phatass & SMFG - what kind of doctors would give anti-psychotics to replace benzos? Either you're schizophrenic, your doctor thinks you are schizophrenic, or your doctor is a total jackass. But like the dude above me said, you shouldn't take them unless you have schizophrenia, or maybe very occasionally to sleep in dire situations (but lets not get into that).
But, replacing/tapering/whatever benzos with anti-psychotics is not a practice I have ever heard of, and it doesn't seem medically sound. Does your doctor want you to be a zombie? I guess their tactics might work, its hard to have anxiety when you have no personality and no feelings.
Both of you guys - question your doctor's judgment, because this doesn't make any sense. If he wants you off benzos, you can taper off them, then try things like buspar, SSRIs, beta-blockers, natural remedies, etc for anxiety. But NOT anti-psychotics.
I recently ran into a pal of mine from a few years back. He's now on lithium and risperidone, and he doesn't know why. At least, now he doesn't. He blindly takes them and I don't think he realizes they have turned him into a emotionless automaton. Its quite sad actually, he probably had 1 panic attack or schizo episode, and now his doctor has turned him into a vegetable. More people need to question their doctors judgement (or lack thereof).
Now, maybe its helping you guys, I can't tell from over here. But like jayslapmc said, people told him the differences when he was on and off them. Get some feedback, you may or may not like what you hear. If you need them, excellent, keep taking them. If you don't need them, get off ASAP. And they are by no means a replacement for benzos, unless "benzo" is a synonym for "emotions and personality." By that definition, antipsychotics are a perfect replacement...
