Posted by chemist on July 8, 2004, at 10:01:48
In reply to Alprazolem...in reply to chemist, posted by Buckeye Fan on July 8, 2004, at 9:12:04
> Dear chemist,
> You wrote
> "hello there, chemist here...xanax is a bit different than the standard meds that would be prescribed for anxiety - ativan, klonopin, and valium being the most common - in that there is a clear antidepressant effect that is seen in patients taking xanax vs. the other meds mentioned above"...
>
> As a long term Xanax user..I agree with you on the anti-depressant effects. My Doc mentioned this to me several years back when he wrote the prescription.
>
> Here is my question...what are the studies on long-term xanax use? Are there any? Since it was developed as a short-term panic disorder drug ( I assume) is their anything we should be aware of as far as long-term risks..other than tolerance.
> You made refrence a while back to xnanx being "different" than a true benzo..could you expound on this please?
>
> Having successfully weened off Effexor XR...I am thinking about Xanax next.
> As I stated in an earlier thread... I consider this to be a much tougher challenge for myself, since I have been ON Xanax ( 3mg per day) for 5 years. My orginal ( and continuing) diagnosis was
> Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia.
>
> I appreciate this Board for so many reasons...one of which I have now read many alternatives, IF ( and to me this is a BIG If )
> I can stop taking Xanax.
>
> Your opinions please ( everyone )
> Thanks
>
> Buckeye Fanhi buckeye, i am not aware of any studies that indicate that any issue other than tolerance is the big problem with long-term use of xanax/benzos (i.e., i don't think renal or hepatic impairment are problems, but i have not done my homework on this one yet haven't seen anything in the literature, something about CRF if i recall, but i need to check)...xanax is not a true benzodiazepene, which are the 1,4-benzodiazepines. the first of these was chlordiazepoxide (librium), and numerous others followed (such as diazepam and lorazepam and clonazepam). xanax is a 1,4-triazolobenzodiazepine, as are estazolam, triazolam, and adinazolam; brotzolam is a 1,4-triazolothienodiazepine, which is similar in activity based on sulfur/oxygen substitution, but that's another story. the trizaolo ring makes these drugs a little more, shall we say, selective in the BZ binding site in type A GABA receptors: that's why you cannot wean someone off of, say, valium with xanax or vice versa. i hope this is enough information: check the archives for a very long-winded post i made a couple of months ago about the alpha_{1}, beta_[2}, and gamma_{2} subunits of the LGIC GABA receptor for more clarification or ask me again.....as for 3 mg qd for 5 years, that's not setting off alarm bells for me, but again, i am a fan of xanax/benzos in general and feel that the risk/reward is worth it.....but that's just me......do let me know if any of this helps, and all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:363984
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040704/msgs/364004.html