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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by skills on July 2, 2002, at 8:10:22
Why if almost all benzodiazepines are non-specific why do people report that different benzo's have such a significant differences in their effects. Xanax is in theory no more of an AD than Valium, Librium or Temazepam. BDZ's may vary in potency but fundamentally they, with the exception of Zopiclone which is though t be more selective than other BDZ's, target exactlly the same receptors and therefore have exactlly the same effects. Therefore surely an acute anxiety sufferer would do better to take a long half-life BZD like chlorodiazepoxide than they would aprazolam(Xanax)as along term nedication which will mean higher blood concerntrations of the required BZD for longer. It seems that apralozam, lorazepam et al. are more suitable as an immediate anti-panic/anoxylitic rather than a long term BZD. I know with the long half life BZD's there is a higher potential for addiction, but this argument seems fruitless in an instance when BZD's are the only long term medical solution anyway. Also if someone has become dependant on a short half-life BZD and wishes to discontinue use of the medication surely it would be more sensible to switch them to a long half-life BZD so the withdrawal is more controlled and blood levels less varied resulting in a far more comfortable time had by the person involved? Peace
Posted by katekite on July 2, 2002, at 8:44:25
In reply to To all Benzodiazepine Users., posted by skills on July 2, 2002, at 8:10:22
One theory is that although they go to the same receptors, different benzodiazepines may attain higher concentrations in different brain areas due to their slight differences in chemical structure. So the benzo sleep aids may concentrate more in 'lower' brain areas while the ones more effective on anxiety might concentrate more in 'higher' cognitive type areas. I think at this point that is really still just a theory, but it sounds reasonable to me.
As far as getting off a short acting one, I have definitely read many places of substituting one benzodiazepine for another to try to avoid withdrawal.
Posted by judy1 on July 2, 2002, at 23:20:40
In reply to To all Benzodiazepine Users., posted by skills on July 2, 2002, at 8:10:22
I know with the long half life BZD's there is a higher potential
for addictionActually the opposite is true, the short half life benzos (xanax) have more potential for dependence, so that when withdrawing people are usually switched to a longer half-life like klonopin. They do act in different ways with different people just like SSRI's do. I take klonopin for panic disorder and xanax prn when I am having a panic cluster. Hope this helps- judy
Posted by skills on July 3, 2002, at 14:40:58
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users. » skills, posted by judy1 on July 2, 2002, at 23:20:40
Sorry Judy i do not mean to disagree but as i understand it, it is a medical fact that short half life BZD have a lower potential for addiction. This is because your system is exposed to the BZD for less time which therefore results in less of a need for the homeostatic reajustment of the CNS than if it were exposed to a longer acting BZD. The theory that Katy mentioned in a previous post may explain the different effects from different BZD's. The reason why i question it is maybe people would do better to re-evaluate their BZD medication in order to get the best out of them whilst benefitting from the least amount of detrimental effects. Peace
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on July 3, 2002, at 14:53:11
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/Judy, posted by skills on July 3, 2002, at 14:40:58
The general view is that the benzos with the short half-lives such as Ativan and Xanax are the most likely to cause dependency.Indeed to get off them it is usual to change to diazepam which has a very long half-life,reducing slowly then over weeks or months.Taking SSRIs may help as may omega-3 fish oil in doses of about 3-10g daily.
Posted by judy1 on July 3, 2002, at 20:42:31
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/Judy, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on July 3, 2002, at 14:53:11
Actually there was a point in my life when I was dependent on xanax and the hosp did put me on valium (like klonopin a long half-life benzo) It worked very well- judy
Posted by skills on July 4, 2002, at 10:41:00
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/Judy, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on July 3, 2002, at 14:53:11
Short half life Benzo's have a LOWER potential for addiction, not greater and this is a known medical fact. Short half life BZD's have a greater potential for withdrawal once dependency is established. Xanax is far less likely to cause dependancy than a BZD with a long half life. I hope this helps with your confusion.
Posted by skills on July 4, 2002, at 10:44:55
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/Judy, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on July 3, 2002, at 14:53:11
Judy, you must belive me that short half life benzo's are less likely to cause addiction because they are clear of your system far quicker than a long half life BZD. I know this from many years of experience working alongside medical users and recreational abusers trying to stop using BZD's. Peace
Posted by geno on July 4, 2002, at 11:35:54
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/ED, posted by skills on July 4, 2002, at 10:41:00
My pdoc told me benzodiazipine withdrawl is like getting run over by a truck. He said the proper way to titrate down say xanax is .25 a month!!!!!!!!! wow. I take .5mg 2x a day. If i miss a dose, i feel nausea, headache, anxiety, shaky. Bad feeling. alomst as bad or worse than a bad hangover. Actually the WORSE withdrawl one could ever imagine, mentally wise is combining a high amount of xanax with ghb.WOW, i was using 30ml of gbl alont with over 1mg of xanax. For a reason i wont say, i was incarcerated for something stupid for 1 day. Let me tell you, i really rather die than go through that again. SHEER PANIC, pulse 180, shakes, feeling of hopelessness dreadfull sadness and fear of dying. im sure jail didnt help, but if i was in there 1 more day or 12 more hours, i think i would have died. GABA drugs are top of the list. Someone told me that here are the worst drugs for withdrawls. 1. xanax 2. heroin 3.alcohol and ghb.
any comment
Posted by AlphaOne on July 7, 2002, at 15:26:13
In reply to Re: To all Benzodiazepine Users/ED, posted by geno on July 4, 2002, at 11:35:54
A friend of mine ran out of Tetrazepam she`d been taking for three months and started hallucinating about seeing spiders and such.
She didn`t realize it was the withdrawal, which added to the horror.
This is the end of the thread.
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