RE: Anyone use Xanax/Klonopin/Benzos to treat anxiety with running?

benzodiazepines are CNS depressants so you are definitely going to lose your edge performance-wise if you decide to rely on them.

I would try avoid the use of medications in regards to racing. Have you tried cognitive behavior therapy to deal with the anxiety? the problem with benzos and other anxiety meds is all it does is deal with the anxiety on a chemical level in your body, it doesn't teach YOU as a person to deal with anxiety. i think it would be more important for you to try and recognize the triggers for your anxiety and try to figure out ways to work yourself down. by consistently taking benzos for the anxiety, your not dealing with the core issues of the anxiety, just masking it. Hope this helps! :)

Don't talk psychotropic drugs for any reason unless you prefer having a "doctor" tinker around on a trial and error basis with the chemicals in your brain. If you look at all of the school and workplace shootings, as well as these weird cases where a mom murders all of her kids, they *always* involve psychotropics. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressants are by-products of petroleum production and are championed as treatments for mental problems despite dubious evidence (at best) that they do a damn bit of good.

Not to mention, withdraw from benzo drugs can take years, sometimes with some oh-so-chilling side effects like seizures, anxiety, nightmares, impaired memory, hallucinations, and depression. Enjoy!

I agree with the idea about trying cognitive behavior therapy for the reasons Suggestion! said. It can do some real good without some of the downsides you are having.

At a D1 school, there are also probably people you could talk to in student health services who could help. Good luck!

On a couple of occasions I've taken a Xanax the night before a race to help me sleep, and I have to say it worked great each time. That being said, I've never experienced undue pre-race/race day anxiety before, so any anxiety I've ever felt was obviously on a completely different level.

jimmy crack corn i would love to know what your medical background is . are you an MD? whats your reference for those long term side effects?

I have tried a lot of cognitive techniques and things don't change. Like I said, I still want to give myself a chance with the sport. I know how addictive these are and that's why I'm very hesitant. I don't want to abuse these whatsoever. I just want to have a little bit of a boost to help me confront these situations.

Whatever you do, DONT take it within 8-10 hours of a race, it will make you sluggish and sleepy. I have a Xanax prescription and only take it as needed for sleeping problems. I would take 1/2 the night before a race to get sleep. Once I made the mistake of taking one at night around 10 and the race was early, like 8AM...on the starting line i literally felt like i could go to sleep, sure my nerves were gone, but so was my adrenaline and desire to race. Ran terrible...Only take it early the night before a race.

You'd be better off smoking some weed than taking some psychotropic, addictive drug that will likely mess up your running.

I was in a somewhat similar situation as you, and I was feeling anxious on a regular basis. It started to get in the way of things in life, so my doctor put me on Klonopin (0.25 mg) once each night. I have been on it for a few months, and I never noticed any drowsiness/sluggishness. I only feel more relaxed, and it's allowed me train at a higher level with less anxiety. These types of prescriptions affect everyone different, but that's my experience.

Wow... dont listen to these people. If it helps, use it- Trial and error is the only way!

Klonopin is very mild and similar to an advil for your brain, especially .5mg.

Klonopin is also very different from antidepressants etc in that it's an on use medication, meaning you take it and feel the effects for several hours, then its gone.

I suggest trying it on a workout before using it during competition- again .5 mg is very mild, it should not have the drowsiness effects that come from stronger meds such as Xanax... if it does, possibly take half (.25mg).

I'd steer clear of using it every time you run as you may become dependant.

I am past competitive days but use it for long runs as it helps me relax. I often feel it helps me focus more on the workout at hand.

Good luck!

If running made me anxious to the point when I needed a prescription. I would quit.

Mattklonopin wrote:

Klonopin is very mild and similar to an advil for your brain, especially .5mg.

You are an absolute full-of-retardation brain-crippled non-ball-having dim-wit if you think ibuprofen and benzodiazepines are similar "for your brain".

You don't need drugs. You need a woman to give you some extra curricular activities.

Klonopin is a notoriously addictive benzo that can cause severe physical withdrawals, chronic depression and suicidal tendencies.

Kurt Cobain killed himself not because of the heroin. It was the Klonopin.

Dude, in all seriousness, just smoke a joint. Pills with names that have X's and Z's in them are not necessarily more effective, but they are patented and controlled by big pharma.

OK, I would avoid like the plague tetracyclic antidepressant drugs like remeron or trazadone. I would also avoid the majority of benzos. However, small doses of klonopin are very mild, truthfully. I would definitely not take it daily though, you develop an incredible dependence on that crap.

For me, the best things for the type of thing you`re looking for are amitriptyline or immovane (which is a sleep aid). Both are pretty mild, and have very minimal effects on performance.

Do not take medical advice from anyone on this board. They are not Doctors, thus not qualified to give you an answer.

Agree with the guy above though. If running is effecting your mental health, it may be time for a break. In the end, it is supposed to be fun and a part of your life, not your whole life.

Good luck

lkjlkjkljkljkjl wrote:

OK, I would avoid like the plague tetracyclic antidepressant drugs like remeron or trazadone. I would also avoid the majority of benzos. However, small doses of klonopin are very mild, truthfully. I would definitely not take it daily though, you develop an incredible dependence on that crap.

For me, the best things for the type of thing you`re looking for are amitriptyline or immovane (which is a sleep aid). Both are pretty mild, and have very minimal effects on performance.

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant just like remeron or trazadone, with a similar side effect profile. Immovant is not a benzo but has a very similar side effect profile and addictive properties.

I agree w/ the person who said don't take any advice off of this board. If you trust these message boards more than you trust your doctor it is time to get a new doctor.