Quote:
Originally Posted by
Conelrad
I was a little concerned in reading some of the info in regards to Xanax and how addictive it can be come.
Dependence can begin after 3-4 weeks if BZDs are taken *regularly, just as you have a dependency to fluoxetine. Dependence isn't addiction. What's the difference, well, not many taking BZDs would behave as the subjects in this study about a common pain killer did: Hirschowitz BI, 1998 Abstract | Full text
* 'regularly' doesn't necessarily mean daily. Because alprazolam has a short half-life you would need to take it daily for a while for dependence to develop, however, with longer half-life BZDs even taking them only 2-3 times a week may be enough to trigger it as these meds remain in the system for over a week.
BTW-you are already dependent on BZDs. Natural BZDs1 which include diazepam (Valium) and its metabolites and lorazepam (Ativan) are found naturally in almost all foods. Sprouted grains and seeds, especially wheat, and potato are particularly rich in them. While the quantities are small, levels can reach pharmaceutical levels in patients with some liver diseases2.These may become so high that medical intervention3 is necessary. We are so adapted to these natural BZDs that we could not survive without them.
To limit dependency onset try and have regular wash out periods. It takes up to 55 hours for alprazolam to be completely metabolized and eliminated, so, if possible, some occasional 3-4 day breaks between doses would help. If you do need to take it daily for more than a couple of weeks consider asking your doctor for hydroxyzine and swap between it and alprazolam from time to time.
References:
[1]
Muceniece R, Saleniece K, Krigere L, et al. (2008) Potato (Solanum tuberosum) juice exerts an anticonvulsant effect in mice through binding to GABA receptors. Planta Med. 2008 Apr;74(5):491-6. (Abstract)
Kavvadias D, Abou-Mandour AA, Czygan FC, et al (2000) Identification of benzodiazepines in Artemisia dracunculus and Solanum tuberosum rationalizing their endogenous formation in plant tissue. Biochem Biophys Res Commun Mar 5;269(1):290-5 (Abstract)
Sand P, Kavvadias D, Feineis D, et al. (2000) "Naturally occurring benzodiazepines: current status of research and clinical implications." Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci vol 250(4):p 194-202 (Abstract)
Kotz U, (1991)
Occurrence of "natural" benzodiazepines.
Life Sci;48(3):209-15 (Abstract)
Unseld E, Krishna Dr Fischer C, et al (1989) Detection of desmethyldiazepam and diazepam in brain of different species and plants. Biochem Pharmacol Aug 1;38(15):2473-8 (Abstract)
Wildman J, Ranalder U. (1988)
Presence of lorazepam in the blood plasma of drug free rats.
Life Sci. 43(15):1257-60. (Abstract)
Wildmann J. (1988)
Increase of natural benzodiazepines in wheat and potato during germination.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Dec 30;157(3):1436-43. (Abstract)
Wildmann J, Vetter W, Ranalder UB, et al (1988)
Occurrence of pharmacologically active benzodiazepines in trace amounts in wheat and potato.
Biochem Pharmacol. Oct 1;37(19):3549-59. (Abstract)
Sangameswaran L, Fales HM, Friedrich P, De Blas AL. (1986)
Purification of a benzodiazepine from bovine brain and detection of benzodiazepine-like immunoreactivity in human brain
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Dec;83(23):9236-40. (Abstract | Full text - PDF)
(N-desmethyldiazepam is a metabolite of diazepam)
[2]
Baraldi M, Avallone R, Corsi L, et al (2000) Endogenous benzodiazepines. Therapie Jan-Feb;55(1):143-6 (Abstract)
[3]
Als-Nielsen B, Gluud LL, Gluud C. (2004)
Benzodiazepine receptor antagonists for hepatic encephalopathy.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD002798. (Abstract)
Zeneroli ML, Venturini I, Stefanelli S, et al, (1997) Antibacterial activity of rifaximin reduces the levels of benzodiazepine-like compounds in patients with liver cirrhosis. Pharmacol Res , Jun;35(6):557-60 (Abstract)
[Note: no benzodiazepine synthesizing gut flora has been isolated and they almost certainly don't exist in humans]