Posted by SalArmy4me on August 30, 2001, at 15:21:20
In reply to Clonazepam and other benzos:, posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2001, at 15:14:56
From http://www.vh.org/Providers/Conferences/CPS/33.html (How to Withdraw from Benzodiazepines)
"If the patient is receiving a short-acting BZD, consideration is given to slowly tapering the dose with the prescribed BZD using a similar schedule described above for long-acting BZDs or substituting a cross-tolerant, long- acting BZD. The rationale for the substitution method is the observation of less severe withdrawal symptoms with long-acting compounds. Though several reports suggest this is an acceptable approach to patients receiving a short-acting drug, this method has not been extensively studied (Perry 1981, Harrison 1984, Busto 1986, Albeck 1987). To accomplish the switch from a short-acting to long-acting BZD, approximate equivalent doses for BZD have been suggested (Smith 1983, Busto 1986). (See Table 1) However, inaccuracy in suggested BZD dose equivalents may affect the success of this recommendation. Though, theoretically, any long-acting BZD could be used, diazepam has been the most widely studied (Perry 1981, Harrison 1984, Busto 1986). Recently, clonazepam has been reported to be useful. Herman et al (1987) substituted on average 1 mg of clonazepam for every 2 mg of alprazolam that the 48 panic disorder patients were taking. Thirty-nine (82%) of the patients preferred clonazepam to alprazolam because of decreased interdose anxiety and fewer doses being required per day, e.g., twice daily dosing versus four times daily dosing."
poster:SalArmy4me
thread:76982
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76983.html