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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 14:16:55
I have googled the differences but even the pharmacist couldn't tell me the differnce of the two? And if you were getting tolerant on benzos which would you take. And if taking valium, xanax and lunesta at bed with luvox which should be the first to go? Love Phillipa
Posted by dbc on March 4, 2007, at 15:46:57
In reply to How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 14:16:55
Its a GABA agonist just like benzos but binds to some certain receptor which i guess in theory makes it a pure hynotic lacking the anxiolytic effects of benzos. So its basically a clean benzo of sorts...the exact same way ambien is.
Posted by yxibow on March 4, 2007, at 16:07:34
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by dbc on March 4, 2007, at 15:46:57
> Its a GABA agonist just like benzos but binds to some certain receptor which i guess in theory makes it a pure hynotic lacking the anxiolytic effects of benzos. So its basically a clean benzo of sorts...the exact same way ambien is.
It is sort of a GABA agonist, it works upon certain parts of the GABA-BZ. There's very little anxiolytic effects from it. Clean is in the eye of the beholder, since it has that lovely nickel taste, which I can stand, for a while. I don't take it currently.It can have crosspollination with benzodiazepines though, so if you are on a higher dose of benzodiazepines, habituation can come to one or the other or both.
Posted by notfred on March 4, 2007, at 17:31:22
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by yxibow on March 4, 2007, at 16:07:34
" It is sort of a GABA agonist, it works upon certain parts of the GABA-BZ. There's very little anxiolytic effects from it."I have been on lunesta about a year, I would agree
in its lack of anxiolytic effects. It is an effecttive hynotic, for me, once the dose is high enough."Clean is in the eye of the beholder, since it has that lovely nickel taste, which I can stand, for a while. I don't take it currently."
Thankfully I do not get that side effect.
"It can have crosspollination with benzodiazepines though, so if you are on a higher dose of benzodiazepines, habituation can come to one or the other or both."I take atavin during the day and in the past have tried true benzo hynotics; one potentiates the other making the combo a bad choice for me.
I have not had this problem with Lunesta.
Posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 18:59:21
In reply to How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 14:16:55
Its different, but not better. It's an effective knockout pill, but lunesta can really disturb restful sleep in some people,
despite some of its marketing claims. some people are fine with it but it really always puts me in a bad state the next day.
It affects different certain gaba receptors more selectively so its less anxiolytic and therefore less abusable, but it isnt any better
for sleep than a regular benzo. I'd say its a good idea to drop the lunesta.with regular benzos, the longer lasting ones can stay in your system and give you a hangover effect. the shorter acting ones are
either really hard to metabolize like ativan or so potent that they cause cycles of rebound insomnia or tolerance like xanax.
that's why klonopin by itself is what Ive settled on, its easy to metabolize and not such a high like xanax so its more sustainable,
but its also decent on restfull sleep and not too long lasting.I've never taken valium so I cant say if its better or worse than that, but for me the less lingering drugs in my system the better I feel,
there really isnt any magic bullet for sleep so its better I think to not take more than will help. still I know what its like to not fall
asleep on one thing and need to chip something else on top, so two benzos is understandable but I think thats better as a last resort.
definately get rid of the lunesta first, though.
Posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 19:28:04
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 18:59:21
wait... I read some of the posts here, Im sure you know what benzo is best for you. all I have to say is lunesta is bad. hope you feel better
Posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 19:57:55
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 19:28:04
Thank-you excellent response just what I was looking for. But should I cut in half first? Or add back in the 5mg of valium I cut out of the mix or go without? Love Phillipa
Posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 23:21:25
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos? » randermin, posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 19:57:55
I'd sometimes bite less than half off of a 3mg blue one because that bitter taste was so strongly associated with sleep for me. cant say anything about the other drugs, really its just too subjective. plus I'm not qualified obviously. but if you feel like you need to take three things at night to sleep that doesn't sound good, Ive definitely been there and I'll probably break the "one pill rule" in the future. valium seems like its plenty powerful on its own, if you get into non-drug approaches to sleep along with valium, maybe that would be enough?
Posted by fayeroe on March 5, 2007, at 8:25:24
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos? » randermin, posted by Phillipa on March 4, 2007, at 19:57:55
why don't you ask your doctor? better safe than sorry.
Posted by yxibow on March 10, 2007, at 13:41:36
In reply to Re: How Is Lunesta Different From Benzos?, posted by randermin on March 4, 2007, at 23:21:25
> I'd sometimes bite less than half off of a 3mg blue one because that bitter taste was so strongly associated with sleep for me. cant say anything about the other drugs, really its just too subjective. plus I'm not qualified obviously. but if you feel like you need to take three things at night to sleep that doesn't sound good, Ive definitely been there and I'll probably break the "one pill rule" in the future. valium seems like its plenty powerful on its own, if you get into non-drug approaches to sleep along with valium, maybe that would be enough?
>
Unfortunately some of us are major insomniacs -- I take two intended things to sleep, two more are by side reasons and one actually tends to be the primary agent almost, because I do have some crosspollination.
And I still don't have fully restful sleep, due to many reasons, not having my gym schedule on track again, taking naps (restores my disorder a bit, interrupts sleep), and generally genetically inheriting insomnia I think not to mention possibly undiagnosed modest to medium grade sleep apnea.
Rozerem, Ambien, Seroquel (for other reasons and almost the primary sleep agent), Valium (already in my system twice a day for other reasons).
If I take the Seroquel too late at night it can really ruin the next day because it usually takes 2 (6-6+) hour half lives to go from stumbly to groggy to modestly awake.-- tidings
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