heard there was an article about a study on clonazepam and it's family of drugs that might lead to Alzheimer's? scares the hell out of me. haven't taken it in 3 nights and the monsters are coming back. anyone read about it? have a peaceful Sunday
‘Been taking Clonazepam 1mg tabs at 10pm, every evening, for about 20 years (for anxiety disorder). Too late for me to be worrying about Alzheimer’s, however, I get a Vitamin-B12 shot every time I see my GP and supplement with B12 pills (when I remember too ... Oops) ... which ‘could’ help to ward off Alzheimer’s. Only time will tell.
Meniere's is not addictive. But crashing falls from vertigo drop attacks can cause brain damage, even death. One must consider the risk/reward ratio. (And no, if taken incidentally only in the case of severe Meniere's symptoms, only when needed, with great care, benzodiazepines are not addictive.) --John of Ohio
I agree with John. Benzos taken judiciously are not particularly addictive. As many of you know, I took them for a few months. No withdrawal, no desire when the dizzies were gone... Believe me, they are in my pill drawer, just in case.
I read something similar - but I believe that (in my opinion) the connection may be more of one in which the drug "expedites" something that would have taken place anyway. i.e..you are already predisposed to have some degree of Alzheimer's and the meds just move it up. However that said - with this darn disease I have learned the value of quality of life. If you struggle without the medication, is it worth being miserable every day in the future on the off-chance that you prevent something like Alzheimer's that "may" happen. We don't know what will happen 5 years from now so in my opinion you do what you need to do to be happy today, tomorrow and the next day. Every person, of course, has their own thought process but that is mine. For what it's worth, I have taken Dream Water before and it worked to help me sleep, stay asleep without any residual effects in the morning. It is a natural drink; looks like an energy shot bottle. I found it at Walgreens. Not the cheapest ($4/ea) but if you can't sleep and it helps...definitely worth it!
The best course is to nail and suppress the root cause of whatever prompts a physician to prescribe a benzodiazapene for a Meniere's patient --- get on a recognized antiherpetic therapy, such as that of Dr. Gacek. That will obviate any need for a benzo. (http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=557.0) --John of Ohio
No, the evidence shows conclusively that properly-prescribed antiherpetic drugs bring substantial or complete symptomatic relief from Meniere's. And the accumulated evidence from users of my regimen also confirms its rather significant efficacy. Consequently, I encourage Meniere's sufferers to pursue both treatments, the antiperpetic approach of Dr. Gacek ( http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=557.0 ) ....right along with and at the same time as my regimen. They both work, but when taken together, they complement each other, improving results. ( http://www.zoominternet.net/~kcshop/JOH.pdf ) Attack this insidious disease with everything that works. --John of Ohio
I disagree with your suggestion... 90% of MM is caused by an virus, "Recently, direct evidence of viral neuropathy in Meniere's disease has been provided by the transmission electron microscopic observation of viral structures in vestibular ganglion cells excised from a patient with Meniere's disease." "The clinical response to antiviral medication indicated that vertigo due to Meniere's disease was relieved in 85–90% of patients. It is not surprising that control of vertigo was not greater than 85–90%, as mutant strains of the herpes virus group would be resistant to the acyclovir class of antivirals. Until newer antivirals are developed, approximately 10% of Meniere's disease patients with vertigo will not be controlled. The auditory symptoms are less effectively treated by the antiviral approach because loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion cells secondary to the toxicity of viral proteins in the perilymph is not reversible." Dr Gacek and other has a 90% success rate with antivirals in his clinical practice. I have the run of the mill MM, nothing atypical about it. Read through this study its cites many trials and studies documenting a viral cause for Meniere's http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997212000092 I personally believe those diagnosed with atypical MM actually have MAV or both MM and MAV.