Re: Benzo alternatives? warnings, suggestions, (Arginine/Lysine Study)

[Guest guest]

,

I'm so glad you brought this up. Klonopin is not the miracle drug that Cheney

and a few

others suggest it is, at least in my opinion. He claims it " protects the

brain " , which is

debateable to say the least, but at the same time he has NEVER mentioned that

klonopin is

the ONLY benzodiazpene that may cause anemia, low white blood cell count

(leukopenia),

and neutropenia -- all of which make it MORE difficult for one's immune system

to

function properly, let alone increase one's energy.

I am now slowly tapering using the Ashton protocol (using valium to substitute

for

klonopin) and it's been difficult -- lots of twitching and tingling in my feet,

toes. Not to

mention the irritability and increased anxiety at times.

I have read on several benzo sites that some people have WORSE withdrawal

symptoms if

they take b-complex or other b vitamins, and also calcium/magnesium. This may

not be

the case with everyone, but I think it's true in my case. Their suggestion is

that the b-

vitamins in particular may speed up removal of the drug from the liver, which

then creates

a rocky up-and-down withdrawal, rather than a smoother one.

I have found that melatonin -- from 1 to 3mgs at night helps my sleep a lot.

It's not good

to take during the day, but perhaps l-theanine or small doses of 5-htp might

help?

And finally, this double-blind, placebo controlled study suggests that a

combination of

the amino acids l-lysine and l-arginine " reduces trait and stress-induced state

anxiety

and basal levels of stress hormones. "

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17510493

Best regards,

Dan

>

> As I struggle with this disease and benzo addiction, kolonopin to be

> exact, which is destroying my life and recovery process because of

> the addiction and chemical sensitivites iv experienced with them.

>

> They are almost impossible to get off and for most the

> neuroportective effect they originally have wears off before any

> recovery is obtained. Folks like us with brain injury are the most

> likely to have extremly quick tolerance to develop with the benzos

> and have the hardest time coming off because of already exisiting

> brain damage. The calming effect which is so important for our

> disease turns into the exact opposite and over firing of neurons

> which destroy the brain. As I look back through past posts on several

> groups of those who have passed with this disease nearly all were on

> some type of benzo

>

> I was amazed when I went over to the Benzo support group to see all

> of these people comin off benzos and struggling AND YOU COULD NOT

> TELL A DIFFERENCE IN THERE SYMPTOMOLGY AS TO OUR DISEASE< IT IS

> INTRIGUING.

> Everyone who is considering doing benzos or on benzos sould really

> have a look at this link and read the experiences.

>

> I tried many herbs that would not help but actually by chance ran

> into a herb called skullcap and it is the only thing I ever tried

> that seems to give the exact same eefect of kolonopin and sure enough

> I looked it up and it effects the same receptors as benzos and I

> found a short list of herbs that might help those in need of

> anxiety/sleep e.t.c. relief.

>

> Well here is the link on some helpful herbs scientifically proven,

> but as it says use caution while on benzos and even if not, but it is

> much more likely these herbs will never get you in rehab unlike

> benzos which it is proven are harder to get off of than heroin for

> some.

>

> here is the good herb list for alternative to benzos

> http://www.benzosupport.org/herbs_and_supplements.htm

>

> here is the benzo support group, you almost cant tell the diffenece

> between severe ME/CFS and these folks experiences.

> http://www.BenzoSupport.org

> Kindest

> Mike

>