Posted by viridis on January 3, 2003, at 1:16:39
In reply to Re: BENZODIAZEPINES ARE NOT THE ANSWER, posted by micky301 on January 2, 2003, at 23:57:23
People compare benzos to insulin because both can cause medical dependency and should not be stopped suddenly, due to the physiological adjustment that has occurred as a result of of their use. It's true that people don't usually die from panic attacks, but for some with severe anxiety disorders, life is hardly worth living -- hence the high suicide rate in this group. Add to this the long-term health consequences of relentless anxiety, and use of benzos such as Klonopin is certainly justified for some from a purely medical perspective.
Some people have trouble getting off them, but most don't if they discontinue use gradually. And some people need them for life (in several senses -- as in long-term use, as in being able to live normally, and as in making the decision to keep living at all).
I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with benzos, but the weight of evidence suggests that this is the exception (although I'm sure very real for you) rather than the norm.
poster:viridis
thread:133201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134254.html