Posted by Kon on October 6, 2004, at 19:37:27
In reply to Re: Xanax-XR and Inderal-LA working for my anxiety!, posted by utopizen on October 6, 2004, at 13:31:55
> um, I understand you might think this works, but unfortunately benzos only marginally reduce cognitive functioning in contrast to beta blockers-- and that's an understatement! =)
Not to question your personel experience but most of the research I've come across suggests the opposite. I've pasted one such study below. I have heard that propranolol has more cognitive side-effects than atenolol (since it crosses the brain more easily) but I was under the impression that both are better than benzos wrt temporary cognitive/memory deficits. Am I mistaken? I found atenolol (without the benzo) to be totally useless for my anxiety but did not seem to experience any major cognitive deficits (at 100 mg dosage).
My major probem with atenolol was it did zilch for my anxiety. Benzos work great but dosage at times for certain situations can be so high that they temporarily impair my memory/thought processes.Was curious if anybody compared the effects of atenolol with propranolol...
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Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1993 May;53(5):577-84.
Cognitive effects of beta-adrenergic antagonists after single doses: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol, atenolol, lorazepam, and placebo.
Greenblatt DJ, Scavone JM, Harmatz JS, Engelhardt N, Shader RI.
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111.
The behavioral effects of two beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, selected to represent differing lipophilicity, were evaluated in a double-blind, single-dose, parallel-group study. A group of 55 healthy volunteers (mean age, 28 years) received single oral doses of placebo, atenolol (50 mg), propranolol (40 mg), or lorazepam (2 mg). Plasma drug concentrations, self-ratings of sedation and mood, observer ratings of sedation, and performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) were assessed at multiple times during 24 hours after drug administration. Information acquisition and recall were tested at 3 and 24 hours after drug administration. Lorazepam significantly increased sedation and fatigue, impaired DSST performance, and impaired memory. The time course of these changes was highly consistent with plasma lorazepam concentrations. In contrast, atenolol and propranolol produced at most small changes in self-ratings and observer ratings and did not alter DSST performance or memory. Under experimental conditions that are sensitive to the depressant effects of a typical benzodiazepine, single doses of atenolol and propranolol produced no meaningful changes, compared with placebo.
poster:Kon
thread:399449
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041002/msgs/399775.html