Benzodiazepines: Make Your Decision An Informed One

Benzodiazepines, which is a class of medications usually prescribed for anxiety, and were used originally for seizure control in the form of Valium; are a huge life choice to consider when faced with the decision to begin taking these medications.

Valium is the 'granddaddy' of all Benzos.  This was the first Benzodiazepine, and all succeeding medicines in this class are simply altered in their molecular structure, with.  Note that the word 'Benzodiazepine' and the generic name for Valium, (Diazepam), are similar.  Thus, we call this class of medications Benzodiazepines.

Enough history.  The most important decision to consider when your doctor suggests these class of meds, is this:  Do you want to be starting a drug that is extremely addictive?  A drug that will be on your mind at all times in the form of knowing that you have enough?  One that can not be stopped abruptly without horrible withdrawals?  It is very important that your physician discusses this medicine class in depth with you before beginning therapy.

Yes, I used the word 'addictive'.  Being a pain med advocate, (of course when used correctly), feel differently regarding the use of anti-anxiety meds.  ***I do not want to mix the words 'Addictive' and 'Dependent' here; I am speaking of the possibility of addictive behavior in relation to taking Benzodiazepines.  Pain meds are important to those that live with pain, they give those in acute pain the ability to rest and begin healing, and those who have chronic pain are able to have a life again when compliant in their use of pain medications.  Benzos, on the other hand, are an entirely different animal. 

As with all medicines, we must be aware of the side effects, the exact use and dosage, and the correct way to slowly taper off when their use is no longer needed or desired.

Starting Benzos is a huge life decision.  Let's examine the most common use of these drugs: treating anxiety.  There is no easy way to deal with anxiety in this day and age.  Anxiety is common, a natural reaction in the mind and body, so why do some people 'need' to be on these meds, while others learn to deal with stress and anxiety in many other ways aside from taking medication?

Severe anxiety is scary.  Have you ever had an anxiety attack?  It feels as if you are going to die.  Of course, you are not GOING to die, it simply feels like you are.  What if you do not suffer from anxiety attacks, and simply feel very scared, with a racing heart rate, a feeling of dread and fear?  This is when most patients are prescribed anti-anxiety meds.  Are these drugs over-prescribed?  I think they are.

It is a life choice to begin treatment with Benzodiazepines.  When these medications are stopped, whether abruptly or tapered slowly under the observation of a professional; there are some extreme side effects to deal with.  You should NEVER stop these meds abruptly.  Seizure activity chances rise, occurrences of feeling severe anxiety increases, and basically, you feel like you can not go on living without these medications.

Stopping Benzos has been compared to the stopping of Heroin.  Stopping most major pain medications, in the Opioid class, is easier than stopping Benzodiazepines.  Stopping Benzo use, even when tapered down slowly, leaves one feeling antsy and odd; nervous, with classic side effects of withdrawal.  Putting the feelings and sensations of stopping these medicines into words is quite tough.   

I have used these medications during extreme anxiety.  Situational anxiety is when you feel stressed out due to a certain situation in your life.  A big change; like a loss of job, a loss through death, and many other things that happen to everyone in life, can be dealt with head on.  When you have severe anxiety that is unrelated to anything in particular, this is when most people are prescribed Benzos.

Question is:  Do you want to rely on a drug, a pill that you must take every day, usually 2,3,4 times in a day to deal with life?  I suggest that before beginning the road on Anti-anxiety medications, that you seek out an alternative route to calming anxiety.  Since I have been on both sides of the fence on this subject, I can see it from the point of view of a patient that takes Benzos and says that they can not get through life without them, and pop a pill each time that anxiety is felt.  On the other hand, I understand how one can go on, living life without the use of any anti-anxiety medications.

The outer stressors are still present.  The situations dealt with previously are still here.  Yet, changing the ways that we deal with those stressors can enable us to live life WITHOUT the need for anti-anxiety medications.

Exercise, and getting strong in body can certainly play a huge part in the need for Benzodiazepines.  Exercise and the increase release of Endorphins produce a generalized sensation of happiness and calmness.  Not to mention the benefit of exercise on the body itself.  There is a lot more to cover on the subject of exercise as it relates to chronic pain.

You CAN stop the use of Benzos in your everyday life  It is possible.  I am the perfect example.  Dealing with pain every day of my life is a huge stressor on both my mind and body.  I have made the choice to stop the use of medications that are not directly used for my pain control.  The additive effects of taking Benzodiazepines along with daily pain medications is cause for concern  in my book.

Recently, there has been another negative side effect of Klonopin, for example, that has been shown to increase the suicidal tendencies, thoughts and actual attempts greatly; in a majority of patients.  Klonopin, (generic name Clonazepam), has just had a study released by Roche, the company that makes Klonopin, and this study has been released to all prescribers.  I suggest that the prescribers pass this very important info on to their patients more often, and on every visit.  From many years of experience with Benzos, a majority of prescribers do NOT inform thier patients about this very scary, and very real side effect of Klonopin.

I am certainly NOT saying here, that there are not excellent outcomes in patients that are prescribed Klonopin, or any benzodiazepine!!   


More to come on this subject!            

 
Gentle Hugs...