![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 47 to 71 of 131. Go back in thread:
Posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 16:38:41
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by FredPotter on August 9, 2007, at 16:18:59
I was given my first benzo, 4mg Ativan, at 19 and I'm now 25. I'm pleased to hear that you're happy and fulfilled. Everybody deserves to be. I wonder why you got to the point of needing a drug like Nardil though if benzos were so effective? I think we're fairly typical in that few people can take the same psychiatric drug at the same dose and achieve the same effect indefinitely. I disagree with your opinions on the Vietnam study, I think it was fair and the conclusions they reached were reasonable. I hope Nardil keeps you well and functioning for as long as you need it.
Q
Posted by FredPotter on August 9, 2007, at 20:44:32
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » FredPotter, posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 16:38:41
>I wonder why you got to the point of needing a drug like Nardil though if benzos were so effective
It hardly needs saying but Nardil is an antidepressant and benzos anxiolytics
Posted by Phillipa on August 9, 2007, at 21:00:47
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 10:33:56
Guess I'm a freak of nature. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 21:13:13
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by FredPotter on August 9, 2007, at 20:44:32
Nardil is a powerful anxiolytic. Most people take it for that reason. I remember you saying you started Nardil to control your anxiety.
Q
Posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 21:18:51
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by linkadge on August 9, 2007, at 9:00:13
>People have the right to deny it exists, because it honestly may not.
Look at the title you chose for this thread.
>Yes, but just because it is natural doesn't mean it can't have bad side effects of its own.
6,3'-dinitroflavone isn't natural, it's a synthetic compound derived from a natural flavonoid.
>I had a hell of a withdrawl from valerian. Valerian withdrawl can actually cause cardiac failure. While I prefer chamomile, I can get depressed if I drink too much, and I also have withdrawl if I stop it abruptly.
If this is true, then it bodes badly for you with the much stronger synthetic benzodiazepine receptor agonists. It's illogical that the small amounts of low-bioavailability benzodiazepine-like compounds found in valerian and chamomile tea would produce stronger withdrawal effects than than larger doses of the more potent synthetic benzodiazepines. I know you didn't say that, but it stands to reason that someone who suffers such strong reactions to Valerian and chamomile would fare much worse with Klonopin and Valium under the same circumstances. Perhaps it's a blessing that your doctor, as the guidelines recommend, has restricted you to short courses of low-dose benzos so far. If you'd been taking them for years at high doses I feel sure your experiences would have been different.
>For instance, a person who is high in estrogen, which desensitizes GABA-A, may have much less effect of a standard dose of valium than somebody who has high progesterone (sensitizes GABA-A).
How is this relevant? I'm not intimidated.
>Well, seing as they are not approved for inducing amnesia......
Lorazepam is indicated for peri-operative amnesia in the UK. I don't have any US drug references to hand but I know lorazepam is certainly used, and recommended, as a pre-medication to induce amnesia during medical procedures in the US though, regardless of whether it is licensed for this purpose.
>The highest concentration of benzodiazapine receptors is in the amydala. For a person who's cognition is hampered by an overactive amydala, who knows how the cognition might actually improve when the amydala is tamed down. Its just like how Dilantin is used as a nootropic. For some people, it apparently improves cognition
Same again. None of this changes the fact that therapeutic doses of benzos cause significant amnesia and cognitive impairment.
Q
Posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 9:20:49
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 10:33:56
>Benzodiazepines can cause depression with long->term use. This is a well known fact and proven >by many studies as well as clinical experience. >Heather Ashton has done some excellent work on >the subject, have you read it?
The operative word is *can*. Some studies have found that benzodiazapines can augment the effects of antidepressants, and/or have their own antidepressant effect.
See:
http://biopsychiatry.com/clonazepam-depadj.htm
>Benzodiazepines seem to cause a *progressive* >deterioration in mental performance and mood >over time, usually several years. So somebody >could be relatively unaffected at the beginning, >yet over time their cognitive functioning >declines and their mood darkens.I have read some studies allong these lines but I have also read studies that do not support this.
Dr. Paul Cheny uses clonazepam for CFS. His theory, which is supported by some research, is that by restoring "action potentials", clonazepam can be be neuroprotective. He sites some studies suggesting that long term use of clonazepam apparently led to lower rates of Alzheimers. He has a book, I believe, which details his work.
See:
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?ID=3154
>This happens gradually so it may be attributed >to other factors in a person's life. Benzos also >lose their anxiolytic efficacy as tolerance >develops and after a while fear creeps in from >every corner until it's everywhere >(agoraphobia/GAD).Actually thats not necessarily true, and unnecessarily dramatic. Benzodiazapines can provide long term relief for certain types of anxiety disorders. Some researchers have noted that while tollerance builds to the sedative and hypnotic effects, tollerance to the antianxiety does not always develop. I had sucessfully treated pure GAD for about two years on benzodiazapines alone. I had depression from the beginning, but did not notice any specific worsening.
>This too is a well known and documented >phenomenon.
Again, a possable phenomon.
>Interesting, link, that you feel so >>passionately about the temporary worsening of >>depression induced by SSRIs, but with benzos, >to >you this is an acceptable side effect.
I just feel passionately that people should know about possable side effects. While I don't feel its is right that side effects fail to be mentioned, I also don't think it is right to suggest that possable side effects extend to all users.
>I often wonder what your views would be like now >if you were given benzos as a teenager, not >SSRIs, and suffered as a consequence.
Well, actually I was given a benzo as a teenager, and still graduated high school with honors. I was given awards for the highest highschool marks in a few subject areas as well as completing my grade 10 RCM piano on benzodiazapines.
While I know people have had problems with them, I personally think they are *much* safer than SSRI's.
>Your comments on Nardil. Again, I question their >relevance because interference with REM sleep is >often said to be one of the central >antidepressant mechanisms, not only of MAOIs but >SSRIs and some other antidepressants too. So if >that were remedied then there is a risk the >antidepressant response would vanish too.
So what? REM sleep is where the brain regains ballence allong the cholinergic axis. While SSRI's will diminish REM sleep to some extent the MAOI's are known to almost abolish REM sleep for a much longer period than with SSRI's or TCA's. Clomipramine comes close to the MAOI's in terms of REM supression. Although, it is a dumb drug too!
>Therefore if Nardil cognitive impairment was >down to REM it would seem that the cognitive >impairment is central to the antidepressant (and >possibly anxiolytic) response.
Bingo. Many have noted that there is a direct correlation between the efficacy of an antidepressant and its propensity to cause cognitive problems. MAOI's, lithium, ECT, Nortryptaline, Clomipramine, Amitryptaline...some of the most effective antidepressants (clinically).
Linakdge
Posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 9:26:54
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » FredPotter, posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 16:38:41
There is a very high comobidity between depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.
Sometimes one can predominate for a while, so treating it with a benzo might mask depressive symptoms for a while.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 9:53:14
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 9, 2007, at 21:18:51
>People have the right to deny it exists, because it honestly may not.
>Look at the title you chose for this thread.
I need to elaborate. When I say it may not exist I mean on an individual basis. I personally don't have too bad cognition on benzo's. My reason for this post was simply a pharmachological question based on what I had learned about the beta carbolines. Some people do complain of cognative problems so I was just wondering. This doesn't mean everybody has the problem.
>6,3'-dinitroflavone isn't natural, it's a >synthetic compound derived from a natural >flavonoid.Synthetic or natural, I doubt it is side effect free.
>If this is true, then it bodes badly for you >with the much stronger synthetic benzodiazepine >receptor agonists. It's illogical that the small >amounts of low-bioavailability benzodiazepine->like compounds found in valerian and chamomile >tea would produce stronger withdrawal effects >than than larger doses of the more potent >synthetic benzodiazepines.
You are working under the assumption that the only mechanism of activity is benzodiazapine receptor agonism. I had worse withdrawl from SJW than I did from SSRI's, even though SJW has less effect on the serotonin transporter than an SSRI.
>I know you didn't say that, but it stands to >reason that someone who suffers such strong >reactions to Valerian and chamomile would fare >much worse with Klonopin and Valium under the >same circumstances.
Probably, but it depends. Valerian has effects of adenosine, 5-ht1a, gaba reuptake, gaba-a, bdz, and serotonin transport.
>Perhaps it's a blessing that your doctor, as the >guidelines recommend, has restricted you to >short courses of low-dose benzos so far.I am permitted to take upto 1mg of clonazepam on a daily basis.
>If you'd been taking them for years at high >doses I feel sure your experiences would have >been different.
Have you been taking them for years? Unfortunately, "I feel dumber", isn't really a thorough scientific assesment. A few studies can only really "suggest" things. If you are about to jump on the bandwagon of some synthetic anxiolytic under the guise that a few animal studies suggest it is safe(r), than other pharmacuticals, you may want to wait a little while.
>How is this relevant? I'm not intimidated.
Well, I don't know what you mean by intimidate. I was simply stating that the individual allosteric regulation of gaba-a receptors may be of particular importance to the sensitivity an individual has to benzodiazapines.
>Same again. None of this changes the fact that >therapeutic doses of benzos cause significant >amnesia and cognitive impairment.
Again, you may want to use the word "can". Otherwise I will have completed a awefull number of cognitivly demanding tasts with significant amnesia and cognative impairment. Well, I guess thats a complimenent.
Linkadge
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 13:04:15
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 9:53:14
>I personally don't have too bad cognition on benzo's.
I feel the operant word here is 'too'.
>Have you been taking them for years?
I took benzos for about five years. I've been off them for over a year.
>Unfortunately, "I feel dumber", isn't really a thorough scientific assesment.
I'm not sure where that statement came from, but I'm sure I didn't say it. There are a huge number objective scientific studies from a wide variety of sources demonstrating amnesia and cognitive impairment at therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines. The fact that you can find a handful to the contrary based on some esoteric mechanism or medical condition doesn't alter the conclusions of the overwhelming body of scientific evidence. You can't prove a negative.
>A few studies can only really "suggest" things.
A *lot* of studies support the fact that benzodiazepines cause significant amnesia and cognitive impairment at therapeutic doses. When a finding is easily replicated by independant researchers around the word this forms evidence. Collecting these studies is easy as apple-gathering in the fall, they being so plentiful. To find studies to the contrary you need to go cherry-picking.
>If you are about to jump on the bandwagon of some synthetic anxiolytic under the guise that a few animal studies suggest it is safe(r), than other pharmacuticals, you may want to wait a little while.
I'm jumping on no bandwagons link. I'm inclined to ask you to read that statement, reflect on it a while, then review my post further up this thread containing the amnesia studies.
>Again, you may want to use the word "can". Otherwise I will have completed a awefull number of cognitivly demanding tasts with significant amnesia and cognative impairment.
I disagree with this. I too went to college and got decent grades, top of my class in biology, passed my driving test etc. Still, I was significantly impaired compared to my unmedicated state.
Q
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 14:41:52
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 13:04:15
I can't be the only one that's getting sick and tired of this thread. As a concession to peace I'm willing to concede this:
The overwhelming majority of studies show significant cognitive impairment at typical therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines in the majority of volunteers. However, there is evidence that a minority of individuals, by dint of either leviathan brain or quirk of metabolism, or possibly some other unknown mechanism, can consume small-to-moderate doses of benzodiazepines with little adverse effect on learning and memory.
Q
Posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 14:59:20
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 13:04:15
>I feel the operant word here is 'too'.
Alright, ha ha. I major in math and physics; bad spelling/grammer is a prerequisite.
>I'm not sure where that statement came from, but >I'm sure I didn't say it. There are a huge >number objective scientific studies from a wide >variety of sources demonstrating amnesia and >cognitive impairment at therapeutic doses of >benzodiazepines.
Yes, but only a small number of them are assesing the potential for such side effects to be long term / permanant. The only side effects are somewhat proven to occur in some patients are short term cognative problems which really don't concern me.
The assertion that benzodiazapines cause permanant brain damage is intrinsically a very challenging one to establish. Comorbidity, comedication, multiple substance use / alchohol use. Secondary effects such as masking of vitamin deficiancies. Asessment times (ie sufficiant time would need to be given for a complete withdrawl).
A more accurate assesment would compare long term benzodiazapine users with drug naive age matched individuals with an anxiety disorder. Ie. to asess the effect of an anxiety disorder itself on cognition. The effect of a stressfull lifestyle would also need to be accounted for. Stressfull lifestyles are linked to cognative decline!
As a side example, studies designed to asess the effect of long term neuroleptic use on cognition are generally difficult seeing as neuroleptic naive age matched (disease duration matched) schizophrenics also generally show cognative disturbance. (There is a progressive loss of grey matter in schizophrenia with or without treatment)
>The fact that you can find a handful to the >contrary based on some esoteric mechanism or >medical condition doesn't alter the conclusions >of the overwhelming body of scientific evidence. >You can't prove a negative.
I still don't see what you are getting at. The notion that long term benzo use leads to permanant cognative decline is a relativly recent one. Only time will help to clarify the incidence / validity of such preliminary claims.
>A *lot* of studies support the fact that >benzodiazepines cause significant amnesia and >cognitive impairment at therapeutic doses. When >a finding is easily replicated by independant >researchers around the word this forms evidence. >Collecting these studies is easy as apple->gathering in the fall, they being so plentiful. >To find studies to the contrary you need to go >cherry-picking.
Hundreds of studies have established the possability that SSRIs can cause sexual side effects. That doesn't mean everybody gets them.
I don't see what you are trying to say(?).>I'm jumping on no bandwagons link. I'm inclined >to ask you to read that statement, reflect on it >a while, then review my post further up this >thread containing the amnesia studies.
I don't even think we are arguing the same thing here. I agreed with you in the beginning that benzodiazapines *can* cause cognative side effects or else I woudn't have started this thread!!?
>I disagree with this. I too went to college and >got decent grades, top of my class in biology, >passed my driving test etc. Still, I was >significantly impaired compared to my >unmedicated state.
Thats great. You cannot proove however, that every individual who takes a benzodiazapine looses cognative capacity. Infact just the existence of one study suggesting that benzdiazapine use can improve cognative performance makes it impossable to prove a totality.
The doses of benzodiazapine I use to help anxiety, are in the magnitude of those used in this study.
Linakdge
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 15:40:17
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by linkadge on August 10, 2007, at 14:59:20
>Yes, but only a small number of them are assesing the potential for such side effects to be long term / permanant. The only side effects are somewhat proven to occur in some patients are short term cognative problems which really don't concern me.
Well they concern me, and their existence is confirmed by these studies. The evidence shows that cognitive problems last as long as treatment continues, and that the risk of depression increases with length of treatment, so this is a concern for anyone taking benzodiazepines long-term.
>The assertion that benzodiazapines cause permanant brain damage is intrinsically a very challenging one to establish.
Linkadge, I said no such thing. There is no evidence as yet that benzodiazepines cause permanent brain damage. Heather Ashton herself confirms this. At worst, there are functional changes at receptors that may cause lingering withdrawal symptoms in a minority of individuals. In my own case the withdrawal symptoms disappeared within the first month, full psychological adjustment to living without benzos took longer of course. The cognitive and memory problems were resolved within a week of quitting.
>I still don't see what you are getting at.
I'm saying that the overwhelming body of evidence demonstrates significant cognitive and memory impairment at typical therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines in the majority of subjects. For some people this is a serious problem, others a nuisance, and a small minority seem to be unaffected. When questioned many benzodiazepine users claim to be unaffected, but objective studies of their performance show otherwise. It should be borne in mind that people under the influence of alcohol (and many other drugs) tend to dangerously overestimate their performance and competence, even to the point of denying any impairment at all. The evidence shows a similar effect with benzodiazepines.
>The notion that long term benzo use leads to permanant cognative decline is a relativly recent one. Only time will help to clarify the incidence / validity of such preliminary claims.
See above.
>Hundreds of studies have established the possability that SSRIs can cause sexual side effects. That doesn't mean everybody gets them.
Again, how is this relevant to a discussion of benzodiazepines? I think I've made considerable effort already to be fair in saying a small minority seem to be unaffected by the amnesic and cognitive blunting effects of small doses of benzodiazepines. However, the overwhelming body of evidence demonstrates significant cognitive and memory impairment at typical therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines in the majority of subjects.
>I agreed with you in the beginning that benzodiazapines *can* cause cognative side effects or else I woudn't have started this thread!!?
Yes, that would be logical. However, I think you've spent the majority of this thread trying to prove the contrary.
>You cannot proove however, that every individual who takes a benzodiazapine looses cognative capacity.
I have said no such thing.
>Infact just the existence of one study suggesting that benzdiazapine use can improve cognative performance makes it impossable to prove a totality.
I am not trying to prove a totality. I *am* saying the overwhelming body of evidence demonstrates significant cognitive and memory impairment at typical therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines in the majority of subjects.
Q
Posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 16:47:27
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 15:40:17
All I know is that if I get a little drowsy from my benzo's I'll have a coffee and I'm fine
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 17:10:52
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 16:47:27
I did more or less the same thing cactus. Actually, we haven't even got round to looking at the original study on beta-carbolines yet have we? Could you dig it out for us please link? I think Ms. Noodle asked a question on this subject further up the thread.
Q
Posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 17:28:05
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 17:10:52
> I did more or less the same thing cactus. Actually, we haven't even got round to looking at the original study on beta-carbolines yet have we? Could you dig it out for us please link? I think Ms. Noodle asked a question on this subject further up the thread.
>
> QThanks qunital, I'm having a coffee right now, well it is 8:30 in the morning on a cold wet winters day.
Posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 17:29:44
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 17:10:52
and I just took my zoloft and rivotril
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 17:59:59
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 17:28:05
I think all of us on this thread click on our notification updates with a feeling of trepidation and foreboding, so it was a welcome surprise to see your posts cactus. Strange to think of you hanging upside down there beneath my feet, sipping your coffee and quaffing your Rivotril as I type. All of us spinning round on a giant ball, itself just a tiny speck of dust, hurtling through an endless vacuum. Winter in the middle of summer indeed. But enough of my philosophical musings.
Guarana was quite effective at reversing benzo-induced sedation. I'm not sure if it contains beta-carbolines, mainly caffeine and other xanthines if I remember correctly. Gotu Kola also had some beneficial effects.
Q
Posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 19:25:42
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » cactus, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 17:59:59
> I think all of us on this thread click on our notification updates with a feeling of trepidation and foreboding, so it was a welcome surprise to see your posts cactus. Strange to think of you hanging upside down there beneath my feet, sipping your coffee and quaffing your Rivotril as I type. All of us spinning round on a giant ball, itself just a tiny speck of dust, hurtling through an endless vacuum. Winter in the middle of summer indeed. But enough of my philosophical musings.
>
> Guarana was quite effective at reversing benzo-induced sedation. I'm not sure if it contains beta-carbolines, mainly caffeine and other xanthines if I remember correctly. Gotu Kola also had some beneficial effects.
>
> QThanks Q, I hope you're enjoying summer our winter has been freezing (for OZ that is) it was snowing everywhere last week about 40km's out of melbourne, roads blocked etc, we're not equipped for that. Thankyou also for you suggestions, I'll take them on board, I'm already a guarana energy drink pig.
Posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 21:03:36
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by cactus on August 10, 2007, at 19:25:42
Almost 40 years now of benzos and on and off them no withdrawal or cognitive impairment as I said guess a freak of nature. And I'm on less now then ever before explain this please? Love Phllipa
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 21:47:17
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 21:03:36
These are extraordinary claims Phillipa, and they need to be supported by extraordinary evidence. So I'd like to do something else for a change. Could you explain something for me please? I don't think I've ever had a detailed and thorough account of your medication history, and before I can answer your question properly I need more information. I need to know this:
The dose of your first prescription.
The drug.
The duration of your first course of treatment.
Efficacy of this course of treatment on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being most effective, 1 being least effective.
Reason for terminating.
Dose at termination.
Any withdrawal effects.
Any concurrent medication, if so, dose and duration of treatment.
Reason for restarting medication.
The dose of your first prescription.
The drug.
The duration of your first course of treatment.
Efficacy of this course of treatment on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being most effective, 1 being least effective.
Reason for terminating.
Dose at termination.
Any withdrawal effects.
Any concurrent medication, if so, dose and duration of treatment.And so on for each course of treatment.
I also need to know how you rate the current efficacy of your benzodiazepines, again efficacy of this course of treatment on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being most effective, 1 being least effective.
Cognitive impairment is harder to measure subjectively, and I'm not being rude, but I think I've seen substantial evidence of that in your posts over the years here. On the topic of withdrawal symptoms I remember you describing a scenario after the birth of your first daughter where your Valium was discontinued abruptly, and you suffered withdrawal symptoms as a result. I'll search the archives for that post while you're filing out my questionnaire, is that a fair deal?
Also, I have in my possession a few babblemails which run contrary to your claims here. Do you get receipts for your babblemails? I never post details in public that people have given me in confidence, but I'd like you to check your email inbox for a receipt of a babblemail you sent me on 6th April this year.
Q
Posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 22:47:17
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 21:03:36
......and chronological order if possible. Thank you.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 22:57:07
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 21:47:17
You'll have to find the one I just sent Squiggles as I have to go to bed now. Only thing on not on there is that they started at l0plus and now maybe an 8. When I had my Daughter at age 27 the ob-gyn had given me two seconals in labor false and he and the pdoc prescribed the type of wine I should drink each night while pregant. I think I was on placydil two and l0 or l5mg of valium and the booze and wanted to breast feed didn't work out and quit cold turkey for two weeks and then started back up on 5mg. No more sleeping pills for me or booze in llyears dry. Love Phillipa.
Posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 23:47:41
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 22:57:07
Quintal shower over going to bed but I never took a med til after two kids the third was the one. I was told I would have seizures if I cold turkeyed the meds didn't though just felt like on a rocking ship. Slept on the couch for the two weeks the baby was in the hospital then reseumed 5mg of valium. I don't keep copies of babblemails I send only if they pertain to something to do with the board or deputies. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on August 11, 2007, at 1:18:36
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on August 10, 2007, at 22:57:07
Those rocking sensations are something I recognize from my own benzo withdrawals, so from that I think it's fair to conclude that you have suffered withdrawal symptoms at some point. The sensations and feelings you experienced in April this year, when the doctor prescribed huge doses of benzos then reduced the dose suddenly, were also very reminiscent of benzo withdrawal symptoms. I think they were withdrawal symptoms because although there was a strenuous attempt to attribute them to the thyroid problem at the time, the next thyroid test turned out to be normal. When you quit benzos cold turkey many years ago the withdrawal symptoms might have been mild because you were taking only small doses, and they would likely have been mitigated by the sleeping pills you were also taking at the time.
If the benzos are no longer as effective as they were then that would suggest tolerance, and tolerance would be entirely expected after such a long period of continuous use.
The problem with raising and lowering the dose again rapidly, as the doctor did with you, is that (as I posted on the other thread) the benzodiazepine receptors can get locked into an inverse agonist configuration. This means that you can get withdrawal symptoms even in the presence of the drug, and I think this may be one reason in addition to tolerance why you still have so much anxiety despite taking benzos. This can be corrected so that the benzos regain their original efficacy - in other words tolerance can be reversed. I'll explain in more detail when I get up as I'm going to bed now myself. Sleep well.
Q
Posted by linkadge on August 13, 2007, at 9:04:57
In reply to Re: beta carbolines to reverse benzo cognitive pro » linkadge, posted by Quintal on August 10, 2007, at 15:40:17
>I am not trying to prove a totality. I *am* >saying the overwhelming body of evidence >demonstrates significant cognitive and memory >impairment at typical therapeutic doses of >benzodiazepines in the majority of subjects.
Sure, in the majority of the subjects studied. I don't know what the argument is.
Linkadge
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.