Not sure if this is a tangent from Xanax or not, but Xanax (alprazolam) is not an antidepressant (just sometimes used off-label as one). It is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of e.g. panic disorder. A 2012 Cochrane review remarked that the only studies they could find regarding its efficacy for depression were “heterogeneous, of poor quality and only addressed short‐term effects”. Long-term use of benzodiazepines (discouraged) is even believed to lead to depression. Depression and anxiety are often comorbid, and helping one can affect the other; the 2012 review didn’t really understand the mechanism that Xanax was working through. If you’re talking about getting off it, benzos are associated with high risk of both physical and psychological dependency.
Rambling aside, getting off of Xanax compared to getting off common antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclics is a totally different ballgame.*
* The Cochrane review found withdrawals were less common in Xanax, but they note (given the notably poor evidence): “these findings should be interpreted with caution, given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines.”
Biggest con of antidepressants: difficulty getting off.
Not sure if this is a tangent from Xanax or not, but Xanax (alprazolam) is not an antidepressant (just sometimes used off-label as one). It is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of e.g. panic disorder. A 2012 Cochrane review remarked that the only studies they could find regarding its efficacy for depression were “heterogeneous, of poor quality and only addressed short‐term effects”. Long-term use of benzodiazepines (discouraged) is even believed to lead to depression. Depression and anxiety are often comorbid, and helping one can affect the other; the 2012 review didn’t really understand the mechanism that Xanax was working through. If you’re talking about getting off it, benzos are associated with high risk of both physical and psychological dependency.
Rambling aside, getting off of Xanax compared to getting off common antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclics is a totally different ballgame.*
* The Cochrane review found withdrawals were less common in Xanax, but they note (given the notably poor evidence): “these findings should be interpreted with caution, given the dependency properties of benzodiazepines.”
Exactly. Told my doctor that recently. Been there done that couldn’t do the sex. Xanax though is great if you don’t abuse it.