Posted by Viridis on December 16, 2003, at 0:02:47
In reply to Re: always addictive?, posted by KellyD on December 15, 2003, at 20:15:35
These issues with benzos keep coming up here, and the bottom line is that there simply isn't any evidence that benzos are addictive for the vast majority of users. However, they do cause medical dependency, just like all sorts of other medications do.
Addiction is a situation in which a person craves a substance, becomes obsessed with it, usually increases the dose despite negative consequences, etc. -- in other words, loses control and lets the drug become the center of their life (think cocaine etc.).
Dependency means that your body becomes used to a substance and if you decide to quit it, you have to reduce the amount gradually. This applies to benzos, most antidepressants, some blood pressure meds etc.
Although a few people do become "addicted" to benzos (Xanax seems to carry the highest risk, and Klonopin one of the lowest) this isn't too common. If your doctor is monitoring you properly and sees signs that you want more and more, then he or she will probably want to re-evaluate your use. But many people stay on the same dose of Klonopin etc. for years with no change in usage pattern or dose (me, for example).
One comment that my psychiatrist made was intereresting -- he's cautious with benzos but will prescribe them when he thinks it's appropriate. He said that the people who really need benzos the most seem to be the ones least likely to abuse them. I suspect that most of the misuse that does occur is with people who didn't necessarily need benzos in the first place, but find that they have a euphoriant effect and want more. I don't get any euphoria from them, just anxiety relief, and if I take more than a normal dose it just makes me sleepy. Others here who benefit from benzos seem to have similar reactions.
I certainly wouldn't discontinue Klonopin suddenly (and don't want to quit anyway, since it's helped so much), but dependency is a small price to pay for the relief from constant anxiety and panic. Besides, I'd have the same concerns if I were taking Paxil, Effexor, and so on. Of course, these meds aren't labelled as "addictive", probably because they're still under patent and heavily promoted, whereas the benzos are available dirt-cheap as generics.
Benzodiazepines have a very long track record of safety and effectiveness, and it's a shame they get slammed so often by people (including doctors) who don't know any better.
poster:Viridis
thread:290163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/290346.html