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Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

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Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#21

Post by tnecniv »

spamizbad wrote: post #13
jnovek wrote: post #11

Serious question: as we make opiods and now bezos increasingly difficult to prescribe, what are the alternatives for people with chronic pain or chronic anxiety? I have friends and family members with chronic pain and, through them and their communities, have become aware of many people who use opiods on a long-term, occasional basis to manage their pain. A family member of mine who suffers from chronic migraine live…

For benzos: There really is no drug alternative to benzos other than maybe SSRIs but most people perscribed them probably tried SSRIs in the past to no effect. Your other alternative is extensive psychotherapy, which your insurance is unlikely to cover. Perhaps in the future marijuana, MDMA or ketamine might prove useful. Benzos generally require you to taper off them, as I believe the withdrawal side-effects include…

> There really is no drug alternative to benzos other than maybe SSRIs but most people perscribed them probably tried SSRIs in the past to no effect.

Actually the two really serve different purposes. Benzos are commonly prescribed as a way to manage panic attacks or other acute occurrences of anxiety. SSRIs can help reduce your anxiety over time, but take a long time to build up in your system. Often people are prescribed both simultaneously.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#22

Post by elihu »

jnovek wrote: post #11

Serious question: as we make opiods and now bezos increasingly difficult to prescribe, what are the alternatives for people with chronic pain or chronic anxiety? I have friends and family members with chronic pain and, through them and their communities, have become aware of many people who use opiods on a long-term, occasional basis to manage their pain. A family member of mine who suffers from chronic migraine live…

I don't know about pain, but for anxiety there are other drugs that are intended for long term use. The ones I'm aware of (mirtazapine and venlafaxine) are also used as anti-depressants.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#23

Post by cc-d »

GABAergenics (the class of drug which benzodiazepines fall under) in general are pretty much the sole class of popular recreational drug which have a very real possibility of lethal withdrawals.

In the case of alcohol, it often takes years for addicts to reach a point where withdrawal becomes lethal. In the case of short acting benzodiazepines/barbiturates, this point can be reached in less than a month.

Of course, benzodiazepines are in schedule IV, which means they are viewed as being rather benign with no/low potential for abuse. In the eyes of the federal government, alprazolam (xanax) is far less dangerous than marijuana/the traditional psychedelics.

Just another data point demonstrating the utter absurdity of US drug legislation and regulation.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#24

Post by jnovek »

spamizbad wrote: post #13
jnovek wrote: post #11

Serious question: as we make opiods and now bezos increasingly difficult to prescribe, what are the alternatives for people with chronic pain or chronic anxiety? I have friends and family members with chronic pain and, through them and their communities, have become aware of many people who use opiods on a long-term, occasional basis to manage their pain. A family member of mine who suffers from chronic migraine live…

For benzos: There really is no drug alternative to benzos other than maybe SSRIs but most people perscribed them probably tried SSRIs in the past to no effect. Your other alternative is extensive psychotherapy, which your insurance is unlikely to cover. Perhaps in the future marijuana, MDMA or ketamine might prove useful. Benzos generally require you to taper off them, as I believe the withdrawal side-effects include…

For what it's worth, I have generalized anxiety and have used clonazepam as short-term treatment for panic attacks. I would love to see psychotherapy lose the taboo it carries because it's been the most effective treatment I've had (long term).

As I mentioned in another response, I think marijuana is probably promising in this area as well but it will take a long time for us to derive treatment from it.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#25

Post by maddyboo »

I have battled with severe anxiety and panic disorders for years. At my worst, I was often unable to get out of bed for days at a time due to fear of having a panic attack outside the safety of my home.

Taking an SSRI has helped a lot, but there are times where I can feel a panic attack coming and know the only way to stop it is with a Xanax.

I regard benzodiazepines with a lot of respect. Their power is a blessing and a curse. Used responsibly, I believe they can be a very effective and safe tool to live a normal life free of panic attacks.

At this point, I rarely take them - one dose every month or two at most. But the knowledge that I have a tool to quell a panic attack, should I need it, has actually done more for me than the pills themselves. Knowing I’m not powerless gives me the strength to overcome the panic attacks on my own.

Recently, I’ve noticed doctors becoming more and more apprehensive about prescribing benzodiazepines. This is definitely a good thing - I think they should be reserved for severe cases as a last resort. But I also worry about a future where people who could have benefited greatly from them without abuse are denied a prescription.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#26

Post by tnecniv »

cc-d wrote: post #20
tnecniv wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Benzo withdrawal can, in some cases be even riskier than opiate withdrawal. You also build a tolerance to them very quickly, which makes addiction even worse.

Not in some cases, almost all. GABAergenics in general are pretty much the sole class of popular recreational drug which have a very real possibility of lethal withdrawals. In the case of alcohol, it often takes years for addicts to reach a point where withdrawal becomes lethal. In the case of short acting benzodiazepines/barbiturates, this point can be reached in less than a month. Of course, benzodiazepines are in…

> Not in some cases, almost all.

That's what I had heard, but I was uncomfortable making a stronger statement without more knowledge.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#27

Post by endianswap »

cc-d wrote: post #23

GABAergenics (the class of drug which benzodiazepines fall under) in general are pretty much the sole class of popular recreational drug which have a very real possibility of lethal withdrawals. In the case of alcohol, it often takes years for addicts to reach a point where withdrawal becomes lethal. In the case of short acting benzodiazepines/barbiturates, this point can be reached in less than a month. Of course, b…

You mean GABAergenic, right?

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#28

Post by jnovek »

elihu wrote: post #22
jnovek wrote: post #11

Serious question: as we make opiods and now bezos increasingly difficult to prescribe, what are the alternatives for people with chronic pain or chronic anxiety? I have friends and family members with chronic pain and, through them and their communities, have become aware of many people who use opiods on a long-term, occasional basis to manage their pain. A family member of mine who suffers from chronic migraine live…

I don't know about pain, but for anxiety there are other drugs that are intended for long term use. The ones I'm aware of (mirtazapine and venlafaxine) are also used as anti-depressants.

Benzos generally treat acute anxiety where serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors treat chronic anxiety. Further, some folks don't tolerate SS(N)RI's very well, they have wide-ranging and difficult side-effects.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#29

Post by honksillet »

Fun facts, in county jails (and I'm sure in hospitals) there are 3 classes of drugs that you will get detox medication for: opiods, benzos and alcohol. The detox meds for alcohol is benzos. The detox med for bezos is more benzos (although is a controlled, tapered manner). Both these two are much more dangerous to detox off of than opiods, with alcohol being the most dangerous. Everything else, cocaine, meth, etc is not particularly dangerous to withdraw from and usually these patients will not get specific detox medications.

Re: Benzodiazepines: Our Other Prescription Drug Problem

#30

Post by psergeant »

maddyboo wrote: post #25

I have battled with severe anxiety and panic disorders for years. At my worst, I was often unable to get out of bed for days at a time due to fear of having a panic attack outside the safety of my home. Taking an SSRI has helped a lot, but there are times where I can feel a panic attack coming and know the only way to stop it is with a Xanax. I regard benzodiazepines with a lot of respect. Their power is a blessing a…

Beta blockers have been a great SSRI top-up for me after I lost a year to a benzo problem
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