Diazepam alternative

[Ethicaldebacle]

I've used diazepam in the past to clear my head. When I'm stressed I get overwhelmed with racing thoughts, and diazepam really helps my brain slow down.

I only use it sparingly (I think I've been prescribed like 30 pills total in the past 5 years or so).

Anywho, today the GP refused to prescribe any this time that I feel like I could do with a few (just made redundant).

Instead they told me to take an antihistamine (promethazine) which I've taken but only makes me drowsy and dries my mouth.

So can anyone think of anything else I can take?

What did your psychologist say when the non-pharmacological methods you'd implemented for managing this illness - is it an anxiety disorder or a panic disorder, that's not clear -didn't work?

Me? I've always been told it's environmental. And it's not like I feel anxiety, it's almost physiological/neurological because my brain starts going at 1000mph.

Could be a symptom of potentially being on the spectrum (still waiting to hear back after almost two years).

It just gets exhausting so to speak. Not that the thouys are good or bad, there's just too many of them and thus too much noise in my head.

If you're fat you could try mounjaro that turns off the kind of noise you're mentioning. Well it does for me anyway! (Lighthearted before I get crucified) Other than that propranolol works as well, I was prescribed it as an alternative to diazepam years ago now.

If you can get a private prescription ( no idea of cost of this in UK) you can buy online. 30 tablets seem to cost about £10 at the online pharmacy I’ve just tried.

Edibles? Weed was great for me too occasionally but i found smoking it gives me a headache. Friend gave me some edibles which are fine, taste nice too 🤣

After a friend gave me one that literally made think the CIA/MI6 was after me, I swore never to do it again.

Another friend owns a CBD company and I've used her drinks and oils, but it's never strong enough.

I just remember 3 years ago when I was on the brink of divorce, took my dose of diazepam, and about an hour later I could just think so clearly, that it almost felt like an epiphany. I went ahead and wrote everything down and moved on from going in circles. It definitely saved my marriage.

I’ve had atarax before as an alternative to diazepam which I found effective although I think it can cause drowsiness. Propanol did nothing for me.

Yes go on Amazon and type herbal for stress reduction

Mmmm that's another antihistamine. I don't get any physical symptoms of anxiety (like being jittery), it's really just my though/brain processing that I'd affected. I don't even know if I'd call it anxiety, but I don't know of another word to describe it.

It's almost like I need to slow down my brain function without making me sleepy. Diazepam doesn't make me sleepy (ironically as it's prescribed for insomnia too).

Psychiatrists prescribe promethazine for anxiety at our local mental health trust.

I find it strange that doctors are so wary about diazepam, when the local Crisis Team’s go to solution is “take a lorazepam” - and they know patients get addicted to it, quite quickly. Clonazepam seems to be another go to solution!

Tricky one. As a non-pharmaceutical approach, I guess you could try something like guided meditation?

Weed is not going to give you mental clarity and like you say, can cause paranoia. And is illegal.

You can get CBD flower for vaping, which is more potent than oral/gastric route but this is also illegal. I don’t know whether those medical marijuana clinics can prescribe CBD flower?

Meditation/exercise doesn't really work. I'm a long distance runner and when I'm in this "mood" I actually have to stop running because the thoughts become even louder.

With meditation, I normally start going sideways to what they're saying and the thoughts start racing again.

Talking therapy doesn't work for the same reason either I just talk and talk non stop.

I'm in Europe. I'm late 60s if that makes a difference, and my GP routinely prescribes 6 x 5mg bromazepine monthly on repeat. I don't take it unless I have an Atrial Fibrillation (cardiac) attack which can be very frightening (but won't kill me!). The original script came from cardiology so the GP just keeps prescribing.

I'm not going to ask him to stop prescribing, he never questions it. I have quite the stash now.

I have to pay for scripts, no matter what is prescribed, so maybe that makes a difference, I don't know.

Some people need it very short term, and I often wonder at the cruelty of denying it to those who are so very obviously not pill chasing.

Does anyone know WHAT they prescribe it for now? Maybe they should just make it illegal and be done with it. I bet if a GP needed it they'd get it no problem.

Another one to say propanol beta blockers. They slow everything down to give your brain a chance to reduce the stress chemicals that are causing the noise. That overwhelm you get sounds similar to mine when I'm unmedicated. I'm autistic with ADHD, and have meds for the latter, which control my racing brain enormously.

I get it for muscle spasms, its very difficult to get it for anxiety now. My new GP is very anti diazepam which I only use occasionally, but has no issue with my prescription for clonazepam which I am supposed to take every day. It makes no sense.

That sounds really annoying and I can see totally why you need a pharmacological solution in that case.

it’s frustrating that you had found something that works for you and then you’re now scrabbling around for a solution because of prescribing guidelines.

In your situation maybe a private gp prescription or a consult with an ND-friendly Gp is the way to go.

Propanolol has its uses but I didn’t get on with it as for me it caused massive insomnia. Maybe worth a try though?

If you have a dog that gets anxious when travelling / around fireworks you may find your vet will prescribe diazepam. Just saying...

Now THAT is a good idea. and you’re correct. Last time I was at the vets they offered me diazepam for my firework phobic dog who dug a hole in my bed on New Year’s Eve.

I got given 3 when my mum died. I asked who had to die to get a weeks worth
not sure he appreciated my humour!