Posted by gheld on June 10, 2001, at 9:24:21
In reply to Re: Happen to be lurking around, Cam? » gheld, posted by Cam W. on June 9, 2001, at 10:33:50
> Gordon - Yes, I have heard of several suicide deaths from from overdoses of benzodiazepines mixed with alcohol, resulting in respiratory depression. Also, more people have died from taking taking overdoses of benzodiazepines alone (granted, it is rare), while people who have taken massive overdoses of SSRIs alone have recovered without any problems. There have only been a few deaths reported in which someone has died from ingesting overdoses of SSRIs alone, but less than 10 worldwide (I believe).
Cam: Is that as even comparison in that you mention death with benzo's AND alcohol and are comparing to SSRI's with no mention of alcohol. How about deaths from benzo OD'ing alone or SSRI's and alcohol. Enough alcohol alone can cause death.
>
>
> Let's compare side effets profiles (in no particular order):
>
> Rivotril™ (clonazepam - Klonopin™ -U.S.)
> Most Common - CNS depression in approx, 50% of people, respiratory depression, aggressiveness, argumentative behavior, hyperactivity, agitation, depression, euphoria, irritability, forgetfulness, confusion, nystagmus, unsteady gait, slurred speech, dysarthria, vertigo, palpitations, gynecomastia, hallucinations, muscle weakness, low back pain, increased appetite, nocturia, hypersecretion in upper respiratory tract, urinary retention, enuresis....
>
> Prozac™ (fluoxetine)
> Start-up side effects - headache, nervousness insomnia, anxiety, emotional lability, nausea, tremor, dizziness, diarrhea/constipation, myalgia, flu-like sympoms, anorexia.....
>
> Long-term side effects - decreased libido, anorgasmia,Go no farther. I doubt anyone who is sexually active would take the Prozac, (read SSRI), side effects when compared to those above. I rest my case.
> BTW - If your doc does not spend time with you, find one that does; one that you can trust and trusts you. My pdoc and I work closely together to monitor my progress. He is only a phone call away, day or night.Mine, too. He is actually one of the few psychiatrists left who does his own therapy.
Again I'm referring only to those with anxiety, not anxiety connected with depression. I agree that benzo's are a risk factor for depressives. I suspect most people who are clinically depressed don't have much sex life anyway so that side effect of the SSRI's isn't going to hurt much initially. The issue is; will the sex life return once the depression is cured and the SSRI's stopped?
Gordon
poster:gheld
thread:65576
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/66001.html