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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 Lamdage22 on October 18, 2016, at 5:21:55
is lyrica less apt to cause addiction than lorazepam?
Posted by SLS on October 18, 2016, at 7:07:55
In reply to Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by Lamdage22 on October 18, 2016, at 5:21:55
> is lyrica less apt to cause addiction than lorazepam?
How do you define addiction?
- Scott
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 18, 2016, at 7:37:13
In reply to Re: Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan » Lamdage22, posted by SLS on October 18, 2016, at 7:07:55
in the US, ativan is schedule IV. Lyrica is schedule V, for now. After it goes off patent, I imagine it might get moved into schedule IV (just a guess...).
BZD drugs aren't ideal for long term use, but...part of the problem is that docs are going for klonopin, xanax, and ativan...for everyone. Valium lasts longer, works fast, and is generally easier to taper.
There's a xanax xr now. The big problem from what I read about it is that interdose anxiety is still a problem, just less of one. I imagine 2x daily dosing or some other bzd at night timee would be helpful in that regard. I don't know how tapering xanax xr goes...I would think it'd be easier to taper, or switch to an equivalent of valium and taper off that. I dunno. xanax can help with some forms of depression, and its less likely to cause or worsen depression than the other bzd drugs.
i dunno. if you're talking long term, daily use, I'd ask about valium or xanax xr over lyrica. Its relatively new, expen$ive, and the data is kinda sparse compared to the established bzd drugs.
Hope this helps. Clearly, I'm no kinda expert, just throwing stuff out there for you.
Posted by Jonhed on October 18, 2016, at 7:53:39
In reply to Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by Lamdage22 on October 18, 2016, at 5:21:55
Short answer:
Lyrica causes dangerous and prolonged withdrawal.
In Sweden we detox pregabalin with pregabalin, in comparison with bzd and like every other drug except opiates who are detoxed with just regular benzodiazepines.It is hell to withdraw from pregabalin after prolonged use.
BUT, it's less reinforcing by nature than Ativan, so yes, it is how you define addiction.
I would, without doubt, go for Ativan any day of the year.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on October 18, 2016, at 15:28:35
In reply to Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by Lamdage22 on October 18, 2016, at 5:21:55
lyrica is usally in favor with doctors who avoid benzo's (addiction psychiatrists, special case assignments) they use lyrica, but there's some doctors that i know that won't do anything, it's very difficult with a no action doctor, saying learn coping skills.....
ativan in itself is effective, but why it's avoided with some doctors because of it's enforcing effect, causing the body to expect that feeling all the time, ativan really isnt euphoric for me, it just makes me relax and have a relaxed mood......feel relived from inner tension, i was on ativan in 05 and stayed on it for 1 year, it's effective, it is a chill pill, you take it and you relax....
lyrica is more like nuerontin, nad it has less enforcing effect but still works with reducing nerve tension, but it's not really a chill pill, it can be for some people but lyrica is unique and can work on some cases just as good as ativan
Posted by TriedEveryMedication on October 18, 2016, at 20:38:24
In reply to Re: Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by rjlockhart37 on October 18, 2016, at 15:28:35
I'm taking lyrica right now. Started a week ago. First few days I felt euphoric taking it.
That went away. Takes the edge off anxiety, but I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay on it.
How long do you have to take it to before dx withdrawals are a problem?
BTW I felt no euphoria on ativan, prn. only took it a few times.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on October 18, 2016, at 23:39:56
In reply to Re: Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by TriedEveryMedication on October 18, 2016, at 20:38:24
yea ativan just relaxed me, it didn't raise my mood , even alcohol has a better euphoria effect than lorazepam......i've taken up to 4mg of lorazepam in one dose and all i noticed was sedation, and relaxed mood, a bit more social though, the anxiety and tension was gone.......but it made me more open up (similar to alcohol induced socialization) yet lorazepam defiantly can cause a dependence problem on it if you take it long enough
Posted by Jonhed on October 19, 2016, at 5:04:55
In reply to Re: Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by TriedEveryMedication on October 18, 2016, at 20:38:24
It depends on the dosage but 450-600mg for 6 month are enough to get severely withdrawn if stopped without taper.
If tapered it's fine as long as you do it in a couple of months, just as you would do with high dosed benzos. Just that it is a different kind of withdrawal..
In therapeutic doses I think it is fine, but have that in mind at least.
I to think that diazepam in its original dosing should be more common as it is the easiest to stop with even at a fairly high dose.
Posted by Horse on October 23, 2016, at 15:22:13
In reply to Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan, posted by Lamdage22 on October 18, 2016, at 5:21:55
Physical dependance or psychological addiction and behavior?
Physical dependance caused be Lyrica can be very real and debilitating.
Withdrawal from a benzodiazapine can be pure hell :)
No free lunches damn it.
Posted by Lamdage22 on October 23, 2016, at 15:38:37
In reply to Re: Anxiety: Lyrica vs. Ativan » Lamdage22, posted by Horse on October 23, 2016, at 15:22:13
it is available without prescription
This is the end of the thread.
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