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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amanda S on February 29, 2000, at 20:13:53
Just looking through old threads and came across "benzos". Is that like xanax? Can you take them long term? Are some people more likely to get addicted to these drugs. I really like xanax.
Posted by Cam W. on February 29, 2000, at 21:34:30
In reply to Cam , what are benzos???, posted by Amanda S on February 29, 2000, at 20:13:53
Amanda - Benzos or benzodiazepines are a class of anti-anxiety drugs. The first developed was chlordiazepoxide (Librium), followed closely by diazepam (Valium). Actually chlordiazepoxide is a metabolite of diazepam. The 1960s to 1990s saw many benzodiazepines developed as hypnotics: (flurazepam - Dalmane, nitrazepam - (Mogadon), triazolam - (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), flunitrazepam - Rohypnol, and as anxiolytics: lorazepam - (Ativan), oxazepam - (Serax), clonazepam - (Rivotril/Klonapin), alprazolam (Xanax), etc. There is a potential for addiction with these drugs, but the risk is not as high as was played up in the media. Valium is the worst offender for addiction because it has a 3 day half-life (half of a dose is eliminated from the body in 3 days). The high doses and multiple daily doses of valium that were used in the 1960s caused problems for many moms. One reason for escalating dosages is that the body gets used to the motor problems (incoordination, dizziness, etc.) but the anti-anxiety effect is really still there. Many people equated the motor side effects with anti-anxiety effects, so once the side effects disappeared, these people figured their anxiety was getting worse and they upped the dose. If benzos are taken as directed, and used only as needed, (some people need to take them daily), in a responsible manner, there is little risk of addiction, especially with today's shorter acting varieties (Ativan, Xanax, Rivotril/Klonapin). As long as you are not taking benzodiazepines to get "high" there should be no problem in using them long-term. Hope this helps. - Cam W.
Posted by saint james on February 29, 2000, at 21:51:42
In reply to Re: Cam , what are benzos???, posted by Cam W. on February 29, 2000, at 21:34:30
>
> Amanda - Benzos or benzodiazepines are a class of anti-anxiety drugs. The first developed was chlordiazepoxide (Librium), followed closely by diazepam (Valium). Actually chlordiazepoxide is a metabolite of diazepam. The 1960s to 1990s saw many benzodiazepines developed as hypnotics: (flurazepam - Dalmane, nitrazepam - (Mogadon), triazolam - (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), flunitrazepam - Rohypnol, and as anxiolytics: lorazepam - (Ativan), oxazepam - (Serax), clonazepam - (Rivotril/Klonapin), alprazolam (Xanax), etc. There is a potential for addiction with these drugs, but the risk is not as high as was played up in the media. Valium is the worst offender for addiction because it has a 3 day half-life (half of a dose is eliminated from the body in 3 days). The high doses and multiple daily doses of valium that were used in the 1960s caused problems for many moms. One reason for escalating dosages is that the body gets used to the motor problems (incoordination, dizziness, etc.) but the anti-anxiety effect is really still there. Many people equated the motor side effects with anti-anxiety effects, so once the side effects disappeared, these people figured their anxiety was getting worse and they upped the dose. If benzos are taken as directed, and used only as needed, (some people need to take them daily), in a responsible manner, there is little risk of addiction, especially with today's shorter acting varieties (Ativan, Xanax, Rivotril/Klonapin). As long as you are not taking benzodiazepines to get "high" there should be no problem in using them long-term. Hope this helps. - Cam W.James here....
All very true except Klonapin is a long acting benzo. All the long acting ones end up as the same metabolite (Val, Klonipin)
j
Posted by Cam W. on February 29, 2000, at 22:43:54
In reply to Re: Cam , what are benzos???, posted by saint james on February 29, 2000, at 21:51:42
James - Although clonazepam (Klonipin or Rivotril in Canada) has a half-life (no active metabolites) that varies person to person (18-80h), it is still considered an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine. You could probably say it is at the cusp. Long-acting benzos include: chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, chlorazepate (Tranxene), and flurazepam all having half-lifes (including active metabolites) in excess of 100h. Most have different end metabolites determined by their lipid solubility. Most undergo oxidation reactions while others primarily undergo conjugation (bromazepam - Lectopam, lorazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam) or nitro reduction: (clonazepam and nitrazepam). Incidentally, since oxidation reactions are reduced in the elderly, the benzos of choice in this group are the one's that undergo conjugation metabolism (which does not decrease with age) and have no active metabolites (lorazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam). Active and endpoint metabolites available upon request (too lazy to look them up) - Cam W.
This is the end of the thread.
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