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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
Hi to all!
I'm out all AD's but i would like to to try using sometimes a little Benzo.
Which benzo has more activant, or less sedative, profile?
I'm aenergic, aphatic and sometimes anxious, and i don't want to use a benzo that dizzy, drowsy and sedate me at all.
Thanks for your helpful counseil!
Posted by Mr. Scott on February 19, 2002, at 19:40:08
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
Posted by Alan on February 19, 2002, at 19:56:41
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
> Hi to all!
> I'm out all AD's but i would like to to try using sometimes a little Benzo.
> Which benzo has more activant, or less sedative, profile?
> I'm aenergic, aphatic and sometimes anxious, and i don't want to use a benzo that dizzy, drowsy and sedate me at all.
> Thanks for your helpful counseil!
*******************************************
Generally speaking, one BZD is not more sedating than the other. It is not like the AD's are for instance.One has to try the big 4 - xanax, ativan, valium, or klonopin for themselves in order to make that determination. All individuals will react differently. Half-life may be a consideration of convienience though - xanax and ativan being short and valium and klonopin being long.
One has to decide which one gives the most anxiolytic effect for the least amount of sleepiness side effect (sedation). If you have a truly diagnosed anxiety disorder and no history of drug abuse, one of these will probably do the job just great.
BZD monotherapy is one of the best kept secrets amongst specialists that treat anxiety disorders exclusively. Their potential for abuse has been so exaggerated by the companies in order to promote their latest ssri and also by a small but strident group of anti-benzo/anti drug fanatics that many docs outside of the specialists don't know about these "risks" being exaggerated.
Remember that one has the side effect of feeling a bit sleepy during the 1 - 2 week start up period and then that side effect lessens considerably. Don't confuse that with the drug losing its anxiolytic effect though - that should remain the same. In other words, don't make the mistake of increasing your dose if the sleepiness goes away after 1 - 2 weeks. Only increase the dose with your docs knowledge if the anxiolytic effect is not enough. That is how one finds the right dose for them.
*Generally speaking*, xanax and ativan have the best anti-panic profile but you have to dose more often. At the other end of the spectrum, Klonopin lasts 2 - 3 times as long and is effective for GAD.
With these drugs, remember that one has to taper off of them only as fast as your body will allow. Some complain of anxiety as a side effect of tapering too quickly. Your doc should be able to help you with this.
The nice thing about the BZD's is that one knows immediately if the drug is going to work for their symptoms and can proceed from one drug to another relatively easily during the experimentation phase - provided they taper off of the old drug while at the same time inreasing the new. The drug leaving the system is what is capable in some case of causing a side effect of anxiety. One can generally distinguish the difference between one's original feeling of anxiety and that of the side effect of tapering the drug too quickly.
Alan
Posted by geno on February 19, 2002, at 20:33:41
In reply to Re: Which Benzo has more activant profile? » dazednconfused, posted by Alan on February 19, 2002, at 19:56:41
from personal experience, and i have anxiety and panic disorder, .25mg of xanax doesnt touch me. .5mg does calm me down 30 minutes and i keep this dose, which last for about 6 hrs, then needing to redose 2 times more. 1mg of xanax puts me down, i lay there like jello, i could stay awake but the house could be on fire and i wouldnt care.
Klonopin, at .5mg seems to last around8hrs for me, takes a good hour to kick in, seems to be more sedative, and muscle facial relaxing, esp someone who is prone for muscle rigidity and twitching. its more smooth,everything seems quiet and peaceful. at 1mg, i tend to start falling asleep, very very relaxed. but i only took 1mg once, im sure the next time i could fall right out .
questions is can the two be mixed. say .5mg of xanax in the morning, when i wake up panicy, then 6 hrs later, take .5mg of klonopin to run out the day and relax.
i take remeron for sleep.comments
geno
Posted by Alan on February 19, 2002, at 22:36:15
In reply to Re: Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by geno on February 19, 2002, at 20:33:41
> questions is can the two be mixed. say .5mg of xanax in the morning, when i wake up panicy, then 6 hrs later, take .5mg of klonopin to run out the day and relax.
> i take remeron for sleep.
>
> comments
> geno
*******************************************
Of course. I take klonopin daily and ativan PRN. It's quite common for those on BZD monotherapy.Alan
Posted by Ritch on February 20, 2002, at 12:41:30
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
> Hi to all!
> I'm out all AD's but i would like to to try using sometimes a little Benzo.
> Which benzo has more activant, or less sedative, profile?
> I'm aenergic, aphatic and sometimes anxious, and i don't want to use a benzo that dizzy, drowsy and sedate me at all.
> Thanks for your helpful counseil!Howdy,
Wow, an activating benzo. Now, that's a question! I've never found any of them to be activating. Some are more sedative than others. Of the "high-potency" ones probably Xanax would have the least "nod-off" potential. Ativan and Klonopin are more sedative. Of the "low-potency" ones probably chlordiazepoxide (Librium) would make you the least sleepy. I have also heard that Oxazepam (Serax) isn't too sedative. I found Librium pretty mellow (5-10mg capsules). You just need to take it twice a day.
Mitch
Posted by paulb on February 20, 2002, at 18:00:19
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
With the benzos it really is a case of trial and error. they are grouped into low-potency and high potency so Valium may be less likey to cause the problesm you mentioned. As to the high potency benzodiazepines I prefer Xanax to Lorazepam and expecially Clonazepam which is very potent. Clonazepam has a unique profile that should be taken into consideration if you were to use it:
1)It increases serotonin
2)It is as much an anticonvulsant as typical benzodiazepine receptor agonist
3)There is marked differences between the generic form and brand. The brand is approximately twice as potent.Xanax would be my coice. The only disadvanatage is that it has a short-half life. Valium, in my opinion is very addictive. Perhaps Librium, although used much less often these days could be a very good option as it is another low-potency benzodiazepine with a reputation for not causing too many problems and yet an effective anxiolytic.
If your interested in increasing GABA you could also try Neurontin. Again trial and error.
Good luck
paulB
Posted by Frankie on February 22, 2002, at 2:09:36
In reply to Which Benzo has more activant profile?, posted by dazednconfused on February 19, 2002, at 19:22:35
> Hi to all!
> I'm out all AD's but i would like to to try using sometimes a little Benzo.
> Which benzo has more activant, or less sedative, profile?
> I'm aenergic, aphatic and sometimes anxious, and i don't want to use a benzo that dizzy, drowsy and sedate me at all.
> Thanks for your helpful counseil!Hello,
I take a small dose Xanax a day, at nite, but I believe that Klonopin is less sedating. I am sure that it is longer acting also. This would mean that you would not have as many rebound anxiety issues. But, no matter which of those 2 you would choose, keep the dose reasonably low. They are both really powerful medications.
Frankie.
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