u/Total-Independent874

Are there any benefits beyond 20mg? I’m on 40mg now (including Pristiq) after years of serotonergic meds lower doses just don’t work anymore. Any experiences?

Lexapro made me numb and took away my libido and energy but it was amazing for my anxiety. Pristiq was added and now my depression and anxiety are gone like never before. I have less side effects with the combination than either one alone. I also take Ativan 2.5mg a day though I don’t really feel it anymore.

I’ve started and stopped various benzos over the years. Through tapering inpatient each time I did not get significant withdrawals. Honestly for me stopping an ssri and especially antipsychotics was much harder. I’ve come to the Realisation that the periods in my life without benzos were so much worse than being on them. To me these pills aren’t recreational at all, they just treat some of the symptoms I have. They serve more as an augmentation to my medication regimen. Thing is they’re also the only meds without side effects. Atm it’s been around 8 months again of Ativan 2.5mg on most days. Why is taking other psych meds accepted long term. Is it just due to abuse potential? because that would be ridiculous.

I really don’t want to offend anyone but if stopping benzos is so horrible as the posts on here suggest, why not just keep taking them?