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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 howl108 on February 25, 2009, at 14:29:45
I've been taking Diazepam for a while now but I am thinking of trying Reserpine. But I am curious about their possible (negative) interactions with each other.
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2009, at 14:49:35
In reply to The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 25, 2009, at 14:29:45
May I ask what reserpine is as on diazepam for years now. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by howl108 on February 25, 2009, at 15:03:38
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam? » howl108, posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2009, at 14:49:35
> May I ask what reserpine is as on diazepam for years now. Thanks Phillipa
I... don't know if I really understand you. But it can't hurt for me to give more information anyway.
Been taking Diazepam for three years for tardive akathisia. Thinking of taking something else like resperine.
Posted by Larry Hoover on February 25, 2009, at 18:40:37
In reply to The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 25, 2009, at 14:29:45
It's not strictly speaking an interaction, but instead a possible additive effect. Both drugs are associated with hypotension, especially postural (e.g. standing up too fast leads to dizziness). So, you'd need to be cautious around that. That's all I could find.
Lar
Posted by yxibow on February 26, 2009, at 2:29:02
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam? » howl108, posted by Larry Hoover on February 25, 2009, at 18:40:37
Its only an orphan drug, tetrabenazine (Xenazine / Nitoman), so I'm not sure if your doctor has access to it, but I believe it is less harsh than reserpine (Rauwolfia serpentina alkaloid). Both are investigative drugs for Huntington's.
As dopamine depleters (and a variety of other things, the chemistry is beyond me) which I believe both are, they do carry risks.
If Valium has worked for you enough to cover your symptoms, I personally would seriously discuss this with your doctor. I presume you already have and have the information you need to make a informed choice, which is certainly your right.
I know tardive and possibly tardive/iatrogenic/neurological symptoms can be a disheartening thing thing, having inherited several myself.
They are also increased pronouncedly by stress. I assume you have had this carefully examined by a competent neurologist. I'm not trying to further your pain or thoughts regarding this by saying that.
I had to have an answer to what I experience, so I did, which is far too complicated to go over hereand at least part of it is not tardive.
-- best regards
Jay
Posted by howl108 on February 26, 2009, at 4:06:52
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by yxibow on February 26, 2009, at 2:29:02
> Its only an orphan drug, tetrabenazine (Xenazine / Nitoman), so I'm not sure if your doctor has access to it, but I believe it is less harsh than reserpine (Rauwolfia serpentina alkaloid). Both are investigative drugs for Huntington's.
>
> As dopamine depleters (and a variety of other things, the chemistry is beyond me) which I believe both are, they do carry risks.
>
> If Valium has worked for you enough to cover your symptoms, I personally would seriously discuss this with your doctor. I presume you already have and have the information you need to make a informed choice, which is certainly your right.
>
> I know tardive and possibly tardive/iatrogenic/neurological symptoms can be a disheartening thing thing, having inherited several myself.
>
> They are also increased pronouncedly by stress. I assume you have had this carefully examined by a competent neurologist. I'm not trying to further your pain or thoughts regarding this by saying that.
>
> I had to have an answer to what I experience, so I did, which is far too complicated to go over hereand at least part of it is not tardive.
>
> -- best regards
>
> JayI wouldn't want to take them together at all. The problem is that I've been taking diazepam for 3 years. I need to withdraw off of it slowly. If I start taking something like reserpine soon, I will still probably be on diazepam to an extent.
I've read that reserpine works very well. I figure that if the side-effects are too much, I could just stay on diazepam and think of something else.
Posted by SLS on February 26, 2009, at 7:26:59
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 26, 2009, at 4:06:52
What about clonidine?
- Scott
Posted by howl108 on February 26, 2009, at 10:00:51
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by SLS on February 26, 2009, at 7:26:59
> What about clonidine?
>
>
> - ScottYes that's another one too.
Do you have to be on these for a long time or could you take it for a short period, have diminished akathisia, stop the medicine, and retain the diminished akathisia?
Posted by howl108 on February 26, 2009, at 10:20:43
In reply to The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 25, 2009, at 14:29:45
Just something else that's very important is that I would like to try something else very soon. I want to know if I can take these things while withdrawing off of Diazepam. I've seen withdrawal schedules that are really slow so this might happen unless Diazepam is too dangerous to have with Clonidine or Reserpine or other things.
Posted by yxibow on February 27, 2009, at 0:06:13
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 26, 2009, at 10:20:43
> Just something else that's very important is that I would like to try something else very soon. I want to know if I can take these things while withdrawing off of Diazepam. I've seen withdrawal schedules that are really slow so this might happen unless Diazepam is too dangerous to have with Clonidine or Reserpine or other things.
You can take diazepam with clonidine, they're just two potential CNS depressants, there are always risks with stacking a lot of CNS depressants and one should be cautious with 'heavy machinery' if they take it for the first time.
If you take clonidine (or the related guanfacine) regularly, it shouldn't be abruptly stopped. Its a heart medication used for psychiatric purposes. This goes the same for propranolol or other offlabel drugs that affect the heart.
I respect your choice and interest in taking reserpine, I'm just saying I guess again that it is a very early drug for high blood pressure and an antipsychotic as well as a number of other things, discovered in India from natural sources.It has a list of side effects numerous being an alkaloid, but I'm not saying you will get any of them. I assume your doctor will be monitoring this carefully.
The interaction with reserpine and clonidine would be unknown, with their different ways of affecting blood pressure. That's one to watch.
Diazepam and reserpine would be again, just due caution with CNS depressant stacking.
I'm not sure what amount of diazepam you're taking although that isn't necessarily a risk factor...(large amounts can be -- I have a rather sticky wicket with diazepam but thats actually because I still need it yet don't feel it... anyhow that's a rather long and drawn out story)
....if you aren't feeling habituation -- i.e., you still feel some 'zing' or you don't have significant memory loss, it is undoubtedly a safer agent....
...(so is clonidine though it can cause angioedema rarely)... than either tetrabenazine or reserpine.
But all the above having been said before, I wish you well on your decision and I hope you get some relief.
-- Jay
Posted by howl108 on February 27, 2009, at 4:09:15
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam? » howl108, posted by yxibow on February 27, 2009, at 0:06:13
> > Just something else that's very important is that I would like to try something else very soon. I want to know if I can take these things while withdrawing off of Diazepam. I've seen withdrawal schedules that are really slow so this might happen unless Diazepam is too dangerous to have with Clonidine or Reserpine or other things.
>
> You can take diazepam with clonidine, they're just two potential CNS depressants, there are always risks with stacking a lot of CNS depressants and one should be cautious with 'heavy machinery' if they take it for the first time.
>
> If you take clonidine (or the related guanfacine) regularly, it shouldn't be abruptly stopped. Its a heart medication used for psychiatric purposes. This goes the same for propranolol or other offlabel drugs that affect the heart.
>
>
> I respect your choice and interest in taking reserpine, I'm just saying I guess again that it is a very early drug for high blood pressure and an antipsychotic as well as a number of other things, discovered in India from natural sources.
>
> It has a list of side effects numerous being an alkaloid, but I'm not saying you will get any of them. I assume your doctor will be monitoring this carefully.
>
>
> The interaction with reserpine and clonidine would be unknown, with their different ways of affecting blood pressure. That's one to watch.
>
>
> Diazepam and reserpine would be again, just due caution with CNS depressant stacking.
>
>
> I'm not sure what amount of diazepam you're taking although that isn't necessarily a risk factor...
>
> (large amounts can be -- I have a rather sticky wicket with diazepam but thats actually because I still need it yet don't feel it... anyhow that's a rather long and drawn out story)
>
> ....if you aren't feeling habituation -- i.e., you still feel some 'zing' or you don't have significant memory loss, it is undoubtedly a safer agent....
>
> ...(so is clonidine though it can cause angioedema rarely)... than either tetrabenazine or reserpine.
>
> But all the above having been said before, I wish you well on your decision and I hope you get some relief.
>
> -- JayThank you for your information and wishing me well.
The problem I have with Diazepam is that it only alleviates some of the TA. These other agents might be far better at relief.
I'm not really worried about CNS depressant stacking. Mostly because this Diazepam doesn't really give me any side-effects and so I doubt it would cause much trouble alongside something like Clonidine or Reserpine.
I'm more worried about tapering off of Diazepam while at the same time trying a new drug. If I start to get withdrawals from Diazepam, for instance, taking a new drug might interact with me in a bad way possibly... less I am misunderstanding something. If I taper slowly--which is what I want--then something like this shouldn't happen.
Posted by SLS on February 27, 2009, at 7:56:29
In reply to Re: The Interactions Between Reserpine and Diazepam?, posted by howl108 on February 27, 2009, at 4:09:15
One of the potential side effects of clonodine is depression. I don't know about guanfacine. However, the depression stops very quickly when you stop taking the drug. It might be worth doing an experiment. If it is going to produce depression, it will probably do so within two weeks.
I don't know if improvements would remain stable should you opt to discontinue clonidine after its successful use.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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