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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on June 9, 2007, at 1:48:04
i dislodge.
this is with lorazepam. i am taking 1.5 and added another 1mg pill later on, then .5 later. it seems to be sustaining this way. i am also taking energy drinks and caffeine, but am not fully sure of their role. earlier i wouldn't have doubted it, but now i am not sure.
it is far from perfect, i am only making small steps with stuff i need to do, and lorazepam always causes poor memory with me. but i need this for now.
maybe i will add aricept (also for in case i do ECT and they are fine with me taking it during the course) or maybe galantamine, which is more stimulating, which i think i could use. caffeine is far from totally ideal. i think i perferred the softness of aricept tho. :( i am not sure.
does anyone have any theories of how benzos do this?
most of the day i cannot type anything, or even get out of bed, or change out of my stinking clothes that keep becoming urine stenched on a basis i find so overwhelming, my random incontinence is overwhelming enough, i cannot handle it. i cannot make myself change my clothes. i cannot execute anything. i am just blablabla in my head at all times, and can't force it out into real world interaction.
i have small steps i can make with lorazepam, but it is never interaction that uses any more full ability to think, and never assurance that my interactions will be unharmful or non-humiliating later.
Posted by KayeBaby on June 9, 2007, at 4:18:37
In reply to its so odd how with benzo i actually do things., posted by iforgotmypassword on June 9, 2007, at 1:48:04
Hi IFMP,
What is your diagnosis, if you don't mind?
Do you feel as though you get a stimulationg sort of effect from benzos?Take Care,
Kaye
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2007, at 11:53:22
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things., posted by KayeBaby on June 9, 2007, at 4:18:37
Gee IFMP you sound like you're not doing well at all what do you think? Love Phillipa and are you thinking of ECT?
Posted by zmg on June 11, 2007, at 23:09:21
In reply to its so odd how with benzo i actually do things., posted by iforgotmypassword on June 9, 2007, at 1:48:04
FWIW I had a similar experience with benzos. I did *much* more and they did not make me drowsy. After thinking about for a while I figured the anxiety that they were relieving was probably freeing up more energy (instead of spending cycles worrying/etc).
Anyway, not ALL benzos (Xanax makes me tired and does little or nothing for anxiety).
But after starting benzos I went back to school (a serious fear of mine at the time), started a new job/career (another fear), created a website for music and art and after 15 or so years began driving again (...). I was a pretty busy boy!
Off I've noticed I accomplish some things more and some things less (I run...). But I'm trying it this way anyway.
Best
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 23:20:34
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » iforgotmypassword, posted by zmg on June 11, 2007, at 23:09:21
See anxiety leads to depression as you can't do what you desire to do. So benzos are useful. Thanks as I've always known that Love Phillipa
Posted by infectedmushrooms on June 12, 2007, at 12:49:06
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » zmg, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 23:20:34
i too notice i have large desires to do things on benzos when they wear off I am a mess and anxious again...I feel like my true self on them..
Posted by Quintal on June 12, 2007, at 14:50:01
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things, posted by infectedmushrooms on June 12, 2007, at 12:49:06
I had better motivation and confidence on benzos too. I never felt so good in my whole life than during the first year I took Klonopin. More accurately benzos allowed me to do whatever I felt like doing without having to think about the consequences and feel any guilt or shame - another pill could silence any whisper of conscience that broke through. I guess it depends on the person that you are whether all of your desires are acceptable (and legal). Anxiety acts as a restraint and I'm starting to think some people are put on a tighter leash than others for good reason.
Would be good to have that 'Ahhhhhhhh.....so relaxed and peaceful feeling back again' but not the my-memory-and-mental-functioning-has-never-been-better side effects and the I-do-not-take-extra-pills-to-cope-with-unexpected-stress-then-run-out-for-two-days-at-the-end-of-the-month lack of tolerance and addiction potential.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2007, at 20:11:53
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things, posted by Quintal on June 12, 2007, at 14:50:01
Q that's never happened to me I have extras every month as I only take at night and sometimes forget. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on June 12, 2007, at 20:42:50
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2007, at 20:11:53
Okay Phillipa.
Q
Posted by sdb on June 13, 2007, at 14:47:30
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » iforgotmypassword, posted by zmg on June 11, 2007, at 23:09:21
> FWIW I had a similar experience with benzos. I did *much* more and they did not make me drowsy. After thinking about for a while I figured the anxiety that they were relieving was probably freeing up more energy (instead of spending cycles worrying/etc).
>
> Anyway, not ALL benzos (Xanax makes me tired and does little or nothing for anxiety).
>
> But after starting benzos I went back to school (a serious fear of mine at the time), started a new job/career (another fear), created a website for music and art and after 15 or so years began driving again (...). I was a pretty busy boy!
>
> Off I've noticed I accomplish some things more and some things less (I run...). But I'm trying it this way anyway.
>
> BestIf you do things that you would like to do but you normally can't isn't it a sign that benzos can work or benzos do relieve a "disorder"? -if somebody has to run it's probably another strategy to improve something (endogenous opioids), but you're free to run on benzos too.
My opinion is that benzos are the only psych. meds you could sell like coffee over the counter, coffee which is a psychotropic substance. Sometimes people come to the hospital with coffee toxication first believed to be amphetamine.
They could place the benzos next whiskey or next bonbons.warm regards
sdb
Posted by Quintal on June 13, 2007, at 15:51:11
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things, posted by sdb on June 13, 2007, at 14:47:30
>If you do things that you would like to do but you normally can't isn't it a sign that benzos can work or benzos do relieve a "disorder"?
Not really, not unless you think it's a sign that because people feel so much better on them Heroin or cocaine (for example) they are correcting a disorder or deficiency of some sort. This type of backwards logic is popular among proponents of Ritalin treatment for ADHD, because it improves concentration among those diagnosed with the condition. But Ritalin improves the focus and attention span of normal adults. I'm not sure what you mean by 'isn't it a sign that benzos work'. There's no question that benzos are the most effective anxiolytics ever invented.
>My opinion is that benzos are the only psych. meds you could sell like coffee over the counter, coffee which is a psychotropic substance. Sometimes people come to the hospital with coffee toxication first believed to be amphetamine.
They could place the benzos next whiskey or next bonbons.This is not a new idea. Something similar has been proposed here before such replacing the alcohol sold in beverages with a potent, short-acting benzo like midazolam in order to reduce the incidence of liver damage in alcoholics.
Q
Posted by sdb on June 13, 2007, at 16:14:07
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » sdb, posted by Quintal on June 13, 2007, at 15:51:11
'I'm not sure what you mean by 'isn't it a sign that benzos work'
It can work but it can't, but it can. capito?
'There's no question that benzos are the most effective anxiolytics ever invented.
yes, probably?
warm regards
sdb
Posted by infectedmushrooms on June 13, 2007, at 17:51:34
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do th } q, posted by sdb on June 13, 2007, at 16:14:07
i think the reason the drug companies push ssris and the other newer pharmaceutical drugs is bc there is more money to be made on them whereas lorezapam went generic so long ago not as much is being made on them per prescription. I also think it is safer if taken appropriately without abuse compared to most other drugs.
Posted by Quintal on June 13, 2007, at 21:07:51
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do th } q, posted by sdb on June 13, 2007, at 16:14:07
>It can work but it can't, but it can. capito?
There seems to be some confusion between what is effective short-term to manage a crisis and what is effective when taken daily for several years. Morphine is outstandingly effective after the first dose, but is it realistic to expect the same dose to be as effective after twenty years of daily use?
There are limitations on the long-term efficacy of these drugs when taken daily because the brain adapts to compensate for the effect of the drug in order to maintain equilibrium. This is a basic biological fact that is well known and proven beyond doubt. Many people persist in trying to deny this, but from what I've seen only suceed in bringing about great suffering on themselves in doing so. Tolerance isn't the only problem - in long term use new problems such as depression, agoraphobia, OCD and poor memory often emerge.
In terms of their immediate (and almost miraculous) anxiolytic effect combined with their tolerability and low toxicity make them the most effective anxiolytics yet invented. But they're rarely appropriate for long-term prescribing except in a small minority of intractible cases.
Q
Posted by infectedmushrooms on June 14, 2007, at 11:47:15
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things » sdb, posted by Quintal on June 13, 2007, at 21:07:51
"Tolerance isn't the only problem - in long term use new problems such as depression, agoraphobia, OCD and poor memory often emerge."
Just about any drug taken on a continual basis can do this to an extent even caffeine...
Posted by Quintal on June 14, 2007, at 12:09:45
In reply to Re: its so odd how with benzo i actually do things, posted by infectedmushrooms on June 14, 2007, at 11:47:15
I'm certain you won't find the same level of cognitive impairment - poor concentration, poor memory etc in moderate caffeine users as in moderate benzo users.
I think the inevitability of tolerance and some degree of impairment is a good reason to view drugs as an aid for short-term relief, and also a good reason to think carefully of how difficult it might be to get off a drug again before you start taking it.
Q
This is the end of the thread.
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