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DXM and Ethanol/Benzodiazapine Withdrawal

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CountSymphonic

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DXM and Ethanol/Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10080248

According to this article, DXM attenuates withdrawal symptoms of Ethanol.
Since Ethanol and Benzodiazepine withdrawals are somewhat similar in mechanism, can we assume that DXM would also attenuate Benzodiazepine withdrawals? What do you guys think? I believe I am about to be going through benzo withdrawals soon, and if so I'll be the first to test this theory out.
 
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There's papers out there about DXM attenuating opioid withdrawals, too. I'd be willing to bet it's got more to do with ethanol's effects as an NMDA antagonist, which DXM will gladly step in for.
 
DXM also acts as a dopamine releaser (though controversial), and dopamine is the main reinforcer for ethanol and benzodiazepine use. But NMDA antagonism is probably the more responsible pharmacological action of dxm that helps. Since glutamate activity is increased to uncomfortable and dangerous levels during in ethanol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
 
Yes, I'm very well aware of DXM's uses as an opiate withdrawal aid. Yet, I was taken by surprise when I read that article about it helping ethanol withdrawal. I realized that the mechanisms between ethanol and benzo withdrawal are identical... so I figured, "What if I found a new method of assisting in benzo withdrawal?"

Now the huge question I would like to know the answer to... Would using DXM as a benzo withdrawal agent exacerbate tolerance and dependency to benzos and ethanol? My initial answer is no, because benzo's/ethanol are GABA agonists, while DXM is an NMDA antagonist... but might I be missing something? If I were to use DXM as a withdrawal aid, I would want to make sure it wouldn't be making the source of the problem worse.
 
^ You're missing a lot. The pharmacology of ethanol isn't nearly the same as benzo's, it has a long list of other actions other than GABA-A subunit receptor potentiation, which include NMDA antagonism... it's quite dirty. DXM isn't just an NMDA antagonist either, it's also a serotonin and dopamine releaser, sigma receptor agonist, and anti-cholinergic. I don't see how DXM would make benzo withdrawal worst. GABA and GABAergics act much like an NMDA antagonist - it inhibits glutamate.
 
Tsukasa said:
^ You're missing a lot. The pharmacology of ethanol isn't nearly the same as benzo's, it has a long list of other actions other than GABA-A subunit receptor potentiation, which include NMDA antagonism... it's quite dirty. DXM isn't just an NMDA antagonist either, it's also a serotonin and dopamine releaser, sigma receptor agonist, and anti-cholinergic. I don't see how DXM would make benzo withdrawal worst. GABA and GABAergics act much like an NMDA antagonist - it inhibits glutamate.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am aware of that, but also aware of the similarities they DO share.
The real reason for my question is not because I'm wondering if DXM would make benzo withdrawals worse, I'm really wondering if DXM is capable of reducing/eliminating benzo withdrawals. I appreciate all of your input.
 
Tsukasa said:
^ You're missing a lot. The pharmacology of ethanol isn't nearly the same as benzo's, it has a long list of other actions other than GABA-A subunit receptor potentiation, which include NMDA antagonism... it's quite dirty. DXM isn't just an NMDA antagonist either, it's also a serotonin and dopamine releaser, sigma receptor agonist, and anti-cholinergic. I don't see how DXM would make benzo withdrawal worst. GABA and GABAergics act much like an NMDA antagonist - it inhibits glutamate.
Click to expand...

Wait. If DXM releases more Serotonin, then wouldn't that exacerbate withdrawal from both substances (Ethanol + Benzos)? To my understanding Benzos and I suppose Ethanol DECREASE Serotonin levels. In withdrawal it is a well known fact that the brain is "over excited" and Serotonin levels are quite elevated. But then again I might be missing something else. I'm experiencing withdrawals already, tonight, I am going to be ingesting a fair amount of DXM. Let's knock on wood.
 
^ How do you figure 5-ht levels are raised? neither of them even indirectly touch the 5-HT system in the recreational dose range to my knowledge. if serotonin exacerbated withdrawals then why are SSRI's like prozac prescribed to alcoholics so often? most 5-HT receptors are mainly inhibitory, not excitatory.. though some may release glutamate indirectly. What really causes the over-excitation in GABAergic drug withdrawals is glutamate, the chief excitatory neurotransmitter.
 
At this point it really doesn't matter.
The test subject being myself at the moment... everything's going haywire.
Anxiety is worse.
I had a good number of anxiety attacks.
My blood pressure skyrocketed to 170/120 then lowered back down to 150/90 my average is 120/80, Pretty close to hypertensive crisis there. My heart rate is slightly elevated but not too bad. I feel like shit.
Let's see how the rest of the night goes.
 
No improvement.
I feel worse than earlier, blood pressure is doing the same crap to me.
I feel incredibly shaky, I simply feel gross as hell.
I want to take my Klonopin but I used grapefruit juice to potentiate the DXM and am afraid of interactions and overdose. What have I done to myself?
 
I'm feeling slightly better.
I slept ok, however woke up too many times.
Blood pressure still hasn't dropped back to normal, but I suspect it will later on tonight.
So based on my experience... Benzo withdrawals and DXM do not mix. Blood pressure going right up to 170/120 suggests that I'm very lucky to be here right now. Mild hypertension is predictable on DXM, but that wasn't mild, that was almost a medical emergency!
 
Yea, then I wouldn't do the DXM anymore, probably too much dopamine causing BP rise. Just get a GABA supplement and take the powder in the caps sublingually. It fills in all of the gaba receptors. Not sure if it has significant CNS activity, but definately has peripheral effects, and increases HGH levels as another plus. It will surely help.

You can also try Kava kava. It allosterically potentiates GABA receptors just like benzo's i believe, and is also a mild MAOI. Valerian root extract, another gabaergic and also an adenosinergic should also help out. All of these are easy to acquire OTC or online, and are proven help with your type of withdrawals.
 
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