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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 10:08:30
Hi
I know a bit about benzodiazepines having been on clonazepam for a few years I wanted to ask a question about its "chemical cousin". I know Xanax has a half life of about 8-20 hrs i think and a duration of action of approximately 6 hours. Can this medication be taken on this basis with a steady level always in the bloodstream given that it has such a short half-life or do many people find cravings in between doses and clock watching for the next dose because that is certainly a problem you can avoid with a medicine like Diazepam say. I dont like the sound of Xanax XR it sounds like a mild alternative from what ive read and one other final thing is an old issue here in babbleland that the generic isnt nearly as good as pfizers/upjohns brand versiion. Lorazepam has a slightly longer half life and probably wouldnt cause intermittent witdrawal symptoms because it disattaches from the bz receptor very slowly. Thanks for any advice PB
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 3, 2016, at 13:14:27
In reply to xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 10:08:30
Personally...I'd stay on Klonopin and only use xanax (or ativan) rarely, for breakthrough anxiety.
Posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 14:09:29
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by Christ_empowered on January 3, 2016, at 13:14:27
yeah that is a good point. Klonopin does the trick still.PB
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 3, 2016, at 21:21:40
In reply to xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 10:08:30
for some reason xanax only lasted for about 3-4 hours with me, sometimes even 2-3 hours it has a vary short half life......so when it wears off have to frequently redose it
they have xanax xr that lasts 12 hours or more.....
ativan is fast acting too and it lasts around 6 hours from what i rerember when i took it
klonopin is good but it always made me depressed, but still it is vary good for panic and anxiety.......
xanax slightly can improve mood because i read it taps some dopamine in small amounts
Posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 23:11:19
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by rjlockhart37 on January 3, 2016, at 21:21:40
Im going to stick with klonopin which has a 12 hour duration of action making for easy twice daily dosing if desired. Ativan and Xanax sound a bit too risky regarding their half life esp Xanax based on what you wrote.
Posted by SLS on January 4, 2016, at 7:19:50
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 23:11:19
> Im going to stick with klonopin which has a 12 hour duration of action making for easy twice daily dosing if desired. Ativan and Xanax sound a bit too risky regarding their half life esp Xanax based on what you wrote.
I agree with C_E.
I think it makes sense to add Xanax to Klonopin as an emergency PRN for temporary relief of break-through anxiety attacks. You could try using propranalol instead of Xanax. I don't feel that there is anything wrong with employing certain combinations of benzodiazepines. Klonopin + Xanax PRN is rational polypharmacy from my perspective.
Have you ever tried Lyrica (pregabalin)?
- Scott
Posted by paulb on January 4, 2016, at 7:40:38
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms » paulb, posted by SLS on January 4, 2016, at 7:19:50
I was on pregabalin for a number of years but it was too strong for me and it would stop working of i took it all the time. I find do much better with gabapentin as a PRN measure.PB
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2016, at 9:38:44
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by paulb on January 4, 2016, at 7:40:38
Been on benzos for over 45 years. Only take both xanax .75mg at night and divided dose of valium also. And about 10 years ago they stopped just relaxing me. Now just put me to sleep. Never take them during the day and remain anxious. Also the 25mg of luvox & .25mg of lexapro. So I remain anxious throughout the day and don't drive any longer either. Is there a reason for this? Other than tolerance. When they first started saying that benzos long term caused alzhiemers they quit working. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 4, 2016, at 19:31:05
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms » paulb, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2016, at 9:38:44
phillipa maybe a benzo with a mild stimulant? maybe to keep you awake but also keep the anxiety low, there used to be something called Dexamyl which was dextroamphetamine and amobarbital, but amobarbital is never used much anymore expect for that medication Tuinal for sleep. But it was used to treat depression, Maryln Monroe took Dexamyl for a short period of time
they had it on the market till the 70s but they took it off because it was getting abused too much
just like 10mg of it.....dextroamphetamine is more for dopamine, racematic amphetamine is more psychially stimulating and releases more norepinephrine and can cause anxiety so stay away from adderall, but dexedrine or focalin i think you could ask your doctor about,
it will enhance mental functions, through the dopamine systems
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 4, 2016, at 19:45:47
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by rjlockhart37 on January 4, 2016, at 19:31:05
i think having anxiety is also from lack of certain nuerotransmitters, i read various that serotonin is low, then anxiety is high, too little serotonin too much norephiephrine, and it leaves just in bad state, worry too much all the time
prozac has made my mood better, and anxiety has gone down, still ill have a roller coaster anxiety sometimes but it does make the serotonin make the anxiety go away
Posted by Hugh on January 6, 2016, at 10:39:53
In reply to xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms, posted by paulb on January 3, 2016, at 10:08:30
I took lorazepam for insomnia for three years. I increased my dosage twice because of tolerance, and then started to suffer from inter-dose withdrawal symptoms, which caused me tremendous misery until I was finally able to taper off of it. I did a crossover to diazepam halfway through my four-month taper.
Posted by Hugh on January 6, 2016, at 10:52:18
In reply to Re: xanax and intermittent withdrawal symptoms » paulb, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2016, at 9:38:44
> Been on benzos for over 45 years. Only take both xanax .75mg at night and divided dose of valium also. And about 10 years ago they stopped just relaxing me. Now just put me to sleep. Never take them during the day and remain anxious. Also the 25mg of luvox & .25mg of lexapro. So I remain anxious throughout the day and don't drive any longer either. Is there a reason for this?
The following quote is from http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha01.htm
Tolerance is a phenomenon that develops with many chronically used drugs (including alcohol, heroin and morphine and cannabis). The body responds to the continued presence of the drug with a series of adjustments that tend to overcome the drug effects. In the case of benzodiazepines, compensatory changes occur in the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors which become less responsive, so that the inhibitory actions of GABA and benzodiazepines are decreased. At the same time there are changes in the secondary systems controlled by GABA so that the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters tends to be restored.
This is the end of the thread.
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