Xanax vs Valerian Root...help

[Babydi]

Hi! Im Kristi and I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder a few years ago. . I am currently nursing my nine month old daughter and I do not want to stop any time soon. So for those times that I have a bad panic attack (which usually happens at night in bed) I have been taking 1/2 of a xanax. A whole if I really need to. But I know its really bad to take while nursing and I will feel so guilty for taking it the next morning. So I bought Valerian Root thinking it would be better (if it will work) to help calm me down and make me tired so I can just go to sleep. I just read the bottle and it says not to use while lactating. I dont know what to do. Which would be the lesser of two evils? Would you take the small amount of xanax or the Valerian Root? I only give in to taking the xanax like once a month. Just for those REALLY bad ones, that make me feel like im going crazy.

So, what would you do? Xanax or Valerian Root??
Oh and I do Co-sleep as well.

TIA!!!

[AnyMama]

Hi there!

I have a couple of thoughts for you. First of all, Xanax is one of the worst Benzos. I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about taking a benzo if you really need it, but how about Ativan or Klonopin? If you had to take it, I would take it after nursing. Xanax is the most addictive of all, and has the most side effects.

As for natural stuff, I say go for it, what do you have to lose? If it doesn't work you're no worse off than now. Like the meds, I would take Valerian after nursing, it's pretty potent as a sleep aid.

Some other things you can look into that are safe for nursing are Rescue Remedy or another Bach Floral Remedy (google them, you can look and see if another of them would be better for you than resuce remedy) or Calm's Forte. Both of these are homeopathic and you can get them at the health food store or in many cases your local pharmacy. I'd say it's safe to try one of these first and if it doesn't work, then you can take a med. I wouldn't necessarily do that with the others while nursing (which is to say, I personally would do it, but maybe you should leave some time between).

Magnolia bark has been shown to be as affective as valium in Japanese studies without the sedating side effects. The easiest way to find it is in the diet supplement Relacore (pricey, but many users find it works really well). I'd just run the ingredients in Relacore by your doctor or midwife and make sure there's nothing bad in there. Lastly, GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps reduce anxiety. You can get it alone or in a combination with B6 and some other vitamins called GABA calm or GABA relaxers.

Speaking of B6, do you take it regularly? You might consider trading your prenatal for something with higher level or B vitamins, or a combination of supplements that includes a B-50 (50mg of each of the B vitamins). The B's are anti-stress vitamins and B6 is one of the key good mental health vitamins. Don't go higher than a B-50 while nursing because some of the B's are toxic to children at levels just over 100mg, so I wouldn't risk it since many are added to food products.

Okay, one last suggestion: get and read The Mood Cure by Julia Ross. While she doesn't recommend her treatment for pregnancy or nursing, a lot of what she offers (especially for anxiety) is safe. And one of the best things I got from her book was the diet, which is totally safe.

Good luck to you in all of it!!

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I think the PP has great advice.

I just wanted to add that probably the only reason valerian isn't recommended with breastfeeding is that there aren't any studies showing its okay (and there aren't any studies showing its NOT okay). But they make nighty-night teas and other herbal formulas specifically for children that use valerian, so I really doubt it will hurt your babe at all.

Middle-of-the-night panic attacks are often preceeded by low blood sugar. Nursing makes our blood sugar more prone to dropping at shorter intervals than it used to. It might help a lot to have a protein snack before bed, then another protein snack by your bedside to eat when you wake in the middle of the night.

[Babydi]

wow you mamas are great! Im going to look into magnolia bark and that book today! Its funny that you mention low blood sugar because I have a terrible time with my blood sugar getting low and I get all shakey almost panicky feeling if I dont get food right away! And I know I have a sugar addiction. Its bad. I even crave sugary foods. The sugar cravings started when I was preg and just escalated after I had my daughter. So strange because I used to be a salt person, not sugar.

I have never heard about B vitamins and anxiety. I can get some of that when I go to the health food store for the magnolia bark. It would be amazing if diet and vitamins could eventually get rid of my panic attacks...I hate living like this. Its like your a prisoner of your own mind. ugh

Anyways thanks again! Ill keep you updated!

[AnyMama]

You might be really surprised what diet can do for you. It sounds to me like there might be a true link in your case.

I eat a low carbohydrate, high fat diet. Sugar, flour and potatoes never cross my lips anymore. I did go through carbohydrate withdrawal at first, but it was worth it to reduce cravings (not to mention that I've lost a ton of weight)

I notice a significant difference in my mental health when I lower my fat intake as well. I tried a low-fat diet and was an emotional wreck the whole time.

Another thing to consider is that B vitamins are very helpful in metabolizing sugars well and in increasing your energy.

Definitely read up on the Mood Cure diet and try increasing your B's. I'd be very surprised if you didn't see at least some positive impact by doing so.

I was at the health food store today and saw a supplement by Paragon that sounded vaguely like "Relacore" (Rela calm maybe, or Relaslim, not sure), anyway, enough so that I picked it up to see what was in it and sure enough it had Magnolia bark along with B6, valerian root, chamomile...a bunch of great things for stress/anxiety reduction. You might see if you can find that near you. The brand is Paragon, it has a white bottle/label with green and purple ink. I've not found magnolia bark alone yet, and even if I did, I wouldn't know how much to take.

[WillowBrook]

If you have been taking the Xanax every night for 3 weeks or more then do NOT just stop taking it. This may lead to some very very uncomfortable withdrawals. You will need to speak to your prescribing Doctor and work out a tapering schedule to wean down off of it.

[zonapellucida]

I'd stick wiht the benzo. Valerian didn't releive my attacks.

[Aeress]

I am taking Xanax for anxiety. I generally take it at night, 2 tablets. My dr had recommended tapering off of it, slowly going down to 1 tablet, then a half and then off.

I have been on it for 3-4weeks, since thanksgiving. I have been having trouble sleeping since I went down to one tablet, waking up restless and unable to get back to sleep. could the change in dosage do this?

I want to get off it.

I'll check that book out and valerian root.

[Bellejar]

My psych told me that xanax has a very short half life so if you nurse before you take it and pump and dump or wait a long time you should be okay. She prescribed for me while nursing and we discussed pros and cons. Oddly once I had a prescription I never had to take it. It was funny, just having the bottle was enough to make me now have attacks

[WillowBrook]

Originally Posted by brendon

I am taking Xanax for anxiety. I generally take it at night, 2 tablets. My dr had recommended tapering off of it, slowly going down to 1 tablet, then a half and then off.

I have been on it for 3-4weeks, since thanksgiving. I have been having trouble sleeping since I went down to one tablet, waking up restless and unable to get back to sleep. could the change in dosage do this?

Yes definitely, feeling restless and not being able to sleep are signs of withdrawal. Xanax is very strong and short acting so it is highly addictive (one of the most addictive of all the Benzodiazipenes actually). After 3-4 weeks of daily use you will be physically dependant to a degree, but the withdrawals should be manageable if you taper slowly. I would probably do it at a rate more like half a tablet a week. Actually it depends on what dosage your on? Say for example if you're taking the 1mg tablets, you'd be on 2 mgs a day...so I would personally recommend you follow a schedule something like this.

Week 1 - Reduce by half a tablet down to 1.5 mgs

week 2 - Reduce by half a tablet down to 1 mg

Week 3 - manintain on 1 mg

Week 4 - Reduce by half a tablet down to .5 mgs (now go onto the .5 mg tablets)

Week 5 - Reduce by half a tablet down to 2.5 mgs (go onto the 2.5 mg tablets)

Week 6 - maintain on 2.5 mgs

Week 7 - Reduce by half a tablet down to whatever half of 2.5 is

Week 8 - Stop.

Doing it nice and slowly like this should hopefully ensure the absolute minimal withdrawal symptoms possible.

For anyone whose been taking Xanax for considerably longer (eg 1 year or more) I would personally recommend you gradually swap over to Valium and then wean off of that (Ashton Method). But be prepared, depending on how long you have been on them it could take you 12 months or more to wean off completely.

Whatever you do DO NOT JUST STOP TAKING THEM! I cannot emphasise this enough. Cold Turkey from Xanax is absolutely horrendous, it is worse than coming off of Heroin in my direct experience. Depending on how long you have been taking them you also run the risk of having a Grand Mal Seizure with withdrawals, indeed Xanax is the one Benzo which is most associated with Withdrawal Seizures. See your Doctor and taper off them nice and slowly.

Also people who are/have been taking Xanax might find that Valerian doesn't work for you, not at least for a few months (or more depending on how long you've been taking Xanax for) and for some people not at all.

For more information on Xanax and other Benzo's checkout

www.benzo.org.uk

[Ninjinmama]

Hi There!
Do any of these come in liquid form? I've been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks since last August. I'm in therapy, but trying to battle this without meds.
I've tried Rescue Remedy, but can't really tell if it's helping. One of my symptoms/phobia is choking, most vits are a no-go.

[um_hanna]

Originally Posted by Ninjinmama

Hi There!
Do any of these come in liquid form? I've been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks since last August. I'm in therapy, but trying to battle this without meds.
I've tried Rescue Remedy, but can't really tell if it's helping. One of my symptoms/phobia is choking, most vits are a no-go.

are you trying rescue remedy directly under your tongue? you can do 4 drops as needed. there are some great books on it. hope you find relief
Heather

[AnyMama]

Clam's forte in the Children's formula dissolves under the tongue, just take 4 instead of 2, and you can get Valerian root in teas, including Celestial Seasonings new formula of Sleepy time tea. You might be able to find a liquid B vitamin formula at the health food store, and you can get liquid amino acids, though I'm not sure if they include GABA. All of the Bach remedies come in liquid form. Rescue Remedy might not be the right one for you, google Bach Floral Remedies and see which one fits you best.

[Aeress]

willow brook- thank you that is very helpful. I am taking 2 at night so, .50 mg a day. I don't take anymore during the day. I did see a pysch to go over the meds but my general doc is the one who perscribed the xanax. My pysch felt that I shouldn't have an addiction because I was on such a low dose and because it has a short half life.

I have only been on xanax a month.

[Ninjinmama]

Originally Posted by um_hanna

are you trying rescue remedy directly under your tongue? you can do 4 drops as needed. there are some great books on it. hope you find relief

Yes, that's the one I've been using.
Heather

Originally Posted by AnyMama

Clam's forte in the Children's formula dissolves under the tongue, just take 4 instead of 2, and you can get Valerian root in teas, including Celestial Seasonings new formula of Sleepy time tea. You might be able to find a liquid B vitamin formula at the health food store, and you can get liquid amino acids, though I'm not sure if they include GABA. All of the Bach remedies come in liquid form. Rescue Remedy might not be the right one for you, google Bach Floral Remedies and see which one fits you best.

Thanks, I'll keep looking....

[maplesugar]

Originally Posted by Ninjinmama

Hi There!
Do any of these come in liquid form? I've been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks since last August. I'm in therapy, but trying to battle this without meds.
I've tried Rescue Remedy, but can't really tell if it's helping. One of my symptoms/phobia is choking, most vits are a no-go.

You can make valerian tea. It doesn't tast very good, but it is worth it I think. I actually used to jsut chew the root. Most people probably wouldn't be able to stand it.

You can find the celestial seasonings' "sleepy time extra" in most stores. It has to be the "extra" type to have valerian in it. When I use this, I will brew 2 teabags at a time, in a covered container for at least twenty minutes.

Also for the b vitamins in liquid form, I would reccomend some (1-2tblspns) brewer's yeast powder (found in health food stores and sections) dissolved in some water. Brewer's yeast has all sorts of b vitamins.

[cln1812]

My doctor actually prescribed me Zoloft to help with panic attacks & anxiety. I was skeptical at first, but it really has helped me. It is supposed to be safe for breastfeeding. I feel better taking Zoloft instead of Xanax especially since I was having a lot of panic attacks postpartum.

[Ninjinmama]

Originally Posted by maplesugar

You can make valerian tea. It doesn't tast very good, but it is worth it I think. I actually used to jsut chew the root. Most people probably wouldn't be able to stand it.

You can find the celestial seasonings' "sleepy time extra" in most stores. It has to be the "extra" type to have valerian in it. When I use this, I will brew 2 teabags at a time, in a covered container for at least twenty minutes.

Also for the b vitamins in liquid form, I would reccomend some (1-2tblspns) brewer's yeast powder (found in health food stores and sections) dissolved in some water. Brewer's yeast has all sorts of b vitamins.

Just bought the sleepy time extra. Will try two bags next time and see how it works. By chance do you know if you can drink too much?
Hmm... forgot about brewer's yeast. Loved to eat it on my popcorn when I was a kid. Thanks.