Why SSRI's for anxiety?

[Steve1]

I have had anxeity for about 20 years now and about 15 years ago i was taking 6mgs. of Xanax a day for anxiety and was doing fine until i had to change Dr's... Since that change, i have been up and and down... Now i know they say Xanax is addictive, but i have been on it for 20 years now and have never had trouble with abuse... But my main question is, Why do they prescibe an "upper" for people who need a "downer"
I do admit, Prozac seems to help me for a few years, but i went through what my Dr calls a leveling period where Prozac quit working and then he tried me on several other SSRI's with no effect.

Why do they worry so much about addiction, when the addiction is not the problem?

[Donna-Sue]

GREAT Question???? I want to know, too?

[Steve1]

To me it's like giving a blind person a hearing aid!
Sure i can say that the SSRI's have helped a little bit, but not enough to justify them worrying about me getting addicted... Better addicted to A Dr prescibed med than wallowing in alcohol...

[Donna-Sue]

I am with you Steve. My new doctor says he does not like the Benzo family. I have been on them for almost two years.........Ikes.

[Steve1]

I have been taking Xanax for almost twenty years now, My Aunt has been on them even longer! No addictions no side effects! Why give me Prozac?