Equanil is a brand name drug that is also known as meprobamate or as the brand name Miltown. It is also known as the brand name Equanil L.A. Equanil is a carbamate derivative that affects several sites in the central nervous system including the thalamus and limbic system. It is used to relieve anxiety and tension and to treat the anxiety and tension symptoms of other diseases.
Equanil tablets are white, flat tablets with beveled edges with a light characteristic odor. Equanil L.A. tablets are yellow. Equanil is prescribed on a short-term basis to help calm the nervous system that can become unbalanced when the patient is affected by an anxiety disorder or as a result of another disease.
Abuses of Equanil
The use of Equanil, like many anti-anxiety drugs, can create increased tolerance leading to physical dependence in users. This dependence is often the result of increases in dosage or decreases in dosage intervals without consulting a physician. Anti-anxiety medication is widely available in illegal drug trade. Psychological dependence and abuse are also a risk. The ingestion of greater than recommended doses is manifested by ataxia, slurred speech, and vertigo.
Anti-anxiety drugs such as Equanil are often prescribed as a short-term solution to manage the brain areas affecting anxiety levels. However, even if prescribed for a short time, addiction is common. Recreational users with no diagnosis for anxiety disorders may use anti-anxiety drugs as a primary drug or as a drug used to come down from the use of other illegal drugs. Combinind Equanil with other anti-anxiety drugs can be fatal.
Effects of Equanil
Equanil affects the chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. Because it is intended to be used as a short-term medication, physicians must reevaluate periodically the effectiveness of Equanil to ensure that it is working to restore balance in the central nervous system. It is usually prescribed to be taken by mouth 2 to 4 times daily. The least effective dose should be administered to decrease risk of oversedation.
Equanil is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is widely distributed in the body. When taking Equanil, patients may experience drowsiness or dizziness, headache, weakness, vomiting or diarrhea or numbness or tingling. More serious effects include an allergic reaction, fast or irregular heartbeats, fever, skin rash or sore throat.
Withdrawal of Equanil
Those who develop a dependence on Equanil may experience significant withdrawal effects after continued usage. Withdrawal symptoms can be seen after as little as a few weeks of use, and onset usually occurs within 12 to 48 hours of discontinuation of use. Withdrawal symptoms include:
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Convulsions
• Seizures
• Low blood pressure
• Hallucinations
• Delirium
Sudden withdrawal of Equanil after chronic use may induce a recurrence of pre-existing symptoms such as anxiety, anorexia, or insomnia, or withdrawal symptoms, as listed above. Because tolerance can be quickly built up, patients abusing the use of Equanil are soon forced to either obtain additional medication through illegal means or face a difficult withdrawal period.
Treatment of Equanil
Sudden withdrawal of Equanil can cause symptoms that are life-threatening, so patients desiring to discontinue use of Equanil after a prolonged period of use should do so under medical supervision. To avoid severe withdrawal symptoms, it is recommended that the use of Equanil be gradually tapered. Alternatively, a short-acting barbiturate may be substituted and then gradually withdrawn.
Patients discontinuing use of Equanil should be placed under the care of a board-certified physician or a board-certified psychiatrist. To ensure that the effects of Equanil have completely ceased and that the patient can experience a comfortable detox, the doctor may admit the patient into a 24/7 facility to undergo treatment for withdrawal.