Posted by hiba on October 28, 2002, at 23:14:16
In reply to Re: Not a Convincing Evidence at alll..Squiggles, » hiba, posted by Squiggles on October 28, 2002, at 9:18:45
Dear Squiggles,
Yes, I do mean protracted withdrawal has been clinically evaluated. It happens in outpatient settings and that makes it more difficult to make a conclusion. In my own experience (I have volunteered for a detoxification centre) I have seen some examples of protracted withdrawal in those who abruptly stopped their high dose of benzo intake. After the treatment in in-patient setting, they were not showing any kind of withdrawal symptoms at all. But some weeks later when they were available for follow-up they were complaining of some withdrawal like syndromes. But as I stated above, to find a causal relationship was difficult, because they were multiple drug users with various personality disorders. So it was not fair to attribute those symptoms as a consequence of their benzo intake and abrupt cessation.
<<I'm still curious about why you refer to it
as somehow unworthy of consideration; i don't see
this reaction to other similar groups so
understandably it makes me suspicious of something
sinister going on. But if it is, I can't see it.>>There is nothing sinister going on. Dear Squiggles, I have gone through most of the benzo related sites on the net and have read a number of books and articles on this subject. I never argue, benzos are not without drawbacks. But what I always emphasized is their relative safety and efficacy over hard antidepressants and antipsychotics. Benzophobia had come upto a point as some Docs began (or I doubt still) to prescribe antipsychotics to treat anxiety disorders, ignoring the fact that antipsychotics can cause irreversible physical damages. Now the scenario has changed and still changing. Psychiatrists now realize the complexity of psychological disorders and I think the use of antidepressants for anxiety and panic disorders will gradually decline and fade because more of their serious adverse long-term effects are being manifested. In the 28 th edition of MARTINDALE EXTRA PHARMACOPOEA, you can't see any waning on dependence potential of antidepressants. But now in the 32nd edition of the same manual, there is a warning with all antidepressant data sheets. It follows as ".........should be withdrawn gradually to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms" (You can fill the blank with any name of antidepressants). See the difference!!
This is where anti-benzo groups fail. Their studies haven't made any impact, that is why benzos are still safe from protracted withdrawal symptoms in clinical manuals. If there is a conclusive evidence it should have been appreciated. But as long as they fail, I think I can better ignore them. That is all. Nothing sinister at all.
Good luck Squiggles, Take care
HIBA
poster:hiba
thread:124171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021025/msgs/125619.html