Posted by Jan on February 19, 2000, at 20:34:37
In reply to Comparing benzos - your experiences please.., posted by John on February 19, 2000, at 12:29:48
Although the mechanisms are all similar, there are substantive differences that I invite feedback over:
1. diazepam: Has a definitive onset of action, but the effect lasts shorter than others, although because of active metabolites, there is still sedating drug flowing: e.g. have a beer after a few days of 15mg/day and though perhaps 5 or more hours after the last pill, the accumulation is definite!**I've never tried this benzo, which I belive is Valium.
2. chlordiazepoxide: As I recall less 'effect' but equally anxiolitic, and less (half) as long lingering in the system (un-noted) until some other substance activates.. And so cheap.
**Nor this one, and don't even know the brand name, although I suspect it is Librium.
3. clorazepate: This is something I have little recollection of but have read of its potentially incredible accumulative properties**Believe this is Tranxene. I tried that for several months, but it really didn't do much for me except make me want to try a more potent benzo ... it had little more than a placebo effect on anxiety and social phobia. My understanding is that it works similarly to Valium.
4. clonazepam: Seems ideal for lack of rapid (flush) onset and questionable accumulation as established by at least No. 1 above.**I took this for 6 months. I had depressive side effects from this drug, but it worked great on anxiety, panic, and social phobia. It wasn't as long-lasting (at least in my body) as I had been led to believe or hope. I did have a few memory problems while taking it, and often felt like my brain was functioning in a fog. I was able to go off of it by taking a similar strength of Xanax. I'm thinking of trying it again.
5. alprazolam: So popular but why?
**I take this now. It works quickly, and lasts for me about 4 hours. It gets the job done with no sedation or memory problems, and works well on anxiety, panic, and social anxiety, but not as well as Klonopin. Does anybody know if and when the USA will ever approve Xanax XR??? If so, I would be the first to sign up to try it.
6. lorazepam: slow onset, but rapidly out and... by FAR THE WORST 'withdrawal' of any and after very short course of therapy. What is it about this one that is so MISERABLE (in the end)
**For some reason, my pdoc refuses to let me try this benzo. He said it's not made for panic, and doesn't work as well as Xanax on anxiety. Maybe if I begged him he'd let me try it, but for now I won't bug him about it. Actually, I've heard the opposite about Ativan ... that the withdrawal is easier than for Xanax. Although I have weaned off Xanax, it was not a fun experience.
7. bromazepam seems like another ideal one as clonaz but no US.**Never heard of it.
poster:Jan
thread:22501
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000209/msgs/22565.html