Posted by Alan on February 19, 2002, at 19:56:41
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
> Hi to all!
> I'm out all AD's but i would like to to try using sometimes a little Benzo.
> Which benzo has more activant, or less sedative, profile?
> I'm aenergic, aphatic and sometimes anxious, and i don't want to use a benzo that dizzy, drowsy and sedate me at all.
> Thanks for your helpful counseil!
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Generally speaking, one BZD is not more sedating than the other. It is not like the AD's are for instance.One has to try the big 4 - xanax, ativan, valium, or klonopin for themselves in order to make that determination. All individuals will react differently. Half-life may be a consideration of convienience though - xanax and ativan being short and valium and klonopin being long.
One has to decide which one gives the most anxiolytic effect for the least amount of sleepiness side effect (sedation). If you have a truly diagnosed anxiety disorder and no history of drug abuse, one of these will probably do the job just great.
BZD monotherapy is one of the best kept secrets amongst specialists that treat anxiety disorders exclusively. Their potential for abuse has been so exaggerated by the companies in order to promote their latest ssri and also by a small but strident group of anti-benzo/anti drug fanatics that many docs outside of the specialists don't know about these "risks" being exaggerated.
Remember that one has the side effect of feeling a bit sleepy during the 1 - 2 week start up period and then that side effect lessens considerably. Don't confuse that with the drug losing its anxiolytic effect though - that should remain the same. In other words, don't make the mistake of increasing your dose if the sleepiness goes away after 1 - 2 weeks. Only increase the dose with your docs knowledge if the anxiolytic effect is not enough. That is how one finds the right dose for them.
*Generally speaking*, xanax and ativan have the best anti-panic profile but you have to dose more often. At the other end of the spectrum, Klonopin lasts 2 - 3 times as long and is effective for GAD.
With these drugs, remember that one has to taper off of them only as fast as your body will allow. Some complain of anxiety as a side effect of tapering too quickly. Your doc should be able to help you with this.
The nice thing about the BZD's is that one knows immediately if the drug is going to work for their symptoms and can proceed from one drug to another relatively easily during the experimentation phase - provided they taper off of the old drug while at the same time inreasing the new. The drug leaving the system is what is capable in some case of causing a side effect of anxiety. One can generally distinguish the difference between one's original feeling of anxiety and that of the side effect of tapering the drug too quickly.
Alan
poster:Alan
thread:94702
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94709.html