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From: Franziska Beckmann on 22 Oct 2006 21:02
Hello everyone,

my name is Franziska and I used to visit ASAP in 2000/2001 for a while.
Looking
into ASAPM now six years later, I still see some of the familiar names -
Philip, Jackie,
Arthur, who have always been so committed to help people.....it?s so
comforting and touching to see you?re still around !! :-) You surely won?t
remember me though, because I only posted two or three messages.
Anyway - I now have a question about the long-term use of Benzo?s. From what
I understood in all the ASAP discussions, anxiety-sufferers who have to take
Benzo?s long-term DON?T usually develop tolerance to their anxiolytic
effects, so they can stay on the same dosage for a long time. However,
tolerance DOES develop to the BZPs? hypnotic/sleep-inducing effects,
therefore you should not take BZPs as sleeping pills (long-term).
But how can you "separate" these effects from each other? If you just take
BZPs as an anti-anxiety medication, isn?t your sleep going to be affected as
well, so that over time, you will have to raise the dosage more and more?
Or can you prevent this by just taking short-acting BZPs like
Alprazolam/Xanax, and just taking them during the day? But then, what about
anxiety in the evening and at night?

It would give me so much hope if somebody could answer these
questions...I?ve had panic disorder for 17 years now, tried every
state-of-the-art-treatment (CBT, desensitization, 9 antidepressants), but
the only thing that ever brought some kind of relief are Benzos, so taking
them long-term now seems the last resort.

Thank you ever so much...

Franziska

PS.
I?m sorry for maybe asking questions that have been discussed already at
ASAPM, but I also have severe chronic wrist pain (RSI), so I?m just very
limited in the amount of internet research I can do...anyway, I prefer RSI
over panic attacks any day...;-)))

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From: MsMonarchdancer on 23 Oct 2006 19:29
On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:02:35 -0500, "Franziska Beckmann"
<franziska.beckmann(a)t-online.de> wrote:

<gently snipped>

::Anyway - I now have a question about the long-term use of Benzo?s. From what
::I understood in all the ASAP discussions, anxiety-sufferers who have to take
::Benzo?s long-term DON?T usually develop tolerance to their anxiolytic
::effects, so they can stay on the same dosage for a long time. However,
::tolerance DOES develop to the BZPs? hypnotic/sleep-inducing effects,
::therefore you should not take BZPs as sleeping pills (long-term).
::But how can you "separate" these effects from each other? If you just take
::BZPs as an anti-anxiety medication, isn?t your sleep going to be affected as
::well, so that over time, you will have to raise the dosage more and more?
::Or can you prevent this by just taking short-acting BZPs like
::Alprazolam/Xanax, and just taking them during the day? But then, what about
::anxiety in the evening and at night?

Hi Franziska,

Welcome to ASAPM :) You ask some good questions! I think the problem is when
people take a benzo just for sleep. Over time, the person may need more and
more of that benzo to get a decent nights sleep. That happens with most sleep
meds, not just benzos. A common side-effect when first starting a benzo is
sleepiness (hypnotic/sleep inducing effects) which for most people will wear
off after some regular use. From what I have read over many years at these
anxiety support groups is that it doesn't seem common for people with an
anxiety disorder to develop a tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of benzos.
This is evidenced by many posters staying at the same dose for years,
decreasing their dose, or not needing their benzo any longer. It makes sense
that if anxiety is keeping someone awake at night, that using a benzo to
relieve that anxiety may eliminate the insomnia as well. I had terrible
insomnia for years because of anxiety. After a few weeks on Paxil, my anxiety
and panic were greatly decreased and I was sleeping very well again. I don't
use Paxil as a sleep med, but it has greatly helped my sleep in an indirect
way. I haven't had a need to increase my dose either :)

::It would give me so much hope if somebody could answer these
::questions...I?ve had panic disorder for 17 years now, tried every
::state-of-the-art-treatment (CBT, desensitization, 9 antidepressants), but
::the only thing that ever brought some kind of relief are Benzos, so taking
::them long-term now seems the last resort.

It's hard to think about using a medication on a long-term basis, but if it
gives your life quality, it is probably worth it. Why not tell us a little
about your benzo use? Maybe we can put your mind at ease.

Here is some info.......

Some informative links regarding benzo addiction vs dependency.....
http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/benzosbasics/a/addiction.htm
http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/weekly/aa082797.htm


I suggest you educate yourself about addiction VS dependency so you can make
informed decisions regarding the treatment of your anxiety disorder. I highly
recommend the book "Panic Disorder" by William D. Kernodle, M.D. Chapters 12,
"The Misunderstood Benzodiazepines" and 13, "The Role of Benzodiazepines in
the Treatment of Panic Disorder" being must reads.


This link is about discontinuing xanax. The information can be applied almost
all the benzos.
http://lexington-on-line.com/naf_xanax.html


Take care :)

Jackie
~*~The glass isn't half full or half empty...
the glass is EMPTY...BONE DRY...NOTHING! :) ~*~

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