Posted by chemist on May 21, 2005, at 10:44:07
In reply to Benzodiazepines - Destruction of brain, posted by sdb on May 20, 2005, at 4:32:02
> Many psychiatrists say:
>
> benzodiazepines will destroy your brain (Apart from not fully understood pharmacology). How would you as experienced longterm users of benzodiazepines rate this statement? (I have not big experiences but my grandmother (90 years) takes since 30 years a benzodiazepine, (oxazepam) she has the best memory you can imagine and does not seem to be tolerant)
>
> Is there somebody knowledgable who could rate this state of some psychiatrists pharmacologically?hello there, chemist here...i very much disagree with the assertion that ``benzodiazepines destroy the brain,'' no matter the source...the subtle difference in binding affinity and selective targeting of an additional interfacial LBD in GABA$_{A}$ for, say, the triazolobenzodiazepine alprazolam c.f. a ``traditional'' 1,4-benzodiazepine such as diazepam is very well quantified...there is little to no doubt that the active parent/daughter must bind to the LGIC at the interface of a gamma$_{2}$ and an alpha$_{x}$ (x = 1, 2, 3, or 5)...and the GABA/L-glutamate balance (for one) is a target for epilepsy...aside from anterograde (?) amnesia, i personally do not see a problem with continued use...must run, refs (scant for now, and a bit out of date, but a very nice handful, and yes, the JBC v. 277 was a special ed.):
Storici et al. 1999. Biochemistry 38, 8628-8634;
Stangler et al. 2002. JBC 277, 13363-13366;
Baumann et al. 2002. JBC 277, 46020-46025;
Knight et al. 2002. JBC 277, 5556-5561;
Trudell, J. R. 2002. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1565, 91-96;
and beware(sponsored by ``unrestricted educational grant from Cephalon, Inc.'' but a good read/review)
Lydiard, R. B. 2003. J. Clin. Psychiatry 64 (Suppl 3), 21-27.
all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:500217
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050521/msgs/500726.html