Do benzodiazepines have the potential kill brain cells or do any damage to the brain in the same sense that alcohol has the potential to?

Especially in relation to cognitive functioning? (memory + learning)

My friend was just wondering. (specifically xanax)

I don't think so, as long as you don't do anything stupid while you're actually on them... I've been taking various benzos for about 3 months now and haven't noticed any change in my memory or learning ability.

However, with the long-lasting benzos (Klonopin, Valium, Mogadon etc), you do get a kind of hangover effect that makes your head kind of cloudy the next day. Maybe like 4 or 5 shots of spirits...slight slowdown in mental functioning, but not actually drunk.

That's what happens to me anyway, so now I stick to Xanax and Dormicum (shorter half-lives, Dormicum in particular).

benzodiazapines = temporary amnesia

at least for me. no real euphoria, and only a little relaxation. alcohol is better


and no they dont kill brain cells. alcohol does. so does being alive. if your brain cells are going to die anyways, at least kill them having fun, right?

They don't kill brain cells but in my opinion they do decrease your cognitive capacity, right now I'm doing a Masters degree and I had to cut down my valium because I honestly couldn't do my reading, it made me so cloudy I wasn't able to do my coursework.

with whats been mostly hydrocodone and xanax for the past 9 years or so my mother has gone from a very smart woman to being so fucked up she cant figure out how to unlock the door, or open a suitcase....

hardly any memory for anything

an emotionally unstable wreck....

That sucks dude.

Only found an article about nursing home falls & benzos & this about an Aussie addiction to OTC codeine/ibuprofen...

"From another source we learned that her flat was littered with eFrom mpty Nurofen Plus packets, and she later described regularly consuming 28 grams a day of ibuprofen,” the doctors said."

One do wonder if benzos do make one soft in the head though.

I'm pretty sure that any changes in brain chemistry resulting from the use of benzodiazepines would be rescinded within a few months of cessation. The brain has an amazing ability to recuperate from drug induced changes, and I don't think benzos are that hard on it.

I know that benzos cause some amnesia, and can cause clinical depression, but as for actually killing brain cells, thats terribly unlikely. Few drugs do that, and no prescription that I'm aware of is capable of that at the indicated dosage (of course, the fact that you're on this forum indicates that you are likely to be abusing/misusing them).

You're good; don't be stressing. Hell, thats why you're taking them in the first place.

mike

*sigh* Actually yes... long term Benzo use DOES cause brain damage. Aside from ANY drug used long term causing possibly permanent brain changes... They can also cause physical dependence, which can lead to possible death. Also, "Severe behavioral changes resulting from benzodiazepines have been reported including mania, schizophrenia, anger, impulsivity, and hypomania." I've also read several other things about brain damage caused by Benzos, though I can't (or rather don't want to) look to find the sources right now. There is still plenty of information about the harm they can cause to your body on Wikipedia. Just search Google for Benzo wiki, it'll come up.

1. Benzo use DOES cause brain damage.

2. Aside from ANY drug used long term causing possibly permanent brain changes...

3. They can also cause physical dependence, which can lead to possible death.

4. Also, "Severe behavioral changes resulting from benzodiazepines have been reported including mania, schizophrenia, anger, impulsivity, and hypomania."

1. I believe you are wrong. Citation?

2. Ok, that was just ignorant. Just because something changes brain chemistry does not mean that it's damaging the brain. Hell, anything you get from your psychiatrist is changing brain chemistry. Thats the whole fucking point. Second of all, I do not believe that any drug can cause changes to brain chemistry. Your knowledge is narrow, so don't apply it universally.

3. Physical dependence can lead to death? What? Think before you speak - Oh, Dear Jesus. Maybe you were trying to say that dependence can lead to tolerance, and that just maybe increasing the dose yourself could result in overdose? Because if you weren't, you just need to shut up and stop sandwiching your ignorance in between two of my legitimate posts.

4. Yeah, thats super. Citation? Correlation does not imply causation, fool. I bet that study was done by a single, half assed, poorly funded pseudopsychological institute for the sole purpose of obtaining those results. Just because a study says something doesn't make it true. Learn discretion.

Thanks.

mike

1. I believe you are wrong. Citation?

2. Ok, that was just ignorant. Just because something changes brain chemistry does not mean that it's damaging the brain. Hell, anything you get from your psychiatrist is changing brain chemistry. Thats the whole fucking point. Second of all, I do not believe that any drug can cause changes to brain chemistry. Your knowledge is narrow, so don't apply it universally.

3. Physical dependence can lead to death? What? Think before you speak - Oh, Dear Jesus. Maybe you were trying to say that dependence can lead to tolerance, and that just maybe increasing the dose yourself could result in overdose? Because if you weren't, you just need to shut up and stop sandwiching your ignorance in between two of my legitimate posts.

4. Yeah, thats super. Citation? Correlation does not imply causation, fool. I bet that study was done by a single, half assed, poorly funded pseudopsychological institute for the sole purpose of obtaining those results. Just because a study says something doesn't make it true. Learn discretion.

Thanks.

mike

1. I believe my entire post was trying to prove that point... I don't think that I need to waste my time finding a source for every bit of information I know to be correct. You can believe me or not, I don't give a shit... I'm here to try an inform people, if you want to remain ignorant, be my guest.
2. What does pyschiatric medicine have anything to do with this? And 2a, I believe you are a fucking idiot. Long term drug use causes changes in brain chemistry... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1797520864245202789&q=weed+brain+damage&total=47&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1
3. No I mean that if you take benzos for a long term, then stop suddenly, it can fucking kill you. Maybe you should stop talking since you seem to have no understanding of what the grown ups are saying.
4. My citation is wikipedia... Like I said... Maybe you should just delete your account... All you've done is anger people with legitmate things to say, and waste more of my time...

everyone i know who takes benzos is a fucking moron.

everyone i know who abuses benzos is a fucking moron.

Fixed, then QFT

I don't think it's anything to worry about if it's a pretty temporary thing. Long term misuse of any depressant can't be good though.

My best friend got prescribed footballs about 7 mos. ago and has been abusing them ever since. He really doesn't seem the same. Got to try and get his ass of them fuckers.