What side effects persist when benzos are taken for a long time?

Hi,

As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
one hence should be prepared to cope with?

Thanks



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Feb 28, 2:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> Thanks
>

I think you've raised an important issue - the very reason why staying
on Klonopin for a long time terrifies me. If it is true will you hear
it from the psych is my question (fear of lawsuit, conflict of
interest). I think the best gauge of how meds are doing is to key in
things like "benzos" and "withdrawal" and see what they say on the
message boards. (i have read of people having side effects like anger
and anxiety worse than pre-benzo - the problems seem worse for people
who have been on the benzos for longer, and they don't notice the
withdrawal effect until about a week after complete cessation due to
the long half-life of some of the benzos, like Klonopin.)

I told my doc once "that at least informal anecdotal evidence shows
that people are having trouble coming off them after a while", but he
poo poohed by saying not to believe everything you read on the
internet. It is unfortunate that many people regard the internet as a
place where fake people come up with phantom ideas and nothing is
real. Imo, it is common sense that if you read a lot of "faceless"
people saying they are having problems with their meds there may be a
grain of truth to it (at least for some people.) At least, I'm a bit
concerned when I read about it. Is it true? I don't know. I do love
love Klonopin, though.


> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

"flat" <doldrums_flat@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1172695531.814919.92640@a75g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com...
> On Feb 28, 2:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive
>> impairment)
>> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this
>> true?
>> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
>> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
>> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> I think you've raised an important issue - the very reason why staying
> on Klonopin for a long time terrifies me. If it is true will you hear
> it from the psych is my question (fear of lawsuit, conflict of
> interest). I think the best gauge of how meds are doing is to key in
> things like "benzos" and "withdrawal" and see what they say on the
> message boards. (i have read of people having side effects like anger
> and anxiety worse than pre-benzo - the problems seem worse for people
> who have been on the benzos for longer, and they don't notice the
> withdrawal effect until about a week after complete cessation due to
> the long half-life of some of the benzos, like Klonopin.)
>
> I told my doc once "that at least informal anecdotal evidence shows
> that people are having trouble coming off them after a while", but he
> poo poohed by saying not to believe everything you read on the
> internet. It is unfortunate that many people regard the internet as a
> place where fake people come up with phantom ideas and nothing is
> real. Imo, it is common sense that if you read a lot of "faceless"
> people saying they are having problems with their meds there may be a
> grain of truth to it (at least for some people.) At least, I'm a bit
> concerned when I read about it. Is it true? I don't know. I do love
> love Klonopin, though.
>
>
>> --
>> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
>

I think, be on benzo's if it helps and damn the consequences as long as you
are working on CBT and other therapies while you are taking the drug route.
If not, well perhaps drugs arnt for you because its just a patch.

Ever seen a dude with a hamstring tear just take meds without any actualy
pysio? Its strange that large amounts of people would do the same with brain
disfunctions and expect their brains to get better.

John

On Feb 28, 7:45 pm, "John Sheppard" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> "flat" <doldrums_f...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1172695531.814919.92640@a75g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 28, 2:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
> >> Hi,
>
> >> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive
> >> impairment)
> >> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this
> >> true?
> >> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> >> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> >> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> >> Thanks
>
> > I think you've raised an important issue - the very reason why staying
> > on Klonopin for a long time terrifies me. If it is true will you hear
> > it from the psych is my question (fear of lawsuit, conflict of
> > interest). I think the best gauge of how meds are doing is to key in
> > things like "benzos" and "withdrawal" and see what they say on the
> > message boards. (i have read of people having side effects like anger
> > and anxiety worse than pre-benzo - the problems seem worse for people
> > who have been on the benzos for longer, and they don't notice the
> > withdrawal effect until about a week after complete cessation due to
> > the long half-life of some of the benzos, like Klonopin.)
>
> > I told my doc once "that at least informal anecdotal evidence shows
> > that people are having trouble coming off them after a while", but he
> > poo poohed by saying not to believe everything you read on the
> > internet. It is unfortunate that many people regard the internet as a
> > place where fake people come up with phantom ideas and nothing is
> > real. Imo, it is common sense that if you read a lot of "faceless"
> > people saying they are having problems with their meds there may be a
> > grain of truth to it (at least for some people.) At least, I'm a bit
> > concerned when I read about it. Is it true? I don't know. I do love
> > love Klonopin, though.
>
> >> --
> >> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> I think, be on benzo's if it helps and damn the consequences as long as you
> are working on CBT and other therapies while you are taking the drug route.
> If not, well perhaps drugs arnt for you because its just a patch.
>
> Ever seen a dude with a hamstring tear just take meds without any actualy
> pysio? Its strange that large amounts of people would do the same with brain
> disfunctions and expect their brains to get better.

I feel like your example was hand picked to make your point. I'm not
attacking you, but people take asprin for headaches, topical
anesthetics for sore throats, antihyspamines for allergies, and
antiinflamatories for muscle aches and pain. On the same not, people
get root canals and fillings when they have cavities, laser surgury to
remove stage 1 skin cancer, etc....

Some brain things are really a matter of neurotransmitter levels. You
can talk about it all day, and you won't have more seratonin.
However, it must be achknowledged by all parties that the drug which
causes increased levels is an external mechanism, and will not
necessarily fix you, but rather put you in a happier place than you
were.

The hamstring tear is basically a transient condition.

There are also non-transient conditions, such as diabeties. You take
insulin for the rest of your life to replace the function of an
organ. Or dialysis, you replace the function of your screwed up
kidneys.

I hope I am making sense. I am not trying to anotagonize.

>
> John- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

"John" <nospam@no.where> wrote in message
news:45e5cacd$0$16328$88260bb3@free.teranews.com.. .
> Hi,
>
> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive
impairment)
> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this
true?

Feeling sedated, tired, etc., is a side-effect that usually starts to fade a
few weeks after you reach a stable dosage level. Some people, though, will
continue to feel sedated. Some of those switch to another benzo and the
problem goes away.

Short-term memory impairment is common, but it's rarely significant enough
to cause any disruption in the patient's lifestyle. Some studies say that
this effect fades away over time (it did in me), but I don't see a consensus
on this in the research literature. There is agreement that any short-term
memory problems disappear if the drug is discontinued.

Long-term cognitive impairmnt has been identified, but it is subtle; not
like you dumb-down. It effects the ability to identify visual spatial
relationships and stuff like that. Effects are not significant and do not
impair your ability to function - unless you're a jet pilot or some thing
like that, I guess.

<<snip>>
>> I think, be on benzo's if it helps and damn the consequences as long as
>> you
>> are working on CBT and other therapies while you are taking the drug
>> route.
>> If not, well perhaps drugs arnt for you because its just a patch.
>>
>> Ever seen a dude with a hamstring tear just take meds without any actualy
>> pysio? Its strange that large amounts of people would do the same with
>> brain
>> disfunctions and expect their brains to get better.
>
> I feel like your example was hand picked to make your point. I'm not
> attacking you, but people take asprin for headaches, topical
> anesthetics for sore throats, antihyspamines for allergies, and
> antiinflamatories for muscle aches and pain. On the same not, people
> get root canals and fillings when they have cavities, laser surgury to
> remove stage 1 skin cancer, etc....
>
> Some brain things are really a matter of neurotransmitter levels. You
> can talk about it all day, and you won't have more seratonin.
> However, it must be achknowledged by all parties that the drug which
> causes increased levels is an external mechanism, and will not
> necessarily fix you, but rather put you in a happier place than you
> were.
>
> The hamstring tear is basically a transient condition.
>
> There are also non-transient conditions, such as diabeties. You take
> insulin for the rest of your life to replace the function of an
> organ. Or dialysis, you replace the function of your screwed up
> kidneys.
>
> I hope I am making sense. I am not trying to anotagonize.
>

Nah you are right to a certain degree. It is my belief though that
neurotransmitter levels etc are set by repetition of certain thoughts. If
you agree with that premise then alot of mental problems are transient and
more inline with a hamstring tear than headaches, tooth fillings, diabeties
etc.

However you could probably persuade me to agree that its a bit of both. Even
if you agree with it being a bit of both, working on your thought patterns
etc IS half the solution if not more.

John

On Feb 28, 1:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:

> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?

i never had tiredness, cept when i took my first xanax went "whew, i'm
not gonna die and finally slept (it was tha day princess di died, i
recall that) and i've never been cognative anyway, so that part eludes
me. LOL

> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> one hence should be prepared to cope with?

yeah, ya won't have panic attacks anymore.

sux, huh.

xoxoxo

~t

On Feb 28, 2:45�pm, "flat" <doldrums_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think you've raised an important issue - the very reason why staying
> on Klonopin for a long time terrifies me.

why? people stay on much meds for'ah lifetime, why's klonopin or any
other benzo terrify ya? i'd say just don't deal with it, but then
agin, i'm'ah realist.

> If it is true will you hear
> it from the psych is my question (fear of lawsuit, conflict of
> interest).

that's THEIR problem, ain't it. if the meds are that scary, why don't
sumbody shut down tha mfgs. of 'em?

hamburger meat scares me, so i simply don't eat it. whad'ah
concept.

roller coasters scare me to, i don't do 6 Flags. whadda concept.

don't make it wrong for others, tho... eh?

> I think the best gauge of how meds are doing is to key in
> things like "benzos" and "withdrawal" and see what they say on the
> message boards. (i have read of people having side effects like anger
> and anxiety worse than pre-benzo -

then them peeps probly were takin' the meds for the wrong reason.

if i was on insulin and wasn't diabetic, i'm sure i'd get quite pissy,
myself.

as it is, if it weren't for xanax, i'd be kinda DEAD. panic disorder
is nothin' ta fuck with, in my opinion, anymore than high blood
pressure, which, btw, can be a lifetime med regimen.

> the problems seem worse for people
> who have been on the benzos for longer, and they don't notice the
> withdrawal effect until about a week after complete cessation due to
> the long half-life of some of the benzos, like Klonopin.)

perhaps your knowledge of benzos is minimal, i ain't one ta assume.
complete cessation of a medication needed to manage one's life that
can become fatal if cold-turkey'd that can give relief to a horrific
physical illness isn't exactly what i'd deem medically sound, and a
week to notice the "withdrawal" effects? that's what i'd call
'glorious'. in my world, 24 hours would be stretchin' it.

> I told my doc once "that at least informal anecdotal evidence shows
> that people are having trouble coming off them after a while",

trouble coming off? that's mild, and makes me hopeful.. HAHAHAHA.

> but he
> poo poohed by saying not to believe everything you read on the
> internet.

(whadd'ah genius.)

no, just believe MSNBC, CNN, and the the 6:00 news. the Internet has
the same info, btw... and much more, as luck would have it.

>*It is unfortunate that many people regard the internet as a
> place where fake people come up with phantom ideas and nothing is
> real.

it's all fake, yes. the international superhighway that provides much
more "at your fingertips" info than any other arena is just a little
too fast-forward for some to grasp, i think.

> Imo, it is common sense that if you read a lot of "faceless"
> people saying they are having problems with their meds there may be a
> grain of truth to it (at least for some people.)

do psychiatrist that do intricate studies and publish in medical/psych
journals put pictures of these "partakers of studies, or even
themselves?" they're faceless, unless i missed sumthin'. well,
some'ah tha docs probly do, they're all about "look at me."

the DSM IV has no home videos or pictures either.

do ya trust THAT?


> At least, I'm a bit
> concerned when I read about it.

then don't read it.

> Is it true?

no, we make it up as we go, as does everyone. (jezus.)

>I don't know. I do love
> love Klonopin, though.

oh lord.

::bangin' my head aginst tha keyboard::

~tanya

On Feb 28, 9:55�pm, "Aaron" <anod...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 28, 7:45 pm, "John Sheppard" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "flat" <doldrums_f...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> >news:1172695531.814919.92640@a75g2000cwd.googlegr oups.com...
>
> > > On Feb 28, 2:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
> > >> Hi,
>
> > >> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive
> > >> impairment)
> > >> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this
> > >> true?
> > >> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> > >> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, andthat
> > >> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> > >> Thanks
>
> > > I think you've raised an important issue - the very reason why staying
> > > on Klonopin for a long time terrifies me. If it is true will you hear
> > > it from the psych is my question (fear of lawsuit, conflict of
> > > interest). I think the best gauge of how meds are doing is to key in
> > > things like "benzos" and "withdrawal" and see what they say on the
> > > message boards. (i have read of people having side effects like anger
> > > and anxiety worse than pre-benzo - the problems seem worse for people
> > > who have been on the benzos for longer, and they don't notice the
> > > withdrawal effect until about a week after complete cessation due to
> > > the long half-life of some of the benzos, like Klonopin.)
>
> > > I told my doc once "that at least informal anecdotal evidence shows
> > > that people are having trouble coming off them after a while", but he
> > > poo poohed by saying not to believe everything you read on the
> > > internet. *It is unfortunate that many people regard the internet as a
> > > place where fake people come up with phantom ideas and nothing is
> > > real. Imo, it is common sense that if you read a lot of "faceless"
> > > people saying they are having problems with their meds there may be a
> > > grain of truth to it (at least for some people.) At least, I'm a bit
> > > concerned when I read about it. Is it true? I don't know. I do love
> > > love Klonopin, though.
>
> > >> --
> > >> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> > I think, be on benzo's if it helps and damn the consequences as long asyou
> > are working on CBT and other therapies while you are taking the drug route.
> > If not, well perhaps drugs arnt for you because its just a patch.
>
> > Ever seen a dude with a hamstring tear just take meds without any actualy
> > pysio? Its strange that large amounts of people would do the same with brain
> > disfunctions and expect their brains to get better.
>
> I feel like your example was hand picked to make your point. *I'm not
> attacking you, but people take asprin for headaches, topical
> anesthetics for sore throats, antihyspamines for allergies, and
> antiinflamatories for muscle aches and pain. *On the same not, people
> get root canals and fillings when they have cavities, laser surgury to
> remove stage 1 skin cancer, etc....
>
> Some brain things are really a matter of neurotransmitter levels. *You
> can talk about it all day, and you won't have more seratonin.
> However, it must be achknowledged by all parties that the drug which
> causes increased levels is an external mechanism, and will not
> necessarily fix you, but rather put you in a happier place than you
> were.
>
> The hamstring tear is basically a transient condition.
>
> There are also non-transient conditions, such as diabeties. *You take
> insulin for the rest of your life to replace the function of an
> organ. *Or dialysis, you replace the function of your screwed up
> kidneys.
>
> I hope I am making sense. *I am not trying to anotagonize.

and there ya have it.

amen.

~t

On Mar 1, 12:02�am, "John Sheppard" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
> <<snip>>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> I think, be on benzo's if it helps and damn the consequences as long as
> >> you
> >> are working on CBT and other therapies while you are taking the drug
> >> route.
> >> If not, well perhaps drugs arnt for you because its just a patch.
>
> >> Ever seen a dude with a hamstring tear just take meds without any actualy
> >> pysio? Its strange that large amounts of people would do the same with
> >> brain
> >> disfunctions and expect their brains to get better.
>
> > I feel like your example was hand picked to make your point. *I'm not
> > attacking you, but people take asprin for headaches, topical
> > anesthetics for sore throats, antihyspamines for allergies, and
> > antiinflamatories for muscle aches and pain. *On the same not, people
> > get root canals and fillings when they have cavities, laser surgury to
> > remove stage 1 skin cancer, etc....
>
> > Some brain things are really a matter of neurotransmitter levels. *You
> > can talk about it all day, and you won't have more seratonin.
> > However, it must be achknowledged by all parties that the drug which
> > causes increased levels is an external mechanism, and will not
> > necessarily fix you, but rather put you in a happier place than you
> > were.
>
> > The hamstring tear is basically a transient condition.
>
> > There are also non-transient conditions, such as diabeties. *You take
> > insulin for the rest of your life to replace the function of an
> > organ. *Or dialysis, you replace the function of your screwed up
> > kidneys.
>
> > I hope I am making sense. *I am not trying to anotagonize.
>
> Nah you are right to a certain degree. It is my belief though that
> neurotransmitter levels etc are set by repetition of certain thoughts. If
> you agree with that premise then alot of mental problems are transient and
> more inline with a hamstring tear than headaches, tooth fillings, diabeties
> etc.
>
> However you could probably persuade me to agree that its a bit of both. Even
> if you agree with it being a bit of both, working on your thought patterns
> etc IS half the solution if not more.

amen, agin.

On Mar 2, 2:17 am, "~tanya" <Subnbel...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Feb 28, 1:26?pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
>
> > As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> > will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
>
> i never had tiredness, cept when i took my first xanax went "whew, i'm
> not gonna die and finally slept (it was tha day princess di died, i
> recall that) and i've never been cognative anyway, so that part eludes
> me. LOL

Same thing with me. I think it was the shock of not feeling anxiety
that knocked me out. Only the first dose, and since then xanax does
not make me tired.

>
> > And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> > disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> > one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> yeah, ya won't have panic attacks anymore.
>

I'm still have panic attacks, but infreaquently, being on 2mg xanax
every 12hrs. I do not take extra xanax because they stem from
rational fears. When I was afraid of the Easter Bunnny, time for
xanax, but an occasional panic attack from life stress, I'd rather not
chance upping my tolerance to what seems to be a fairly therapeutic
dose.


> sux, huh.
>
> xoxoxo
>
> ~t

On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> Thanks
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
than 3 days without taking them.

On Mar 7, 11:37 pm, "lestat" <lestat432...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:> Hi,
>
> > As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> > will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> > And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> > disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> > one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
> within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
> addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
> than 3 days without taking them.

How much do you take per day? I take 4mg. I'm just wondering I would
end up in the hospital.

thanks,
Aaron

Aaron schreef:
> On Mar 7, 11:37 pm, "lestat" <lestat432...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:> Hi,
>>
>>> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
>>> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
>>> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
>>> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
>>> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>>> Thanks
>>> --
>>> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>> I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
>> within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
>> addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
>> than 3 days without taking them.
>
> How much do you take per day? I take 4mg. I'm just wondering I would
> end up in the hospital.
>
> thanks,
> Aaron
>



Yes, you possibly would if you were foolish enough to *stop* taking
Xanax *cold turkey*. This makes for heavy withdrawal symptoms but the
really dangerous possibility is having *seizures*. If you have been
taking Xanax for some time at regular daily dose you should only try to
stop it by way of a very slow taper which is easy for some and difficult
for others. If you don't have to raise the dose all the time but have
remained at more or less the same dose for a long time you are
*dependent* on Xanax (like an epileptic is dependent on insulin) but not
*addicted* to it - there *is* a difference.

Philip

On Mar 8, 3:59 am, "Aaron" <anod...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 7, 11:37 pm, "lestat" <lestat432...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:> Hi,
>
> > > As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> > > will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> > > And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> > > disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> > > one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> > > Thanks
>
> > > --
> > > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> > I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
> > within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
> > addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
> > than 3 days without taking them.
>
> How much do you take per day? I take 4mg. I'm just wondering I would
> end up in the hospital.
>
> thanks,
> Aaron- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I take 6 mg of xanax a day

On Mar 8, 5:13 pm, Philip Peters <phi...@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:
> Aaron schreef:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Mar 7, 11:37 pm, "lestat" <lestat432...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:> Hi,
>
> >>> As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> >>> will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> >>> And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> >>> disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> >>> one hence should be prepared to cope with?
> >>> Thanks
> >>> --
> >>> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
> >> I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
> >> within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
> >> addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
> >> than 3 days without taking them.
>
> > How much do you take per day? I take 4mg. I'm just wondering I would
> > end up in the hospital.
>
> > thanks,
> > Aaron
>
> Yes, you possibly would if you were foolish enough to *stop* taking
> Xanax *cold turkey*. This makes for heavy withdrawal symptoms but the
> really dangerous possibility is having *seizures*. If you have been
> taking Xanax for some time at regular daily dose you should only try to
> stop it by way of a very slow taper which is easy for some and difficult
> for others. If you don't have to raise the dose all the time but have
> remained at more or less the same dose for a long time you are
> *dependent* on Xanax (like an epileptic is dependent on insulin) but not
> *addicted* to it - there *is* a difference.

Yes, I understand. I was asking, in case I eer got stranded or
something. Oh I know I'm dependent. I also realize there is a
difference from addiction - in my mind you are addicted to something
that has a perceivale effect on you, which xanax does not after such a
long time. It's just like being dependant on insulin, but not
addicted to it (sorry i've used that example before I know).

Yet, I accept the tradeoff of being dependant. I know I have to be
very careful not to get stranded without my meds. But I have finally
realised that even though I may not be embarrased from taking them, it
is good to be discrete. Alot of people feel very uncomfortable, I
assume because of upbringing or public perception. I'm not sure. But
I finaly learned to keep the pill taking to myself.

>
> Philip- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

On Mar 8, 2:37 am, "lestat" <lestat432...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 28, 2:26 pm, "John" <nos...@no.where> wrote:> Hi,
>
> > As I understand it most side effects (e.g. tiredness, cognitive impairment)
> > will disappear when benzodiazepines are taken for a long time. Is this true?
> > And in that case, are there any side effects that usually will *not*
> > disappear even when benzodiazepines have been taken a long time, and that
> > one hence should be prepared to cope with?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> I've been on xanax for 14 years. Any side effects should disappear
> within 3 weeks after starting to take them. But they are highly
> addictive. I end up in the hospital in withdrawal if I go for more
> than 3 days without taking them.


Same here. I took xanax for about 3 years...4 mg daily. About 3
days
after I stopped, I started having grand mal seizures and was put into
intensive care for a week. However, I took Klnp. and Ativan (not at
the
same time-I switch out and sometimes don't take either), and I don't
have the same reaction when I come off of them. I won't take xanax
anymore.