How do antidepressants differ from benzodiazipines in the treatment of anxiety disorders?

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First things first: everything is similar to everything else in some way or another. The similarity between using antidepressants and benzodiazepines is that they are both external chemical substances injested to modulate the chemical imbalance that is hypothesized to be the cause of the symptoms of the anxiety disorder(although it is simply an associated finding). The brain has many types of receptors (sites on membranes of cells that receive the molecule of the drug and reacts to it in a key and lock fashion). Benzodiazepines act on receptors (GABA) that are different from those that antidepressants act upon. Recently,some newer generation antidepressants can act on receptors that bind to benzodiazepines

Side effects are a major concern, sexual side effects, dependence on and addiction to, as well as appetite and weight gain being the most signficant to people who utilize pscyhiatric medication. Antidepressants are guilty of sexual side effects, appetite and weight changes (usually gain. Benzodiazepines are guilty of being addicting and thus they are restricted in use for a maximum of six weeks, preferably only one week in the begining to ameliorate the symptoms.

The effect of the antidepressants can be delayed: anywhere from one week to three weeks while benzodiazepines can start to work immediately, hence the combined prescription of both.

From clinical experience: on the long run, having utilized benzodiazepines tends to limit personality development. Up till now, there is no Randomized control trial (RCT) to support this clinical opinion.

A general word of recommendation: Medication alone are never ever enough. A combination of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral therapy), self management skills, adult develoment training programs, in addition to or instead of the medication, is highly recommended. This minimizes the likelihood of relapse and allows the individual to capitalize on the experience.

First answer by Tabeeba. Last edit by Tabeeba. Contributor trust: 56 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 35 [recommend question]