Mr. Asthma

Question:

> Gen Pharmacol 1997 Apr;28(4):495-8 > Is the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor involved in the control of airway > smooth muscle tone?

I don’t know. I would point out that in skeletal muscle benzo’s are potent muscle relaxants. I would assume (perhaps incorrectly) that if they have an activity on bronchial smooth muscle it would be to relax it. — CBI, MD "Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." -Andre Gide

Response:

>Please do not stop the Xanax without peofessional help. Doing so can be >easily as damaging as abruptly stopping a corticosteroid. If Xanax was >prescribed by a physician who is an experienced psychopharmacologist I >must assume it was begun for a good reason.

Okay, you’ve got a point. Nat, definitely check with your doctor before discontinuing the Xanax.

Response:

Gen Pharmacol 1997 Apr;28(4):495-8       Is the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor involved in the control of airway smooth muscle tone? Pelaia G, Di Paola ED, De Sarro G, Marsico SA. Chair of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Reggio Calabria, Italy. 1. In addition to binding to GABAA receptors in the central nervous system, benzodiazepines have also been reported to recognize high affinity binding sites in several different peripheral tissues. 2. These peripheral benzodiazepine receptors likely consist of distinct integral membrane proteins, which are predominantly localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane and may be associated to form a heteropolymeric receptor complex. One such protein, identified for its ability to bind a class of benzodiazepines and isoquinolines, has been purified and the corresponding complementary DNA (cDNA) has been cloned and characterized. Furthermore, the structure of the rat gene encoding this protein has been clarified, thus potentially opening new insights into the molecular mechanisms responsible for receptor regulation. 3. Although the exact physiologic and/or pharmacologic role of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors is still unknown, their wide tissue distribution suggests an involvement in many cellular phenomena. 4. In particular, several lines of investigation indicate that these receptors, densely expressed on airway smooth muscle of various species, may contribute to the modulation of bronchomotor tone and perhaps to the pathogenesis of asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness. PMID: 9147014 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Response:

>I’m taking .25 mgs every 12 hours, which is a very low dose. About 15 minutes >after taking each dose, I feel a slight tightness in my chest and start >yawning >every few minutes. These side-effects/symptoms peak about 1-2 hrs after >taking >each dose, which also happens to be when the drug reaches its highest plasma >concentration. My doc thinks the increased difficulty breathing/tightness in >chest is unrelated to the Xanax and is due to my allergies. I may try >switching >to diazepam or clonazepam to see if I have better luck with one of those. >I’ve >tried SSRIs for my anxiety with no success.

*Stop* taking the Xanax immediately! You are having an allergic reaction to the drug. It will only get worse if you continue treatment. Do you want to go into anaphylactic shock? You’re probably allergic to the whole class of drugs, but there’s also a chance a dye or preservative in the Xanax is the culprit. Indian J Med Sci 1996 Aug;50(8):285-6 Allergy to tartrazine in alprazolam. Bhatia MS. Department of Psychiatry University, College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara, Delhi. Allergy to tartrazine-containing psychotropic medication (especially antidepressants) had been reported. 20 patients of apparent allergy to tartrazine-containing alprazolam brands in 480 patients exposed to the dye are described. Rechallenge with non tartrazine-containing alprazolam brands did not produce the similar allergic reactions. PMID: 9018987

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I’m taking .25 mgs every 12 hours, which is a very low dose. About 15 minutes >after taking each dose, I feel a slight tightness in my chest and start >yawning >every few minutes. These side-effects/symptoms peak about 1-2 hrs after >taking >each dose, which also happens to be when the drug reaches its highest plasma >concentration. My doc thinks the increased difficulty breathing/tightness in >chest is unrelated to the Xanax and is due to my allergies. I may try >switching >to diazepam or clonazepam to see if I have better luck with one of those. >I’ve >tried SSRIs for my anxiety with no success. > *Stop* taking the Xanax immediately! You are having an allergic reaction to > the > drug. It will only get worse if you continue treatment. Do you want to go into > anaphylactic shock? You’re probably allergic to the whole class of drugs, but > there’s also a chance a dye or preservative in the Xanax is the culprit. > Indian J Med Sci 1996 Aug;50(8):285-6 > Allergy to tartrazine in alprazolam. > Bhatia MS. > Department of Psychiatry University, College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara, > Delhi. > Allergy to tartrazine-containing psychotropic medication (especially > antidepressants) had been reported. 20 patients of apparent allergy to > tartrazine-containing alprazolam brands in 480 patients exposed to the dye are > described. Rechallenge with non tartrazine-containing alprazolam brands did not > produce the similar allergic reactions. > PMID: 9018987

Please do not stop the Xanax without peofessional help. Doing so can be easily as damaging as abruptly stopping a corticosteroid. If Xanax was prescribed by a physician who is an experienced psychopharmacologist I must assume it was begun for a good reason. Sudden withdrawal may well lead to a major depressive episode. If you have a chronic need for antidepressants it would be almost mandatory that you read last year’s Pulitzer prize for non-fiction, The Noonday Demon, by Andrew Solomon. The Indian reference, above, is irrelevant to the "whole class of drugs," as tartrazine is not in any way related to the drug’s chemical structure, but is a dye, an excipient in the preparation. The asthma of course must be attended to, but rather than stopping Xanax on the basis of a guess, you should consult with a pulmonologist, or at least with an allergist.       Larry       Larry

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