Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1094093

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

A friend of mine is in the process of discontinuing Klonopin (clonazepam). He has been taking 3.0 mg/day for over 20 years.

1. Can Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) or any other anticonvulsant act to minimize withdrawal symptoms?

2. Has anyone tried flumazenil for benzodiazepine withdrawal?

3. Any additional comments?


- Scott

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » SLS

Posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2017, at 8:58:26

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

Been on them for almost 50 years now unbelievable. Just take at night to sleep, 10mg valium and a total of 1mg of xanax. At my age of 71 I don't think it's possible to come off them. I am just glad that I never took the higher doses that some docs in the past had me on for short periods. Then now just allow sleep. Not even sure they still work. So would very much like to hear if you friend can get off the klonopin. Talk is still that benzos cause Alzheimers. Any truth in this? I worry about it daily. Sorry I made this more about me. As for the klonopin wouldn't valium be what is said to taper with? Phillipa

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by zonked on July 14, 2017, at 0:14:50

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

I successfully discontinued a 15-year long benzo therapy with Gabapentin.

It didn't make the excruciating withdrawals near the end much better. I had S/I during that. I am glad I was in rehab at that time. The worst of it was like, oh, about a month long. But that month was excruciating.

Still, without the gabapentin, I don't think I could have done it.

-z

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by Hugh on July 17, 2017, at 15:49:54

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

Hi, Scott. Long time no see.

Your friend might be able to find information about oxcarbazepine and flumazenil at BenzoBuddies.org

If he has any trouble tapering clonazepam, he might want to try doing a crossover to diazepam. Here's a tapering schedule from The Ashton Manual that shows how to do a crossover:

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s6

 

Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Thanks. (nm) » Hugh

Posted by SLS on July 17, 2017, at 19:49:26

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by Hugh on July 17, 2017, at 15:49:54

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa

Posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 1:54:23

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2017, at 8:58:26

I am also trying to get off them at age 71 after a long history of periodic use, usually for side-effects from A/Ds. I am currently at 20 mg diazepam/day, and have previously run into major anxiety/depression when I get below this dose (especially 10 mg or less). My new, young doctor is adamant about getting me off them, despite a psychiatric evaluation that says I MAY need a continuing low dose. We have a perspective problem as I regard 20 mg/day as a relatively low dose and she (my Dr.) sees it as a high dose! The issue is complicated by pressure from the Canadian Medical Association on doctors to reduce benzo Rxs.

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 2:09:41

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

I am also withdrawing from 3 mg clonazepine, after first switching to diazepam. I am finding Kava-kava very helpful, if it is available in your area. It does have an initial stimulatory effect, but then settles down to a benzo-like tranquilizing effect, with the great bonus that it is not physically addictive. I find (1) I need larger doses than the label suggests (1.5-2.5 gm certified 30%), and (2) taking the capsules directly generally doesn't work for me: I empty them into hot chocolate mix & add hot water - stir with a mini-whisk. It seems to need fat &/or a dispersant such as lecithin to be absorbed, so I suppose mayonnaise would work (Ugh!)

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 4:17:26

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 2:09:41

Another medication to consider in mitigating the effects of Benzodiazepine withdrawal is methocarbamol (Robaxin). I recommend this with considerable reservations, as it is addictive at high doses. Recommended consumer doses seem to be safe in my experience.

It is available in pure form OTC from your pharmacist in Canada; in the US, pure Robaxin is Rx only. Combinations with pain-killers such as ibuprofen are generally available OTC or off-the-shelf, but one must be careful not to exceed recommended doses, as the painkiller component can be harmful in excess.

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Tony P

Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2017, at 9:13:19

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa, posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 1:54:23

I've been on them since age 24 for severe anxiety. In the beginning valium 5mg three times a day just calmed me. Decades later after many additions of higher doses and other meds which now includes what I've tapered to less than 25mg of luvox (the original short acting) and just 2.5 of luvox. (Both meds are the ones I want off of the ad's) I remain at l0mg of valium split in half at bedtime & split in half 1mg of xanax. Do you feel that benzos cause Alzheimers ? I'm sincere in this question as I ruminate on this. Especially since lost taste and smell now 14 years ago. A world without is impossible to imagine and wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. But both the older psychiatrist I see every three months & the new internist I now have both said they wouldn't change any meds at my age. Feel free to babble mail me. Phillipa

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa

Posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 14:23:08

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Tony P, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2017, at 9:13:19

I haven't seen any evidence that Benzo's actually cause Alzheimer's. But I am experiencing loss of memory, loss of smell, etc. just a little earlier than my contemporaries. Clonazepam was the worst in leading to loss of memory & cognitive deficiency, but the effects were too small to show up on a standard Early Alzheimer's test. My slightly premature aging could well be due to a combination of factors, as much of my life has been lived as an active addict to fairly oddball chemicals!

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Tony P

Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2017, at 18:00:58

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa, posted by Tony P on August 2, 2017, at 14:23:08

Not meant as insult or other just curiosity but are you referring to strange drug combos prescribed by your doc or other? Thanks Phillipa

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa

Posted by Tony P on August 3, 2017, at 0:34:40

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Tony P, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2017, at 18:00:58

> Not meant as insult or other just curiosity but are you referring to strange drug combos prescribed by your doc or other? Thanks Phillipa

Mostly on my own - I started life as a biochemist and kept up my research with a statistical sample of 1. I played with everything from paraldehyde to chloroform, and did some serious liver damage along the way.

My DOC, as they say, is Robaxin -- it's wonderful in relieving anxiety and physical symptoms, but in the doses I've taken, highly addictive. My GP knows of my use but doesn't approve it. Currently I'm trying to replace it with Kava, which for me is both a tranquilizer and anti-depressant of the activating type, and is at least not physically addictive.

I have tried with my pdoc's consent little-known A/D's such as Tianeptine, but had to get off that one (and on to Lexapro) quickly when a shipment from UK failed to arrive.

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Tony P

Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2017, at 9:54:05

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other? » Phillipa, posted by Tony P on August 3, 2017, at 0:34:40

I just did the traditional stuff and never experimented. Just hoping that I still have a brain as my fears in the last year are so extensive I won't drive anymore. Phillipa

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by phidippus on October 7, 2017, at 15:14:50

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

Unfortunately, there are not many options. Flumazenil is a blocker and won't do much more than cause strong withdrawal symptoms. Honestly, the best thing for bezo withdrawal is rehab, because benzo detox can be brutal.

Eric

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by SLS on October 8, 2017, at 12:28:52

In reply to Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2017, at 4:39:23

Interesting:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18821451


- Scott

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by phidippus on October 8, 2017, at 13:17:40

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by SLS on October 8, 2017, at 12:28:52

No, that's f*ck*ng fascinating...I wonder if carbamazapine would provide the same sort of relief...

Eric

 

Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?

Posted by SLS on October 8, 2017, at 13:53:44

In reply to Re: Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Trileptal? Other?, posted by phidippus on October 8, 2017, at 13:17:40

I don't know. Maybe?

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050214/msgs/460726.html


- Scott


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