Posted by torachan on December 12, 2007, at 17:23:04
I copied and pasted this from the thread above entitled "Glad I am no longer on a Benzo" which is out of the loop.
So, a few questions. Benzos most certainly eliminate my anxiety, but as others have said, it does seem to cause some depression and there are tolerance issues it seems. I can't relate to Racer in that when I had my PA's a while back, a benzo would drop it like a rock in about 15-20 minutes. Perhaps the anxiety I had that created the panic wasn't as severe as yours, Racer.
Anyways, on the chemical front, let me try to understand the neurochemical roots of my anxiety. So benzos increase GABA activity thereby acting as a CNS suppressant thus reducing anxiety, but creates a sort of dazed and dullish brain fog.
And SSRI's, the ones I can't seem to tolerate, inhibit reuptake of serotonin which is thought to help with anxiety--don't know how exactly? The SNRI, Effexor, seems to help with my anxiety somewhat though I still feel it below the surface so I still require the use of a benzo. Why do I respond somewhat to Effexor at 75mg-150mg, but can't get past the first few weeks of an SSRI? Do the two classes act on different serotonin receptors? Somehow I suspect I haven't given an SSRI (Lex) a long enough trial if they do act on the same receptors as an SNRI (Effexor) since as I said I gained some relief from the latter.
Okay, to atypical AP's like seroquel for instance. Do they increase or decrease serotonin/norepinephrine/dopamine, and how does there action on these receptors compare and contrast with that of the other drugs mentioned? I know Seroquel acts on histamine which helps sleep, like Remeron, which I have, but I find histamine blockage only helps with sleep and not anxiety, at least not mine.
I'd like to add that a few of the most recent posts have alerted me to the dangers of my current combo, Effexor and Clonazepam. Linkadge posted some threads indicating that benzos may prevent neurogenesis and Effexor is related chemically to PCP!!! Not good.
So, should I demand my doctor either give me a TCA or an atypical AP for my GAD w/dep.
poster:torachan
thread:800389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071204/msgs/800389.html