Can SSRI’s treat anxiety as well as benzos?

Question by Alejandro Iglesias: Can SSRI’s treat anxiety as well as benzos?
Im 15 and they wont let me take benzos (klonopin) anymore because they tell me that it develops addiction. They say that it usually develops tolerance and you have to take more and more of it to have the same effect. Is this ALWAYS true for EVERYBODY or usually only happens when you abuse it? and also can SSRI’s (I’m taking Zoloft) at the right dose DIS-INHIBIT you as much as benzos?

Best answer:

Answer by T K5
A)
PART 1:
Benzos, including Klonopin, can become “habit-forming”, or lead to physiological depending–when taken long-term—even when taking as prescribed and not abused. However, not everyone has this problem.
However, if taken for a long time, one must taper off the benzo medication under the supervision of a doctor/prescribing practitioner to avoid severe withdrawal effects (incl. possible seizure if having taken higher dosages for a long time!). Also, there is a greater risk of “tolerance” with benzos–such as after taking a same dose for a long time period, that particular dosage doesn’t work and one needs a “larger” dosage to “work” on anxiety. Or, one “needs” the benzo drug just to be able to overcome anxiety to get out of bed, etc. (“rebound anxiety”).
PART 2:
No, this is not always true for everybody. Some people, for instance, are prescribed them in a “take only as needed” type manner. Furthermore, many are prescribed them [benzos] in a “relatively” low dosage–at least comparatively, and as such, this does not happen to everyone. Also, different people simply react different to different medications. For instance, someone might even abuse their benzo prescription drug (which is NOT advisable) but still never get addicted to it. Certain benzos are known to being more “abuse-prone”. Nonetheless, it is reasonable that a prescribing doctor would not want a patient on benzos for a long time and would want to taper off at some point.

2) Yes, SSRI’s can treat anxiety. However, benzos act upon GABA neurotransmitters, whereas SSRI’s act upon serotonin.
In fact, antidepressants, esp. SSRI’s are often considered the first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. (The older school antidepressants, such as the tricyclic antidepressants, or “TCA’s”, have too many side effects).
However, SSRI’s take longer to work, have to be taken chronically for the longer term (will not help on an “as needed” basis), and nevertheless have their side effects (including anxiety). Yet, often switching to different SSRI’s can yield better results with lesser side effects. Some SSRI’s are known to have side effects within the first couple of week, or month, after starting (including anxiety, stomach upset) which subside.
Sometimes, doctors prescribe another medication along with and SSRI, such as a benzo (which you used to take), or Buspar. Two other antidepressants (SNRI’s) prescribed to treat anxiety are Effexor and Cymbalta.
It is unlikely that SSRI’s would disinhibit one as much as benzos (if taken as prescribed). However, SSRI’s do not make one “high” are not “happy pills” and are not scheduled/controlled substances.

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