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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by utopizen on November 21, 2002, at 6:26:15
Okay, so my doctor will give me prn dosing (15 .5mg/month), which is an improvement, but not everyday.
I said I'd be cool with going off it at some point after taking it for a few years, and asked what the worst that could happen. Said seizures. (I always assumed that was only a risk in those with pre-existing seizure condition).
Oh well. But can't you just take phenobarbital or something for those 2 weeks while you're in withdrawl, thus safeguarding you from the seizures while keeping your head in tact, anyway?
Posted by jay on November 21, 2002, at 17:38:34
In reply to Diagnosing root of doctor's benzophobia, posted by utopizen on November 21, 2002, at 6:26:15
> Okay, so my doctor will give me prn dosing (15 .5mg/month), which is an improvement, but not everyday.
>
> I said I'd be cool with going off it at some point after taking it for a few years, and asked what the worst that could happen. Said seizures. (I always assumed that was only a risk in those with pre-existing seizure condition).
>
> Oh well. But can't you just take phenobarbital or something for those 2 weeks while you're in withdrawl, thus safeguarding you from the seizures while keeping your head in tact, anyway?I have been taking benzo's, on and off, for over 8 years now. No problems with seizures...or escalating dose..etc. IF you do have problems with seizures, I still don't think benzos are contraindicated. As you say, you may end up on an anti-seizure med permenently. Klonipin, a benzo, is an anti-seizure med (an 'official' one, and I think most benzo's have anti-seizure activity.)
Anyhow..just my thoughts and my experience. I'd say get a different doctor if the one you have won't prescribe benzos when needed. (And if it mean's regular use..so be it.)
Jay
Posted by Alan on November 22, 2002, at 10:46:01
In reply to Re: Diagnosing root of doctor's benzophobia » utopizen, posted by jay on November 21, 2002, at 17:38:34
> > Okay, so my doctor will give me prn dosing (15 .5mg/month), which is an improvement, but not everyday.
> >
> > I said I'd be cool with going off it at some point after taking it for a few years, and asked what the worst that could happen. Said seizures. (I always assumed that was only a risk in those with pre-existing seizure condition).
> >
> > Oh well. But can't you just take phenobarbital or something for those 2 weeks while you're in withdrawl, thus safeguarding you from the seizures while keeping your head in tact, anyway?
>
> I have been taking benzo's, on and off, for over 8 years now. No problems with seizures...or escalating dose..etc. IF you do have problems with seizures, I still don't think benzos are contraindicated. As you say, you may end up on an anti-seizure med permenently. Klonipin, a benzo, is an anti-seizure med (an 'official' one, and I think most benzo's have anti-seizure activity.)
>
> Anyhow..just my thoughts and my experience. I'd say get a different doctor if the one you have won't prescribe benzos when needed. (And if it mean's regular use..so be it.)
>
> Jay
==============================================
Maintainence doses of bzds (daily at steady state blood levels) are commonly given by those that know the anxiety disorders. The World Health Organisation sees saftey in both short AND long term bzd monotherapy and as a matter of fact has released a new report listing doctors complaints about withdrawal amongst psychotropics. The results? SSRI's are all in the top 10 and the bzds rate in the double digits down the line somewhere.Any doctor that says bzds are not a first line of treatment to be offered on equal footing with any other med simply doesn't know what they are talking about....statistically speaking anyway.
I'd advise getting a new doc that is not benzophobic. Why suffer if there are alternatives? To satisfy the commercially driven ssri's for anxiety disorder and the still pervailing attitude that a little suffering and witholding medication (bzds) is good for the soul? How Calvanistic.
You deserve seeing a doc that will listen to you instead of the drug-reps pushing to recover their R & D costs when their success is at tops 30 - 50% while the bzds are in at least the 75 -80% efficacy rate catagory.
Alan
This is the end of the thread.
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