Posted by RobertDavid on May 7, 2006, at 15:22:05
I quit drinking for 18 years. About 12 years ago I was perscribed klonopin for an anxiety disorter (which many years ago I self medicated with alcohol).
Anyway, a few years after starting klonopin I went through a divorce and started dabbling with a glass of wine here and there. I asked my doctor at the time if a little wine here or there would be an issue for me as I once self medicated with alcohol. He said to just keep an eye on it.
Anyway, my style of drinking is binging, never a daily drinker and I still find myself going 5 days, a week, a month, 5 months and out of the blue going out and having to much to drink. Then I go back to not drinking till the next unknown time it happens.
I'm working my way off klonopin and am hoping a new medicine I'm taking for anxiety/depression EMSAM will replace it. I'm very aware of the drug interaction with benzo's and alcohol, that one night I might stop breathing.
My question is what effect does taking a benzo like klonopin have on cravings or limiting the ability to not drink.
I watched the recent news of Ted Kennedy's son going into rehab and one of the addiction experts on CNN suggested that taking a benzo even sleeping pills can activate cravings to drink.
Any thoughts on this topic?
Thanks.
poster:RobertDavid
thread:641011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20060205/msgs/641011.html