Posted by psychobot5000 on August 16, 2007, at 12:51:42
> I was wondering if anyone noticed that coffee was a particular antidote to benzo induced cognative problems?
>
> Coffee apparently contains beta carboline compounds which are antagonists at the benzodiazapine receptors.
>
> LinkadgeSo I started a new thread, because the original question (which I find interesting) is no longer the subject of the original, and I didn't want to intrude.
My first thought, was that any positive effect might not be an immediate one, as cognitive problems from benzos often come out only after a period of weeks or longer. Perhaps coffee, on the contrary, is good in the longer term--such as its purported help in reducing the likelihood of developing alzheimer's (if I remember that right).
My second thought is that, after drinking alcohol on one occasion (which is also an agonist at benzodiazepine receptors, as I understand, and so reduces anxiety), I was surprised to find that a cup of coffee seemed to completely neutralize the booze's anxiolytic effect, in a way that does not happen if I take a cup of tea. I did also feel as though the cognitive slowing, induced by having had alcohol, was reduced significantly--rather to my surprise. Again, this was in contrast to the experience I've had with tea. Of course it's hard to know whether this 'feel' I had was actually the case. And naturally there are other chemicals in coffee as well (larger amounts of caffeine than tea), an other effects from alcohol, to muddy the picture. But reduced anxiolytic relief and (somewhat) reduced cognitive difficulty were my impression.
I would think, though, that the beta-carboline GABA-a antagonist effect is real and clinically significant, based on the anxiety coffee gives me, even in small amounts. It would seem that there ought to be a way to make it theraputically useful. I haven't tried it with benzos.
poster:psychobot5000
thread:776629
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070815/msgs/776629.html