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Re: Protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal? » Mr.Scott

Posted by Alan on August 11, 2002, at 11:52:18

In reply to Protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal?, posted by Mr.Scott on August 10, 2002, at 19:02:52

> Allright so whats the story here? Does anyone have any first hand experience to indicate that a person can suffer for years after coming off the drug (say Valium) as a consequence to taking low doses of benzos for an extended period of time. Or we really talking about a complex interaction of pre-existing condition meets drug withdrawal for a few weeks or months tops.
>
> I'm sure taking mega doses of benzo's for 20 years isn't good for the vast majority of folks, but I'd like to hear a couple real life stories if anyone has any?
>
> That Heather Ashton site has me worried that the 7.5mg of Tranxene I take daily will lead to more problems. Incidentally I used to take 1.5mg of Xanax about 10 years ago for 3 years, then 1mg of klonopin 5 years ago for about 3 years, now I'm taking 7.5mg of Tranxene for about a year.
>
> lend me your thoughts,
>
> Scott
===============================================
DR Ashton, the darling of the anti-benzo cults DAWN and TURN and other such groups is so often misrepresented that it's laughable.

What one has to keep in mind is that she is an "addictionologist" and sees everything through the prism of "addiction"...hardly a skewed view.

Also, her writings are not the results of her own scientific research. They are speculations (from an "addictionologist") about studies that she has *chosen* to speculate on or her own experience as an "addictionologist".

Therefore her written conclusions are filled with all kind of qualifiers in her rhetoric including "perhaps", "tends to", "in some cases", etc, with no footnote or formal peer review.

This leads those that are unfamiliar with the true nature of the medication to place "reasonable doubt" as to whether one is going to actualy be the same as an "addict" or not.

Don't worry, I went through this myself after reading the scare tactics of the several anti-benzo websites - all of whom linked or quoted her - and almost always, out of context.

I've been on and off bzd's of varying sorts for 20 years and have done a lot of research since I knew that this class of meds is what worked for my anxiety disorder. Slow taper is always a way out and the vast majority are able to do this with guidance just as easilly as "withdrawing" from long term ssri therapy. There are always ways to allow one to withdraw without this scare tactic of going to a "detox" center. Thos a re for drug abusers or those with a predisposition to addiction.

Remember, it's not a substance that is addictive, it is one's relationship or even atitude to the drug that makes these drugs POTENTIALLY addictive to the general population.

You are on an exceedingly low dose of bzd's and as long as it is working for you, you are "medically dependent", not addicted.

I'll post a couple links for you in the next message below that are well worth understanding. They certainly were worth the time to read and understand for me.

Best,
Alan.


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poster:Alan thread:115977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020807/msgs/116052.html