Posted by Alan on July 29, 2001, at 18:21:43
In reply to misunderstandings about benzodiazepines » Benzobuster, posted by Elizabeth on July 29, 2001, at 14:46:47
> > You give the impression that the drug companies endorse long term usage. This is not true. Benzos should not be used for more than 2 to 4 weeks for anxiety or insomnia.
>
> Research has shown that they can be used long-term for panic disorder without tolerance or loss of efficacy. This has been known for some time. They generally don't work very well for chronic insomnia.
>
> > Depression? Just where did anyone here get the idea that a tranquilizer is an anti-depressant.
>
> There is evidence to support the use of alprazolam as an AD. Adinazolam (brand name Deracyn), another triazolobenzodiazepine, is available in some countries for use as an AD. (It's not marketed in the US; I'm guessing it's not in the UK either. It is in clinical use -- as an antidepressant -- in Germany and France and probably a few other places.)
>
> > Tranquilizers are depressants and do not lift a persons mood. It may seem that they do because they actually take the edge off and dull the CNS.
>
> It's a common misunderstanding that CNS depressants are drugs that cause "depression." Some people do become more depressed on benzodiazepines (and some probably mistake sedation for depression), but this is relatively rare (barbiturates were much more of a problem). As mentioned, alprazolam may be less likely to trigger or exacerbate [affective] depression.
>
> If you are interested, I can refer you to some articles relating to the use of adinazolam and alprazolam as antidepressants, and to the use of benzodiazepines for chronic anxiety disorders such as panic disorder.
>
> -elizabeth
*****************************************Yes, elizabeth. Those articles would be most informative if you can provide links or relevant passages to treat anxiety or panic disorders.
These "facts" sound like the mantra for the anti-benzo lobby - mostly based in the U.K.. The World Heath Organisation sees no problem with short and long term benzodiazapine therapy after all of the 40 or so years that they've been available.
It's also perplexing that there is so much misinformation out there about the drug in light of its huge success rate for the general population of chronic anxiety sufferers. I think the fact that benzos are off brand and ssri's for the most part haven't been, the "one size fit all" pitch for dep. AND anx. to family docs and internists (non-specialists) over the years from the companies have muddied the waters about how one goes about seeking full releif from the symptoms of disorders that are anxiety driven.
Also, I don't know how many posts I've read here about "withdrawl" symptoms from ssri's - a supposedly "non-addictive" alternative to benzos.
I could go on and on.
But I won't.
Alan
poster:Alan
thread:71316
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010725/msgs/72410.html