Posted by laima on February 7, 2007, at 8:26:52
In reply to Re: Benzo Confidential - trigger maybe, posted by Squiggles on February 7, 2007, at 8:00:06
I'm not at all anti-benzo, either. They are extremely important meds. I just think they are not casual, and need to be used with caution and care-maybe better used on an as-needed basis to minimize chance that they won't work when one needs them most? Not sure. Clonazepam is great, but comes with a few potential glitches.I beg to differ about clonazepam not building tolerance. It happened to me, and my doctor didn't act surprised at all. He commented just, "Yes, I'm sure you have- you've been on it a few years. Since it's not helping, we should get you off now, this cycle will go on indefinately, setting you up for a far worse withdrawal later from a much higher dose." I developed impervience to any anxiety benefit, and it ceased to be very effective for the myoclunus and restless sleeping, too. Even ceased to be much of an antidolt to hyperventilation/suffocation. What REALLY sucked- was not being able to alleviate panic attacks!
The withdrawal, if too rapid, has been compared to coming off heroin. Even on a taper, it's not fun. Having once used up my supply early, in a desperate effort to alleviate panic attack out of hell- the amount which used to work did zero- I ended up starting a cold withdrawal- and oh.my.god. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Without the steady stream of clonazepam which apeared to no longer be helping or even doing anything, it was shocking how dramatic my body's shock was: wavy floors, paranoia, every noise like a clock ticking shattering through my brain- those sorts of withdrawal effects are plenty written about elsewhere. But what I'm getting at is, how curious that the sudden withdrawal can be so dramatic, after the drug ceased to be therapeutically effective or even experiencially detectable? Why? How can this be?
Perhaps then, Squiggles, the tolerance issue, the threshold even, varies person to person? Or, perhaps the tolerance is slow to develop compared to other benzos?
> I know what it is. I would rather take an anaesthetic than go through panic attacks again for so long. You must have completely misunderstood my curiousity... it is not aimed against benzos AT ALL. I am curious about the nature of clonazepam-- why all the other benzos build tolerance, but clonazepam does not. However, its withdrawal, at even a low constant (15yr. approx.) dose is one of the worst.
>
> So, it's basically an academic question, not a stance against benzodiazepines, which I personally think are necessary for states of anxiety, rage, panic, etc.
>
> Squiggles
poster:laima
thread:730516
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070207/msgs/730718.html