Question:
I just got out of hospital for a major depressive episode. I'm currently
taking 325 mg of Effexor (give or take) per day, plus Clonazepam and Alprazolam
(Klonopin and Xanax). My psychiatrist made a passing remark which we never had
time to follow up on that benzodiazepines can aggravate certain aspects of
depression (irritability, anger) after prolonged chronic usage. Would anyone
know anything about this or have had the same experience? Also, has anyone had
any positive experience with Buspar (Buspirone), the non-benzo anti-anxiety
drug? My doctor does "believe" in it, but she has offered no other remedy for
my extreme anxiety after I withdraw from benzo's, which had me worried and
scared?
Answer:
I've been taking xanax. I can tell you
during the first month of being on it I had a few episodes of pure rage,
directed at totl strangers. (verbal rage). Which was very out of
character for me.
I had been on xanax about 10 years ago and never had this happen.
The rages stopped, But I do feel irritable and moody often(crying to cat
food commercials Ect,) I've told my pychatrist these things and he now
feels that my anxiety is less of an issue, and that he believes I suffer
from depression (Da, no kidding) .
I feel I've been depressed for almost a year, but I have panic attacks
and that is why the doc. put me on Xanax. I think the Xanax has
aggravated the depression in my case. I've started on Paxil and still
take the xanax to help with the stimulating effect of the Paxil. As for getting off the benzo's. I would not worry. If you go VERY
SLOWLY at decreasing the dosage, you should have no problems. I weaned
off of xanax 8 years ago (VERY SLOWLY) and never had any rebound anxiety
or any ill effects. I would like to know where your p-doc got his information on
benzos causing a worsening of depression. My depression and
anxiety were alleviated by taking Paxil (20 mg) and 5 mg
of Klonopin. So in my case at least, the theory didn't hold.
Of course we know that each case is different. I also was
taking a small dose (7 1/2 mg) of Remeron at night. Currently
I am weaning myself off of both the Paxil and the benzos
(right now roughly 7 1/2 mg of Paxil and 2 1/2 mg of Klonopin).
And i have upped my Remeron to insure that I don't relapse.
I know I can lower my Klonopin more but I just have do it
slowly (it was easier to lower it than I thought it would be
as long as I did it slowly and gradually). Incidentally I
have had no bad side effects by dropping Paxil slowly.
Paxil is nasty getting onto it to begin with (nausea, etc.)
and it often does a great job of shutting down your libido.
But if often works great with depression and anxiety if used
properly with a benzo like Klonopin. But again it depends
on the person.
I don't think that anyone taking 1/2 mg. of Klonopin is in
danger of worsening one's depression. The dosage is very
minimal. I don't think you can get a Klonopin pill that
is less than 1/2 mg.
