Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 23, 2004, at 20:59:41
In reply to Re: Valium Question Article Memory, posted by BobS, on February 23, 2004, at 19:51:14
Benzodiazepines *MAY* cause (I only have one, old Russian study abstract on this) a dose-dependent inhibition of acetylcholine release in certain areas of the brain integral to memory formation/storage. Undoubtedly the real picture is more complex than this, but I have personal experience using galantamine to counteract the sedation and cognitive problems from using Klonopin or Valium. Talk to your doctor about trying low-dose galantamine to see if it helps your clarity of thought--assuming you feel it's impaired at all in the first place.
They did a lot of Research in the former Soviet Union about using galantamine + high-dose clonazepam to treat all sorts of mental disorders, from schizophrenia to panic attacks. This research cannot be found on medline and will likely never see the light of day in the US. However, you can find evidence of it in the US Patent database, as enterprising Americans have patented these methods which they've pirated from the work of Eastern European/Russian scientists. Search the Patent Database for "galantamine AND clonazepam" and see what you find.
Here's a study to back me up. Ketalar, mentioned in the article, is the "dissociative anesthetic" ketamine, which produces massive cognitive impairment. "Nivaline" is their brand of galantamine, now "Nivalin", which can be ordered from www.nivalin.com:
Akush Ginekol (Sofiia). 1987;26(3):28-31.[Attempt to eliminate residual somnolence and disorientation with nivaline after anesthesia with ketalar and diazepam for minor obstetrical and gynecologic surgery]
[Article in Bulgarian]
Chakalova E, Marinova M, Srebreva M, Anastasov D, Ploskov K.
PIP: Effectiveness of the anticholinergic agent nivaline to prevent side-effects of anesthetics ketalar and diazepam was studied in 40 pregnant women (15- 40 years old) undergoing induced abortion during the 1st trimester. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 20 patients who received anesthesia with diazepam (10 mg) and ketalar (50-70 mg) alone. Group 2 included 20 patients undergoing anesthesia under diazepam-ketalar in combination with nivaline (10 mg, iv) during an early postoperative period. The degree of somnolence and disorientation was assessed immediately after anesthesia, and 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min after surgery using a scale of 1 to 4 (from response to verbal commands and pain stimulus to complete absence of response). The patients in group 2 were more alert than the patients in group 1 only 5, 10 and 15 min after surgery.
poster:Chairman_MAO
thread:314552
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040223/msgs/317010.html