Xanax and Being Able to Eat: A Mystery

[Jodee Chabot]

Doktor DynaSoar <targeting at OMCL.mil> wrote: 
> I can find no incidents of alprazolam being used to treat vertigo.
> That's one of its possible adverse effects.

Hi! Thanks for repsonding to my cry for help. I wasn't aware that
Xanax was used in the treatment of vertigo either; in fact I thought
the very fact that it worked for me was proof that my illness must be
psychological. However, tonight, in a Google search using the terms
"GABA-nergic," (a term given to me by yet another poster on another
ng, who suggested that Xanax worked for me because it stimulated my
appetite), I found this:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/practice/drugrx.html

"Benzodiazepines are gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) modulators,
acting centrally to suppress vestibular responses. In small doses,
these drugs are extremely useful. Addiction, impaired memory,
increased risk of falling, and impaired vestibular compensation are
their main shortcomings. Lorazepam is a particularly useful agent
because of its effectiveness and simple kinetics. Addiction, the
biggest problem, can usually be avoided by keeping the dose to 0.5 mg
BID or less. Similarly, low doses of diazepam (Valium) (2 mg) can be
quite effective. Clonazepam (Klonopin), appears as effective a
vestibular suppressant as lorazepam. The author prefers to avoid use
of alprazolam (Xanax) for vestibular suppression, because of the
potential for a difficult withdrawal syndrome. Long acting
benzodiazepines are not helpful for relief of vertigo."

I have to say it's untellably happy-making to know I haven't
completely lost my mind. The prescribing doctor didn't seem know that
benzos can be prescribed in the treatment of vertigo; he prescribed it
for me because he believed I was having anxiety attacks. Clearly Xanax
isn't recommended, but apparently it and other drugs like it can and
do control vertigo.

> I'm guessing that they tried alprazolam because irritable bowel
> syndrome (IBS) can be a physical manifestation of generalized panic
> disorder, and can occur without other symptoms of the disorder.

Nobody mention IBS to me, but yes, you're exactly right about panic
disorder. That's exactly what they thought I had. Anorexia, too.

> Ask your doctor(s) if that's what they suspect. That will give you an
> idea what to research. If it is, here's s starting place:
> http://health.nih.gov/result.asp/376

Good stuff there, thank you!

 > IBS is sometimes a result of problems rather than a disorder in and
of
> itself. Thus, it has many causes and many treatments.

I suppose it's possible, although I don't know why I have vertigo in
addition to vomitting and diarrhea after I eat. I must be wired funny
:)
 
> An old, often effective treatment is Librax. Unfortunately it too is
> habit forming. Even older, and still habit forming, is paragoric acid
> (it has opium in it). Tegaserod is a new drug used for IBS. It is more
> akin to prozac, in that it works on the serotonin system.

I see my doc on 4/1 and will be sure to mention IBS and these
medications.
 
> If it's not IBS, it may be that you have something hidden causing both
> problems. That is, they are both results of some other thing.

Yep, you're right. It's a needle in a haystack; I just have to keep
plugging away at it. You've given me many excellent leads, Dr.
Dynasoar, and I appreciate your help. Take care of yourself.
Best,

Jodee C.