You will eventually build up a tolerance even with occasional use. I guess over several of years I have taken about 100-150mg in total. I started at 2mg for quite a while and still get a small effect off 2mg though now usually take between 5 and 10mg during an evening out to really benefit. I hope this dose keeps working for a good while?

So far I have no addiction issues but this could be down to the sporadic usage, maybe 4 times a month but usually less.

Steve.

Steve have you had any trouble getting this prescribed by your doctor?

Ideally I'd like 8 (2mg) tablets per month, according to my doctor they only prescribe something like 2 at a time for extreme situations like flying etc

I don't know what my next coarse of action is going to be if my doctor turns me down for Diazepam. If I started building up a tolerance I'd stop taking the drug I think, can you really build up a tolerance if you only take it occasionally?

That's interesting but also concerning about tolerance even from occasional use.

It's really frustrating, I've been asked to try other things like CBH which I'm not again trying but I feel that with the aid of a drug like Diazepam that going out and socialising is my cognitive behaviour therapy!

Thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it!

[southey]

Yes my Doctor has been reluctant to prescribe Diazepam. I have sporadically been able to obtain it by other means in the past but this usually means 5 or 10mg pills but they break quite easily in two or less so not a problem reducing the dose.

A couple of months ago when my health anxiety was kicking me sideways I obtained a script for 28 2mg tablets off my Doc'. I was in a terrible state then and it was obvious I had a real need for them. Now I'm better I am unsure if I would get them for occasional social usage but then again I haven't asked yet? I do have back troubles and I know they are also prescribed as a muscle relaxant so maybe this could be a way in for legally obtaining it?

Yes in my experience a small amount of tolerance has occurred over the several years of infrequent use I have taken them but reading the recent article of that burglar which the judge praised as courageous, where the thief said he could not remember what he had done as he was taking 70-80 Diazepam pills a day, I don't feel in any way worried by my usage!!

Steve.

[kittikat]

Sometimes docs will prescribe a few diazepam to help with the start up side effects of Sert and other such anti d's.....worth asking in that respect. Kitti

[PaulNI]

I do have back troubles and I know they are also prescribed as a muscle relaxant so maybe this could be a way in for legally obtaining it?

Yeah I have a friend who was prescribed Diazepam for back troubles, so it is possible to get them for that

Sometimes docs will prescribe a few diazepam to help with the start up side effects of Sert and other such anti d's.....worth asking in that respect. Kitti

Thing is I don't want to be on the Sertraline at all, mind you this is the first week of taking it.

It does bother me the way doctors had on SSRI's like smarties.