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Valium for Meniere's and Xanax for anxiety--ok to take together?

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by yanksgirl, Jun 6, 2015.

  1. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    I called my Neuro-ent a couple of weeks ago, telling him my head pressure, dizzy feeling and nausea was so bad, so he put me back on 2 mg. Valium 3 times a day--but I am only taking it two times a day--because I take the low dose of Xanax (2 a day) for the anxiety from this. I'm trying to wean off the Xanax but so far--no luck. I decided to take the Valium this morning--no Xanax. Well, within 2 hours I felt so 'anxious'. I thought they were basically the same type of med--but the Valium just takes longer to work. So, does anyone here take both these drugs and if so, how does it affect you?
    I really don't like feeling drugged--and the Xanax does that even in the low dose. But I know if I need to give the Valium a try, I may need to take both. My doctor said--a long time ago, when I asked this question, that taking both is ok--due to the low dose.
    I just am wondering about how others deal with this--if you take both these meds? Thanks.
     
  2. scott tom

    scott tom Active Member

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    They are in the same drug class, but valium has a much longer half life. You might discuss AD's with your doc, as some of them (e.g. Zoloft) can provide significant relief from anxiety without the addictive qualities of Xanax.
     
  3. Nickyschick

    Nickyschick Member

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    I am only taking 5mg Valium - 1 or 2 x a day. From what I understand though if you are on a low enough dose which you seem to be and dont abuse them they are fine to take together - I think the worry would be if you were taking high doses and more than prescribed you could go into respiratory distress.
     
  4. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    From what I have read when taking valium or Xanax every day you build up a resistance and eventually need a higher dose.
    I agree with scott there are better medications to get relief from anxiety w/o addictive qualities.
     
  5. vitolony

    vitolony Member

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    You might try cannabis as a solution in place of both valium and xanax. It's not physically addictive, will absolutely deal with anxiety and nausea, and has properties that help combat one of the primary theories regarding the cause of meniere's disease, the herpes virus.

    Here are several studies regarding cannabis and herpes.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1848937?dopt=Abstract
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3033681?dopt=Abstract
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6255077?dopt=Abstract

    Depending on the strain, it can cause a little dizziness, though it is usually of a completely different sort than the dizziness and vertigo we get from a meniere's attack. The dizziness from being high doesn't bother me at all, while the off balance feeling I live with daily, and of course an actual vertigo attack, makes me want to kill myself.

    It's been a god send for me. Put my life of a completely different trajectory. For the most part, I live a happy life now and am still VERY productive at work. Give it a shot.

    A good rule of thumb is to start slowly, if you do. If you've never used it before, it doesn't take much to knock you on your keester. lol And too much will result in a bad high that can actually increase anxiety. It's best to vape it, starting with just a few little specs of the stuff ground up. Then slowly increase over days till you understand how it affects you. That will keep you from having a bad experience.

    Do some google searches on cannabis and meniere's and you will see loads of people using it to great affect against this disease.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    Thank you for your 'tips', all of you. I was prescribed the Valium--not for anxiety--but for actual treatment in helping ease my MM symptoms. My doctor said it was originally developed in the low dose of 2 mg. in the 60's for the treatment of MM and other ear disorders. Then they learned of it's sedating effect and upped the dosage to help those who needed it for anxiety, depression, stressful situations, like preparing for surgery, etc. So, he always prescribes it for 'vertigo, dizziness' etc. It never seemed to help me before, but since I don't have vertigo anymore, I asked if I might try it again for 'just this dizziness/head pressure'. So, the low dose is what he prescribed. And, prior to calling him, my primary put me on the Xanax (low dose for the anxiety this causes). I was told by both that taking them together--in these low doses would be ok, but my system reacts so strangely to anything for depression, anxiety, etc. I wondered if anyone here took them and if so, did they help and any problems? Thanks for all the suggestions. As for the Cannabis--i've joked about taking it--but at my age--I won't 'go there'. But do think it has great possibilities for some medical conditions!
     
  7. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    yes valium is a vestibular suppressant is usually taken on the onset of a vertigo attack, not as a daily medication. Have you try meclizine (antivert)?
    it is also a vestibular suppressant and works best for dizziness but not vertigo and is not addictive.
     
  8. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    Vicki, I used to take Meclizine when I had vertigo, it was the only thing that stopped it. But again, my doctor said taking it long term can damage the vestibular system--thus the Valium! When I told him (back during the vertigo days) that Mec. was the only thing that stopped it, he said--well 'do what you feel works for you'. Just don't take it on a regular basis, only during vertigo episodes! So, since no vertigo, no meclizine. I have actually tried it on occasion just to see if it eases this pressure and the only thing it does is adds to my feeling of being drugged--and very sleepy! strange! :(
     
  9. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    have they found out why you are dizzy and nauseas everyday? Have MAV meds helped?
     
  10. BumbleBea

    BumbleBea Fallen Angel

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    All three of those mess will make you very tired and sleepy. Combine them and it's worse.

    The Valium used to help me and I took 2 mg. for years.
    Meclazine never helped, just put me sleep, so did Zanax.

    Valium also helps the vestibular system. You can put it under your tongue to get into your system faster while having an attack. I never developed a dependency or a need to increase dosage for the same effect.

    Each of us responds differently to different mess though. That's what's so frustrating about Menieres. No one stop solution for everyone.

    In any case, I would NOT be combining any of those drugs.

    Good Luck to you and I'm hoping you feel better soon.
     
  11. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    No, Vicki--the only answer to the daily 'dizzy' feeling (and they asked me to describe what I meant by dizzy--without using the word 'dizzy') :), was that it is 'what it is'! I've tried Nortryptyline for Migraines as one Neuro told me part of my problem could be 'silent migraine syndrome', meaning--migraines without the pain. MAV I guess is one name---though since my 'shunt' surgery, no vertigo. I just have awful 'head pressure=inside from the eyes up! and it feels like a balloon inside that would 'pop' if a pin were stuck in it. Somedays are worse than others and always eases when I lie back or completely recline. So--sure makes one think it's related to fluid in the inner ear. So, My thought is it is 'clogged' or something--the shunt, I mean--but my doctor says that 'doesn't happen' and that they never remove them--it goes with me 'til the end'! But, on this board I have read vertigo has returned for some who have the shunt and that some doctors have told their patients it can clog or collapse. So--what does one do? I plan to tell my Ent when I see him and I'm sure he'll tell me 'not to listen' to this type of stuff. He's very kind, a specialist in this field with a large teaching hospital and highly recommended in this area for the treatment of Meniere's. So--that's where I am. Thanks for all your input for all of us.
     
  12. BumbleBea

    BumbleBea Fallen Angel

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    Make sure you print out what John of Ohio posted about antiviral so If nothing else, your Dr will see that new strides are being made.
     
  13. John of Ohio

    John of Ohio Active Member

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    Here's the link to that info:
    http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=557.0

    --John of Ohio
     
  14. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    Nortryptyline is only 1 medication and doesn't work for everyone, here is Dr hains chart for MAV treatment as 1 doesn't work them try the next.
    If I am not mistaken you already tried antivirals, correct?
     
  15. Nickyschick

    Nickyschick Member

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    Meclazine does nothing for my vertigo attacks.... I even took 3 within an hour and it didn't stop it - so that doesn't work for me and I just finally stopped taking it... so far the Decadron injection, valium, and the minette's device have staved off and attack for 32 days.... ( i was usually not making it more than 3 or 4 days).... I am very interested in giving the information that John from Ohio posted to my Dr though....
     
  16. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    Yes, Vicki, I know--and I've taken other meds for Migraine's over the years--including Inderal. I don't have 'pain'. My symptoms make my head feel as if you'd be able to 'let air out of it' if you stuck a needle in it, when it's really bad pressure. My eyes are hard to hold open, and I feel extremely tired. When I lie down, after a few moments, it eases--doesn't go completely away--just eases. And I do get mild to moderate headaches after a very difficult day of this, but not always.
    John--I took your regimen to my doctor a couple of years ago--he appreciated it, just didn't agree with it. So, as you have read, I've looked elsewhere for anti-virals and have tried the Lysine and the antivirals. Nothing has ended this. I have to be happy that so far, no vertigo has returned. But to say what I have is anything close to 'normal' or etc. is just not how it is. It really adjusts my quality of life but so far has not 'slowed me down' like it could if I let it. Pushing gets 'weary' but you have to and just be thankful for what you can do and not dwell on what can't be changed. Sometimes it isn't easy--and this board helps when that happens--so much. Thanks to all of you! :)
     
  17. Hollyflo

    Hollyflo Member

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    I have been on the medication road and back doing a lot of my own research along with way because the MD's don't always give you the entire picture.

    That said, what I've learned is that all Benzo's…which xanax and valium both are…. are EXTREMELY dangerous if taken daily at any dose unless you are in an emergency room level crisis and then only until you stabilize.

    Do the research and you will find that beyond messing with your brain chemistry, they are autotoxic…meaning toxic to the ear…causing hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness. You will discover how taking them has hijacked your system by stopping and see what that does to your body. Even with a slow tapper….

    And I use both on a very infrequent basis but NEVER together. I take 1/4 of a .05 mg Xanax maybe once a week when the tinnitus and anxiety are just wearing me out. I keep the low dose valium for any feeling like vertigo coming on which has rarely happened since I got on JOH and antivirals right after my diagnosis of MAV and Meniere's.

    Beware of the risks associated with short-term relief…they can cause problems much bigger than the ones we are trying to fix. I've learned this the hard way.
     
  18. Vicki

    Vicki Guest

    I agree totally with Holly,
    As for MAV the most common form of MAV is without a headache.
     
  19. yanksgirl

    yanksgirl Member

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    Agree with each post--and know each case is 'individual'. My doctor said the low dose of Xanax is 'safe' to take and he prefers it to my being miserable with anxiety and unable to tolerate anti-depressants. That being said. I do want to wean off the Xanax. Tried the Valium for two weeks at bedtime and in the morning--didn't help. So, stopped it. Just take the 2 xanax daily--1/4 dose at a time and that helps alot. Still want to wean off and make it for a few days then have to take that other 1/4 somedays. Will keep trying though. Thanks again.
     
  20. Shannon Frierson

    Shannon Frierson New Member

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