Posted by Alara on February 13, 2003, at 4:13:53
In reply to Re: Xanax as anti-depressant, posted by Alan on February 8, 2003, at 9:31:50
> I agree completely with the last two posters. This has been my personal experience and what I have observed many others saying. The relief of anxiety is terribly underestimated as a way of treating mixed anx/depress. Unfortunately the commercially driven ssri's have muddied the waters when it comes to teasing the two out.
>
> It is my belief that those suffering from "mixed" anx/depress. should be offered AD and bzd monotherapy on equal footing...the bzd recommended first if not contraindicated and the AD second. This because of the quick clinical trial result of trying the bzd first.
>
> There are studies that I've heard of that state that there are anti-depressant effects from xanax but I have not read them to see if that included the "mixed" diagnosis or not.
>
> AlanI agree totally, Alan. I started on Xanax before adding Celexa and have found that the two work wonders when used in conjuction. By itself, Xanax only worked on the basic CNS (not social/cognitive) elements of my anxiety. In tandem, the two work very well. I currently use 20mg of Celexa and 0.75mg of Xanax daily to cope with a very stressful job and have to admit that I would be lost without this combo.
My doctor actually wants me to wean off the Xanax and this is worrying me as I don't know that I can cope without it to augment the Celexa. I am not abusing it, but doctors are strictly told restrict benzo use to the short term. I do not abuse it. (Get the same benefit by taking the same dose during the week and cutting down slightly on the weekend.) But doctors are trained to discourage benzo use...
Go figure.
poster:Alara
thread:140106
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030208/msgs/140835.html