Posted by paulk on June 26, 2001, at 21:08:06
In reply to Re: benzos, posted by gilbert on June 26, 2001, at 20:26:17
>Well I just ever can't resist to jump into the whole benzo debate issues. The evil benzos, the addicitive benzos, people dying on benzos....what a load of crap. I'll tak my chances on benzos before you will get me on and MAO....
I think you should see some of the other stuff I have written – I like Benzos – and take one – I just was pointing out they can have bad effects on some – especially if they aren’t well monitored.
See what I wrote at
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65469.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65469.html>How many people have died from bad reactions and hypertensive crisis from MAO"s....
Less than you would think.
>Study after study shows that panic patients don't abuse benzos
I agree – but I have also see the few who get into trouble. I think doctors are way to restrictive about Benzos.
>Also I am an ex junkie and drunk and I have felt way more stoned and I mean way more stoned on most antidepressants than xanax.
I agree again – The biggest problem with Benzos is that they can interfere with learning and memory – I remember a pre med student who took 1mg/day of valium for a semester – had poor final scores and tells me he can’t remember much of that semester.
>I take two xanax per day and never have rebound, never have withdrawal and it is by far the most effective anti panic med I have ever had....and without side effects.
Wish it worked that way for me YMMV.
>Seems everyone is always trying to push an antidepressant or mood stabilzer down our throats.
>I am not sure I want my testosterone levels to drop below sea level from long term use of ssri's.
Hadn’t heard of this side effect??? The SSRI do interfere with sex – but I didn’t know they lowered Testosterone?? Where did you read this? Benzos can kill sex for some people. Again YMMV.
>I also don't want to have to ask the waiter if there is aged cheese in the lasagna so I don't have an MOA crisis.
I don’t think MOAIs are for most folks – but they have been reported to work very well for people with atypical depression – and the diet restrictions vs my depression is an easy trade – I really hate my depression. My take so far is I have less side effects than with Effexor – (Effexor would kill my sex life)
>I sure as hell haven,t had any good experiences on other newer antidepressants
Again, I say that our neuro chemistry is probably much more variable that the way we look – and the effects of the drugs vary greatly form one person to another thus YMMV. I found that on Effexor I knew what it was like to be normal for the first time in my life – made me sad to realize all I had missed. For others SSRIs don’t do a thing.
> and the rap on benzos is simply political....no more patents.I agree to a point – Benzos had a bad rap even when the patent was in place.
> The number of bad incidents from benzo use are microscopic compared to other drugs.
I would have to disagree. Some depressed folks are pushed farther into depression with Benzos – so for them it can be bad – there have been many suicides with benzos plus alcohol. I would like to see suicide statistics of SSRIs vs Benzos. I bet SSRI would have fewer.
>Even lists of all the suicides of people on an ssri. I don't buy it. If your friend died from choking on a hot dog it sounds like he died from choking on a hot dog....he didn't choke on giant xanax pill did he?
I don’t think he was a typical benzo user – he didn’ t have it together enough to manage his own meds – really should have been in a halfway house and given benzos when he was in mania – he took a LOT of benzos – more than anyone else I have known.
>It is so easy to blame the drug....Or maybe he should have taken smaller bites when he ate. My pdoc even said xanax was long tested and one of the safest drugs for me to be on. Should everyone quit Effexor and Wellbutrin because of the lady in Texas killing her kids....She was on Effexor and Wellbutrin and I believe an antipyschotic as well. I don't think so.
Some one taking an antipyschotic is in a whole differnt world that folks with anxiety and depression - they have breaks with reality - don't know what is real or in their head. Effexor is not listed for use for Schizophrenia or Mania.
I would be much more worried about the memory and learning effects of benzos than the choking risk. My point remains, that there are SOME people who have big time trouble with benzos. Most people use them very well, and IMHO benzos are under prescribed.
paulk
poster:paulk
thread:65795
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010625/msgs/68014.html