Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

[Guest guest]

Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

by Charles Gant, N.M.D., Ph.D.

 

(This protocol should not be used in place of a recommended

treatment provided by your health care provider and should only be

used with their approval. I have found this protocol to be useful

for many of my patients but I cannot guarantee that it will be

effective for everyone. Normally, I would recommend a full

integrative medicine workup including amino acid plasma levels, RBC

minerals, essential fatty acids and other diagnostic testing to

determine precisely which of the interventions noted here are

actually needed.)

 

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs often used as tranquilizers.

Full information on " benzo " problems is available at

http://www.benzodiazepine.org.

 

Here is my current and ever-changing protocol for benzodiazepine

withdrawal.

 

1) GABA 500 to 2000 mg., two or three times a day (GABA, like

tyrosine, may not cross the BBB unless the patient is very stressed

and it appears that the studies that suggest that GABA does not

cross were done on unstressed subjects.)

 

2) Theanine 200 to 600 mg., two or three time a day (Theanine

competes with glutamate receptors to mitigate the neuroexcitatory

effects. In another elegant balancing mechanism, the brain balances

glutamate (excitatory) which is made into the generally inhibitory

GABA (requires B6) The theanine in green tea may be one reason that

the also present caffeine does not seem to stimulate tea drinkers as

much.)

 

3) P5P (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) 50 mg. - One capsule two or three

times a day (Some people don't phosphorylate B6 well).

 

4) Glutamine powder - One level teaspoonful twice a day to three

heaping teaspoonfuls a day, dissolved in water, one hour before

meals, last dose at bedtime (Especially important for hypoglycemic

patients, as glutamine deficiency is by far the main immediate cause

of hypoglycemia and glutamine is the precursor for glutamate).

 

5) Magnesium taurate - 1000 mg. twice a day to 2000 mg. three time a

day

 

6) Salt food lightly with NuSalt/NoSalt (potassium chloride)

 

7) 5HTP - 100 mg. twice a day to 200 mg. three times a day

 

Purified soy lecithin - 1000 mg. three times a day (B5 (pantethine

(not pantothenic acid) needed to acetylate the choline to

acetylcholine, generally relaxing and downregulating of

catecholamines)

 

9) Pantethine 500 mg. - One twice a day

 

10) Optizinc - 20-30 mg. twice a day. (Lowers the commonly high

copper, which inhibits 5HTP decarboxylase. Activates digestive

enzymes to help with amino acid absorption.)

 

11) Lipoic acid - 300 mg. twice a day (oral chelation for

neuroexcitatory heavy metals, especially mercury)

 

12) Mutivitamin/multimineral

 

13) Distilled fish oil (omega 3) 4000 mg a day and Borage oil (omega

6) 1000 mg. a day (Essential fatty acids ultimately increase the

neuroplasticity of cell membranes, possibly assisting receptor

activity).

 

14) Add herbal " sedatives " if necessary

 

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/benzo.htm

---

 

 

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:49 pm

Post subject: Phytotherapy aids in benzodiazepine withdrawal

 

---

 

Research Reviews

Phytotherapy aids in benzodiazepine withdrawal

 

..Based on previous research and the author's own experience treating

more than 500 patients at a medical detoxification unit in Auckland,

New Zealand, this well-referenced paper discusses the use of herbs

in the management of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.

 

Withdrawal symptoms related to the benzodiazepine class of

anxiolytic drugs (such as Valium®) are generally long-lasting and

most often include anxiety, insomnia and irritability. Dizziness,

headache, tinnitus, tremor, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal

upset, and perceptual disturbances are also common.

 

Many patients present at this clinic with a " polydrug " history of

substance abuse, including combination drug and alcohol addictions.

The therapeutic strategy used at the clinic is intended to help

alleviate acute withdrawal symptoms while providing supportive

treatment for underlying problems such as anxiety, depression and

panic attacks.

 

Most clients receive concomitant treatment with conventional

medications. However, according to the author, " in a significant

number of cases the need for additional ameliorative orthodox

medication (especially diazepam and methadone) is avoided through

the introduction of phytotherapy, often after consultation between

the phytotherapist and medical practitioner. "

 

Although the paper does not provide long-term follow-up data, the

author considers botanicals particularly useful in helping to safely

reduce the anxiety and overall nervous system weakness often

associated with recovery from benzodiazepine abuse.

 

He states that " relatively large doses of appropriate phytomedicines

are often required to produce a significant effect in alleviating

acute withdrawal symptoms in [drug] tolerant individuals. "

 

The author, a phytotherapist and pharmacist, mentions 28 plants that

are effectively used by the clinic for anxiolytic, sedative, muscle

relaxant, antidepressant, and/or adaptogenic effects.

 

Seven are singled out for detailed discussion: valerian (Valeriana

officinalis L. Valerianaceae), kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster,

Piperaceae), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L. Passifloraceae),

manuka (Leptospermum scoparium Forster & Forster f. Myrtaceae), St.

John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L. Clusiaceae), ashwaganda

(Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Solanaceae), and schisandra

(Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon, Schisandraceae).

 

Part of the author's rationale for using these plants is that some

of them contain constituents shown to act as agonists at the central

benzodiazepine receptors in a manner similar to the drugs themselves.

 

Kava, Passiflora incarnata and P. coerulea, ashwaganda, Matricaria

recutita L. Asteraceae, Scutellaria baiacalensis L. Lamiaceae, and

manuka (a native New Zealand plant) are among the plants cited as

having demonstrated benzodiazepine receptor agonist actions.

 

Part II of this article will deal with the use of herbs in

alleviating symptoms of opiate drug withdrawal. -- Evelyn Leigh, HRF

 

http://www.herbs.org/current/phytbenzo.html

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

[Guest guest]

ty so much for writting about the benzos,i grew a tollerence to klonopin it

wasnt working for a long time for about 1yr i was getting all kind of

symptoms,doctors couldnt figure out what was wrong with me,i finally figured

out

myself i should of started tapering from this drug then,i have a doc that

doesnt

know what he is doing,i told him i needed to get off this drug,so he cut my

dose right in half,wrong thing to do,i went into bad with drawal so he puts

me back on and the poison stopped working all together,this drug has taken

away my mind body and soul,i had real bad seizures from it,i am now on dilitain

i was hospitalized i walk with a cane now,it has caused me both physical and

mental symptoms,i sure wish i could make people and doctors believe what the

benzos could do to you,the only support i have is a group benzo at ,i am

very grateful for them,i have been on this poison for 13yrs,no one ever told

me you should only be on it for 4wks or that it was addictive,it could take

me 2yrs to get off this stuff and 1yr or more to feel some what better,i have

a dream and that is to live long enough to have support groups and doctors

that know what can happen to you but wont admit it so no one else has to go

thru this nite mare,ty for

listening......................................................alison

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Although this article may hold some help for sufferers of

benzodiazapine withdrawal, it is not the best site to explain about

these drugs. In fact when I clicked on the link it took me to a web

hosting company.

 

The best site that I know that is avalable is the one by Ray Nimmo at:

 

(Link from our links page)

 

Benzo org

The mother of all benzo truth sites. Find out the real truth about

all benzos like valium, ativan, xanax, librium, klonipin etc. If you

are taking a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill, you probably are being

damaged and don't know it.

http://www.benzo.org.uk

 

Most benzo sufferers are what you would consider " accidental addicts "

as they are not aware of any dependence on benzos until they try to

get off and then all hell breaks loose. Most do not " abuse " this or

other medications. It is the same system that the Medico/Pharmaco

Inc. usually do, they shift their guilt and blame to the victums

injured.

 

These people do not feel " cravings " and for the first 30 years that

they were on the market, Big Pharma and Big Medico sold them to the

unsuspecting public as nonaddictive. (the same thing that they are

now doing to antidepressants which are addictive also). 99%+ of the

people who have had problems with these drugs were taking them on the

advice of their doctors and taking them as prescribed or at a lesser

rate. Almost all were mislead about these drugs. The standard line in

the past was " They are nonaddictive " ( Big Pharma knew that that was

a lie) for 30 years and when it was no longer able to suppress the

truth and it became obvious that they were addictive, it was changed

to nonadddictive unless someone " abuses " them.

 

Although they do not act like addiction as portrayed in our popular

culture, they are about a hundred times more " addictive " than heroin

and there are huge withdrawal symptoms but no cravings. When people

would start to go into what is known as interdose withdrawal and

start to show symptoms the doctors would hide that fact from most and

tell the patients that it was them and a symptom of their " illness "

and that it showed that they " needed " this medication to control

whatever was wrong with them, when in fact it was the drugs.

 

The public at large associates drug addiction with some kind off

fiendish cravings and abuse which is false in the newer ways that Big

Pharma can addict people. It is when they try and get off the

benzodiazapines and antidepressants that they experience terrible

withdrawal symptoms many times the magnitude of opiates or any other

drug. Opiate detox and withdrawal can be done in about 30 days where

benzodiazapine or antidepressant withdrawal can last years or even be

permanent.

 

 

It has been a consistent ploy used Big Pharma for about a hundred

years now. They have created huge armies of poor unsuspecting

addicted " customers " .

 

When it comes to whatever drugs Big Pharma and Big Medico are pushing

at the moment they usually conceal any addictive possibility. They

did it with many different opiates. They did it with cocaine. (they

were " nonaddictive also when they were on " patent " ) Then they

progressed to laboratory drugs that are unknown in nature. They would

get people " hooked " on some patented drug and milk it till the patent

or profitability ran out. Then label the drug and the people taking

it " bad " and switch everyone to their new patented more profitable

(good) drugs.

 

When the drugs are no longer profitable to them and they want to

replace old drugs and sell the newer patented more profitable drugs,

then they " let the cat out of the bag " and " discover " all of a sudden

that these drugs are " addictive " (bad) and that those people who take

them are " abusers " (bad) and the people who are " good " are the ones

taking the newer more profitable drugs.

 

They still didn't want to use the word addiction with these and other

newer types of psychotropic drugs so they coined new terms like " drug

dependence " and " discontinuation syndrom " instead of addiction.

 

In the 1920's and 1930's there were huge amounts of people addicted

by doctors and Big Pharma to opiates and cocaine derived drugs.

Almost all of each opiate drug that came out was " sold " to the public

as being nonaddictive (unlike the previous ones) at the time of

introduction.

 

From the 1950's till now they brought in newer psychotropic drugs

which in most cases would eventually disable the person to the point

of being a steady customer for Big Pharma and Big Medicine for life.

 

They are 10,000 times worse as a plague on society than any " illegal

drug cartel " (who they see as a competitor) could ever be.

 

Frank

 

 

 

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

> by Charles Gant, N.M.D., Ph.D.

>

> (This protocol should not be used in place of a recommended

> treatment provided by your health care provider and should only be

> used with their approval. I have found this protocol to be useful

> for many of my patients but I cannot guarantee that it will be

> effective for everyone. Normally, I would recommend a full

> integrative medicine workup including amino acid plasma levels, RBC

> minerals, essential fatty acids and other diagnostic testing to

> determine precisely which of the interventions noted here are

> actually needed.)

>

> Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs often used as tranquilizers.

> Full information on " benzo " problems is available at

> http://www.benzodiazepine.org.

>

> Here is my current and ever-changing protocol for benzodiazepine

> withdrawal.

>

> 1) GABA 500 to 2000 mg., two or three times a day (GABA, like

> tyrosine, may not cross the BBB unless the patient is very stressed

> and it appears that the studies that suggest that GABA does not

> cross were done on unstressed subjects.)

>

> 2) Theanine 200 to 600 mg., two or three time a day (Theanine

> competes with glutamate receptors to mitigate the neuroexcitatory

> effects. In another elegant balancing mechanism, the brain balances

> glutamate (excitatory) which is made into the generally inhibitory

> GABA (requires B6) The theanine in green tea may be one reason that

> the also present caffeine does not seem to stimulate tea drinkers

as

> much.)

>

> 3) P5P (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) 50 mg. - One capsule two or three

> times a day (Some people don't phosphorylate B6 well).

>

> 4) Glutamine powder - One level teaspoonful twice a day to three

> heaping teaspoonfuls a day, dissolved in water, one hour before

> meals, last dose at bedtime (Especially important for hypoglycemic

> patients, as glutamine deficiency is by far the main immediate

cause

> of hypoglycemia and glutamine is the precursor for glutamate).

>

> 5) Magnesium taurate - 1000 mg. twice a day to 2000 mg. three time

a

> day

>

> 6) Salt food lightly with NuSalt/NoSalt (potassium chloride)

>

> 7) 5HTP - 100 mg. twice a day to 200 mg. three times a day

>

> Purified soy lecithin - 1000 mg. three times a day (B5 (pantethine

> (not pantothenic acid) needed to acetylate the choline to

> acetylcholine, generally relaxing and downregulating of

> catecholamines)

>

> 9) Pantethine 500 mg. - One twice a day

>

> 10) Optizinc - 20-30 mg. twice a day. (Lowers the commonly high

> copper, which inhibits 5HTP decarboxylase. Activates digestive

> enzymes to help with amino acid absorption.)

>

> 11) Lipoic acid - 300 mg. twice a day (oral chelation for

> neuroexcitatory heavy metals, especially mercury)

>

> 12) Mutivitamin/multimineral

>

> 13) Distilled fish oil (omega 3) 4000 mg a day and Borage oil

(omega

> 6) 1000 mg. a day (Essential fatty acids ultimately increase the

> neuroplasticity of cell membranes, possibly assisting receptor

> activity).

>

> 14) Add herbal " sedatives " if necessary

>

> http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/benzo.htm

> --

-

>

>

> Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 6:49 pm

> Post subject: Phytotherapy aids in benzodiazepine withdrawal

>

> --

-

>

> Research Reviews

> Phytotherapy aids in benzodiazepine withdrawal

>

> .Based on previous research and the author's own experience

treating

> more than 500 patients at a medical detoxification unit in

Auckland,

> New Zealand, this well-referenced paper discusses the use of herbs

> in the management of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.

>

> Withdrawal symptoms related to the benzodiazepine class of

> anxiolytic drugs (such as Valium®) are generally long-lasting and

> most often include anxiety, insomnia and irritability. Dizziness,

> headache, tinnitus, tremor, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal

> upset, and perceptual disturbances are also common.

>

> Many patients present at this clinic with a " polydrug " history of

> substance abuse, including combination drug and alcohol addictions.

> The therapeutic strategy used at the clinic is intended to help

> alleviate acute withdrawal symptoms while providing supportive

> treatment for underlying problems such as anxiety, depression and

> panic attacks.

>

> Most clients receive concomitant treatment with conventional

> medications. However, according to the author, " in a significant

> number of cases the need for additional ameliorative orthodox

> medication (especially diazepam and methadone) is avoided through

> the introduction of phytotherapy, often after consultation between

> the phytotherapist and medical practitioner. "

>

> Although the paper does not provide long-term follow-up data, the

> author considers botanicals particularly useful in helping to

safely

> reduce the anxiety and overall nervous system weakness often

> associated with recovery from benzodiazepine abuse.

>

> He states that " relatively large doses of appropriate

phytomedicines

> are often required to produce a significant effect in alleviating

> acute withdrawal symptoms in [drug] tolerant individuals. "

>

> The author, a phytotherapist and pharmacist, mentions 28 plants

that

> are effectively used by the clinic for anxiolytic, sedative, muscle

> relaxant, antidepressant, and/or adaptogenic effects.

>

> Seven are singled out for detailed discussion: valerian (Valeriana

> officinalis L. Valerianaceae), kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster,

> Piperaceae), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.

Passifloraceae),

> manuka (Leptospermum scoparium Forster & Forster f. Myrtaceae), St.

> John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L. Clusiaceae), ashwaganda

> (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Solanaceae), and schisandra

> (Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon, Schisandraceae).

>

> Part of the author's rationale for using these plants is that some

> of them contain constituents shown to act as agonists at the

central

> benzodiazepine receptors in a manner similar to the drugs

themselves.

>

> Kava, Passiflora incarnata and P. coerulea, ashwaganda, Matricaria

> recutita L. Asteraceae, Scutellaria baiacalensis L. Lamiaceae, and

> manuka (a native New Zealand plant) are among the plants cited as

> having demonstrated benzodiazepine receptor agonist actions.

>

> Part II of this article will deal with the use of herbs in

> alleviating symptoms of opiate drug withdrawal. -- Evelyn Leigh,

HRF

>

> http://www.herbs.org/current/phytbenzo.html

> _________________

>

> JoAnn Guest

> mrsjoguest@s...

> DietaryTipsForHBP

> http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

[Guest guest]

, " califpacific "

<califpacific> wrote:

> Although this article may hold some help for sufferers of

> benzodiazapine withdrawal, it is not the best site to explain

about these drugs. In fact when I clicked on the link it took me to

a web hosting company. The best site that I know that is avalable is

the one by Ray Nimmo at:

> (Link from our links page)

 

> Benzo org

> The mother of all benzo truth sites. Find out the real truth about

> all benzos like valium, ativan, xanax, librium, klonipin etc. If

you

> are taking a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill, you probably are

being damaged and don't know it.

> http://www.benzo.org.uk

>

> Most benzo sufferers are what you would consider " accidental

addicts "

> as they are not aware of any dependence on benzos....

> Frank

>

 

Frank,

Please take note... this is an alternativementalhealth website

article which was posted on our alternative-medicine-message-

boards.info

The true link for this particular article is listed at the bottom.

> > http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/benzo.htm

and if you'll read on a bit further the site you mentioned was

listed as well.

 

Cheers, JoAnn

 

>

>

> , " JoAnn Guest "

> <angelprincessjo> wrote:

> > Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

> > by Charles Gant, N.M.D., Ph.D.

> >

> > (This protocol should not be used in place of a recommended

> > treatment provided by your health care provider and should only

[Guest guest]

Wow, Alison. What a mess! So sorry to hear what you're going through.

It is unfortunate that you're not an isolated case. Over-medication,

under-medication, wrong medication, unncecessary medication is the

rule with psychiatrists, not the exception.

 

I hope you continue to improve, and I'm thankful you've found a

support group to talk with and to help you!

 

Elliot

 

 

, angelalbabe@a...

wrote:

> ty so much for writting about the benzos,i grew a tollerence to

klonopin it

> wasnt working for a long time for about 1yr i was getting all kind

of

> symptoms,doctors couldnt figure out what was wrong with me,i

finally figured out

> myself i should of started tapering from this drug then,i have a

doc that doesnt

> know what he is doing,i told him i needed to get off this drug,so

he cut my

> dose right in half,wrong thing to do,i went into bad with drawal

so he puts

> me back on and the poison stopped working all together,this drug

has taken

> away my mind body and soul,i had real bad seizures from it,i am

now on dilitain

> i was hospitalized i walk with a cane now,it has caused me both

physical and

> mental symptoms,i sure wish i could make people and doctors

believe what the

> benzos could do to you,the only support i have is a group benzo at

,i am

> very grateful for them,i have been on this poison for 13yrs,no one

ever told

> me you should only be on it for 4wks or that it was addictive,it

could take

> me 2yrs to get off this stuff and 1yr or more to feel some what

better,i have

> a dream and that is to live long enough to have support groups and

doctors

> that know what can happen to you but wont admit it so no one else

has to go

> thru this nite mare,ty for

>

listening......................................................alison

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi JoAnn,

 

I didn't mean to imply that the information didn't have value, it

does ( I think that I posted that article to the message boards in

the first place), but what I was trying to get across and what I

consider the absolutely most important information of all about

benzos. That they are highly addictive and coming off them has to be

done very slowly as it is very dangerous otherwise. I think that the

education process about what these drugs are, how they can damage one

and how to get off safely is the most valuable information of all and

anything else has to be taken with that fact in mind first. ( they must be

tapered in small increments over a relatively long period of time. Information

available at benzo.org.uk)

 

I didn't want anyone to get the idea that they could just substitute

a natural substance for this chemical one and everything would be

alright. It can't be done and I didn't want anyone to read it and

come away with that idea.

 

Also, That these people have usually become addicted through no real fault of

their own other than listening to their doctors and now have almost nowhere to

turn as they are usually shunned by allopathic medicine and need this type of

information many times just to survive the ordeal. Many do not survive or are

badly damaged.

 

regards,

 

Frank

 

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> , " califpacific "

> <califpacific> wrote:

> > Although this article may hold some help for sufferers of

> > benzodiazapine withdrawal, it is not the best site to explain

> about these drugs. In fact when I clicked on the link it took me

to

> a web hosting company. The best site that I know that is avalable

is

> the one by Ray Nimmo at:

> > (Link from our links page)

>

> > Benzo org

> > The mother of all benzo truth sites. Find out the real truth

about

> > all benzos like valium, ativan, xanax, librium, klonipin etc. If

> you

> > are taking a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill, you probably are

> being damaged and don't know it.

> > http://www.benzo.org.uk

> >

> > Most benzo sufferers are what you would consider " accidental

> addicts "

> > as they are not aware of any dependence on benzos....

> > Frank

> >

>

> Frank,

> Please take note... this is an alternativementalhealth website

> article which was posted on our alternative-medicine-message-

> boards.info

> The true link for this particular article is listed at the bottom.

> > > http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/benzo.htm

> and if you'll read on a bit further the site you mentioned was

> listed as well.

>

> Cheers, JoAnn

>

> >

> >

> > , " JoAnn Guest "

> > <angelprincessjo> wrote:

> > > Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

> > > by Charles Gant, N.M.D., Ph.D.

> > >

> > > (This protocol should not be used in place of a recommended

> > > treatment provided by your health care provider and should only

[Guest guest]

Dear Alison,

I am so sorry to hear of the suffering you are going through due to

benzodiazepines. Some doctors hand them out like candy and are completely

unaware of the harm they are doing to their patients and refuse to believe

their patients when they talk about the horrors of their withdrawal

symptoms.

 

There is a benzodiazepine support group that is wonderful. A relative

of mine went through withdrawal three years ago and found the group very

helpful.

 

I wish you the best in your recovery.

 

Regards,

 

Anna-Jean