Posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 21, 2004, at 1:30:46
In reply to Do SSRI's Klonopin/Xanax attack SA differently?, posted by Adam33 on January 19, 2004, at 15:33:12
Benzos provide instant gratification -- they work immediately, from the first dose, and from those offered by barbiturates or ethyl alcohol. Barbs and booze have a generalized central nervous system depressant effect however, where benzos are pretty darn specialized. They specifically target the regions and receptors in the brain that are responsible for calming down an over-active, over-anxious brain.
SSRIs certainly take a more roundabout approach (and, from what I see, are rarely of any significant help in treating social phobia). Rather than getting into the whole 5-HT reuptake explanation, I think you may find it interesting to know that it was recently discovered that Prozac (an [atypical] SSRI) causes the growth of new brain cells with consistent use. This could have to do with the reason these drugs take so long to begin working, considering that reuptake inhibition is achieved with the first dose.
So that's the technical explanation... time for my editorial. Benzos rid anxiety without messing around with the rest of your brain (for the most part). SSRIs, as "selective" as they are, are not at all specifically targeted toward proven biological causes of anxiety. SSRIs seem to "help" social phobes by numbing their emotions; while benzos may do this at first, the degree to which they do so is rarely so severe, and it typically goes away in a short time.possess mechanisms of action not so far removed
But as always, I must make it quite clear -- I love my Prozac, and I mean no disrespect! lol :-) I take it for depression/mild OCD though... my social phobia, agoraphobia, panic, GAD, and most of my depression are treated wonderfully with Klonopin and Adderall.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:302839
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/303559.html