Follow-Up:
Hello Mark Antony :-) As always, I must say that you should check with your doctor before stopping or starting any medication, and I assume you are under a doctor’s care. Well, it looks like you are taking a pretty high dosage of Lexotanil for your panic attacks. Drug therapy of four weeks or less with this particular drug should present no problems, but not recommended for more than that time because you can become dependent on the drug. Lexotanil should never be stopped abruptly, but by gradually reducing the dosage, as there are several withdrawal symptoms(as with any drug of dependency)that could result: tremors, nervousness, insomnia, anxiety and difficulty concentrating, sweating, muscular or abdominal spasms, alterations of perception, and in rare occasions delirium and convulsions. As far as interactions with other medications, Lexotanil’s sedative effect could increase if taken with other tranquilizers, anti-depressives, or analgesics. Also, alcohol will increase this effect. Mark, with prolonged usage at high dosages especially if used with other medications, Lexotanil could cause coma, arreflexia, heart problems and apnea, which is why if you have been taking this dosage for quite a while, you should have regular blood tests and a test to also measure renal efficiency. Regarding long-term effects of Lexotanil, there don’t seem to be any that I know of. Lexotanil can cause the above-mentioned symptoms of withdrawal, but these should clear up within a week of discontinuing the drug. I have heard of some excellent medications that can be used for extreme anxiety/panic attacks, one of which is Effexor. This has a sedative effect used for extreme anxiety/panic attacks and is also used for depression. I would recommend one of these medications as opposed to Lexotanil, because you don’t want to be taking a drug which might cause dependency, if you don’t have to. Best Wishes, and I hope this info is helpful. ~ Kayla