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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by halcyondaze on October 30, 2006, at 12:34:38
Hi everyone. I used to be tygereyes, and yes, I wreaked quite some havoc on this board.
Please note: I have examined the substance abuse and withdrawal boards and decided that my question was most appropriate here, as it is about the specific action of Phenobarbitol. With an Adderall question thrown in, too.
So, I was taking extremely high doses of Adderall (up to 400 mg/day) for six months and Xanax (up to 14 mg/day) for three months. All unprescribed.
I am in a detox program now. I tried to get off Xanax on my own but ... my god ... I have never known a withdrawal like that before. And the program I am in is monitoring me very carefully, as they say that benzo detox is much worse than any other detox, far worse than heroin, far more dangerous. I never knew this before: I always thought Xanax was a throw-away drug. Now it is like a handcuff I can't get rid of.
They started me on 30 mg Phenobarbitol QID, and then cut the dose down to 15 mg QID. I really *felt* the withdrawal symptoms all over again. Two days later, I felt normal again. My questions are:
1) Does Phenobarbitol "mimic" the action of Xanax and bind to the same receptors (I believe GABA-A - or is it GABA-B? Or both?)? If not, then why am I "protected" from the withdrawal symptoms with the Phenobarb, despite only having been off Xanax for less than a week, which is not enough time to break a physical Xanax dependency?
2) When I eventually get off the Phenobarb entirely, will the withdrawal symptoms be due to benzo withdrawal or barbiturate withdrawal? Or just general sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, if they're pharmacologically similar?
3) Has anyone else managed to stop taking a benzo using a barbiturate? If so, how long did the process last? How long before you weren't in benzo withdrawal hell anymore?
4) What are the side effects of Phenobarb, specifically, at this dose? My brain is such a neurochemical mess that I don't know which symptoms are due to which drug, or lack thereof the drugs.
And, finally, an Adderall question:
5) I have a history of anorexia nervosa. When I was on Adderall, my weight got VERY low, and since I've been off, I've been bingeing like crazy and had a double-digit gain in the first week and a half. Will my metabolism return to normal? Will I always need to use speed to suppress my appetite from now on or will I get in touch with my "hunger signals" again? [I have gone through the anorexia refeeding process many times, but I don't know if the amphetamine withdrawal complicates it, and I want to stop bingeing and (small voice) lose weight].
Thanks, everyone.
Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 14:49:54
In reply to Detox from high-dose Xanax w/ Phenobarb, posted by halcyondaze on October 30, 2006, at 12:34:38
Wow what country are you in? I reconize tigeteyes the name. But here they usually substitute a long acting benzo as valium was the drug of choice in the detox unit I worked in. As the half-life is so long. So why phenobarbitol? As they had people detoxing from xanax and alchohol. Sorry I don't know the technical aspects you're requesting. I wish I did. Just get well okay? My thoughts are with you. Love Phillipa
Posted by halcyondaze on October 30, 2006, at 16:02:04
In reply to Re: Detox from high-dose Xanax w/ Phenobarb » halcyondaze, posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 14:49:54
> Wow what country are you in? I reconize tigeteyes the name. But here they usually substitute a long acting benzo as valium was the drug of choice in the detox unit I worked in. As the half-life is so long. So why phenobarbitol? As they had people detoxing from xanax and alchohol. Sorry I don't know the technical aspects you're requesting. I wish I did. Just get well okay? My thoughts are with you. Love Phillipa
I'm in the US ... They chose Phenobarb because they used to use Klonopin or Valium to detox people but on an outpatient basis, it was too difficult to determine whether they were using JUST the meds they were given, or whether they were using their previous benzo of choice or if it was at higher doses than allotted. Also, people described feeling euphoric off of Klonopin and Valium and either craving more, taking all the pills at once, or craving their previous benzos. It made it more difficult to get off. With Phenobarbitol, there's no euphoria whatsoever. It just makes me feel normal.
I remember you from before, and you're just as sweet as you were back then. :)
Posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 18:28:32
In reply to Re: Detox from high-dose Xanax w/ Phenobarb, posted by halcyondaze on October 30, 2006, at 16:02:04
Thanks how kind. Well the 8 or so years I've been away from nursing things have drastically changed as the benzo detox used to be in the hospital. So how do they get you off the phenobarbitol. I know it's a seizure med. Love Phillipa ps I hope your original post didn't say.
Posted by halcyondaze on October 31, 2006, at 9:37:01
In reply to Re: Detox from high-dose Xanax w/ Phenobarb » halcyondaze, posted by Phillipa on October 30, 2006, at 18:28:32
> Thanks how kind. Well the 8 or so years I've been away from nursing things have drastically changed as the benzo detox used to be in the hospital. So how do they get you off the phenobarbitol. I know it's a seizure med. Love Phillipa ps I hope your original post didn't say.
They slowly reduce the dose. At first, I was at 30 mg, four times a day. Then 15 mg, four times a day. Today I'm going down to 15 mg, three times a day. Then once you feel okay again, they cut it to 15 mg twice a day, and finally once a day, and then you're off.
Hence all the questions, since I've never been through benzo detox before, but no one's biting. :(
This is the end of the thread.
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