Posted by sdb on April 6, 2005, at 12:12:10
In reply to Re: ANY LONG TERM BENZO USERS? 10-20+YEARS » paulbwell, posted by Ritch on April 4, 2005, at 10:45:39
Thank you for that thread.
My personal experience with ssris for anxiety is very bad (I am bipolar with anxiety, negative thoughts and panic attacks when i am in the bad fog . I have taken many ssris for example citalopram, escitalopram, mirtazapine and so on). Citalopram did not cure anything but it was at least better than escitalopram (in spite of the state from the manufacturer that this new version should be much more "potential"). Escitalopram caused more panic attacks especially during a performance and made me more depressed, mirtazapine had some positive effects on low dosages for some days (probably because it blocks crh1 receptors). But then the mirtazapine also caused me panic attacks when the plasma levels rose and the activating noradrenaline began to work.
Many doctors thought the ssris would be the solution for every problem. They have used and use it extensively. Some doctors really believe that "more serotonin in the synaptic cleft is proportional to less depression and less anxiety". But that's only a simple postulation not a proven fact. I honestly believe its much more complicated. But the reality is that ssris can really work for some people but not in many cases in people with some mental disorders connected with anxiety or with anxiety alone. And the reality is that ssris can have serious side effects: It can make you feeling even more suicidal, more nervous, you can have negative metabolic side effects so that you will be fat (rising LDL levels), your sexual life can be diminished, although sexual life for many persons is an essential thing for their life quality.
What is the definition of drug abuse? There are definitaly drugs you will have a kick when you take it and you have to up the dosage to have the same kick some time later. This is because of the plasticity of dopamine transmission in the the "Area tegmentalis ventralis" in the old part (archicortex) of our brain and unfortunately following adaption by neurons. Benzos also have effect on this system but i think it is less compared with other drugs. Overall the need to up the dosage to have steady good effects is on average not so high than with other drugs.
I generally think that benzos are different than drugs like opiates, cocaine,... I think that there is no abuse for people with anxiety disorders with these drugs. People with anxiety disorders want to cure a serious problem.
What is the real definition of drug abuse? -Up the dosage from time to time or taking cocaine by "normal" individuals to feel like a hero? Problably it is difficult to find a definition from the psychological and also pharmacological standpoint.
What I dont understand is the negativ answer from the society about these drugs. "Normal" persons drinking caffeine in the morning, drinking beer the afternoon and have a joint occasionally. These substances also have effects in the brain, not equal but often similar. Where's the difference? There is something in the body which normally should not be in our body (when we were young primates we only drank water and ate different fruit and nuts and later meat). By the way: every substance and even water is toxic. It only depends from the dosage.
My interest is benzos and social phobia. Does any long term benzo user have continuing good effects (which drug, side effects, dosage)?
poster:sdb
thread:479469
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050404/msgs/480697.html