Question:
Selective GABAergic treatment for panic? Investigations in experimental
panic induction and panic disorder.
Answer:
I've *never* heard of anybody having any success with Gabitril. Of
course I haven't read the study itself but I'm far from convinced.
why is the general opinion of most psychiatrists in favor of ssri's
over benzo's for anxiety and panic? what is their problem with
benzo's?
They usually site 3 reasons:
1) benzos can cause dependence (but so can antidepressants)
2) benzos can cause a withdrawal syndrome when stopped (so can
antidepressants)
3) benzos are "addictive" (studies have shown that benzo abuse is rare in
people with anxiety disorders)
And another factor is that psychiatry professors who teach residents and
write the psychiatric textbooks are very often paid consultants by the
manufacturers of antidepressants. I am uncertain to what extent this biases
them against benzos and for antidepressants.
SSRI's are hyped up big time while benzos are (wrongly) felt to be
*addictive*. They should do their homework.
It likely has to do with profit margins, but that's just a guess on my
part. I would be interested to know what kind of profit percentage drug
companies make on, for instance, generic clonazepam, and compare it to
that of name-brand Wellbutrin or Prozac. I wonder if that information
is available to the general public.
I'll second that! I've been using alprazolam (Xanax) for about
a decade now and have yet to experience adverse side effects
nor increased dependence (works as well now as it did when
I started). My dosage is purely PRN (some days I use none
at all, up to 3 or rarely 4-mg during very bad days, on average
about 1.5-mg per day).
I've been taking .75 mgs per day of Xanax for about 3 weeks now, after
a SEVERE panic attack (combined w/ hyperventilation) which sent me to
the ER (it was my first attack I thought I was having a heart attack,
despite the fact that I'm only 35 yrs old.)
I love it - I can't believe how much it has helped me!
I only hope that my doctor keeps prescribing it for me, as I think it
is working very well and don't need see any need to switch.
