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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 0:13:25
I'm new to benzodiazepines, having just been prescribed one for the first time a couple of weeks ago, for insomnia (Ativan). I've found it unexpectedly helpful in helping relieve various nasty symptoms of depression, making it easier to think clearly go about my life, so naturally now I'm suddenly considering benzodiazepines as an adjunct.
To get to the point, I've done a little reading, and naturally there are all sorts of horrible accusations about what benzos can do to you...I was wondering to what extent people have experienced "cognitive slowing" or similar problems...as is alleged to be a general problem with benzo use over a period of time. Other important negatives or side-effects? How useful do people find them?
I think I can deal with dependence and withdrawal (as long as it's temporary), but I'd like to know (please) whether people find the drugs help them function...or are counterproductive--any experiences welcome!
Thanks for anyone who cares to share--it'd be quite helpful, as I'm quite new to these meds and would like to get an impression of how helpful (or otherwise) they seem to be.
"Psychbot"
Posted by Squiggles on February 4, 2007, at 7:47:12
In reply to Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy?, posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 0:13:25
Hi Psychobot,
The only time I have had trouble with
benzos, was when I became tolerant on
the Xanax dose and started having withdrawals.
Once I recognized that was the problem and
asked my dr. to take me off them, I was fine.It seems to me that not all benzos are the
same however. I am still on Clonazepam and
don't expect I will ever be able to withdraw
from that one. When I tried to (on a slow schedule of about a year and a half), I experienced severe withdrawal and seizures. I reinstated with a 33% increase during a critical withdrawal state. 'Duration of drug taken' and dose are probably significant variables.So, in my experience benzos are great for anxiety and GAD as long as your dr. is vigilant about tolerance and dependence, and informed about anticonvulsant specialties and anxiolytic ones.
Squiggles
Posted by Quintal on February 4, 2007, at 7:55:53
In reply to Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy?, posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 0:13:25
It's complicated. I have mixed feelings about benzos. My GP first prescribed a benzo (Ativan) at my request when I was 19 for 'social anxiety' when I went back to college. I'd tried antidepressants and they didn't seem to help much with anxiety. The Ativan was a miracle drug - I felt like I'd been let out of some imaginary prison I'd been trapped in for years by my shyness. I did function much better at that time than I'd ever done in my life.
After a few months I started switching between different benzos and taking several at the same time for a while; diazepam, lorazepam and even a private prescription for Xanax. I also began taking sleeping pills zopiclone, zolpidem and temazepam because the benzos alone no longer put me to sleep at night. This was all within the first six months of using benzos. In early 2002 I managed to get a locum GP to prescribe clonazepam (Klonopin/Rivotril) even though it has no licence for anxiety here in the UK.
I soon began abusing the Rivotril and forged a prescription to get more and was caught. The GP still prescribed my benzos though and I started indulging in more criminal behaviour - brazenly walking out of a cheap store with a pasta serving bowl set right past the security guard standing next to one of those scanner alarms. The alarm didn't go off fortunately and I still have the bowl set - couldn't think of a way to returning it without incriminating myself. I was finally caught stealing a camera film from Boots - there was a long queue at the checkout and I didn't want to miss the bus. It seemed alright to me at that time to just walk off and pocket the film.
My pdoc terminated my supply of benzos in 2004 so I began buying them online until my credit cards bounced last year and I was forced to quit cold turkey (I've quit cold turkey many times for various reasons). At the height of my benzo abuse I was taking 20mg Klonopin a day with other drugs.
The benzos certainly do affect your thinking but usually you're not aware of how much you're impaired unlike with other cognitive blunting drugs such as the TCAs. I managed to get through college studying some demanding subjects while taking benzos. Though I'm sure I could have got better grades without them, would I have ever gone back to college in the first place without benzos to make me feel more comfortable?
My behaviour seems to have been much more aggressive and retarded when I was taking benzos - I cringe at most of the things I've said and done in those years. My conscience has also returned and I no longer go around stealing and forging, or any other antisocial behaviour.
In summary I'd say my benzo years were like being curled up in a warm bed, safe and cosy, taking an occasional peek at reality out from the duvet whenever I felt a bit stale, but getting back in again sharpish when things got too chilly. After a while I became mentally weak and lazy from depending on drugs like that. I've had to re-learn how to cope with stress since quitting benzos, which I'm still working on.
Most people don't seem to have the problems I've had with benzos, but it can happen to the unwary. But I was aware of all the potential problems benzos could cause when I first took them - I'd read Heather Ashton's website in 2001 and laughed at the stories of people walking out of shops with televisions thinking they were invisible - I would surely never do that myself!
Q
Posted by chante on February 4, 2007, at 14:08:19
In reply to Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy?, posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 0:13:25
Hi , psy5000
I understand exacly, that's what I'm going through. I'm having a break down ,extreme anxiety , panic attac all the time, I'm thinking of leaving my husband because he is verbally abusing to me and my son. not everyday but that once a months calling me name and been mean to me I can't live like this anymore. so now I have to medicate myself to get through all this or I will not make it.. the anti dep help for dep but not for anxiety so I started to get valium it help alot but now I change AD zoloft to wellbutrin take 100mg am and zoloft pm 25mg and it make me feel more anxious but I feel great no depression feel strong... so I will have to order more benzo.. I drink too at night wine, it help me to escape reality, and feel numb about everything... that's what I like I wich I wouldn't feel anything anymore be numb to all that pain so I could go on with my life . and be a succeful person and a good mom... reading your post made me feel , I'm not alone and like you soon I will be strong enough to change mylife to better and then stop all just like you did... congra and thanks
Posted by chante on February 4, 2007, at 14:11:26
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy? » psychobot5000, posted by Quintal on February 4, 2007, at 7:55:53
sorry , I wanted to send this to quintal
Posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 23:56:22
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy? » psychobot5000, posted by Quintal on February 4, 2007, at 7:55:53
Q, that sure sounds like a rough story--thanks so much for sharing your experience!
I looked over some writing I'd done while under the influence of Ativan, a week or two ago, and found it rather flawed, and sloppy. Like I had been naive about its flaws and not paying close enough attention. But at least I know now to be careful about broader changes in thinking--I'll be wary. I can totally see how one would stop worrying about important concerns while going about life.
Best,
Psychbot
Posted by Squiggles on February 6, 2007, at 19:20:31
In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy? » psychobot5000, posted by Quintal on February 4, 2007, at 7:55:53
I remember it now; inhibitions are unprotected
with benzos, as with alcohol-- not surprising.
I wonder if your need for so MANY benzos (20mg
clonazepam?) were not a result of mania similar
to severe anxiety.Anyway, congratulations on your struggle.
How are you feeling now? What are you on?
Squiggles
Posted by resident9997 on February 9, 2007, at 9:33:40
In reply to Benzodiazepine side-effects, efficacy?, posted by psychobot5000 on February 4, 2007, at 0:13:25
Hi, I was on ativan and valium for eight years and although I initially loved the effects of ativan, it actually made me so much more depressed. Which is not strange, as it is a suppressant. It definitely had an effect on my brain, I seemed to have become an antisocial semi-aggressive person, unaware of anything else, but. . .fear. My memory has been impaired, as it used to be very good and now I seem to be forgetting even the most unimportant little things. It seemed quite counterproductive looking back upon it, as eventually the anxiety 'broke' through it, but I still had to take the benzo's because by then, I had become addicted to them. I really really wouldn't recommend this drug to anyone. The detox was absolutely horrendous. Honestly, don't start this drug. I can really relate to feeling anxious to the degree you would do an-y-thing to end this feeling, but this is not the answer.
This is the end of the thread.
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