Posted by harryp on May 9, 2004, at 2:04:09
In reply to and about benzos, Peter Kramer, etc., posted by zeugma on May 8, 2004, at 11:08:26
I would avoid identifying that closely with a drug!
However I think there are more than a few Mr./Ms. Parnates and Nardils out there!
With all respect, I think the SSRI's and Effexor are used more because of marketing and the fact that they are safer in overdose.
There is no evidence that SSRI's or Effexor are more effective than TCA's, and a lot of evidence that they are frequently worse, both in SE's and efficacy. I've never seen or heard of a TCA or MAOI side effect/withdrawal story that could compare with the lurid Paxil/Effexor/misc. SSRI, Remeron, etc. horror stories that appear on this board in a perpetual stream.
Biochemically, all modern antidepressants are based on the "MAOI hypothesis"--that is they attempt to replicate various neurochemical effects of the MAOI's without the risk of hypertensive crisis.
It seems well known at the higher levels of psychopharmacology that the MAOI's are overall the most effective AD's known, but no one admits this (even to new psych residents) because they are such a liability nightmare.
poster:harryp
thread:342881
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040505/msgs/344981.html