Posted by mattw84 on April 8, 2005, at 22:04:39
In reply to Re: benzos, to Ed » mworkman, posted by Phillipa on April 8, 2005, at 17:03:27
Aside from the fact that all benzos act with a respectively unique pharmokinetic action -- their intended uses and exact pharmacology can differ quite widely. I believe Bob has put up a couple different "equivilency" charts somewhere on this site. Perhaps someone has the link to it?
I would not recommend relying exclusively on an equivilency chart to find the optimally equipotent dose; simply because there is literally no such thing for any benzo. I recently attempted to switch from Xanax XR to Klonopin and begin a very slow taper schedule, the consequences of which were very unpleasant... so back to my normal dose of Xanax XR I went. I gave my pdoc the task of coming up with a suitable withdrawal program -- and if that fails I plan to go to an inpatient detoxification facility. After all... benzos are essentially alcohol in a pill, whether you are aware of the cognitive side effects or not -- you are taking a narcotic substance simply to avoid realities of whatever phobia or trigger one may have.
I think I have figured out why Benzos are so appealing... Life is a l3*tch, and who doesn't want to escape from it all? Ignorance has be bliss, but reality keeps popping in through the Xanax cloud -- Seems to me it's time I learn to deal with it... That or increase my dose ;)
Also...
0.5 mg Xanax = ~1mg Ativan = ~10mg Valium
So my meager daily dose of 6mg of Xanax XR is *approximately* a mere 120mg of Valium... Now that's what I call "good medicine." =)
I mean no offense to anyone in this, just expressing my thoughts on the subject. Best of luck to all and hopefully we can look forward to a non drug-reliant future.
Sincerely,
Matt (in the Hat? [Sorry... that's the xanax acting up again...])
poster:mattw84
thread:481519
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050408/msgs/481849.html