I understand the need for some relief. And Benzos like Xanax, etc do work in the short run.

But in the long run the pain, zaps, and whatever will increase, and you will have breakthrough events until the next pill. Basically they are affecting and enhancing inhibitory neurons and have some anti-seizure effects. Valium is given for post-icthal seizure stabilizing when people have grand mal seizures. This is to prevent slipping back into another grand mal.

The benzos have different 1/2 lives, and wear off differently.

Xanax is the fastest acting, not meant for long term use for pain.
Ativan is moderately acting...
Valium is long acting.
Klonopin is the longest acting, and will have the least breakthrough. But it is the most addictive.
As people age, they cannot clear these drugs properly and so
warnings for the elderly are up for the whole Benzo family today.

All of them are discouraged today, because of the rapid habituation to them. Getting off these drugs is very painful and takes weeks to months.

I am going to add this drug family to our Medications post in the subforum, soon. But I have been too ill to do it until about now.
Maybe this week or next.

So they do give some relief in the beginning, and seem wonderful. That effect does change with time however.

MrsD, Thanks for the Info. Im sorry to hear you were not feeling well, Hope you are feeling better!

I have been taking xanax for over 20 yrs (gulp) for anxiety disorder. I know now it was a big mistake taking it for so long. I wish my doctor would have warned me back then. I am also on the same low dose all these years!. I feel I will be on it for the rest of my life. The withdrawal Ive read about scares me! Since I starting having neuropathy pain my anxiety has increased and I can not sleep. I didnt increase my dose (tho I am so tempted) I just startd taking my first morning dose earlier, 2:00am instead of 8:00am to help me sleep. It helps for now ,but as you said it has a short life. I do not want to start taking sleeping pills, I already refused Ambien.

My Doc/Psych wants to switch me from xanax to Klonopin so I could be on a longer lasting med. I am nervous about this switch because I feel I will get xanax withdrawal sypmtoms. The Doc says I shouldnt have any withdrawal because I will be switching from one Benzo to another, but this still scares me for I have been taking xanax for a long time. I do not have to worry about an "addiction or dependency" unfort for me this has already happened. What are your thoughts on this..Thanks....

I don't think you will have a problem switching to Klonopin.

But alot depends on the doses involved. If you are on the high end of Xanax, then the Klonopin dose may be too small, but there is
alot of wiggle room for adjustment, and people are different.

Your PN could be due to the Xanax... it is a hard thing to wrap your head around, but the pain comes back bigger and bigger, over time with these drugs.

[QUOTE=mrsD;966643]I don't think you will have a problem switching to Klonopin.

But alot depends on the doses involved. If you are on the high end of Xanax, then the Klonopin dose may be too small, but there is
alot of wiggle room for adjustment, and people are different.

Your PN could be due to the Xanax... it is a hard thing to wrap your head around, but the pain comes back bigger and bigger, over time with these drugs.

MrsD,
Do you mean the xanax could have actually caused my PN? I am only on .5 xanax 3 times day. Is there a Klonopin dose that could cover this amt? I find sometimes, when Im having a PN flare up , (I think) the xanax helps calm it dwn a tiny bit. Ive never noticed that the xanax causes "rebound" PN pain, but it deff causes "rebound anxiety.

So when the Xanax wears off you have more pain, and want another Xanax.... it is a very common trap.

There is alot about this on the net. I just haven't put it all together yet. But Cyclelops here ran into this problem. If you search members list for her recent posts, she goes into her
battle with Klonopin.

So yes, in the short run there is relief...but as time passes you enter into the cycle of more pain, needing more Benzo. It is rather inevitable IMO.

Mrs. D
Thanks for your input.
Can you give me any clue regarding when this kind of nerve pain attacks will ease off?
When people have neuropathy, I know it becomes and is cronic. It does not realy heal. But does it sort of go into some sort of remission??

My struggle has lasted for about 1 year now.Before that, I thought the numbness I felt was MS, due to the fact I had MS lesions on my brain MRI. But I believe they have ruled that out now, ( the pain was not so bad until a few months ago, now getting worse.)
Taking this medication for these symptoms is not good for long term, it is just symptom relief. I can not imagin me taking this Lyrica for very long. I feel very bad. And I can not imagin having these pain burning, vibrating and feeling like fine tremors inside. Regarding the Xanax, my PCP prescribed that to me some time ago, just after I had been off from my job a few weeks due to a small CVA. I have had a lot of issues, and it was making me a little anxious.