Posted by viridis on November 2, 2002, at 2:19:33
In reply to Benzodiazepines and depression, posted by Tepiaca on November 1, 2002, at 12:07:47
I think a lot of it comes down to the cause-and- effect relationship between anxiety and depression. As others here have suggested (Alan in particular, I think), some people seem to be anxious because they're depressed, others depressed because they're anxious.
For people in the first category, benzos may not be so great, and could increase depression (although as Hiba pointed out, there's some evidence that Xanax in particular actually has antidepressant properties). This group might be better off with ADs (or ADs plus benzos). For people whose depression is largely the result of anxiety, benzos can reduce depression greatly. I seem to fall into this category. So, you should try to figure out (ideally with your doctor's help) which category describes you better, while addressing the SP issues.
I do suspect, based on limited experience with Valium, that it could be an especially depression-inducing benzo. I don't like it at all, but I respond very well to Klonopin and Xanax, which help fight off anxiety and depression for me. I take both (mainly K, X occasionally) and combining them is no problem for me.
The ADs I've tried have had terrible side effects, increase anxiety, and don't seem to help much with depression, but I know people for whom Prozac, Paxil, Celexa etc. have had life-changing effects in terms of both anxiety and depression.
There are enough meds out there now that you're bound to find the one (or combination) that will work -- it may just take a while.
poster:viridis
thread:126091
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021101/msgs/126147.html