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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Questionmark on June 29, 2004, at 1:25:46
i would like to have a consensus (if not a research-based answer) on this once and for all. Which do you all think is worse, or more difficult and/or severe-- in terms of duration of withdrawal and post-withdrawal symptoms, severity, etc., etc.-- SSRI withdrawal or benzo. withdrawal? (And why?)
Try to think of comparable typical doses of SSRIs and benzos.
Posted by chemist on June 29, 2004, at 3:01:18
In reply to SSRI withdrawal versus benzodiazepine withdrawal, posted by Questionmark on June 29, 2004, at 1:25:46
> i would like to have a consensus (if not a research-based answer) on this once and for all. Which do you all think is worse, or more difficult and/or severe-- in terms of duration of withdrawal and post-withdrawal symptoms, severity, etc., etc.-- SSRI withdrawal or benzo. withdrawal? (And why?)
> Try to think of comparable typical doses of SSRIs and benzos.hello there, chemist here.....can you please name the drugs in question? all the best, chemist
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 8:10:17
In reply to Re: SSRI withdrawal versus benzodiazepine withdrawal » Questionmark, posted by chemist on June 29, 2004, at 3:01:18
I simply cannot get of SSRI's. I have been on Valium, Bromazepam, Klonazepam, Lorazepam, and Xanax, all at theraputic doses for over a month. I tapered off within a week. Coming off of them I just feel a little restless. Coming off of an SSRI, your whole world comes crashing down. You're angry, you're irritable, you're hot and sweaty all the time, you're sad, you're anxious, you can't sleep, you're delusional, you have no motivation, you're weepey, no humour,..........
and the list goes on and on.
The doctors who prescripe SSRI's for anxiety under the pretences that they are non adictive like benzodiazapines are so far off these days its not funny.
When heroin first appeared in cough serups it was advertised as "Non addicting like other avaliable cought syrups" [other cough syrups which then, as now, contain codiene]
Linkadge
Posted by Questionmark on June 29, 2004, at 10:22:25
In reply to benzo withdrawl easier - hands down for me, posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 8:10:17
> I simply cannot get of SSRI's. I have been on Valium, Bromazepam, Klonazepam, Lorazepam, and Xanax, all at theraputic doses for over a month. I tapered off within a week. Coming off of them I just feel a little restless. Coming off of an SSRI, your whole world comes crashing down. You're angry, you're irritable, you're hot and sweaty all the time, you're sad, you're anxious, you can't sleep, you're delusional, you have no motivation, you're weepey, no humour,..........
>
> and the list goes on and on.
>
>
>
> The doctors who prescripe SSRI's for anxiety under the pretences that they are non adictive like benzodiazapines are so far off these days its not funny.
>
> When heroin first appeared in cough serups it was advertised as "Non addicting like other avaliable cought syrups" [other cough syrups which then, as now, contain codiene]
>
>
> Linkadge
>Linkadge, great points. And a great description of SSRI withdrawal. Ugh it's horrible!
It is SO ridiculous that SSRIs are touted as being relatively easy to withdrawal from while benzos are so often associated with "ADDICTION!!". One might not need/want ever-increasing doses of an SSRI, but they cause strong physical dependence. It infuriates me.
You also made a great point about heroin originally being sold as a safe and non-addictive substitute for morphine and other narcotics. Why does psychiatry so rarely learn from our & their past mistakes?Your post is encouraging though. If most of the other posters seem to echo your sentiment, i'm going to be much more comfortable getting on Klonopin or another benzo (not that i have any immediate plans to do so, but still). i've wanted to try low-dose daily Klonopin for awhile again (last trial didn't last very long), but i've heard so many stories about how difficult benzo withdrawal is that i did not want to risk it. If it's anything like the Paxil withdrawal i experienced-- of which i never felt "normal" again for even months after discontinuing-- then i would not consider Klonopin or another benzo to be worth getting on at this point.
So anyway, thanks! And keep the responses coming everyone else!
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 11:12:03
In reply to Re: benzo withdrawl easier - hands down for me » linkadge, posted by Questionmark on June 29, 2004, at 10:22:25
If I had to redo it all again, I would try a small dose of SJW, and use Benzo's as needed.
Thats the other thing. For people who have anxiety disorders, it might be fine for a week and then be hell the next week. SSRI's don't really work as needed, but benzo's do.
Linkadge
Posted by Torque on June 29, 2004, at 19:33:35
In reply to Re: benzo withdrawl easier - hands down for me, posted by linkadge on June 29, 2004, at 11:12:03
Are you going to try SJW and a benzo? In addition you posted about Ritalin being effective on another thread. Why did you stop it?
Posted by Pluto on June 30, 2004, at 8:52:48
In reply to SSRI withdrawal versus benzodiazepine withdrawal, posted by Questionmark on June 29, 2004, at 1:25:46
Klonopin was much much easier to withdraw compared to the hell I suffered when I came off anafranil(An old SSRI). SSRI withdrawals are more of a psychologic nature, while benzo withdrawals usually represent physiological symptoms. What is more tolerable is upto the patient. Personally, I can tolerate any physical agony, but if my inner-self is weak, it is pure hell. I could stop six years of klonopin habit within 15 days. True, there were some minor physical discomforts, but those were only mild. But it took almost a year to get normalized after the last anafranil tablet I took. Benzos are far superior to SSRIs in terms of safety, withdrawal and efficacy.
PLS
Posted by linkadge on June 30, 2004, at 13:31:19
In reply to Re: SSRI withdrawal versus benzodiazepine withdrawal » Questionmark, posted by Pluto on June 30, 2004, at 8:52:48
I might try it, but I would have a hard time getting a steady supply of Benzo's. I might not need to take benzos on a regular basis but I need to know they're there if I do.
As far as ritalin goes, I would continue it, but doctors would not give me a steady supply, especially not as antidepressant monotherapy.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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