Posted by Kon on December 8, 2003, at 12:57:11
I thought some might find this recent piece by Dr. Healy interesting:
http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/58092-DH.htm#SSRIs%20&%20WITHDRAWAL
Some interesting quotes:
"As of 1988 the CSM produced a clear statement saying that benzodiazepines cause dependence. The warnings derived from this statement are still in force today. These warnings use a version of the word dependence, which, if it were applied to the SSRIs now, would have to lead to the SSRIs being regarded as dependence producing."The statement regarding the benzodiazepines was not based on laboratory experiments, nor was it based or animal research demonstrating drug dependence nor on clinical trial evidence demonstrating a severe, long-lasting, or serious condition. The statement regarding the benzodiazepines was not based on any of the points pharmaceutical companies now insist be demonstrated for SSRIs before they can be regarded as dependence producing."
"There is in fact no basis for distinguishing clinically between the normal dose dependence produced by benzodiazepines and the normal dose dependence produced by the SSRIs. There almost certainly will be some differences between the two in various animal models, just as there are between different antidepressant groups, but at present there is no systematic set of clinical criteria to distinguish the two phenomena."
poster:Kon
thread:287722
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/287722.html