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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fred23 on January 12, 2005, at 17:51:50
A while ago there was a thread about how to show a doctor that long-term benzo usage is appropriate in come situations.
There is a paper on the ADAA (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) titled "Improving the Diagnosis & Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Dialogue Between Mental Health Professionals and Primary Care Physicians" (c) 2004, at http://www.adaa.org/images/conference/2005/Final%20ADAA%20GAD%20Paper.pdf, that on page 7 has:
"Benzodiazepines are often used for short-term, initial treatment of GAD and have sometimes been
used for longer-term maintenance of GAD. The mechanism of anxiolytic action of the benzodiazepines
is to increase the affinity of GABAA receptors for GABA (-aminobutyric acid), a major
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. While benzodiazepines have a rapid onset of action and
low cost, they also carry a risk of dependency. Several additional factors limit the utility of benzodiazepines,
including adverse events such as sedation, fatigue, impaired psychomotor performance,
decreased learning ability, synergistic effects with alcohol, and the potential for abuse. With maintenance
therapy, however, some of these negative effects may become transient or disappear."
Posted by ace on January 12, 2005, at 22:39:14
In reply to ADAA view on long-term benzo usage, posted by Fred23 on January 12, 2005, at 17:51:50
For what it's worth I personally think benzodiazepines are a remarkable medication, useful for a multitude of disorders. I believe that they are a great drug given a bad name by people who don't even need them. I think Xanax is underused, and so much pain could be avoided by placing many patients on long term benzo therapy. Dr. Shipko, a notable neurologist and psychiatrist, has seen patients on Xanax for 30 years with no ill effects...eg, cancer, hypertrophy, etc.
Ace
Posted by tensor on January 13, 2005, at 6:02:17
In reply to Re: ADAA view on long-term benzo usage » Fred23, posted by ace on January 12, 2005, at 22:39:14
>I believe that they are a great drug given a bad name by people who don't even need them.
You mean psychiatrists? :-)
Posted by Glydin on January 13, 2005, at 7:06:17
In reply to ADAA view on long-term benzo usage, posted by Fred23 on January 12, 2005, at 17:51:50
If anyone has ever read any posting of mine, a hearty "Here, Here" from me regarding this info is not surprising.
My experience on the negative judgements of long term benzo use have (weirdly) been found more on message boards by individuals, not by my doc. However, I realize the stance for the negative effects is what is out to be found if one researches, so it's coming from "high places".
Rethinking old ways of thinking may benefit many.
Posted by Fred23 on January 13, 2005, at 18:56:48
In reply to ADAA view on long-term benzo usage, posted by Fred23 on January 12, 2005, at 17:51:50
> A while ago there was a thread about how to show a doctor that long-term benzo usage is appropriate in come situations.
> There is a paper on the ADAA (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) titled "Improving the Diagnosis & Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Dialogue Between Mental Health Professionals and Primary Care Physicians" (c) 2004....Showing it to my primary care physician, while trying to explain that the 1.0 mg/day of Ativan he had reduced me to, down from the 1.5 mg/day originally given, after I had been asking for it to be raised to an allowable 2.0 mg/day, got his disapproval of my Internet research. He regards 2.0 mg/day of Ativan as a large dose, and asked if I'd consider an SSRI if it ever stopped working for me. I told him that I doubted that Ativan would stop working for me, and would never take an SSRI. He gave his opintion that there is nothing wrong with SSRIs, and that my research on the Interet is not as valid as the many years of education that doctors take to become doctors.
So he referred me to a real pdoc, which is what I had expected to happen.
Like the ADAA article explains, a primary care health setting really isn't a good place to do a serious investigation of anxiety.
Posted by ace on January 13, 2005, at 21:32:30
In reply to Re: ADAA view on long-term benzo usage » Fred23 » ace, posted by tensor on January 13, 2005, at 6:02:17
> >I believe that they are a great drug given a bad name by people who don't even need them.
>
> You mean psychiatrists? :-)what you mean?!! Shrinks taking them??!!
Posted by jerrympls on January 13, 2005, at 23:38:30
In reply to Re: ADAA view on long-term benzo usage » Fred23, posted by ace on January 12, 2005, at 22:39:14
> For what it's worth I personally think benzodiazepines are a remarkable medication, useful for a multitude of disorders. I believe that they are a great drug given a bad name by people who don't even need them. I think Xanax is underused, and so much pain could be avoided by placing many patients on long term benzo therapy. Dr. Shipko, a notable neurologist and psychiatrist, has seen patients on Xanax for 30 years with no ill effects...eg, cancer, hypertrophy, etc.
>
> AceI whole-heartedly agree. AMEN
This is the end of the thread.
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