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Research Benzos Linked To Alzheimers

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Hello again! The place I am going to is a free mental health clinic. I am hoping when I see my doc again and explain to her that I don't need them every day, she will at least give me a few a month, like you said. My diagnoses are : PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Thank you very much for your suggestion. I am definitely going to ask my doc about it!
 
It seems like medical professionals need to realize that people who would benefit from benzos in the first place are not in a position to worry about their 70s as they struggle in daily life. Anyway, I'd trade a lucid last few years for less pain during the only "good" years I've got in my life.

Those who I know who died of Alzeimer's and Parkinsons had childhood trauma, and no benzos. They used tobacco and alcohol, at times, to self-medicate. So, I think that trauma is the originating cause of much illness and is likely at the root of the problem.

Also, problems with memory are well known to be a major effect of PTSD, with damage to the brain in areas important to memory recall, storage, and access. I know for myself that when I am stressed, I cannot remember much at all.

Over a lifetime, how could this not result in a worsening condition and have epigenetic sequelae? It is far more likely that the trauma set the wheels in motion, and benzos were merely a pit stop on the way.

Ironically, it might be more true that treating trauma with several gentle and careful measures aimed at improving memory and overall emotional, mental, and physical health would actually delay or prevent dementia. As with many medicines, dosage and other factors matter just as much as the chemical compound itself. So this benzo fear-mongering is an oversimplification of a more complex set of issues than just if one med could pose a risk for one disease.
 
I think we all have to evaluate the use and weigh the consequences on our particular circumstances. My mother suffered depression and anxiety and did not have the medications that we have now, and she self medicated with alcohol and had a miserable life til age 80. Her dementia was due to lack of oxygen to her brain from severe COPD til she died.

Right now, I have a different concern with benzo and think it is worth mentioning because others may suffer with physical pain related to traumas, and also take anti depressant.

Benzo's also slow stomach emptying, a motility disorder. So do anti depressants. In addition, narcotics do as well. I use to take over the counter meds for pain, but long run over yrs, they tore up my stomach and I can no longer take them, so I have to take a prescripton pain med. In addition, benzo's for panic and anxiety. Also anti depressant SSRI. I also do relaxation, PT, chiropractics, massage therapy, etc, but cant sleep without benzo's. Of all, benzo will the hardest to eliminate for me, but I am on path to discontinue others. Have been off anti depressant about 2-3 wks and not noticing a diffference. Have cut narcotic in half at least over past month.

From long term use I developed Gastropareisis-delayed stomach emptying. My stomach content does not empty into my small intestine, I am not digesting food properly, leaving me feeling full quickly, lack of apetite, nausea, and severe stomach pain. It is considered a bowel obstruction of mechanical nature- but supposedly reversable when discontinuing medication. Those are 3 meds that I take that contribute to it. The food that I do eat (little) is not nourishing me because it does not digest properly. Therefore, I have lost 25 pounds in a year. In pain and nauseated most of the time. I knew narcotics were constipating, but did not know how many other meds were and when used in combination, can be life altering. Worst scenerio, could end up on feeding tube or with bag.

I was told that I had gastropareisis last year, but did not ask what that really meant, and only occassional constipation but daily nausea, lack of appetite, vomitting, Beginning a few months ago, I ended up in ER with what might be blockage. It is from all the meds. Not a way that I want to live.

So it is really important to examine all meds combined. I am down to less than 100 pounds and am 5'6". Too tired to do anything and in bed for days unable to eat. Malnourishment has left me dizzy and weak, too much to even go to the store. I am working on the other causes, narcotics are the worst, but dont see me getting off benzo's. Just be aware and careful. Now I am back to unbearable pain.
 
@brat17 I'm sorry that this has happened to you. This sounds like you are underweight significantly.

Has the Dr. given you any ideas about what to eat or avoid? I might suggest a no sugar added hot cocoa, unless you're lactose intolerant, to ease your tummy and keep some liquids and calories in? I don't know, but I hope you find some ideas soon.
 
The Dr suggested the diet, but everything on line says it doesnt work. First, no raw vegetable, only cooked, and none of the gassy ones such as broccali, colifllower, etc. No fiber such as beans or cereals. No binding such as cheese. And meats are harder to digest. All those out. That did not help me in past 2 months. So they suggest soft foods such as pudding or mashed potatoes. I have gound a plain cone at dairy queen I can get down a couple times a week and is soothing to stomach. Bottom line, just not getting calories or nutrients from anything, which causes weak, dizzy, lighthead, vertigo, etc. Extreme fatigue, and depression. Its like body is wasting away, skin hanging and no muscle left. Was already vitamin D deficient. I am allergic to sugar substitues so I do drink Pepsi, and if not for that, I am sure I would be 80 lbs. Diet says can puree food--yum. lol. Some bypass tube are used at time, and a device that is like a pacemake to jump start stomach implanted. Info is getting harder to understand as brain is not working as well. I just think that patients should be more informed about long term consequence of all meds, over counter and scripts-in order to make informed decision.
 
I was taken off long term use of benzos after maybe 2 decades of using them. I am experiencing Alzheimers symptoms and will be tested for it soon. I will try to remember to come back to this thread and repost what is found. I am 61 years old now. I will write a note to myself to come back here to report what is found, otherwise I will probably forget! I was able to go off them reasonably well, however, this was after years of therapy and being stable in my life. When I was taken off them, no one mentioned this to me, it was just time to go off of them! (And I am glad I did go off of them).
 
My Dr. is taking forever to get me scheduled with a neurologist for the testing, so please pray for that too, as well as her scheduling me for an MRI of my neck. I have been having numbness on my left side and she says I have a pinched nerve in my neck. We checked to make sure I am not having a stroke.
 
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