Posted by hiba on October 27, 2002, at 0:49:33
In reply to Re: RATIONAL USE OF BENZODIAZAPINES (5.) » hiba, posted by Squiggles on October 26, 2002, at 10:32:44
Hello Squiggles,
I got a "Please be civil" warning from Dr.Bob and I am sorry if I made any personal offence.
((Once again, what kind of evidence would you like?
Statistical evidence can only be gathered by
testimonials of people who have taken these drugs
for a long time. Would you rather rely on the
behaviour of rats over a period of 3 months, under
the supervision of Hoffman LaRoche or Eli Lilly's
white-coats?))I was asking for a scientific evidence for "Protracted withdrawal syndrome" which you attributed to benzos in your thread. After carefully reading your reply, still I couldn't find any. "Protracted withdrawal" is quite strange to medical professionals. And my common sense doesn't allow me to take biased views of anti-benzo groups and their testimonials without a grain of salt. Meanwhile I had named some references in my message. And "Pharmacological basis of therapeutics" was one of them. Can you show me a single instance of "Protracted withdrawal syndrome" in that book which describes therapeutic pros and cons of medications?
I don't advocate for any drug. I believe all drugs have their pros and cons. But I could sense your attempt to project benzos as the most dangerous drugs in psychiatric practice. Labelling them as addictive will make matters much easier, as the term "addictive" is terrorizing to an already overanxious patient.
I was not mentioning rats or any other reptiles. I know what makes patients complain benzos are addictive. In most cases it is "patient awkwardness". Using a powerful drug for years and stopping it abruptly will cause more than enough discomforts to an individual. And most testimonials of withdrawal symptoms are the fruits of this kind of awkwardness. I have mentioned this matter many times in my threads. Why benzos alone?? If you are using beta-blockers for a long period of time and stopping it abruptly, there is a chance of fatal myocardial infarction.
((I have quoted the Merck before here and
The American Family Physician, and Goodman and Gillman's
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics on the addictive nature and need
for caution in benzo withdrawal, which also mention the
risk of seizure upon sudden discontinuation.))Where in the "Goodman and Gilman's Pharmacological basis of therapeutics" mention benzos are ADDICTIVE ? CAN YOU PLEASE SHOW ME THAT TERM "ADDICTIVE" IN IT ?? I have the latest edition (10th edition) in my hand. Just refer that page in your response. Note: If you have the same edition with you I recommend to read the page 628 carefully. It talks about dependence. (PHARMACOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE)but not addiction.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to "AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN". But I think PDR is the most authentic therapeutic guide used worldwide. MARTINDALE comes next to it. Nowhere in those guides I see the term "addictive". And if I see it in American Family Physician or Merck manual, I will definitely consider it as an "EXCEPTION". Why? Because I have more authentic source in my hand to refer.Dr. Ashton may be running the clinic for years. But I like to know what kind of patients and she used to treat. Those who stopped their benzo intake abruptly will surely have a majority there. And those multiple drug users who uses benzos for recreational purpose do not represent the ideal benzo users. I am talking about those patients who use benzos under medical supervision, where abuse and withdrawal complications never occur. But if you want to abuse a drug, no matter what kind of drug that may be, you can abuse antihistamines and can have withdrawal symptoms. Periactin is being abused by underweight patients who like to utilize its appetite stimulating properties. Phenergan is also being abused because of its sedative properties. Phenergan, if combined with alcohol can be fatal sometimes.
So my initial question still remains. Can you show me an instance of "Protracted withdrawal syndrome"in any reputed therapeutic guides ? Can you show me the term "addictive" attributed to benzos in PDR, or MRTINDALE, or GOODMAN AND GILMAN'S...THERAPEUTICS ?
Good luck Squiggles, take care
HIBA
poster:hiba
thread:124171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021025/msgs/125391.html