So I see a lot of people say Benzodiazepines, like Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc, are dangerous, especially in comments on here. I would like to know why? I mean I understand that there can be side effects, mainly drowsiness and dizziness, but I see some who are adamant that they are dangerous, so I am curious why? I also understand there’s the possibility of addiction leading to abuse leading to death, but is that what people are talking about when they say they are dangerous?
I’m not looking to dispute or argue, I am legitimately curious and just want to know why some feel they are so dangerous? I’ve mainly had positive experiences with them myself.
Cheers!
💜Ash
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Brightfuture22
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I could ask that same question, they work better than any of the anti depressants ive tried with less side effects. In my opinion you can get addicted to anything and everything. You can die from too much of anything. I see no problem with them. Maybe its because they can be recreationally abused? Idk but thats a very dumb reason. Ive been on ativan awhile now and its helped for sleep, anxiety, panic attacks. More than anything else the docs prescribed me.
Yeah, we’re in the same boat Mike. Ativan is the only thing, outside of God, that helps me when I am in the throes of a BAD panic attack. It helps my brain and nervous system get a bit of a break from this incessant anxiety/panic. I just don’t see how they are dangerous, or more dangerous then say an SSRI??!!
I’ve been reading some of your posts, how are you holding up? Thinking of changing from Lexapro? Did you end up taking the Trazadone?
Ive been thinking about just getting off ssris or idk reducing or upping my dose maybe.. idk. I need to talk to my doc again. I was good for a week or so then sympyoms flared up again.
They are dangerous bc you and you body get dependant on them not too much of a problem if you are getting on in years and your doctor will keep supplying but not good for young people
I understand the addiction factor, I was just curious if that was the reason people call/consider them to be very dangerous. Thank you for your input, it is much appreciated! 💜
No im sorry your wrong. You can be addicted to anything. Its just a way of pharmacies making money to claim addiction. Ive been on a benzo for awhile now and can go days without taking it if i wanted and i have. People say they are addicting because THEY WORK.
I agree everyone is different. But im speaking from my experience. Theres doctors out there that want you to get well and be able to function. Im on a relatively low dose of ativan. Like i said i can go days without it. But sometimes i need it every other day.
Ive done heroin, not going to lie, and the two dont compare, heroin is illegal and is addicting the first time you use it, benzos are medicine. And i know people who take 6-8mgs of them a day with no health issues.
Benzo’s and opiates(heroin) are not in the same family. Although they do have a similar quality in common, they both have a sedating factor.
Regardless they are both very addictive when taken in large quantities. I’ve been reassured by my psychiatrist that taking .5mg PRN, will not create an addiction. I just hope I don’t become tolerant and have to raise the dosage. 🤷🏼♀️
I’m in the UK & take Xanax & Clonazepam. Xanax I take prn & Clonazepam I take 1.5mgs daily & have done for years. They are no more addictive than an SSRI & I’m sorry but comparing them to heroin is ridiculous.
I took temazepam sleeping tablets yrs ago as and when I needef them over a short period and they were fab but they don't prescribe them any more apparently
I am sorta thinking/feeling the same way! I’ve been taking them PRN for a few months now, maybe about 20%-30% of the month have I needed them, and it’s at such a low dose(.5mg) that I just don’t see the danger. But who knows, maybe I’m wrong. Glad to know I’m not the only one who feels like they aren’t as dangerous as they’re made out to be! 💜
When something happens to you and you see the effects of dependency. You will understand. I think it comes down to what you are being treated for. What your md believes in etc. Benzos are not the drug of choice for PTSD. All benzos are supposed to be used for short term. A simple google will tell you that.
There's also always a risk of having to switch md and having that md believe the data and not want you on benzo s.
I completely understand. I just wanted to know if others considered them dangerous because of the addiction potential or because of some crazy side effect that I hadn’t read about yet.
It's a hot topic and people have different thoughts. I think the answer to you question is the addiction. I think there is agreement they work and help us all. That's the positive. The negative is documented addiction even when take exactly as ordered. Doesn't happen to everyone but for those that it does happen to it's a nightmare.
I agree. It is definitely a nightmare. I think if I was taking it everyday I probably would develop a tolerance which would lead to higher doses which then could lead to dependency and addiction. So I definitely can see how horrific that can be. I don’t want to be dependent on it, I’ve seen what being addicted to drugs do to you, first hand.
I feel bad for those who their doctor prescribed Benzo’s for them for years and then decided to cut them off cold turkey. Here in America they are doing that with Opiates like Oxy and Vicodin. They pushed them out, created the addiction, and now are ceasing to give them anymore. No tapering, just cold turkey cut! So terrible!
Plenty of doctors still prescribe benzos, like mine. They need to wean you off properly and ive known people on them everyday for years and still take them, why suffer and not be able to function? Especially when youve tried every other med there is and benzos actually work. You can be addicted to anything you feel a benefit from. Its not just benzos.
No I take Benzos, I have never abused them & never increased my dosage. All the bad press is from people abusing them. They saved my life so I certainly don’t see them as dangerous.
I have been on .5 mg of Xanax PRN for nearly 25 years now. I have never been addicted or felt like I had to have them. It is just nice to know they are there in my tool belt should I feel like I'm out of control. I average taking one about 5 times a month. I've gone several years here and there when I've had doctors who won't prescribe them and suffered through horrible breakthrough anxiety when I was trying to regulate my dosage of Lexapro. Finally I found a wonderful psychiatrist who looked at my medical records and took the time to see that I took the medication responsibly. To those of us who use them in the intended fashion, they are a godsend.
A little over 4 years now. From 2001 to 2007 I took Zoloft. It burned out so I changed to Celexa. Weaned off it in 2013. Started the Lexapro in April of 2015. The only SSRI that I've tried and couldn't tolerate was Prozac. It made my anxiety immediately skyrocket and for the only time in my life I was suicidal.
Thank you for sharing your medicinal journey with me, I truly appreciate it! I am considering going on an SSRI, and I really like hearing others experiences on them! 💜
Yes I totally agree . I carry then on me all the time . It is a secure thing . Even now I’m on Zoloft I still carry them just in case . I have used them only a few times since starting Zoloft . My saviour
They only become dangerous if you decide to withdaw suddenly after taking for more than a few months. Xanax in particular is dangerous in sudden withdrawel. All benzos are highly addictive although they do relieve anxiety (and depression to some extent) effectively. Some people get confused between antidepressants and benzodiazepines (valium xanax, etc). They are completely different! I've been on a benzo for several years but have recently decided to reduce and come off as I'm convinced they are not doing me any good in the long run. This is partly why they are so difficult to come off. It's difficult but am determined to give it my best to do so with the support of my GP. There is also a great online support site and forum for anyone affected by benzos :-
I’ve been taking Xanax for almost 30 years ... there’s nothing wrong with this medication and people should stop fear mongering. The junkies have given this medication a bad name. If you suffer from anxiety and panic attacks there’s nothing better then benzodiazepine with controlling anxiety.
People will say there addicting. I disagree unless your abusing them. I can stop taking my meds for a few days every a few months. The issue is that anxiety and panic attacks are a chronic mental condition like diabetes is a chronic condition. People with diabetes need insulin to control there sugar people with anxiety need ssri or benzodiazepine to control there anxiety. The bottom line is this THE JUNKIES ARE WHAT GIVE THIS DRUG A BAD NAME. Just like they gave pain meds a bad name. Now people with chronic pain are scrutinized for taking meds for chronic pain. Sorry for the rant but I’m so sick of listening to people bash benzodiazepine because they abused them. Best wishes John
John I am with you on this one. I feel and have compassion for those who take Benzo’s or any addictive meds and deal with withdrawal/addiction. It’s horrid. But Benzo’s aren’t horrible for everyone, especially if used with caution.
There's so much stigma about benzodiazepines. Especially in this day and age. My philosophy is, if it works and helps you to live a normal life. Use it. Under a doctor's supervision of course. Is it addictive? Can be for sure. But missing a dose of my blood pressure medication makes for a very unpleasant situation also. But you dont hear anyone dissing bp meds. Lol. Its YOUR life, you need to do what you think is best for YOU. By the way I take Klonopin. It works very well and I wouldn't change any of the meds I'm on. Good Luck With Everything.
Well said and your correct about Blood pressure meds and missing doses. Another is diabetes missing those dependent meds could put you in a coma and pass away. So if I become dependent on Xanax to live a good quality of life then so be it.
Primarily because benzo's don't deal with the actual issue. All it does is alleviate you for a brief period of time from the symptoms.
They are a quick relief that isn't sustainable long term as again it doesn't help expose you to and confront whats actually going on.
For clarity, I use to take diazepam as well as sleeping tablets when my depression was incredibly severe. I agree to the use of it in the short term, but I very quickly knew that if there was a situation or a feeling I couldn't handle, I was reaching for those and personally I just didn't feel like I was making progress.
Benzodiapizene impacts the gaba receptors of our brain gaba is the inhibitory neurotransmitter think of it like your brain is the car and your gaba is the gas pedal what happens when you damage the gas pedal the car would crash . This is why tolerance happen . And one should not take any benzo with alchohol because alchohol targets gaba receptors too. When gaba receptors are not activated hence glutamate becomes activated which is the excitatory neurotransmitter ( heart palpitation, restlessness , adrenaline, insomnia , muscle issues etc)Withdrawel causes many sort of chaotic symptoms and doctors will dismiss it and say " it is all in your head". We need gaba and glutamate to be intact and balance . This is why they are only supppse to be given for emergency cases or short term .
Now the reason why most people expierenced the withdrawel or tolerance effect is because well simple brain chemistry . But there is also this blood test called pharmacogenomics basically it will determine what drugs may be suitable for your body this may also explain why some do well than others. But only certain countries offer this which is a shame because I believe before a doctor prescribing pill like it is some sort of halloween candy they should refer this test first. But then again reliability and validity matters here.
Disclaimer : I am not saying that you or anyone should stop taking any medication. I am stating the scientific facts here
Thank you for your input Delanna, I appreciate it! I do understand about how the gaba receptors are effected, I guess I don’t take it often enough that it would be dangerous in that sense.
I am going to ask my doctor about pharmacogenomics and see if I can get that test done!
I remember reading an article that they have been linked to some neurodegeneration like Alzheimer’s or dementia. But, as I mentioned in a previous post, I take Ativan right now because it helps like nothing else. I don’t plan to stay on it for years but you never know.
Yeah I try to be careful what I am putting in my body but I also have learned that the stress can often cause issues far worse than the medicine if left untreated
Yeah that is becoming a fear of mine. How much damage am I doing to my body by having all this anxiety related adrenaline and whatever else coursing through me all the time. I mean it is obviously not healthy to be in fight or flight mode 80% of the time. That has to be taking a toll on me.
I am not sure of your exact symptoms but when I was a teenager and starting having panic attacks, Paxil really helped me out. I was on it for about 4 years and it was almost a night and day improvement.
my symptoms are mainly health anxiety related. I get the heart palpitations, racing pulse, high blood pressure, extreme fear, lightheadedness, and so on.
My psychiatrist mentioned Paxil yesterday to me, but I have an intense fear of taking medication, so it's hard for me to start something new. He also wants me to try Trazadone, but idk if I can do that one either.
I recently got off Paxil after taking it on and off for 15 years, as my doctor doesn’t think it’s working anymore. I will say, for the longest time it was amazing for me and I don’t regret taking it. The worst part was the withdrawal symptoms even if I missed a dose- really weird headache. And very hard to quit, even when weaning off of it. But again, it gave me my life back during a tough time so I have nothing bad to say about it. But you have to do what’s right for you. The good news is that if you try it and don’t like what it’s doing- you can stop. If it has positive results, you may then really be glad you took it.
Oh and no other SSRIs right now. I am actually going to go to a psychiatrist to get their opinion what I should take since the things my primary care suggests aren’t really working. Part of me thinks I might end up back on Paxil. I am also considering cbd.
I know someone who has withdrawn from both Benzos and Heroin and said that Benzos are worse. They absolutely are physically addicting although it is true, that peoples' individual make up will determine to what degree and what symptoms there may be on fast withdrawal. The withdrawal can and has killed people although that is not common. They are fantastic and work really well for me but I know I will need to taper off this last round since I've been taking them now for about 10 weeks on and off. There is a story online by Lena Dunham the actress about her experience with benzos. Pretty interesting.
I’d take addiction over a panic stricken, anxiety ridden existence, cause it’s not a life! Yes I take Benzos & it was a game changer for me after 20 years on Paxil
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