Posted by sukarno on August 17, 2008, at 8:56:05
In reply to Re: Abstract, posted by dbc on August 17, 2008, at 7:05:04
"Its quite the amazing drug until you go through its withdrawal. Thats not an anti-benzo statement, thats from personal experience. The withdrawal is soul crushing."
Indeed, but that shouldn't happen if one tapers off very slowly and over a long period of time. My psychiatrist said that if I should want to taper off, I should do it over an 18 month period and no faster than that and I'll be okay with little or no discomfort. Pharmacies can compound it for even smaller dosage reductions.
Most people try to quit abruptly (i.e. "cold turkey") or taper far too rapidly.
There are unfortunate souls though who do lose their medication or end up incarcerated and the prison/jail physician won't prescribe them their medication. There is also the case where their prescribing physician relocates or retires and is replaced by a "benzo-bigot". Surgery is also another example.
In these cases, withdrawal is abrupt and can be life-threatening, especially in the case of alprazolam and panic disorder, since doses used in the treatment of panic disorder are often higher and on a more long term basis as prophylaxis.
I personally don't think anyone should ever attempt the "cold turkey" method or a rapid taper (i.e. over a few days or weeks). A lot of doctors without proper knowledge of benzodiazepines will attempt too rapid a taper and will not individualize it.
For the most part, panic disorder is a chronic and disabling illness which is primarily biochemical with a link to genetic predisposition that waxes and wanes over time and requires long term and often lifelong pharmacotherapy with a benzodiazepine. Alprazolam is perhaps the most efficacious agent besides imipramine, with the former having a more favorable and benign side effect profile.
I don't wish panic attacks on my worst enemy and I wish there was some sort of surgery available that would stop panic attacks for good. I don't know why there hasn't been any progress made in the realm of psychosurgery. I'd rather have that if it was safe rather than having to take pills everyday. Pills remind me that I have an illness and that makes me feel like a weak or "defective" person. I shouldn't think like that, but can't help it every time I have to take my medication.
I remember before I had panic disorder I used to be so full of energy and had no problems with psychosomatic complaints. After having my first panic attacks I felt fatigued all the time, even when I wasn't nervous. It seems like more of a physical disease than anything mental.
poster:sukarno
thread:846773
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080814/msgs/846797.html