[BoogiePop]

Here we never use it. We use a lot of klonopin and Ativan, but never valium. We still have it though, but I don't know why we don't use it. I read somewhere that the Ativan was actually more potent as an ansioltic than valium, is this true?

I once asked a psychiatrist and he said the valium had more addictive properties than the Ativan and the Klonopin, but I couldn't find any source to check this.

[midnitelpn]

clonazepam seems to be the routine narc med of choice where i work.
lorazepam is used more for prns, here.
i will have 3-4 pts on routine diazepam at any given time (out of 70 pts), however. depends alot on the doc. the im drug we use is ativan. i see diazepam used im alot more for medical emergencies.
i'm not sure either about one being more addictive than the other....i've seen difficulties weaning pts off/tolerance, w/all 3 when used for extended periods.

[midnitelpn]

maybe the addiction potential could have to do w/the onset, peak & duration? i really dont know...isnt valium a longer acting benzo....i cant remember. (wheres my drug book?!) i know its not a benzo, but we used to use alot of chloral hydrate, and now i hardly ever see that...

[drmorton2b]

Mostly Klonopin where I work as the primary benzo. Ativan occasionally we use it in the PO form, mostly we use Ativan injections for emergencies. Primarily Klonopin for all the usual psych uses. The other benzo we use a lot is Librium, to help prevent seizures and the like from ETOH withdrawal.

[KrissyPRN]

We use ativan alot prn for agitation usually along with haldol and benadryl. Klonopin is used sometimes for anxiety but more commonly we try to use vistaril first. There is a physician on our unit who uses a valium taper for his alcohol detox pt's. The rest of our physcians use the CIWA protocol with Ativan. I actually think the valium detox works better.

[MedicalLPN]

Where I'm at currently, it's Ativan and Xanax all the way. For agitation we most commonly give Ativan and Geodon IM and occasionally Haldol.

[aloevera]

Our facility does not use Valium....we use Ativan/Klonopin/ and occasionally Zanax....I think because Valium is more addictive, I don't know for sure

[Mish56]

Valium is much longer acting, and a ***** to taper off for the addicted patient, LONG TAPER!! Read "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can" if you want to learn about Valium addiction.
We use lots of ativan, and of course librium for the alcohol WD.

[marianneclara]

I recently administered to a 15 yr old girl who was prescribed Valium QHS.
But that is the first time since I've worked here (7 mos.)

[Mish56]

Marrianneclara,
I hope the MD was kidding, altho I doubt it. Benzodiazapines (valium included) are very risky for adolecents. It commonly causes them to become totally dis-inhibited!! It travels the same neuropathways as alcohol. They lose any ability to contain their emotional responses, just as people who are drunk behave. They cry more, they just plain act like someone with zero inhibitions (which they are just developing anyway). I won't say I haven't seen kids do OK with it, I have. And certainly if it is used as an anesthia agent, that's a whole different ball of wax. But in psych, it's just plain stupid. Most of the adol psych BOARD certified MD's I have worked with use something like LOW dose (25-50 mg) Seroquel for agitation or sleep problems. Works like a charm and no risk of addiction. How did your kid do with it? Hope all worked out OK.