Posted by laima on February 6, 2007, at 23:40:48
In reply to Re: holy mackeral laima! » laima, posted by Larry Hoover on February 6, 2007, at 12:30:32
Hmm, well maybe there is something to this- makes sense- one developes a tolerance to a supposedly very strong substance, it becomes never enough...body overcomes it? My Dr. did mention something about how generally speaking, a typical withdrawal after tolerance can bring on an exaggerated version of what the drug was originally supposed to correct- ie, benzos: excuciating anxiety, stimulants, lethargy and appetite...sleeping pills: sleepless nights. I know I'm repeating an overly simplified version of a dumbed-down technical explanation, but the part about benzos and stims has rung true to my own experiences. And pot, when I used it, used to give me severe, desolate feeling depression-hangovers a day or two after smoking. I shudder to think about possible consequences of my antidepressant use.In any case, I really do feel amazingly less anxiety sans benzo- I'm genuinely stunned. For the first time in several years- no panic attacks, no daily vomitting before going to work, no hyperventilation, no emergency room visits- since no benzos. It's been about 3 months. And I sleep much better. They were a godsend at first. And I do still miss the glorious relief of sinking into the totally anxiety-free zone which I used to experience at one time. Now, definately not anxiety-free, but nothing like what I just described.
Did I read somewhere that long-term benzo use does something to shut or slow down certain receptors in the brain? And so when benzo suddenly goes away, these receptors go nuts, overwhelmed by all stimuli?
Oh yea- as in my own case, easy to blame the victim indeed- as desperate victim ups dosages that doctor won't raise, in vain attempt to ease excruciating and escalating symptoms, just as an effort to still be able to function or get by, or to simply not crack-up.
Very sorry to hear of your experience, Larry. I'm glad you pulled through. It could not have been easy.
> > I've been off for about 3 months, but while on it, I had eventualy developed a real tolerance to it, for I used it a number of years- doctor agreed I likely had built up quite a tolerance. I was also, by the end of my using it, a much more anxious and jittery person, prone to shortness of breath, stomache aches, panic attacks, etc- than I ever was before I started the benzos, or since coming off. I speculate- could I have been going through daily withdrawals? Dr. wrinkled up his face with skepticism when I suggested the possibility, but I think Heather Ashton mentions somewhere on her site that it's a possibility.
>
> I just went through the same thing with oxycodone. I thought I was losing my mind, experiencing loss of pain control at the same time as having withdrawal symptoms, while on a stable dose of continual release medication. I found some references to this phenomenon in published literature, with the syndrome being called Downhill Spiral Syndrome. Being stuck between pain and withdrawal, with the only resort being full withdrawal of an opiate, was horrendous.
>
> I hypothesize massive upregulation of receptors, the body's efforts to regain control over some important aspect of our physiology. Something that can only come from long-term use, I'd imagine. I can only wonder at what unknown variable triggers this response, as it appears to be fairly rare? Or simply poorly documented? It's bloody easy to blame the victim for this experience, methinks.
>
> Lar
poster:laima
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