Posted by TomV on April 19, 2005, at 11:17:24
In reply to Xanax (alprazolam) has antidepressant properties, posted by sukarno on April 18, 2005, at 4:34:26
> According to my previous psychiatrist in the US, (paraphrased): "Xanax does have an antidepressant effect at the higher doses, but I won't prescribe it at those doses."
>
> Oh well. I find it to be the least likely of the benzos to exacerbate depression in my case. My mood improved significantly when I switched from Valium to Xanax, but it took some time to adjust to it.
>
> Valium was great for anxiety though and had a strong muscle relaxant effect.
>
> I found Klonopin to be useful in that it is longer-acting...seems like a dose of Klonopin will last up to 12 hours, whereas a dose of Valium or Xanax poops out after 6 hours. (However, withdrawal symptoms begin much more rapidly upon abrupt discontinuation of Xanax. I could go a day without Valium and feel ok, but 12 hours without Xanax = withdrawal for me)
>Xanax does relieve my depression at higher levels, but I tend to get much sleepier and usually coming down is not a pretty picture.
I tried xanax xr (hoping it would give me the AD effect) but it seemed like a totally different drug to me and had to discontinue.
Tom
poster:TomV
thread:430249
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050418/msgs/486410.html