Clorazepate (generic of Tranxene SD)

[Bama21]

I am the only one on this forum that I have seen who has had experience with this med.  It's a benzo that is longer lasting than Xanax or Ativan.  I don't think that Tranxene SD is even manufactured anymore (at least in the US), so maybe that is why Clorazepate isn't prescribed much.

I was just wondering because this stuff has been awesome for me.  I am off of it now, but in doing so, I had zero withdrawals, and it was effective for me for a good 2 and a half months...even in small doses.  Also, I took it every day for a couple of months, so there is something to be said for NO withdrawals AT ALL (at least what I could notice).

Has anyone had any experience with this or Tranxene?  I would recommend at least asking a doctor about it. 

[michelle74]

I use this, Tranxene T is what I use and have been on it for over 10 years.  Its not a common rx anymore but its the only thing I have personally been able to use without any side effects.  Now since I have been on it for so long I have experienced withdrawals when I was trying to ween off it, I couldnt sleep and had terrible anxiety.  Its actaully made for people with alcohol withdrawal but is used for anxiety as well.  I know Tranxene SD is another form of it but its basically the same as the T.  My pharmacy has to order it b/c Im the only one who uses it, to my knowledge it is still made and distributed in the US.  Its very old school in the new world of anxiety meds but it helps me so Ive stuck with it and when I have tried other anxiety meds I feel spacey or just not like myself or have other issues and that made the anxiety worse.  So youre not alone, there is another Tranxene user :) 

[eduk8or]

Bama,

Was this prescribed by a GP or a psychiatrist?  How do you get the medication if it's not really used in the U.S. anymore?  I am afraid to use my bezo because of fear of addiction, so maybe this would be a different route for me if I needed it.

[Bama21]

Bama,

Was this prescribed by a GP or a psychiatrist?  How do you get the medication if it's not really used in the U.S. anymore?  I am afraid to use my bezo because of fear of addiction, so maybe this would be a different route for me if I needed it.

It was prescribed by a GP/psychiatrist.  I know it doesn't make sense.  There is a doctor in my hometown who is a GP, but also has a specialty of treating ADHD.  He's my dad's doctor for this.  Anyway, when I had my first panic attack, my dad got me in to see him on short notice.  I went to him a few times and he's the one who prescribed the Clorazepate as well as the citalopram. 

Clorazepate is definitely manufactured here in the US.  What happened was that he originally prescribed Tranxene SD.  Well, every pharmacy in my town told me that they couldn't get it.  So...he called in the clorazepate as the replacement.

Also, I'm sure that clorazepate can be addictive just like other benzos.  For me, I think it was great because of its longer lasting effects.  What would happen is that it would relax me for long enough to where I couldn't even really tell when it's effects wore off.  I would take a small dose in the morning and wouldn't even feel the need to take another dose for the rest of the day.  On a bad day I might take another small dose at night which would last until the next day.

[eduk8or]

That sounds ideal.  I wonder why it isn't used more often??

[michelle74]

From what my psychiatrist told me, most dr.'s are so into these 'new' meds for anxiety that Tranxene doesn't even cross their minds.  It does last and as Bama mentioned above, it really does make you feel better minus the side effects associated with other meds.  I would suggest to anyone with anxiety disorder to ask their doctor if this might be an option if your current meds aren't making you feel much better.