[Guest]

Dr.,

Thanks for your reply.

1. Your comment that withdrawal anxiety and even more severe symptoms may occur on discontinutation leads to the question: Wouldn't the return of the anxiety likely be a sign that the episode is simply not over, much as it would be considered if a similar result occured upon discontinuance of an SSRI? Or are the differences in recurrence rates too dramatic to support such a conclusion?

2. Your comment regarding the SSRIs that continued treatment with them may not be necessary if the episode is over; certainly there are those who experience the same with benzos (including one from my own family), is it your belief that SSRIs may cure or send the disorder into remission while benzos merely mask the symptoms in the hopes that one waits out the disorder (because most do not seem to need benzos for the rest of their life)?

Sorry to be a pest, I not trying to refute your points, but rather better understand them. Thanks.

[Guest]

As I said some of the differences may be semantic.

We tend to think of depression as episodic. We tend to think of GAD as chronic. Obviously, you can have situational, temporary anxiety and chronic depression.

Also, at high enough doses, dependance on benzos is inevitable and predictable. The SSRIs are not as predictable in terms of any of these parameters.

I still maintain that it is the "dog you don't see that bites you". If you know the benefits and risks of benzos and use them accordingly, they are excellant agents. Like any medication they have their down points. I would state that over all they can be safely managed and utilized for decades in the right individual.
[quote] Dr. ,

Thanks for your reply... [/quote]