Phenobarbital for benzo withdrawl

[opiatekrzy]

I noticed most detox centers are now just giving benzo addicts phenobarbital for withdrawl, for a period of 3 days to bypass the window period for a seizure to occur. I believe this is the most unethical approach, these detox doctors give you a standard dose of pheno for benzo withdrawl totally disregarding when you tell them how much benzos ur actually taking. i went into detox with a 16mg xanax habit, and they only gave me the standard dose of phenobarb twice a day, my blood pressure was still high 170+/90+, i just find it very inhumane to give phenobarb out to people in standard doses disregarding how much benzos ur taking, it can cause problems, a standard dose will not cut it for people with high benzo0 habits. Plus when then 3 day seizure window period is over, your left still suffering insomnia, extreme rebound anxiety, migraines, the shakes..Why aren't these doctors listening to patients about how much benzos there taking and confirm it thru bloodwork to atleast give you more then a "standard" pheno dose to make sure there is no problems. Whatever happen to just tapering you off with actual benzos rather a weak ass phenobarbital with a long half life...even tho it will kill the seizure window period, the other withdrawl is unbearable itself,worse then fentanyl withdrawl in my opinion. anyone agree with me that pheno is so unethical to give out at standard doses and ignoring patients word on how much benzos there taking?

 

[BIGsherm7272]

I noticed most detox centers are now just giving benzo addicts phenobarbital for withdrawl, for a period of 3 days to bypass the window period for a seizure to occur. I believe this is the most unethical approach, these detox doctors give you a standard dose of pheno for benzo withdrawl totally disregarding when you tell them how much benzos ur actually taking. i went into detox with a 16mg xanax habit, and they only gave me the standard dose of phenobarb twice a day, my blood pressure was still high 170+/90+, i just find it very inhumane to give phenobarb out to people in standard doses disregarding how much benzos ur taking, it can cause problems, a standard dose will not cut it for people with high benzo0 habits. Plus when then 3 day seizure window period is over, your left still suffering insomnia, extreme rebound anxiety, migraines, the shakes..Why aren't these doctors listening to patients about how much benzos there taking and confirm it thru bloodwork to atleast give you more then a "standard" pheno dose to make sure there is no problems. Whatever happen to just tapering you off with actual benzos rather a weak ass phenobarbital with a long half life...even tho it will kill the seizure window period, the other withdrawl is unbearable itself,worse then fentanyl withdrawl in my opinion. anyone agree with me that pheno is so unethical to give out at standard doses and ignoring patients word on how much benzos there taking?

If anything the seizure window should be from days 3-10 IMO. When I was withdrawaling from alprazolam my wd's wouldn't really kick in until day 2, and peak around day 4 or 5. It is then that I would be really shaky and have terrifying body convulsions.

 

[nsauce]

I dont know about unethical, but if they made your withdrawal completely comfortable and pain-free, then you would be more likely to get strung out on benzos again . If they kept you from seizing and dying, then they did their job. If you don't like the way they do it, don't get strung out on beznos and go into a detox center.
I'm not trying to be an asshole here, I'm just telling you this because this is how I see it .

 

[Alex000]

I agree, they did a semi-rapid phenobarb taper on me to get me off benzos in a psych ward this summer. They started at like 180 mg a day, so that was kinda nice, but the doctors were assholes. Phenobarb should not be used for benzo wd's or taper, a benzo should be like Valium. And they should take into consideration the size of the habit, absolutely.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

They are not going to give you Librium or Valium for benzodiazepine withdrawal because of like most of you said the doses of those required to keep you from seizing would be tremendous and rather unstable to figure out. But phenobarbital is a better option for these two reasons:

-Phenobarbital is a much better anticonvulsant than any benzodiazepine while still retaining a long half-life. This is what the main approach is. There is minimal guesswork. You don't have to seize for them to figure out the right dose. Also, they can still detox all types of addicts with the same drug.

You don't seize.> You are comfortable/alive in their hands.> You/family can't sue them.

-Since sedative/hypnotic abuse is on the rise, it is not economical to treat withdrawal with ass loads of "cheap" benzodiazepines anymore. A "cheaper than dirt" barbiturate, that has better sedative and anticonvulsant properties is a better option.

Their job is over.> You are detoxed.> Hospital makes more money.> Your bill isn't super outrageous.

This in turn makes treatment cheaper and more effective on your end.

 

[opiatekrzy]

i know ur not being an asshole, but do you know how horrible it feels to be in withdrawl once the seizure window passes? i had headaches so bad it felt like my head was attacked to a knife and hurt like hell when i moved, hear thumping so fast, thinking i was going to hae a heart attack, anti social/rebound anxiety, no sleep waking up every 1 hour with a bed sheet all wet...its still horrible, pheno is not what they should be doing

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

That is exactly the problem.

Detox is not a rehabilitation program.

Detox is to get you off the drug comfortably, not maintain you.

They are not going to give you a dose to get high. PERIOD.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see the logic in complaining. Go and tell the people in detox you are uncomfortable, ask them, they will handle it accordingly. After all, you are the one paying for it.

And yes I do know what a big variety of drugs feel like in heavy withdrawals. I'm on lyrica right now for anxiety after I realized benzodiazepines will never be stable for long term.

Here's how I see it...

No drug has an easy way out. Everyone should educate themselves and fight their battles accordingly. It is absolutely your fault either way it goes.

Just be very lucky that there was room in the detox. The detox near me is packed to capacity all the time. Some people even revert to the hospital it gets so bad.

I would be happy as hell to get a long acting barbiturate.

 

[effie]

I can't see this thread going anywhere really except descending into an argument.. so I'm going to close it. People are entitled to have different opinions

If anyone is struggling with withdrawing or detox, come over to TDS and if anyone has any queries, shoot me a pm.