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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cynthia_Greene on January 14, 2007, at 15:36:47
I was reading at another website that Xanax is more similar to an anticonvulsant than any of the other benzos, since it's more powerful.
So, does that mean that if I'm taking a medication that regular anticonvulsants or barbiturates can interfere with, can Xanax also possibly cause a drug interaction?
If it helps, I don't use the Xanax more than 2x a week, and I also used to take Valium without getting any drug interaction problems. I'm just really worried about what I read from the other website.
Posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2007, at 17:47:43
In reply to Xanax, posted by Cynthia_Greene on January 14, 2007, at 15:36:47
No klonopin and valium are similar. Shouldn't be a problem. Love Phillipa
Posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 14, 2007, at 18:04:11
In reply to Xanax, posted by Cynthia_Greene on January 14, 2007, at 15:36:47
I agree with Phillipa
Two times a week shouldnt lead to addiction...just DONT increase the dose or frequency. It like Valium hits the same Receptor sites in our GABBA system, and are very similiar.
BM
Posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 19:11:36
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 14, 2007, at 18:04:11
All benzos are anti convulsants and really the only risk is dependence. Thats not "addiction" in a junkie sense that just means you shouldnt stop taking it without slowly lowering the dose. But at twice a week it doesnt matter.
I take about 6 times what you do except daily.
Posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 19:13:01
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 19:11:36
Assuming you're on a low beginner dose.
Posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 14, 2007, at 20:37:59
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 19:11:36
> All benzos are anti convulsants and really the only risk is dependence. Thats not "addiction" in a junkie sense that just means you shouldnt stop taking it without slowly lowering the dose. But at twice a week it doesnt matter.
>
> I take about 6 times what you do except daily.DBC...You take xanax ? Wow, I wis I have known that a year ago...I probabley could have tapered slowly with your advice and advoided my DUI.
I was taking 6-7mg per day, plus 100mgs of Zoloft , plus heavy alcohol Binge drinking weekly,
2 benedryl every day, and NiquilIve been on xanax 10-12 years.
Glad I am finally tapering....but NOT looking for the Post Acute Withdral....
BM
Posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 22:40:25
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 14, 2007, at 20:37:59
Right now i take somewhere around 4mg ativan 2mg xanax daily. I've tried basically every benzo in high doses short of valium. The reason i go with the longer term ativan plus the xanax is that it seems to cut the need for the xanax quite a bit.
Less possibility of habituation. I'd love for the xanax to simply be a fall back drug when breakthrough panic gets out of control.
Posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 22:41:23
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by dbc on January 14, 2007, at 22:40:25
I could just be taking 5ish mg of xanax but i'd rather not go down that road.
Posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 1:32:18
In reply to Xanax, posted by Cynthia_Greene on January 14, 2007, at 15:36:47
> I was reading at another website that Xanax is more similar to an anticonvulsant than any of the other benzos, since it's more powerful.
>
> So, does that mean that if I'm taking a medication that regular anticonvulsants or barbiturates can interfere with, can Xanax also possibly cause a drug interaction?
>
> If it helps, I don't use the Xanax more than 2x a week, and I also used to take Valium without getting any drug interaction problems. I'm just really worried about what I read from the other website.
2x a week is about right, because as I've said before Xanax is best used, as you're taking a PRN (pro re ne, or as needed) benzodiazepine.All benzodiazepines are anxiolytic, sedative-hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and antispasmotic. They just vary in how much they bind to the GABA-BZ (GABA-A) receptors.
Xanax binds more to the anxiolytic subreceptors as does Ativan somewhat. It is less of an anticonvulsant and is not ususally used as such in an ER setting. Valium and Ativan are used to fight seizures more in an emergency use. Klonopin is also more of an anticonvulsant but its uptake is slower than Valium or Ativan. Xanax's uptake is fairly rapid but it is more of an anxiolytic.
Versed, Restoril, Dalmane, are more hypnotic (sleep or hospital sedation agents.)
As for drug interactions, all sedative and CNS depressive agents can multiply each other. Alcohol, Kava, Benadryl, propranolol, etc. can magnify the effects of a benzodiazepine (sedative/CNS depressant) and due caution until one is sure of how the benzodiazepine works is best.
-- tidings
Posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 16, 2007, at 14:48:52
In reply to Re: Xanax » Cynthia_Greene, posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 1:32:18
Amy advice on what I can expect from the Librium
substituting my xanax on such a short taper?My court date & sentancing 14 days away.
They DO NOT GIVE xananx in Jail even if you have a long-standing prescription...so I had no choice but to quick taper ( started DEC 10) xanax.
BM
Posted by yxibow on January 17, 2007, at 1:40:21
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 16, 2007, at 14:48:52
> Amy advice on what I can expect from the Librium
> substituting my xanax on such a short taper?Be calm and focused; I would highly suggest something like propranolol additional because the quick taper on a drug like Xanax unfortunately is likely to cause large anxiety problems. An AED with little side effects such as Depakote would be warranted to prevent taper seizures -- I don't know how much you are coming down off of.
Librium is pretty much the weakest of long half life benzodiazepines and is usually used today for alcoholism. Perhaps a reason for attempting to substitute for Xanax but I would imagine a fair dose would be needed. Valium replaced it shortly after it came out.
> My court date & sentancing 14 days away.
>
> They DO NOT GIVE xananx in Jail even if you have a long-standing prescription...so I had no choice but to quick taper ( started DEC 10) xanax.I'm not sure where you're located but jails have hospitals and clinicians -- rights may be limited from the outside world, but even a fair amount of surgery is paid by the state.
I wish you the best and I hope you have a good lawyer. Unfortunately all substances including legal prescriptions are subject to DUI hearings, which can run up over $10,000 depending on where you live.I realize this is not what you want to hear. Be well, have the best witnesses and hopefully your doctor on your side though he may be forced to reveal things in a DUI.
-- tidings
Posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 17, 2007, at 14:01:52
In reply to Re: Xanax » Buckeye Maniac, posted by yxibow on January 17, 2007, at 1:40:21
I wish you the best and I hope you have a good lawyer. Unfortunately all substances including legal prescriptions are subject to DUI hearings, which can run up over $10,000 depending on where you live.
I realize this is not what you want to hear. Be well, have the best witnesses and hopefully your doctor on your side though he may be forced to reveal things in a DUI.
-- tidings
I dont understand these last 2 paragraphs of your post...must be the xanax withdral ( 10 years 6mgs per day)
Can you elaborate?
BM
Posted by yxibow on January 17, 2007, at 22:33:16
In reply to Re: Xanax, posted by Buckeye Maniac on January 17, 2007, at 14:01:52
> I wish you the best and I hope you have a good lawyer. Unfortunately all substances including legal prescriptions are subject to DUI hearings, which can run up over $10,000 depending on where you live.
I meant that even though -- I think I recall from your statement that it was legal use of Xanax, a substance that causes impaired driving, whether legal Xanax, or Schedule I "illicit substances", or alcohol, or abused prescriptions, can unfortunately run into DUI pullovers and subsequent hearings.And I'm truly sorry to hear that this happened to you. Its something that I think should be on the mind of anyone who takes a fair amount of benzodiazepines but not to scare people away from them, rather that one has to acclimate to driving conditions under a substance.
There are private hospitals in some areas which will do a driving evaluation which can serve as a legal documentation of driving ability.
> I realize this is not what you want to hear. Be well, have the best witnesses and hopefully your doctor on your side though he may be forced to reveal things in a DUI.
>
> -- tidings
>
> I dont understand these last 2 paragraphs of your post...must be the xanax withdral ( 10 years 6mgs per day)60mg of Valium or 3mgs of Klonopin -- a fair but not very large dose -- still, yes, withdrawal from 10 years inevitable partial habituation would be severe. But that's neither here nor there.
>
> Can you elaborate?
I meant that there are three things that a psychiatrist must tell authorities: 1) Intent to harm seniors, 2) Intent to harm or molest those not of the age of majority, and 3) Intent to kill the president or possibly others. All other things are protected under a doctor-patient relationship, and are ethical decisions, such as if a doctor thinks someone's seizure disorder may harm others while driving. Protected also is telling after the fact that one has molested or killed someone, god forbid. However, depending on I think state jurisdiction, a doctor may have to reveal that he prescribed medication which led to a DUI. I am not an attorney and I do not know your state and you do not have to say so, in fact it would be wise to keep things between you and any lawyer you may have, so I do not know the extent of information a doctor may have to reveal and to what extent he is your protector.That's what I meant, I didn't mean it to be confusing. Here, where traffic school is allowed for certain driving infractions (not for DUI), I have learned in general that fighting a DUI conviction can cost up to $10,000 or more. That's all I meant. I didn't mean to cause you any more grief than you may be feeling at the moment.
And I do wish you the best and hope that most of the doctor-patient confidentiality can be preserved
-- Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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