For those that just take a benzo...

Do you find that just taking a benzo like Xanax or Valium makes you depressed? I wonder because it seems very common that somebody taking a benzo is also on an SSRI to treat depression. This question is even more real to me because I am withdrawing from Lexapro right now and I am only on my Xanax XR. Today is exactly one week since starting my Lexapro withdrawal and I do feel sad and depressed along with increased anxiety. Now, I will obviously give it some time since these could just be the withdrawal symptoms of the Lexapro but I of course I am wondering if the Lexapro was helping me and not just making me feel dead in the head. It is so hard to tell what works with these drugs and it is very frustrating. So, anybody out there that is just on a benzo and doing well? Thanks.

-Adam

[david85]

Slappy,

As you know i am taking Xanax xr at .5mg and im doing ok...In case you didn't know depression from xanax is rare and in fact out of all the benzos xanax is the least likely to cause depression.ln fact Xanax is a benzo which differs from other benzos in that it has a
"triazalo" ring on the molecule which imparts some antidepressant effects, in addition to the anti-anxiety effects.

[david85]

With regards to Lexapro,as I understand it, stopping an SSRI you've taken for so long coldturkey can bring about some nasty changes in brain chemistry.Your brain has gotten accustomed to the 10mg and all of a sudden it doesn't have it, hence increased anxiety and sadness.Slappy i know you know that lexapro has a shorter half-life then most ssris,
maybe you can ask your doctor to switch you to Prozac which has the longest half-life, then you can wean off easier.

[Slappy3243]

I have no problems handling the withdrawals from the Lexapro. I just want to make sure that this is indeed just a withdrawal reaction to the Lexapro itself and that the Xanax is not causing my depression since there is no SSRI to counter-act it. I guess time will tell. Thanks.

-Adam