Benzodiazepines and Neurological Illnesses

healingme4me · Sep 08, 2013 at 11:44 AM

Ok so after seeing this contradiction list from Stanford, I googled why MS patients shouldn't take benzos. I may need to edit to add, to this OP. But so far, due to memory loss.

Psychiatric Medications - The Medications - What Meds? - Stanford University School of Medicine

I do have MS, but am not suffering any memory issues. And I am prescribed an as needed Benzo. It does help my anxiety state.

benzodiazepines | Neurology Update

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, because "These medications suppress the formation of endo-BZ in the brain, resulting in severe chronic fatigue, withdrawal anxiety and depression, and inactivity"
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

It would appear, case by case, basis. imo.

healingme4me · 12:33 PM

I found this aspect, most interesting about AD's and MS.

"Analgesic antidepressants are treatment of choice in practically every MS patient with pain. The antidepressants are not given because the patient is depressed, or has any kind of psychiatric disease. It is given because it prevents the pain. It also usually provides good sleep. Some antidepressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac don’t have any significant analgesic value. In addition, they can aggravate the chronic fatigue syndrome and in 1 out of 5 patient they can suppress sex desire which would complicate the marital relationship. The treatment of choice is with antidepressants such as Trazodone, Desipramine, or Doxepin. These three antidepressants are quite effective without serious side effects. The use of Amitriptyline (Elavil) should be avoided because it has a tendency to cause obesity (up to 8kg in the first year, and then up to 6kg the years after). Also, it aggravates the CFS, and can cause low blood pressure."
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Don't have value: Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac, but look...http://www.nationalmssociety.org/abo...ons/index.aspx Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac, make the list. That's a contradiction!

Hello, National MS Society...ADD my Xanax to the List!!

kirby777 · Sep 08, 2013 at 11:56 AM

Hi-

When the neurologists thought I had MS, the drugs they prescribed for my ataxia were: Baclofen (did not work), Zanaflex did not work), and clonazepam (it worked). I was seeing MS researchers at the time. I was negative for plaque.

I do not have MS, but do have a movement disorder, and I have been on clonazepam for years. I do not suffer from memory loss.

I was depressed prior to any of the neuro issues and went on Zoloft. In fact, I thought I had seratonin syndrome, when no one could diagnose me.

healingme4me · Sep 08, 2013 at 12:04 PM

Brain Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptors in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

If not study results were posted, what does it mean? Were they unable to answer the question they sought?

healingme4me · Sep 08, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirby777

Hi-

When the neurologists thought I had MS, the drugs they prescribed for my ataxia were: Baclofen (did not work), Zanaflex did not work), and clonazepam (it worked). I was seeing MS researchers at the time. I was negative for plaque.

I do not have MS, but do have a movement disorder, and I have been on clonazepam for years. I do not suffer from memory loss.

I was depressed prior to any of the neuro issues and went on Zoloft. In fact, I thought I had seratonin syndrome, when no one could diagnose me.

I did read that clonazepam can work, as one of the 'ok'd' benzos. I take Xanax, and really am not finding any troubles.

As far as my MS treatments, Copaxone left me with red welts at every injection site and I ended up with a flare up with Avonex, one of the interfurons. My body ended up with elevated levels of something that's not supposed to be elevated. I forget the exact term, that was late 2011, early 2012. My last options for DMD's for MS are Tysabri and the new oral med, that just came to the market. Both of which, the side effects seem worse than the illness, itself.

I was just curious, about Xanax today, and when I saw the contradiction, I'm most curious about the why's and where's.

Hope you are feeling better, or at least at a manageable level, as us neuro patients say, because neuro illnesses are really no fun to deal with, no matter, but each day is an opportunity to cross fingers for a better day than the one before.

healingme4me · 12:30 PM

Medications Used in MS : National MS Society

Wonder why there aren't meds, listed here, for anxiety?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines

Klonopin and Valium, that's it?! what?!

Lilwren · Sep 19, 2019 at 05:08 PM

I was on Xanax for fifteen years. After fifteen years I had zero control over my bowels. I had Parkinson's symptoms. I couldn't even write anymore. Could barely talk.

It took me a year to wean off them using the Ashton method. Once I got them out of my system all the above symptoms went away.

Doctors think benzos are harmless, but they cause serious brain problems.

I lost fifteen years of my life to them.

Mountaindewed · Sep 21, 2019 at 06:45 PM

I’m having a ton of symptoms that sound a lot like MS but my therapist thinks it’s just BS and I’ve also been on Xanax for a year. These symptoms have been horrible lately but they think I have narcolepsy instead and are ignoring all the other symptoms. How do I get taken seriously? Today was downright horrific.

possum220 · Sep 27, 2019 at 07:40 AM

I dont have MS but I have been on clonazepam/klonolpin for more than a decade. Lately my memory has not been good. Have to wonder if the length of time on benzos is a factor that needs considering.

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healingme4me Perpetually Pondering Community Liaison Member Since Apr 2013 Location: New England Posts: 46,298 (SuperPoster!) 11 4,168 hugs given	Sep 08, 2013 at 12:04 PM #4 Brain Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptors in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov If not study results were posted, what does it mean? Were they unable to answer the question they sought?
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healingme4me Perpetually Pondering Community Liaison Member Since Apr 2013 Location: New England Posts: 46,298 (SuperPoster!) 11 4,168 hugs given	Sep 08, 2013 at 12:15 PM #6 Medications Used in MS : National MS Society Wonder why there aren't meds, listed here, for anxiety? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines Klonopin and Valium, that's it?! what?! Last edited by healingme4me; Sep 08, 2013 at 12:30 PM.. Reason: added list of benzos, compare, contrast MS list to Benzo list
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,196 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,764 hugs given	Sep 21, 2019 at 06:45 PM #8 I’m having a ton of symptoms that sound a lot like MS but my therapist thinks it’s just BS and I’ve also been on Xanax for a year. These symptoms have been horrible lately but they think I have narcolepsy instead and are ignoring all the other symptoms. How do I get taken seriously? Today was downright horrific. __________________ Ridin' with Biden
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possum220 Legendary Member Since Jan 2009 Location: Uppa Gumtree West Posts: 19,397 (SuperPoster!) 15 7,983 hugs given	Sep 27, 2019 at 07:40 AM #9 I dont have MS but I have been on clonazepam/klonolpin for more than a decade. Lately my memory has not been good. Have to wonder if the length of time on benzos is a factor that needs considering.
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