Posted by Alan on April 25, 2002, at 0:07:33
In reply to Re: for how long is it safe to take Xanax?, posted by tex1 on April 24, 2002, at 2:21:36
> > > > Any long term Xanax users?
> > > > What is your experience?
> > > > My father (75 years old) has started taking
> > > > 3 x 0.25 mg of xanax per day to reduce anxiety, which is probably a long term one.
> > > > Any alternatives for long term use?
> > > > Thanks in advance
> > >
> > > Ohh Gee...noo....Xanax is great because it's not sedative, but God...he'll develope a tolerance after few weeks (even sooner). It's not about safety, it's about tolerance....! I'd suggest a long life benzo, such as Klonopin, in small dosages or prazepam. Believe me, benzos are good if taken just as a cashè when you have a headache, but not taken continously. In this case why not trying buspirone (a new class of non addictive anxiolitics) ?
> > >
> > > Best luck
> > >
> > > Tex
> > **********************************************
> > Simply and utterly not true. Please read:
> >
> > http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/weekly/aa031997.htm
> >
> > BZD'S are not prone to different degrees of "addictiveness" (medical dependence) because of the differences in their half-life. Myth.
> >
> > The starting dose is just that - a starting dose. One may have to go upwards to acheive a theraputic dose. Initial start up dose will be more sedating during the first two weeks so don't confuse the sedation eventually wearing off with the theraputic, anxiolytic effect wearing off.
> >
> > Do watch for unsteadyness in an older person though - a constant concern with ANY central nervous system depressant for that age group.
> >
> > Chronic anxiety = constant long term anxiolytic therapy, especially if it is proving to be working. The World Health Organisation has reviewed ALL of the 40+ years of studies and has concluded that they are eminently safe for both short AND long term monotherapy.
> >
> > Alan
>
>
> I personally don't trust too much studies conducted in a fake underneath sponsorized manner. I could find out many other studies saying just the opposite. The real thing is that as time goes by benzos loose their effect and create tolerance. It's also true that 0.25 x 3 die is not a high dose and is pretty simple to withdraw. I don't discuss about *safety*. *Safety* is a misleading term used by many pharmaceuticals pretty too much for saying that basically the med won't arm you. But this is obvious. I'd rather prefer they tell us that benzos don't create tolerance. Bit I suppose that's more complicated uh ?
>
> Tex
****************************************
It is not a fake study but is done by a pdoc that treats anxiety disorders and is an MD well known in his field. I don't know where you get your information. There are no credible studies saying that benzodiazapines just lose their effectiveness over time and continue to spiral upwards out of control as you imply for one simple reason. *It does not happen* (except in those that have drug abuse issues or do not have legitimately diagnosed anxiety disorders).This myth is a very old one and as myths go, this one in particular is dying hard.
If that doesn't convince you, look up the results of the studies reviewed by the World Health Organisation that deemed BZD's short OR long term to be safe and with miniscule risk of escallating doses - usually in the cases of poly drug abusers, and those with a predisposition to abuse.
In fact after a theraputic dose is found, it generally comes DOWN over time.If all that isn't enough:
http://bearpaw8.tripod.com/pd.html
Scroll down and read about the benzodiazapines and ssri's.
This benzophobia's got to stop. Anxiety sufferers need to try both bzd's and ssri's on equal footing and decide for themselves what works best.
The market R & D recoup is shoving the ssri's infront of the MD's face at the moment but with only at best a 50% successrate - falling far short of the older, less side effect proned BZD.Besides, if the patient isn't given freedom of choice to try either one of these drugs on an equal footing then the patient is being cheated by their self-seving doc.
Alan
poster:Alan
thread:103881
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020416/msgs/104069.html