Posted by hiba on September 1, 2002, at 3:56:43
In reply to BENZO-INDUCED FATAL SEIZURES? (outdated) » Squiggles, posted by Iago Camboa on August 27, 2002, at 6:19:14
Dear Iago,
You might have seen my name and postings in this board and I hope you may not treat me as a benzophobic. I want to calrify somethings for the others in this bord.
"I myself got off Valium 10mg/day after 5 years daily intake 'cold turkey' (overnight) without any difficulties and without the aid of any drugs or any professional assistance whatsoever "The quotation is taken from your posting. Still being a tremendous benzo supporter, I don't think you did the right thing. Luckily, you could get off without problems, but this kind of abrupt withdrawal should never be employed or encouraged, whatever the offending drug may be. Abrupt withdrawal after years long exposure to benzos will cause long term protracted withdrawal symptoms in some patients.(ONLY IF THE WITHDRAWAL IS ABRUPT). I think you are going far and far on overenthusiasm, but we have a responsibility to safe guard the public. I have volunteered for a detoxification centre in India, and I remember some benzo cases. After stopping benzos (esp valium and xanax) abruptly patients started to experience withdrawal symptoms and it was very difficult to handle. And I remember even months later when those patients came for follow-up they were complaining of some mild to moderate abstinence syndroms. You can't argue those abstinence syndroms as a return of the original symptoms of illness, because most of those guys were not using benzos for medicinal reasons. They were only ingesting them to get a high. It was impossible for these group to get alcohol because of strict religious restrictions and I think that made them to try benzos as an alternative to alcohol.I must admit they were taking higher than normal doses (upto 80 mg valium and 4 to 6 mg of xanax per day).
Still there were enough instances of safe benzo withdrawal with the help of a simple tapering procedure, and no patients experienced withdrawal symptoms upon tapering. So if anybody want to get off their benzos, after long-term exposure, please go through a simple tapering procedure to ensure safe and harmless withdrawal. Please don't try or advocate for abrupt withdrawal. It will make simple matters worse. When there is a proven effective method to come off benzos(Only if anybody wants to) why should we propagate or share our, perhaps rare experiences?
Good luck Iago, I like your sense of humour. I expect a humourous reply.
HIBA
poster:hiba
thread:116248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118404.html