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Re: Permanent damage from Benzodiazepines? » crittercuddler

Posted by Vincent_QC on January 5, 2009, at 7:36:36

In reply to Permanent damage from Benzodiazepines?, posted by crittercuddler on December 30, 2008, at 17:35:01

> Is anyone keeping up to date on research about whether "chronic" benzodiazepine usage can cause permanent damage to the brain? Specifically, by permanently altering the GABA receptor and GABAs actions in the brain?
>
> I have discussed this issue on another forum here, under the same posting name.
> http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=11415.0
>
> If you are interested, please read my posts there to understand my line of reasoning for being concerned.
>
> I am 6 months benzo free from a usage of 1.5 years. I am not any better than I was when I first weaned off in many ways. In some ways, I am actually worse. :-(
>
> I am terrified.
>
> Thanks.
> -michelle
>
>

Hi Michelle ;-)
The big issue with the benzo drugs are the addiction. Some people (like me) developp an addiction problem very fast and need more and more benzo high doses to reach the same effect they had at the begining of their treatment, especially the Rivotril in my case. Someone who tend to use alcohol often to relieve is social anxiety, like I was doing before I begining the benzo drugs, and continue to use it with the benzo drugs will have a lot more chance to became addicted and less chance to withdrawh of the benzo drugs without any problem.

Another big issue is the permanent dommage...It's seem that people with no addiction problem will be able to go off the benzo drugs after many years on them without having any problem or permanent damage. You can look at the Ashton Book, I think she talk about permanent dammage. (Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, acute & protracted) chapter...

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha01.htm#24

From my experience, I have a lot of difficulties with the benzo drugs and to withdraw them. Since I take them (now on Valium 20mg/day...succedd to reduce to Valium 10-15mg/day recently), I can say that I lost a lot of my memory and concentration with them. Before, I was someone really fast to understand everything, I never had to study a lot at school or to keep a list of my appointment, since I was always remember everything. Now, it's seem that I lost a lot of my concentration and short term memory with them.

I also wonder if it will be permanent or not...but who know, I think it will depend of how your brains are made...

They also tend to cause a more profond depression episode on people, that's what happen with me...and the tendancy to became used to their hypnotic effects make them a lot more hard to withdraw, since insomnia can be a big side effect when you stop them and sometimes it can last several months to years...The amnesic part of their actions make them also a lot hard for the impairement of the memory...I think it's related to the loss of concentration and short term memory...

Anyway, I think if you can stop them, you should do it gradually...to avoid unnecessary withdraw symptoms. Sure, you can experience a return in the same state than before in term of anxiety, sometimes rebound anxiety is worst than the anxiety you had before using them, but my theory is that you're better off them is you can do it than on them...

The brains seem to also developp a tolerance against the actions of the benzo drugs, changing the structure of the brain and make the gaba-a action completely inneffective. I think at this point it's a no return...

Some people will claim that "drugs" with gaba-b type target of action will help to withdraw from the benzo drugs (Neurontin, Lyrica...) but I believe that's not true, since they don't produce the same actions on the brains and don't have actions on anxiety or insomnia...but a more powerfull anticonvulsant action only.

I think permanent damage will tend to fade away and not being so "permanent" with time. You feed your brains with that kind of drug, a lot more powerfull than what most of the people think...so your brains need some time to recover.

That's only my point of view...I hope everything will be ok with you soon ;-) And I hope I will be able also to come off the benzo drug, after more than 3 years on them...I don't care about permanent dammage, I think anyway i'm better off them...Take pills for nothing like I do now make me feel like i'm addicted to a drug and I feel guilty of it...but what I can do??? Nothing cause it's the thrue...Maybe after I will stop them completly, I will never recover at 100% and stay with a poor memory or muscles shaking or a lesser concentration level, but I prefer this than having an addiction will last all my life...

Have a good day !! :-)

Vincent ;-)


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/872336.html