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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattye on July 19, 2007, at 19:20:09
Why are mood stabilizers favored over long acting benzos such as Klonopin?
From what I've heard, the valproates have an effect on GABA, but also have a lot of crummy side effects.
Can't Klonopin acheive the same results. It seems like it would have a positive effect on mania, and it isn't very addictive. I was on Klonopin every day for a whole month and I just stopped it without any withdrawl... which is more than I can say about SSRIs.
Posted by Phillipa on July 19, 2007, at 19:43:32
In reply to Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos, posted by mattye on July 19, 2007, at 19:20:09
Mattye I stopped klonopin just like that and no problem but I do now take valium. Tried lamictal and it didn't do a thing. So I don't see why klonopin couldn't be used. Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on July 20, 2007, at 1:08:51
In reply to Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos, posted by mattye on July 19, 2007, at 19:20:09
I'm a big fan of benzo's because I had a very hard time on Mood stabilizers. Too many side effects. I can't see why you couldn't go back on benzo's, they worked much better for me. Also the Mood stabilizers totally screwed with my liver but not eveyone has this problem, if you go onto Mood stabilizers make sure you have regular blood work specifically for liver function. I was not told about this and thankfully my liver is fine again. Good luck
Posted by SheilaC on July 20, 2007, at 6:48:54
In reply to Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos, posted by mattye on July 19, 2007, at 19:20:09
I have been wondering this same thing. I have had terrible reactions to most of the "mood stabilizers", but I get a great result with Klonopin combined with Wellbutrin. After my last unsuccessful bout with Depakote, I am going to use Klonopin as my mood stabilizer.
> Why are mood stabilizers favored over long acting benzos such as Klonopin?
>
> From what I've heard, the valproates have an effect on GABA, but also have a lot of crummy side effects.
>
> Can't Klonopin acheive the same results. It seems like it would have a positive effect on mania, and it isn't very addictive. I was on Klonopin every day for a whole month and I just stopped it without any withdrawl... which is more than I can say about SSRIs.
Posted by linkadge on July 21, 2007, at 19:41:33
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos, posted by SheilaC on July 20, 2007, at 6:48:54
Benzo's are sometimes used as mood stabilizers. The only real advantage of lithium/depakote vs. a benzo, is that apparently, lithium/depakote have more effect on some of the genes that may be involved in bipolar (ie PKC, BCL-2, GSK-3b) etc.
These two mood stabilizers are also neurotrophic, while the benzo's are not.
If you do not respond well to lithium or depakote, then I don't see why a benzo is a bad idea, as the other mood stabilizers, (ie lamotrigine, gabapentin, topomax etc), do not share lithium/depakotes ability alter PKC etc, and so are no more "bipolar specific" then the benzo's
Linakdge
Posted by tensor on July 22, 2007, at 6:27:09
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos, posted by linkadge on July 21, 2007, at 19:41:33
Doens't mood stabilizers (lith, lam..) also decrease glutamate, which could be thought of as the opposite of GABA?
/Mattias
Posted by linkadge on July 22, 2007, at 8:33:55
In reply to Re: Mood stabilizers vs. Benzos » linkadge, posted by tensor on July 22, 2007, at 6:27:09
Yeah, most mood stabilizers, in the end, decrease glutamatergic neurotransmission in some way. Benzodiazapines will do the same.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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