Anxiety Deep Dive: The Unexpected World of Benzodiazepines

[@lindsaygraham9115]

I wish they would’ve given me that warning when they prescribed me 3mg Xanax daily, 13 years ago. Tapering this med and going through benzo withdrawal is inhumane suffering!

[@michaelthau1007]

Thank you Dr for your wonderful presentation. I was placed on klonopin for panic disorder and health anxiety. 0.75mg for 18 months and 1mg for 6months. Did a 6 month taper and been off for 19 months. Since coming off it has left me with chronic insomnia, brain fog, and overall not myself. I wish my Dr would of told me about side effects and potential of long term effects. I truly don't believe i will ever be myself again at age 54. Thank you

[@kalliaslands9938]

That was an interesting case at the end. Leaves me wondering what could be done though for stress intolerance/dysregulation after the standard treatments have failed. I guess DBT but that can be hard to find and requires a lot of commitment. Mood stabilizers maybe?

[@smooth_pursuit]

Somatic methods. Yoga, breathing retraining, trauma work… you have to address the nervous system. Learning to calm the breath alone can prevent panic attacks. We need to teach people real physiological self-regulation skills

[@benzapp1]

Carbamazepine and Quetiapine are the only things I've found that have some clinical evidence. Lamotrigine too, though I don't remember reading about that.

[@smooth_pursuit]

I’m shocked at the numbers. KZbin is full of people describing how benzos (taken as prescribed) have destroyed their lives

[@aquious953]

I found getting involved with a psychiatrist was an error on my part.

[@DanielSRosehill]

Loved the quick takedown of GABA sups! I mean, if it worked, as you say, there'd also presumably be a withdrawal epidemic due to people self medicating with it. I'm not from the US but visit somewhat regularly and every time I step into a CVS I'm baffled to see more OTC "relaxation" supps with GABA as the supposed active. Crazy!

[@Complexanxiety]

Can you please do a video on why anxiety makes you vomit? And any medication or tips to stop it?

[@braddishv3146]

^^^ This... I suffered from this for years. I hope you get help - I don't want to presume how to help in your situation, but there are medications and therapy (if it is situation specific) that can be a life saver; it was for me. I hope he sees this.

[@DanielSRosehill]

Amazing overview. Thank you, sir!

[@DanielSRosehill]

Nice diagram with the different affinities for GABA sub receptors. Couldn't help but notice BZDs and zolpidem were at the same site. Makes me wonder how different they really are!

[@Mach15-20]

Hi doctor. Does escitalopram 5mg have therapeutic effect? I’m finding 10mg to be to much for me.

[@shawnaford5540]

Definitely like the end point of actually finding out what is going on and customizing the treatment. I use Klonapin a few times a year for anxiety. If I have poor sleep a few days in a row I take .25 at bedtime. Or if during the day I end up shaky tired, it will give me energy. To just push through when the other techniques are not working can intensify my depression. Early in my depression I was on 1mg twice a day and eventually I decided try the less is more.

[@stormzamboni6157]

sometimes when you get patients with benzos long term, its very tricky to taper down and case by case whether they do better based on individual factors... although some data would say they should do better

[@safy2363]

Intelligent presentation thanks

[@AG-ey6ds]

Very informative. Thank you. Any suggestions on nutrional support? I keep thinking there was a video in the past but cant find it. Please repost for me? Wondering if 5-HTP OTC be helpful for anxiety? I just recently tried an off label medication for anxiety. I felt the results were not equal to the cost, (after insurance approval, after documented failure of an SSRI.)

[@debbiemilam2204]

Thanks Doc.

[@dereks1848]

I've been on clonazepam & benzos in general for about 20 years. Now currently on 3mg per day of clonazepam. Tolerance plays a huge issue with these meds and you will eventually get used to your dose. I really wish i never started them due to addiction issues etc. I will say my antidepressant is more effective than these benzos over time. Benzos should really only be used as a prn for a couple weeks.

[@Marc001]

Along with treating panic disorder, Klonopin is also an excellent soporific. I've coped with awful insomnia for many years, yet a 2mg dose of klonopin almost always puts me to sleep and helps me feel refreshed the following morning.

[@michaelthau1007]

Glad it works for you. Have you ever tried anything else for chronic insomnia? Coming off that medication the insomnia is brutal Many blessings

[@Marc001]

@@michaelthau1007 I've tried supplements like L-Theanine (which calms the mind but doesn't act as a soporific) and low dose Seroquel (what an awful medication, incidentally). There're just some people like myself who require benzos and hypnotics to sleep at night. The best solution for us I think is to rotate these medications so as not to develop a tolerance to any one of them.

[@naphisa340]

Its not meant for long term use.

[@sabrinacarter8362]

Is it also possible that if taking Xanax three times a day the client is in an endless state of withdrawal every 4-6 hours? Thus believing their anxiety is spiking when it's really the symptoms of withdrawal. As providers, we leave the discussion of withdrawal out of the equation when it comes to Benzos being dosed multiple times a day. Thank you. I always learn a lot by watching your videos.

[@Dave-if5qj]

Wish that there was an antianxiety medication As effective as benzos With out the addiction and tolerance issues Buspur hydroxyzine And drugs used off label For anxiety are not effective For me

[@janisjansons5707]

What hapened to Silexan ???

[@AcmePhoto]

Does Picamilon (nicotinoyl-gaba) cross the BBB?

[@timothyayers8596]

So Doc, how many weeks were the SSRIs studied for ?? Yeah they weren’t studied past several weeks either. Do you really want to go there with that argument ? Let’s look at all the psych drugs then …

[@gts447]

Thanks doc, I was on clonazepam and diazepam fir 10 years, mirtazapine plus ssri has allowed me to sleep without benzodiazepines. Anyway thoughts on taking magnesium citrate or glycinate daily for brain and mood health?

[@travisn346]

Magnesium has never alleviated my anxiety. I've taken glycinate for years.

[@gts447]

@@travisn346 I’m inclined to agree, but then I don’t notice the effects of any supplements really

[@travisn346]

@@gts447 the usual lifestyle changes (rest, exercise, diet) really don't address anxiety either because they don't reach the subconscious mind which is creating the risk assessments.

[@veronicaladd5821]

What does it care What you are are on . If it suits you why not carry on. Wh

[@Kingboo1081]

handsome psychiatrist - thank you!!!!