Posted by yxibow on September 16, 2006, at 0:45:36
In reply to long acting benzos more apt to induce depression??, posted by qbsbrown on September 15, 2006, at 18:07:05
> I have experienced this with both klonopin and valium. I vaguely remember experiencing interdose withdrawals from klonopin, thus me being affraid to switch from valium to ativan, although remaining on valium doesn't sound like much fun either.
>
> BrianI don't know if there are any evidence based studies regarding this. A number of people on here have submitted anectdotal reports of depression from Klonopin. I think it is entirely an individual matter. Benzodiazepines in general can cause depression in those who are already predisposed towards depression in the first place, which means that the minimum effective (MED) dose should be used. Also, there is a difference between physical (respiratory, muscular) and CNS depression (central nervous system).
If benzodiazepines in general are going to depress someone, I dont think their half life has much to play in it other than interdosal withdrawal syndromes. Long term benzodiazepines just mean a longer wait for the compound at large to eliminate from the system.
But in general I think I've heard most depression comments come from Klonopin than any other benzodiazepine, so either there is something different with it or simply since when something is wrong people tend to complain more and doctors tend to prescribe Klonopin more in the US.
Go figure, there isn't a lot of difference, one is 16+ hours and usually requires twice daily dosing and Valium is 24+ hours and usually doesn't require (but doesnt hurt) twice daily dosing. Valium is shunned more here as well as Xanax because of their street value. Klonopin doesn't particularly have an immediacy feeling to it except for the most benzodiazepine naive and therefore is less likely to be diverted.But in some other country one might be more diverted than another. There's no actual rational patient directed reason why Valium can't be prescribed over Klonopin.
poster:yxibow
thread:685297
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060909/msgs/686427.html