Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Lorazepam treatment may be linked to worse outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients (Associative progression risk -68% (Xanax) vs. +383% (Ativan))
Medical Xpress / American Association for Cancer Research / Clinical Cancer Research ^ | Aug. 16, 2023 | Abigail Cornwell et al

Posted on 08/17/2023 12:42:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Patients with pancreatic cancer who took the benzodiazepine lorazepam (Ativan), commonly prescribed to treat anxiety during cancer treatment, had a shorter progression-free survival than patients who did not, according to results published.

In contrast, patients who took the benzodiazepine alprazolam (Xanax) had a significantly longer progression-free survival than patients who did not.

The researchers examined the relationship between benzodiazepine use and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. When adjusted, any benzodiazepine use was associated with a 30% lower risk of pancreatic cancer-related death.

However, when Feigin and colleagues studied the relationship between individual benzodiazepines and pancreatic cancer outcomes, they found stark differences. Apart from short-acting benzodiazepines used as part of surgical anesthesia, the two most commonly used benzodiazepines were lorazepam (40 patients) and alprazolam (27 patients). Patients who took alprazolam had a 62% lower risk of disease progression or death compared with those who did not take alprazolam (42 patients). Conversely, patients taking lorazepam had a 3.83-fold higher risk of disease progression or death than patients who did not take lorazepam (29 patients).

When the researchers investigated the associations between lorazepam and alprazolam use and patient outcomes in other cancer types, they found that alprazolam was rarely associated with significantly different outcomes. However, lorazepam use correlated with significantly worse overall survival in prostate, ovarian, head and neck, uterine, colon, and breast cancer, as well as melanoma, with effects ranging from a 25% increased risk to a 116% increased risk.

"We think the mechanism comes down to a difference in structure between different benzodiazepines," Feigin said. "Alprazolam has the opposite effect as lorazepam; it has no impact on GPR68, but it potently decreases IL-6, and we think this decreases the inflammatory potential of these tumors."

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: ativan; pancreas; pancreaticcancer; xanax
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
This may be associative, but I’d immediately switch medicines, if possible.
1 posted on 08/17/2023 12:42:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 08/17/2023 12:43:14 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

“worse outcome” with pancreatic cancer seems like a relative thing. The odds are not in your favor no matter how you slice it.


3 posted on 08/17/2023 12:44:46 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (They say "Our Democracy" but they mean Cosa Nostra.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

The medicines appear to cost the same, about $13 a prescription for generics, via GoodRX discounts.


4 posted on 08/17/2023 12:44:54 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

They do cover other cancers briefly in the write up.


5 posted on 08/17/2023 12:45:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

I would want some lorazepam too


6 posted on 08/17/2023 12:46:43 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

If you’re dying what difference does it matter what chills out anxious folks

Give them heroin if it works

Ativan is a fairly week benzo

People demonize meds like neocons demonize China and Russia

Always something existential

Which is silly with pancreatic cancer


7 posted on 08/17/2023 12:48:32 PM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

It sounds like it would make sense. The anti-anxiety meds like xanax really change the way your body reacts.


8 posted on 08/17/2023 12:49:18 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

My wife is 4 years out from her diagnosis with PC.

Quite honestly, I am pretty sure she would be dead today if not for the lorazepam, LOL.

The factors for survival from PC are surgery, clean margins, no lymph nodes, chemo, and a low CA 19-9.

If you don’t have those things…your chances are pretty grim. I don’t think most of those folks are worried about how they deal with the anxiety.


9 posted on 08/17/2023 12:49:43 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

“commonly prescribed to treat anxiety during cancer treatment”

Ain’t that an anti-psychotic?!?

I suppose you’re not very anxious if you are reduced to drooling on yourself in a stupor, but it might be a bit of overkill.


10 posted on 08/17/2023 12:49:58 PM PDT by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

Interesting! My pancreas is shot, hereditary, pre cancerous. My BP meds are really bad for the pancreas.


11 posted on 08/17/2023 12:51:03 PM PDT by AuntB (Trump is our Ben Franklin - Brilliant, Boisterous, Brave and ALL AMERICAN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

Agreed!!


12 posted on 08/17/2023 12:52:55 PM PDT by AuntB (Trump is our Ben Franklin - Brilliant, Boisterous, Brave and ALL AMERICAN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

OMG, this is data-dredging drek.


13 posted on 08/17/2023 1:38:07 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (ESG is a hunting license on Republicans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

Thanks for posting all of these medical articles. I don’t read them all but when I do they are very interesting.


14 posted on 08/17/2023 1:45:04 PM PDT by frogjerk (More people have died trusting the government than not trusting the government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt

I hope your wife continues to do well. My father died of PC a long time ago. Treatments are better these days.


15 posted on 08/17/2023 2:02:23 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (They say "Our Democracy" but they mean Cosa Nostra.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

I would stay away from xanex. period


16 posted on 08/17/2023 2:23:29 PM PDT by Dartoid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

No one will ever get another benzo between my lips.

I will kill you dead if you try.


17 posted on 08/17/2023 2:31:01 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Sufferings are the guardrails on the road to Heaven.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21
"The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) has previously been reported as an oncogene in prostate, breast and colorectal cancers"

This is a quote from a paper in J Cancer. 2017; 8(16): 3343–3355.The title is:

The Prognostic Value of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The paper found that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma likewise (with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers) expresses a protein similar to a benzodiazepine receptor, and all these cancers are promoted or activated by benzodiazepine molecules.

I believe that people with these cancers will still receive and use benzodiazepines for anxiety or as a part of anesthetics.

The greater significance is that these receptors can be used to make sensitive detection assays for metastasis and for progression of disease in these cancers.

Or, maybe, a different and novel route for chemo- or immunotherapy of these cancers can come from these findings.

18 posted on 08/17/2023 2:53:41 PM PDT by caddie (We must all become Trump, starting now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Even in the four years, the treatment has changed. It nice to see it getting some attention.


19 posted on 08/17/2023 3:06:13 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

True. Pancreatic cancer is almost always a death sentence.


20 posted on 08/17/2023 11:30:12 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson