Posted by Quintal on March 10, 2007, at 10:40:17
In reply to Re: Replacing benzos with gabapentin? » yxibow, posted by valene on March 10, 2007, at 7:53:48
There's no evidence that long-term benzo use causes brain damage in any way, but there may be lingering functional changes making the benzodiazepine receptors hypersensitive according to Ashton. It seems this can be corrected with Flumazenil if necessary:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20061010/msgs/706548.html.
I'm not sure substitution drugs are always necessary or helpful, since you then have to withdraw from that drug too. The advice seems to be to lower the benzo dose very slowly according to your preference, so even making tiny reductions and taking a few years to come off them if you need is still progress.
Q
poster:Quintal
thread:739534
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070308/msgs/739784.html