Aren’t benzos and alcohol both GABA antagonists?
If I might comment - absolutely. And there is also (noted in the literature) a known tendency for essential tremor patients to unconsciously try to medicate with alcohol, because alcohol is known to temporarily control the tremor. This can escalate over time. Some GPs know this and some don’t.
No. They are GABA potentiators. They make the effects of GABA stronger, thus creating a calming response. Too much calming, and your brain won’t be strong enough to tell your lungs to breathe properly.
I am unaware of a major problem with SSRIs and alcohol. I personally avoid alcohol just to be safe (especially since I have an addictive personality and alcohol runs deep in my family) but I’ve never been told I had to do so.
Also, whether benzos are good or not, it’s a horrible idea to take a longterm patient off of benzos cold turkey, as it sounds like this doctor was going to do. Believe me, I know. Why do you think I’m an agoraphobe?
That is my mantra for any professional, be it doctor, attorney, accountant or plumber. I’ve met plenty of them who display a terrible attitude toward their customers, believing and acting as if they run the show and their word is law rather than understanding that they are being consulted and paid by their patient or client. They work for me, period. No that doesn’t mean they have to give me everything I demand any more than my customers get everything they demand.
But the moment I get a sense that they are not listening to me…we’re done. I would rather find someone else who understands just who is paying them.
The doc could have been gauging his reaction. Did he say “Oh no, I’m worried about my anxiety coming back!” or “Oh no, not my Xanax!”? Is his commitment to whatever it takes to beat the disease, or is it to a specific drug.
I think the doctor was giving medically sound advice, although obviously he is not a good fit for you. Xanax terrifies me. It is literally among the most addictive substances on the planet. It throws your brain completely out of balance, and for everything it throws back into whack, it throws a half dozen things out of whack. Taken long enough, they can rewire your brain in some pretty scary ways, often giving people the “from hell” version of whatever they got on it for in the first place. I’ve known more than a couple people who have lost large chunks of their life due to the permanent side-effects of benzo withdrawal. Agoraphobia is a crappy thing to aquire.
It can be a very helpful drug for some people. But it is a powerful one, and I think it’s reasonable that any long-term use be accompanied by periodic soul-searching about the trade-offs and risks.
Quiting drinking is solid health advice for just about everyone, but it’s especially good advice for people who a problem that is exacerbated by drinking and are taking drugs that can have a severe reaction to alcohol.
Meditation and other mindfulness practices are associated with positive outcomes in mental health issues. There are clinical trials on this stuff, and it all points to meditation being a great thing. While it is not “all in your head” is the sense of not being real, there are some conscious steps that you can take to control it.