Posted by blueberry on November 24, 2006, at 17:17:54
In reply to How do SSRI's compare to benzos for SP?, posted by saturn on November 24, 2006, at 13:28:05
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> Can anyone comment? Thanks.
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Benzos are reliably effective and work almost immediately. Ssris are sometimes effective, but take weeks or months to work.To find a plateua where a dose keeps working, the benzo will probably be increased rapidly in the first few weeks and maybe slightly more in months. After that people I know have gone many years on the same dose without loss of effectiveness. I've never seen an ssri go nearly as long. Dose increases with ssris will be slower, but eventually they just produce more side effects and no more gain, at least from what I've seen.
At some point ssris just seem to not work anymore. I mean, I can't remember the last time I heard of someone going years on an ssri without problems. But there have been plenty of people that go years with a benzo.
Disclaimier: Mileage varies.
Benzos and ssris involve physical dependence. Weaning off of them is a slow painful process.
A benzo can be used for short term use, or for situational as-needed use, but ssris won't work that way. Benzos require a degree of responsibility to not abuse them, and to focus on the treatment goals.
poster:blueberry
thread:706724
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/706788.html