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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 15:22:05
I quit drinking for 18 years. About 12 years ago I was perscribed klonopin for an anxiety disorter (which many years ago I self medicated with alcohol).
Anyway, a few years after starting klonopin I went through a divorce and started dabbling with a glass of wine here and there. I asked my doctor at the time if a little wine here or there would be an issue for me as I once self medicated with alcohol. He said to just keep an eye on it.
Anyway, my style of drinking is binging, never a daily drinker and I still find myself going 5 days, a week, a month, 5 months and out of the blue going out and having to much to drink. Then I go back to not drinking till the next unknown time it happens.
I'm working my way off klonopin and am hoping a new medicine I'm taking for anxiety/depression EMSAM will replace it. I'm very aware of the drug interaction with benzo's and alcohol, that one night I might stop breathing.
My question is what effect does taking a benzo like klonopin have on cravings or limiting the ability to not drink.
I watched the recent news of Ted Kennedy's son going into rehab and one of the addiction experts on CNN suggested that taking a benzo even sleeping pills can activate cravings to drink.
Any thoughts on this topic?
Thanks.
Posted by ClearSkies on May 7, 2006, at 16:19:30
In reply to Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol?, posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 15:22:05
The only way I'd say that benzo's kept me away from alcohol was the realization that if I mixed the two it could have a very bad outcome for me.
It was never a matter of taking one negated the craving for the other; more like I knew it was going to be one or the other, but not both. Never both.
(For me, benzos were Xanax. And Ambien. I'm off those and alcohol. There sure are more hours in a day than there used to be!)ClearSkies
Posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 16:22:52
In reply to Re: Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol? » RobertDavid, posted by ClearSkies on May 7, 2006, at 16:19:30
So your off xanax/ambien and alcohol? Do you take any other meds?
Posted by ClearSkies on May 7, 2006, at 20:55:16
In reply to Re: Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol?, posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 16:22:52
> So your off xanax/ambien and alcohol? Do you take any other meds?
Yup - Campral (will prob taper off in August), Cymbalta, Lamictal.
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 13, 2006, at 17:09:46
In reply to Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol?, posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 15:22:05
> I quit drinking for 18 years. About 12 years ago I was perscribed klonopin for an anxiety disorter (which many years ago I self medicated with alcohol).
>
> Anyway, a few years after starting klonopin I went through a divorce and started dabbling with a glass of wine here and there. I asked my doctor at the time if a little wine here or there would be an issue for me as I once self medicated with alcohol. He said to just keep an eye on it.
>
> Anyway, my style of drinking is binging, never a daily drinker and I still find myself going 5 days, a week, a month, 5 months and out of the blue going out and having to much to drink. Then I go back to not drinking till the next unknown time it happens.
>
> I'm working my way off klonopin and am hoping a new medicine I'm taking for anxiety/depression EMSAM will replace it. I'm very aware of the drug interaction with benzo's and alcohol, that one night I might stop breathing.
>
> My question is what effect does taking a benzo like klonopin have on cravings or limiting the ability to not drink.
>
> I watched the recent news of Ted Kennedy's son going into rehab and one of the addiction experts on CNN suggested that taking a benzo even sleeping pills can activate cravings to drink.
>
> Any thoughts on this topic?You know...as I think back, my binge drinking DID coincide with my xanax use! I never thought of it before!
I have been "dry' now for 2 weeks...because I was beginning to go from a once a week binger to a twice a week binger,...and sometimes a 3times a week binger ( but not often)
So anyways...I decided that addiction to alcohol was the last thing I needed. So to prove to myself, my wife, and my family that I am not an alcoholic...I will just not drink anymore. Period.
Xanax is 100 times harder to do without than alcohol for me. ( Impossible in fact without a slow taper...which the results are yet to be seen) but I will keep everyone posted.
BF
>
> Thanks.
Posted by RobertDavid on May 13, 2006, at 18:43:30
In reply to Re: Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol?, posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 13, 2006, at 17:09:46
I hear ya, and have really wondered about the connection. Saw my doctor Thursday who I believe is very savvy on this and he thought klonopin probably didn't make me crave alcohol. I think it's just that the disease gets out of control sometimes. I agree that I can live without alcohol, but don't want to have to live without the anxiety relief I get from a benzo...
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 15, 2006, at 7:17:47
In reply to Re: Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol? » BUCKEYE FANATIC, posted by RobertDavid on May 13, 2006, at 18:43:30
> I hear ya, and have really wondered about the connection. Saw my doctor Thursday who I believe is very savvy on this and he thought klonopin probably didn't make me crave alcohol. I think it's just that the disease gets out of control sometimes. I agree that I can live without alcohol, but don't want to have to live without the anxiety relief I get from a benzo...
Im agree.
But also that is the trouble too.
I dont WANT to rely ob xanax anymore. We are living in a time when ( as Katrina proved) that at anytime, our way of liofe here in the US can be interuppted.
I know that sounds paranoid...but I really think I am being rational about this. At 6mg of xananx per day...If I was suddenly forced to not be able to fill my prescription, what would I ( and millions like me) do?????????????? Yes millions, the number of xananx users in this Country on relativley high doses is very high.Its not about will power...mind power..or anything else. It is about a physical addiciton, that if suddenly cut of, results in severe witdrawl, including but not limited to convulsions,seizures, and sometimes death. These are medical facts.
So I feel the best course of action is to become un-dependent ( is that a word?) on benzo's.
As you said RobertDavid...alcohol is one thing, bexzo's are another animal alltogether.
Even SSI like Zoloft are difficult to quit cold turkey...but do not result in life threatening withdrawl like benzo use at medium - high doses.BF
Posted by RobertDavid on May 15, 2006, at 11:24:13
In reply to Re: Do taking Benzo's make you crave alcohol?, posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 15, 2006, at 7:17:47
BF:
Regarding Katrina, they are telling people that live those southern areas to keep extra meds hand in case of disater. That said, I keep extra klonopin in my car, work and home. I never want to be in a stituatioin even for one night where I don't have my nightly dose.
I am also trying to find the lowest effective dose and am now down to 1.5 mgs (dropped again last night - doing it super slow). I was at a high of 3 mgs but have been down to 2 mgs for the last few years. So far so good, but that's most likely because I am now taking EMSAM which may be helping with the anxiety. It certainly has helped with my depression.
That said, if a benzo is the only thing that makes life manageable, gives the relief from anxiety to be able to function, I'm going to continue with it and take my chances, but protect myself with extra stashes of klonopin.
I screwed up once on a plane fight. Went to Hawaii and had my meds in my suit case. When we landed, my bags were not there. That was the first thing I though of "I don't have klonopin." Fortunately they turned up and it wasn't a problem. Now when I fly I keep extras in my pocket.
Now I just have to do a better job NOT drinking and mixing benzo's and alcohol. Lately I've been feeling so good that I have gone out here and there and had a few (to many). I've got to get a better handle on that, I really hate not being able to completely quit though I go weeks at a time without drinking.
Rob
This is the end of the thread.
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