Re: Benzos are very addictive (was Re: Allergic vs. Toxic reaction)

[Guest guest]

Deb. Let me tell you the truth as I have been throught his is evbery way

imanginable. First of all Xanax and Paxil are so very different. Paxil is a drug

that should have been taken off the market years ago. Xanax, I dont know. Maybe

there is some form of addiction in some people but what I have observed is these

people that are regular drug users of any kind and are simply needing this high

that they get from whichever drug they are takeing.

Several years ago when I began haveing anxiety issues I was put on Paxil right

away. The xanax did not come till later. I did not benafit from it that much at

all but took it. When changeing jobs I moved to Denver. I was in the middle of

insurance and because of the cost I could not get a refil so I quit takeing it.

a day and a half later I was in complete hell. That is the only way I could

describe it because I have never experienced such a horific situation. My head

was spinning lights shapes all became un explainable. It bagan by sticking a

very large screwdriver straight through the middle of my thumb followed by

freaking out on my customers, my employers and anyone else around. Much I dont

remember. It was not until I was taken to the hospital and they were told by my

wife at the time about my medical background they figured out what was going on

and within a couple of hours I was back to normal. Of course I lost my job and

much respect and was very

confused and scared. I got off that crap and never looked back.

 

I later started on Effexor which have simular withdrawl simptoms but nothing

like Paxil. Thank god you are not continueing it. That mixed with a regiment of

xanax has done very well for me for a very long time. I can go of and on the

xanax with no problem. The doctors continued to warn me of addiction and that

the withdrawls for xanax were worse than Effexor and this is nonsence. For

awhile I did as they wanted is take it four times a day although I thought that

might be a bit excessive and I did have to work. I bagen simply takeing it when

I would begin or when I knew I was going to have a situation of panic and that

has worked perfect. The doctors like to say when you do that you are only

takeing it for the high and that it was important to keep that level the same at

all times. Hogwash. That might bring on an adiction I dont know.

 

Bottom line is I know when an uncontrolable situation is comeing, like going to

the hospital, getting on an airplane etc. That is when I use the full regiment

of the xanax. That has been very succesful for a very long time but either way I

was taking it there has never been a withdrawl effect from that type of

medication ever. I miss my effexor I will have a dire situation within six hours

or less. This to me reeks addiction. I am comeing off the effects of the

medication. It is very unpleasant, possibly dangerous and I must take it again.

And I get very parinoid if I am in any situation of possibly running out or not

haveing it with me. A severe contrast to my other meds. Any kind, pain, panic,

whatever. I can wait however long, but not effexor, which is in the same class

as paxil and all these other ssi or what ever inhibitors.

 

I highly believe another look needs to be looked at when the word addiction

comes up in the doctors office. I have been through this all my life and have a

very strong opinion about this. Because of my various medical issues I have

taken almost every medication you can think of so I believe I can give an

experienced opinion on this subject.

 

Again I am exstatic to hear you are getting off that nasty pill.

 

Chris...

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

       

> I haven't really studied the benzo,

[Guest guest]

Barb, that up and down affect of the medacine you take is where the effexor (for

me) takes that away. As much as I dont like to take it and fear ever running out

it has changed my life. It is the times that get really hard that you need that

extra edge. For sleep. That is exactly the way to use it. I do now. When they

run you through all the goofy sleeping meds they end up giving you clanazapam,

klonapin, valum etc. All are in the benzo family. But again as long as your not

like these teens do, abuseing them they can be a godsend. I dont drink but I

know the people that do on these drugs. Those are the people that have the

biggest issues. Your doing the right thing and dont worry about it. It helps

right....

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

       

From: barb1283 <barb1283@...>

Subject: [] Benzos are very addictive (was Re: Allergic vs. Toxic

reaction)

Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 6:39 PM

Hi Debra, Thanks and I know you are correct. I went on them and

there just was no other possibility for me at the time. Doctors had

tried everything to get me to sleep and nothing worked, very high

anxiety - financial problems, job problems. I take as little as I can. In fact I

think sleep problem is part of puzzle of things that made me susceptible to

getting sick from mold. I mentioned this to doctors but they brush it aside but

I think it is reasonable.

I few years ago I did withdraw from it gradually over a long period of time, but

then the stress of a death in the family, put me back on them a year later. I

plan to do it again but I need to have the strength to do it as I go through

some sleepless nights, and my health is too fragile now, but I know you are

right. I didn't take the idea of taking them in the first place lightly but I

had no alternative because until I was put on them, I couldn't function, too

tired from lack of sleep, so they just made me able to get through a very

difficult time. There is a 'bomerang' effect to them though. They calm you down

but as they wear off, you get anxious from the withdrawal of the drug that is

difficult to tell whether that is 'you',your anxiety you would have anyway, or

your body missing the drug, so I do understand. When I went off of them for a

year I felt so -RELAXED- again, like old days, just felt like I was back to

being me, so I'm motivated to do the

very hard work it takes to do again. Thanks for bringing this up.

I asked my doctor for help in going off of them incidentally, by

ordering for me medicine compounded into a solution so I could take

less more easily and he scoffed at idea it was hard to get off

of...so you are right there also. They don't know much about the

drugs they prescribe. Too many of them to know but they should be

willing to help anyone to try to get off even if they think they

shouldn't need help.

>

>> I read this thread and wanted to add some info about benzos.

>

> I don't take any benzo meds myself, but do know that they are

EXTREMELY

> difficult to withdraw from.

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am glad some of you could understand what I shared about Paxil, benzos,

etc.

I think the most important thing for me to remember is that WE have choices,

we need to educate ourselves and, in my opinion, we need to question what

the doctors tell us. They tend NOT to know the long-term affects of drugs,

and the horrors of withdrawal, because they simply don't have the training

and the pharmaceutical companies woo them to get patients ON the drugs, not

off of them. It's unfortunate, but true.

As far as specifically needing help sleeping at night, I don't mean to

diminish the need for help; it can be horrible not being able to sleep and

feel rested. I do know for myself that I just last night and this morning

was wondering if I have EMFs in my bedroom that are keeping me feeling

anxious, and need to check that out. Also, I can no longer watch scary

things on TV, knowing that it will keep me feeling anxious, and also I try

not to be on the computer after 9pm, and just try to let my body " wind down "

in the evening, to prepare it for sleep.

Also, I am working with a naturopath who has me on some supplements; they

are herbal mixtures that will help raise daytime cortisol and reduce

nighttime cortisol, to aid in my awake/sleep cycle. I've only been on them a

week but think I am feeling better overall. I am also taking SAM-e and fish

oil. My poor brain is still recuperating from the Paxil, and I can only try

to be patient with it all.

If anyone is interested, there is a downloadable booklet, The Harm Reduction

Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, at

http://www.freedom-center.org(it's on the right side) The Freedom

Center is here in Western MA, and is a

great resource for those who are dealing with mental illness.

Although this list is for sick building syndrome, I do feel that when our

systems are overtaxed with other toxins (ie psych drugs) our bodies can be

more susceptible to other toxins. I have not yet been tested for mold

toxicity, beyond just having an allergist say I am allergic.

Okay, hope this info is helpful.

Deb

On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 9:04 PM, Taz <unitedstatesvet@...> wrote:

> Barb, that up and down affect of the medacine you take is where the

> effexor (for me) takes that away. As much as I dont like to take it and fear

> ever running out it has changed my life. It is the times that get really

> hard that you need that extra edge. For sleep. That is exactly the way to

> use it. I do now. When they run you through all the goofy sleeping meds they

> end up giving you clanazapam, klonapin, valum etc. All are in the benzo

> family. But again as long as your not like these teens do, abuseing them

> they can be a godsend. I dont drink but I know the people that do on these

> drugs. Those are the people that have the biggest issues. Your doing the

> right thing and dont worry about it. It helps right....

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> From: barb1283 <barb1283@... <barb1283%40>>

>

> Subject: [] Benzos are very addictive (was Re: Allergic vs.

> Toxic reaction)

> <%40>

> Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 6:39 PM

>

> Hi Debra, Thanks and I know you are correct. I went on them and

> there just was no other possibility for me at the time. Doctors had

> tried everything to get me to sleep and nothing worked, very high

> anxiety - financial problems, job problems. I take as little as I can. In

> fact I think sleep problem is part of puzzle of things that made me

> susceptible to getting sick from mold. I mentioned this to doctors but they

> brush it aside but I think it is reasonable.

> I few years ago I did withdraw from it gradually over a long period of

> time, but then the stress of a death in the family, put me back on them a

> year later. I plan to do it again but I need to have the strength to do it

> as I go through some sleepless nights, and my health is too fragile now, but

> I know you are right. I didn't take the idea of taking them in the first

> place lightly but I had no alternative because until I was put on them, I

> couldn't function, too tired from lack of sleep, so they just made me able

> to get through a very difficult time. There is a 'bomerang' effect to them

> though. They calm you down but as they wear off, you get anxious from the

> withdrawal of the drug that is difficult to tell whether that is 'you',your

> anxiety you would have anyway, or your body missing the drug, so I do

> understand. When I went off of them for a year I felt so -RELAXED- again,

> like old days, just felt like I was back to being me, so I'm motivated to do

> the

> very hard work it takes to do again. Thanks for bringing this up.

> I asked my doctor for help in going off of them incidentally, by

> ordering for me medicine compounded into a solution so I could take

> less more easily and he scoffed at idea it was hard to get off

> of...so you are right there also. They don't know much about the

> drugs they prescribe. Too many of them to know but they should be

> willing to help anyone to try to get off even if they think they

> shouldn't need help.

>

>

> >

> >> I read this thread and wanted to add some info about benzos.

> >

> > I don't take any benzo meds myself, but do know that they are

> EXTREMELY

> > difficult to withdraw from.

>

>