BrianOCD Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) They are even listed as such. I've heard of people who don't want to do SSRIs use benzos instead for depression with mixed results...some it makes worse...few get better. Seems risky to me as benzos are so sedating, but wondering if it's been successful for anyone else? I know in the first few weeks Ativan always makes me feel better. My depression is a very anxious one. Edited July 6, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikl_pls Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Xanax supposedly has antidepressant qualities and even has an indication I believe for depression. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Heard of klon for depression...also heard it's a terrible idea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heilmania Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 My (new!) docs juuuust told me today that Klonopin is a depressant, so I shouldn't be on it, because I have depression. Makes sense to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifequake Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 I do not find benzos to be effective for depression. Klonopin makes it noticeably worse for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustNuts Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Benzodiazepines have a significant risk of worsening depression. I don't think I've ever heard of someone proposing to treat depression with them before. While benzos can in some cases help depression indirectly by alleviating anxiety that is interfering with your ability to handle your depression, they don't really have any direct antidepressant effects unless they're abused for the euphoric effects that they can sometimes cause when misused (not a good idea at all as benzodiazepines are both psychologically and physically addictive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikl_pls Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 6 hours ago, Iceberg said: Heard of klon for depression...also heard it's a terrible idea It may be just me, but when I take Klonopin for more than 2-3 weeks at a time regularly (0.5-1 mg 2-3x/day), I actually get more depressed. It does wonders for my anxiety though, but I do eventually fall pretty flat. 4 hours ago, heilmania said: My (new!) docs juuuust told me today that Klonopin is a depressant, so I shouldn't be on it, because I have depression. Makes sense to me. Yep. All benzos are depressants. 3 hours ago, lifequake said: I do not find benzos to be effective for depression. Klonopin makes it noticeably worse for me. Same here. Except Serax (oxazepam), which I find exceedingly effective for anxiety with depression, which helps the anxiety without exacerbating my depression, regardless of how often I take it. Xanax worked well for my anxiety, but would do crazy things to my mood like make me dysphoric hypomanic or even slightly psychotic if I took it too often. 34 minutes ago, JustNuts said: Benzodiazepines have a significant risk of worsening depression. I don't think I've ever heard of someone proposing to treat depression with them before. While benzos can in some cases help depression indirectly by alleviating anxiety that is interfering with your ability to handle your depression, they don't really have any direct antidepressant effects unless they're abused for the euphoric effects that they can sometimes cause when misused (not a good idea at all as benzodiazepines are both psychologically and physically addictive). I think this is all the supposed "antidepressant" effect of Xanax is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 That Xanax was an antidepressant was at best a marketing ploy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikl_pls Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 On 7/7/2017 at 7:10 AM, notloki said: That Xanax was an antidepressant was at best a marketing ploy. I'd believe that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) Uggh I pretty much agree I was looking for confirmation, I was just looking for other options than SSRIs, but I guess I'm stuck with those when it comes to depressed moods. Interesting that benzos are sometimes listed as AntiDepressants. I stopped my ativan totally today and I do have a little more energy. Edited July 8, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 On 7/6/2017 at 11:24 PM, JustNuts said: Benzodiazepines have a significant risk of worsening depression. I don't think I've ever heard of someone proposing to treat depression with them before. While benzos can in some cases help depression indirectly by alleviating anxiety that is interfering with your ability to handle your depression, they don't really have any direct antidepressant effects unless they're abused for the euphoric effects that they can sometimes cause when misused (not a good idea at all as benzodiazepines are both psychologically and physically addictive). I guess it's that indirect effect that I enjoy so much. I just typically remember my mood going high every time I take Ativan after not taking it for a while. But I guess the elimination of the anxiety opens that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) On 7/8/2017 at 6:33 PM, BrianOCD said: I was just looking for other options than SSRIs, but I guess I'm stuck with those when it comes to depressed moods. There are other types of AD options besides SSRIs and SNRIs (Effexor is an SNRI).....such as TCAs or MAOIs, which are older drugs, but some here have had success with them. Have you ever talked with your pdoc about trying an AD from a totally different class? Edited July 10, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 On 7/8/2017 at 4:33 PM, BrianOCD said: Uggh I pretty much agree I was looking for confirmation, I was just looking for other options than SSRIs, but I guess I'm stuck with those when it comes to depressed moods. Interesting that benzos are sometimes listed as AntiDepressants. I stopped my ativan totally today and I do have a little more energy. Well I refuse SSRI's. Had them in the past before being diagnosed bipolar, and they are hell to come off of, so.. nope. So instead, I take Wellbutrin which is an SNRI, and it helps a great deal! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 No Wellbutrin isn't a SNRI it's a NDRI it acts on norepinephrine and dopamine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 On 7/10/2017 at 6:38 AM, CrazyRedhead said: There are other types of AD options besides SSRIs and SNRIs (Effexor is an SNRI).....such as TCAs or MAOIs, which are older drugs, but some here have had success with them. Have you ever talked with your pdoc about trying an AD from a totally different class? Not yet, he keeps pushing me to try Trintellix, that's what he wanted me to try. Problem is I haven't felt stable enough to come off of Effexor in a few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaryland Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I am dependent on xanax and it no longer has sedative effects one me, like it doesn't put me to sleep. Xanax definitely plays an anti-depressant role in my treatment because it alleviates the stress in my life that causes me to become depressed. Ever since the beginning Xanax has helped me during depressive episodes. It puts me in a better mood as well, at my prescribed doses. Other benzos have not had this effect, such as valium and klonopin. When I was on Klonopin 1mg twice daily my mood was really low and I didn't have interest in anything. With Valium it also leaves me apathetic after daily use at higher doses (10-20mg twice daily), so I am currently sticking to 10mg nightly, sometimes not, for seizure control. My doc also wants to taper me from Xanax to a longer acting like Klonopin and Valium, but I'm not looking forward to dealing with the low mood and apathy I previously had with these two longer acting benzos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) I've considered Ativan may help with obsessions and ruminations that go along in anxious depression. I'm taking a small amount now to see if it will help... Doesn't the benzo kill stress off for the most part? That alone would be anti-depressant right? I've been under chronic stress for the last 4 months that's led me to where I am now. Edited July 31, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 It depends...one Ativan won't last all day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 1 minute ago, Iceberg said: It depends...one Ativan won't last all day True, I think the Effexor covers those problems well, but this dosage isn't doing it for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Do you think that more dose increase will help? Or is Effexor just not gonna cut it for you? I wrote in your other post about trying TCAs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Iceberg said: Do you think that more dose increase will help? Or is Effexor just not gonna cut it for you? I wrote in your other post about trying TCAs When Effexor worked, it's the best for my symptoms. I'm just not sure it's going to be as effective this time around from what I'm going through. I may go all the way back up to 300mg to see if I feel better though. I'm trying to stay low on it to avoid some of the side effects, but unfortunately I'm not getting much benefit. Edited July 31, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Yeah I've had meds no work for me the second time around after having more effect the first time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Iceberg said: Yeah I've had meds no work for me the second time around after having more effect the first time The dosage increase should at least get some benefit back though, or does it poop out altogher? I'm not opposed to trying TCA, are there any with low side effects? Edited July 31, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 1) for me the dose increase didn't help much...happened with geodon and latuda 2) unfortunately, while some get low side effects, most or all have a higher side effect profile than SSRIs. Anafranil is supposedly great for OCD and its related anxiety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Iceberg said: 1) for me the dose increase didn't help much...happened with geodon and latuda 2) unfortunately, while some get low side effects, most or all have a higher side effect profile than SSRIs. Anafranil is supposedly great for OCD and its related anxiety ugggh, well that's bad news I'll probably try Effexor at higher dosages one more time then call it quits on it... I guess I have a few options since I havent done that many ADs, possibly Cymbalta? TCAs I've been looking at. Are you on one? And what's it like? Edited July 31, 2017 by BrianOCD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 I'm bipolar so TCAs for me are too risky with a history of mania. They are less Rx'd now but considered just as effective according to my pdoc who says he uses them next after SSRIs. Cymbalta could be worth a look...or fetzima if SNRIs are what u wanna stick with. There's also remeron which helps some at low doses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 4 minutes ago, Iceberg said: I'm bipolar so TCAs for me are too risky with a history of mania. They are less Rx'd now but considered just as effective according to my pdoc who says he uses them next after SSRIs. Cymbalta could be worth a look...or fetzima if SNRIs are what u wanna stick with. There's also remeron which helps some at low doses If Cymbalta could work half as good as Effexor did, I'd be happy. I'm pretty miserable atm. Just waking up daily with constant anxiety, worries, and some depression... So anything would help me now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 You said your starting Ativan right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 2 minutes ago, Iceberg said: You said your starting Ativan right? Ya I kind of had to..I've been anxious as hell. Just took .5 earlier today, will take another at bedtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Well see how that treats you, it might be enough to make things manageable. There is also room in the dose at .5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianOCD Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 2 hours ago, Iceberg said: Well see how that treats you, it might be enough to make things manageable. There is also room in the dose at .5 I don't want to overdo it though, too long on ativan generally makes me numb/depressed... I'm dealing with an anxious depression right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Have you ever tried lyrica/gabapentin or hydroxyzine? they can be good alternatives to benzos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaryland Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 19 hours ago, BrianOCD said: ugggh, well that's bad news I'll probably try Effexor at higher dosages one more time then call it quits on it... I guess I have a few options since I havent done that many ADs, possibly Cymbalta? TCAs I've been looking at. Are you on one? And what's it like? If Effexor doesn't work at the higher dosage you could try Pristiq (desvenlafaxine). It is very similar to effexor (venlafaxine) and might give you the relief you are looking for. Mirtazapine is another AD that isn't an SSRI or TCA, and it might be worth a try, but it is pretty sedating at lower doses, and more activating at higher doses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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