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Re: How come it seems only 3-4 benzos are ever use » xbunny2007

Posted by Quintal on April 24, 2007, at 2:07:38

In reply to Re: How come it seems only 3-4 benzos are ever use, posted by xbunny2007 on April 23, 2007, at 15:49:03

Hi Bunny,

>It is worth noting that the use of clonazepam is specifically mentioned in the BNF as a treatment for panic attacks even though its off-label.

I'm aware of that - it was my main defence when new psychiatrists tried to tell me it had no official endorsement for use in psychiatry in this country.

>None of my GP's, psychiatrists and CPN's have been unaware of it or reluctant to use it.

I'm curious, how was the subject of using clonazepam (as opposed to more commonly prescribed benzos) raised? Did they suggest it spontaneously to you, or did you make a request to them? I suppose some doctors will have used clonazepam to treat rare forms of epilepsy (my GP told me she had treated only one other patient bar me with Rivotril and that was for an unusual form of epilepsy) and will know that all benzos are anxiolytics, but out of 7 GPs, 5 psychiatrists and 3 CPNs only one GP was aware and had used it, and only then for epilepsy. All were reluctant to use it and provide repeat prescriptions, and I think that would be a typical reaction of most medical staff in the UK.

>While I was in hospital the benzo I was given was either alprazolam or lorazepam - dont recal which, was a long time ago...

Lorazepam is often used in hospitals because of it's quick onset of action, which is especially useful in calming agitated or manic patients when given by injection. Most people are withdrawn from it before they're discharged and transferred to a more 'acceptable' drug like an AP or Valium. This doesn't reflect the prescribing habits of the wider outpatient medical community in the UK. Alprazolam seems rarely used in hospitals even in the US for some reason, possibly its short half-life and (relative) lack of sedative effects.

>Regarding the initial question, aside from the hypnotics is there really much difference in the effects of benzos?

Some are more hypnotic, some more anxiolytic, some more effective at suppressing seizures than others, and then there's the difference in half-lives.

>I thought most of obscure ones were cashins during the time benzos were popular.

Probably :-)

I'm sorry we seem to be getting a little polarized in the UK Klonopin debate. The point I'm making is that the likelihood of a person walking into their GPs surgery complaining of anxiety and walking out with a script for clonazepam is close to nil, unlike the US where it seems fairly typical of their prescribing habits. There are always some professionals who have unorthodox views and prescribing habits, and perhaps they influence the staff who support them? I think it would be misleading to say though that clonazepam is commonly used in England, and I'd be interested to hear Kaleidoscope's views on this.

Kind regards

Q


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poster:Quintal thread:752662
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070419/msgs/752942.html