Posted by HIBA on January 5, 2003, at 0:51:32
In reply to Re: BENZODIAZEPINES ARE NOT THE ANSWER » HIBA, posted by micky301 on January 4, 2003, at 20:52:25
Hello Micky,
Thanks for your response. The reason why docs still hestitate to deal freely with benzos:
It is upto docs to chose the right medication for the right patient. Some doc see benzos much problematic than antidepressants because of their potential for abuse and dependence, while some are more rational to assess the benefit versus risks ratio and try the benzo route at first. Older antidepressants and newer ones have found to be effective in anxiety disorders,(though not as benzos) but the cost is too high. Whatever pdocs say to you, antidepressants are a life sentence if your disorder is of a chronic nature. That is my experience. Benzos can also be the same, but with a huge difference in the side effect and safety profile. In the case of an overanxious patient, docs usuallly try antidepressant route first hoping that the drug can be withdrawan easily, only to see the same patient a couple of months later in a more disturbed and disorganized state. Then the blame goes to underlying disorders and the possibility of antidepressant induced psychological dependence is conveniently being ignored or unnoticed. Anxiety is often chronic and antidepressants can be a life sentence to such patients, with all those horrible side effects such as memory loss, sexual dysfunction etc. But still some docs vehemently relying on these kind of medications with a frivolous belief that on a bright sunny day before the flood, they can free all their overanxious patients from these chemicals. But if you are unfortunate enough to be categorized in the chronic section, believe me,freedom from medications is not only an illusion, but can be quite unwise also.
So when a long-term therapy is needed, it is wise to chose the safest route. Though not innocuous, benzos are much superior to antidepressants in their safety profiles. They are safer than medicines like aspirin and penicillin. Even decades after their introduction, the controversy over benzos is roughly concentrated on their potential for abuse and dependence. Nothing more to blame. Benzophobics are frequently echoing the same thing. Dependence and withdrawal. That's all. But can't we accept a slight medical dependence in order to function normally? Can't we accept benzo dependence much favourable than a much problematic antidepressant dependence?
HIBA
poster:HIBA
thread:133201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134558.html