In a review of the evidence regarding benzodiazepines, researchers from the University of Michigan find that benzodiazepines used in the treatment of PTSD are associated with withdrawal symptoms and more severe symptoms after discontinuation, and may interfere with patients’ efforts to integrate trauma experiences. The article recommends that benzo use should be short-term for most indications, and includes some recommendations for tapering. The article appears in the April issue of Current Psychiatry.
Though this article points out that benzos are not helpful for PTSD or “OCD,” the article falsely claims they are safe and effective for many other uses such are alcohol withdrawal, which is patently false since benzos like Xanax epecially are like booze in a pill causing harmful addiction in themselves including blackouts.
The article also claims that SSRI’s have replaced benzos for PTSD with the implication SSRI’s are safe and effective while benzos are not. This is a fraudulent claim.
Are the spinners of truth already trying to do damage control about the army’s rejection of benzos and neuroleptics for PTSD in another article posted here?
That’s why many articles exposing the harmful effects of all these toxic psych drugs are constantly needed for a “reality check” to be prepared for the latest BIG PHARMA backed spin to keep the “science of doubt” going to keep such poisons on the market with robust sales just like the tobacco industry.
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Benzodiazepines can prevent some of the life threatening aspects of alcohol withdrawal such as seizures and delirium tremens. They can be given in a setting in which they are tapered and discontinued after about 5-6 days, thus preventing addiction to a new substance.
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