Medication or not, that is the question.

[Kirk]

Some interesting statistics in the USA are as follows:

Anxiety disorders affect 18.1 % of adults in the US or approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54. (Source NIMH)
The number of Americans on medications used to treat psychological and behavioral disorders has substantially increased over the last 10 years.
Women are far more likely to take mental health drugs than men. Women ages 45 and over showed the highest use of these drugs overall.
Young men ages 20 to 44 experienced the greatest increase in taking these medications. Anti-depressants are the most commonly used mental
health medications and women have the highest utilization rates. Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting
children and adults. An estimated 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, but only one third receive treatment.
The big question is do you take medication or not? Any prescription medication can have side effects. Physicians and pharmacists say do the
benefits outweigh the risks? Some people self medicate with alcohol or pot. The big key is to get help and use whatever resources are available
to help get your life back on track. The help may come from Prozac, Valium, Accupuncture, hypnosis, bio-feedback, herbs, therapy, exercise,
better sleep, vitamins, etc. The key is to continue to try to get better, never give up and be as positive as possible.

[Kirk]

I had an accountant helping me part time a number of years ago. He was Bipolar. He told me that without
his medication he could not function and work to make a living to support his family. Another example of
how medication can be and is a life saver.

[Kirk]

You also have to be aware of others who claim to know more than trained medical professionals
such as physicians, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists. etc. Many of these people
have as much knowledge about medicine as a witch doctor. Nothing is wrong with consulting with
alternative medicine practitioners as some of the things they advise really work and they have
worked for me and other people I know. Many people are quick to criticize others for what they
do without thinking things through like a rational adult should. These people should be avoided or
at the very least ignored and their advise discounted.

[Ponder]

Please be advised that this information comes from an individual associated in the filed of pharmaceuticals.

None the less it would may do some good to give some form of feedback.

Perhaps we should entertain this Dahila?

When I have time ... I think I will give it a shot.

[Kirk]

First of all you have an error in your diction. It is not in the filed of pharmaceuticals but in the field of pharmceuticals.
As per usual, you are not correct in your assumptions. My wife is a pharmacist, but this has nothing to do with her.
I only state facts and personal experiences. This is an open forum and I am entitled to express facts and experiences, just as
you are. You are entitled to your opinion as am I. Medicine has and will help many people and that is a fact whether you like
it or not. Just because you disagree with someone does not make you right. None of us have all of the answers, including you.
This forum is meant to help others through difficult times in their lives and not a place to attack people who have differing opinons.
I also thought you had me on ignore, so you should not be seeing my post anyway.

[Ponder]

There's that self righteous superiority complex I was referring to Dahila.

That response just undermined the op's original message and validated my point.

You've expressed - no big deal there ... so did I ... rar rar rar

No one is attacking you - just spelling it out. Thanks for filling in the missing letters. Much appreciated.

Please do keep spinning your BS. That's spelt "bullshit!"

Have a nice day in this here public forum.

Edited - to keep the Grammar Nazi at bay.

Adios http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/laughing-hard-smiley-emoticon.gif

[Kirk]

Ponder, the real issue is that you lack the ability to communicate in a reasonable manner. You remind me of the bully on the playground in school.
If things don't go his way, he gets upset and lashes out at everyone in an irrational manner. I am truly sorry to say that life does not work that way.
Too bad for you.

[Ponder]

Stop taking things so personally Kirk. Despite the obvious short comings we each have to live with in this world, I do not share your view. Things could actually be a lot worse and from the manner in which you speak, my view is that you still have much to learn. Your too busy always crying bully while at that same time demeaning others with your intellectual analysis.

So - Moving on. Let's discuss.
__________________

Why Medicate with substances that are unnatural and create side affects which see many coming back for more pills?

Self medicating with unnatural/poisonous substances sold from a pharmacy is no less of a cop out and in fact just as detrimental when self medicating with alcohol, cigarettes and junk food.

Yes there are times where medicine can help ... How & When + when to stop ... that is the question.

Please share your perspective on that?

Let's weigh up the pros and cons of such using within the current system that designs such drugs.

[Kirk]

I believe medication is necessary when all other avenues have failed and the person is unable to function normally in society and his/her life is adversely affected.

[Kirk]

I do agree with you that other natural or alternative methods should be tried first before medication if possible.

[gypsylee]

Self-medicating with alcohol and illicit drugs is actually a lot worse. I've ended up in ICU with alcohol-induced Pancreatitis and my brother died of a heroin overdose. I take SSRIs, benzos and oxycodone to get by at the moment but every time I fall off the wagon and drink I end up suicidal. If my brother had stuck to oxycodone he might be alive because often overdoses are due to users getting a strong batch of heroin. At least with pharmaceuticals you know what you're taking and the dose. Then you have stuff like methamphetamine which people are using at epidemic levels and I personally know of people being locked in psych wards and jailed because of meth use - very nasty stuff.

In a perfect world we wouldn't need meds but it's not looking too perfect to me right now. So whatever gets you through the night and the chemicals that are regulated are safer than those that aren't.

Cheers,
Gypsy x

[Dahila]

That's interesting subject, not the first time it shows on Forum. I am against people who advertise medication, even I would be dead about 50 years ago if it was not for medication and good docs.
Somewhere there are good docs but not many of them, Good doc will look for alternative medicine first before he writes the script. I had two docs : pediatric and my first psychiatrist, who helped me a lot, who motivated me to continue study and who actually spend half an hour to meditate with me, on every session. Well it was the only one, like that.
He was not so willing to medicate me at my beautiful age of 20. Who cares now that people will get so twisted that they lose their natural defenses...

Then came a bunch of "I do not care about patient, you are the number only " doctors who always to this day wait with prescription pad and the pen ready to write the name. Preferably the ones which is Number one in States in Canada Statyns. Or statins..............I think most people take short cuts without any effort they just take a pill..........
When pills are necessary, but in half of patients they are not. I am not talking about meds for mental disability, I am talking about meds in general.
I am herbalist from Europe and I think I am damn good. A lot of herbal remedies available in my garden, yes I do grow herbs.
I need to pick up plantain and dandelion with the roots they are very good and strong at this time.

Kirk have you ever tried dandelion? Famous for regulating the blood glucose, helping with digestion system, high blood pressure......................a lot more. Maybe you do not even know what dandelion is, You still use pesticide for weeds on the grass. Yeah USA have beautiful grass :)

Please stop bullying others, you do not let anyone to speak their mind. You are not stupid, no you are not, but for mature man the way you talk to yourself and behave strangely........well you lost all credibility.
You will correct my English of course. You may or may not believe me, I am much older than you, and probably my level of education is higher than yours. I still talk to people, I do understand them, I was there, I am there, you coming here to feel superior.
I have not energy to continue it, Well Good Night

[Ponder]

Well said Gypsy - I not only respect that but it also resonates with me.

Dahila ... we catch up soon enough.

I too need to recharge.

[Ponder]

It is a hard world in which we live, if apologizing helps ... then n/p.
One day we will iron out our differences Kirk ... I am willing.

It is a good topic. TY.

[gypsylee]

Thanks Ponder. I should add that I don't have much faith in doctors at all and it's taken me years to find a few that will give me the meds that help. Most GPs will just throw SSRIs at patients who present with anxiety and depression, and that's it. We all know how bad SSRIs make you feel initially and take ages to work. So I can only imagine the hell people are going through who are experiencing anxiety for the first time now and I don't blame anyone for self-medicating with alcohol (or weed or whatever) because at least it works fast!

The real problem is society and the world as it is now. I saw Henry Rollins (again) on Monday night and his main message was that we are completely screwed if we don't change and change fast. Climate change is very real and is way worse than the vast majority are aware of. That comes from Henry talking directly to scientists in Antarctica. We also need to start caring about each other a lot more.. Which is kind of hard when everyone is just trying to get by, I know. Human beings are nothing without each other and the planet but have this arrogant idea we are invincible and supreme.

Ok I will get off my soap box now ;) Google Henry Rollins if you don't know who he is! I'm going to listen to TOOL.

[gypsylee]

It is a hard world in which we live, if apologizing helps ... then n/p.
One day we will iron out our differences Kirk ... I am willing.

It is a good topic. TY.

Snap, Ponder :)

[Dahila]

Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on. fantastic will listen to him shortly , thanks Gypsy for good insights

[Kirk]

It is best to forget past disagreements and move forward and start anew. No grudges held on this end.
We are all here to support each other in our time of need.

[Dahila]

ok...............

[Kirk]

Gypsy you are correct that GP's throw SSRI's at people pretty frequently. Anxiety meds never worked for me so I have had to tough it out.
My concierge internal medicine physician has told me to try to tough it out and overall he says I am doing a decent job. Drug overdoses
are a terrible thing, especially worse that it was your brother and I am very sorry to hear that happened and in Baltimore City, Maryland we are the heroin capital, sorry to say.

[Ponder]

Just wanted to add, having come from back ground of sever mental break down, drug and alcohol abuse with a trail of suicides,including family, like many others in here ... that I understand the attraction to nullifying our pain with quick fixes - but I know from experience it is nothing more than banging ones head against the wall and whilst I sympathize in that being a victim myself ... I won't encourage or support the use of medications that are as detrimental and addictive to those traits and ideals we were led and still imprinted to believe.


People would not have do it so tough if we were not so self absorbed in recovery and spent more time being content with less. I know I have to spend a LOT of energy on keeping myself afloat. BTW - I'm talking more about myself, so please try not to resist as if I am talking about whoever is reading this. I am not. That's the problem with us you see. Always reacting instead of just being. I have thought more about what you have said gypsy about people living in a cold hard world and that it's no wonder people self medicate the way they do. For me, I know well that hard world, seen my own family knock themselves off and live to see my grandson being dictated to by a society bent on greed. It's like a nightmare if I focus on that (directing my attention elsewhere helps [disassociation by choice - those that break the mold are labeled as sick when really they are on track to a recovery that counts]. BUT - it can also be so much more than that.

Currently my wife is degrading with each passing day. All I want to do is reach out and give her a hug, but am often greeted with a pessimistic and hostile look. The energy in that can be really hard to live with. It devastates me quite a bit and leaves me feeling extremely lonely. Yet, I have choices no matter how trapped I feel.

I'm not going to go on any more than that, except to say that we can all make healthy choices no matter how cruel this world be. In fact, I'll even go out on a limb and say that much of the pain we suffer is to a large degree from the choices we make, despite some reasonable assumptions where free will looks more about self acceptance.
_______________________________________

I guess finding the desire to get better is what matters when it comes to deciding whether to medicate of not. Whether to take the quick way, or accept the path we can not change and in doing so we learn instead of give up. The good news is that the patch then opens up. It does get better when we are able to connect. I do know that much.

[gypsylee]

Ponder - The thing is, human beings really can be so much more than we currently are. We are capable of such beauty and greatness, but we are also capable of atrocious things, and I'm seeing more bad than good right now. I can't really say it any better than this song by P!nk (who has helped me stay somewhat sane for a long time!)


"Are We All We Are?" --P!nk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWqmRGnqYpw

[Ponder]

Indeed. It's can be healthy to allow ourselves to experience the discomfort of what is. However after watching many documentaries and taking in many other views, I've learned reality takes form based on where we look.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8257/29950391175_ed6dc04504_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MCBzQK)

[overcomeanxietytoday]

I am determined to overcome my anxiety disorder without the use of any band aids in the forms of drugs. This isn't easy.

Why I have refused the use of drugs is that its best to fight the panic attack head on rather than allow drugs to interfere with the process.

Yes, fighting it head on can be debilitating but the panic won't kill you and that will be the best lesson you'll ever learn.

With more exposure , you'll stop being scared of panic attacks.

[Boo Bass]

I am determined to overcome my anxiety disorder without the use of any band aids in the forms of drugs. This isn't easy.

Why I have refused the use of drugs is that its best to fight the panic attack head on rather than allow drugs to interfere with the process.

Yes, fighting it head on can be debilitating but the panic won't kill you and that will be the best lesson you'll ever learn.

With more exposure , you'll stop being scared of panic attacks.

I understand where you're coming from.

Panic attacks can be overcome naturally but not by fighting them. You need to relax your body through breathing and drift through them, even willing them to get worse.

You should be able to find some useful tips on this site.

[Teafrenzy]

Well I saw my GP today and I was just about ready to lay down the fight and beg him for scripts..Xanax, Prozac.

My GP is reluctant to write scripts. He claims the following:

a) There are many side effects, some of which are worse than the anxiety. Weight gain. lowered sex drive etc.
b) 50% of the time there is no difference than a Placebo in terms of helping with anxiety.
c) Therapy and diet/exercise changes are way better than drugs in the long run.
d) I am getting better. This is particular to me but I have seen improvements in my various anxiety issues. I haven't had a panic attack in almost 2 weeks. I used to get them multiple times a day. I am currently just generally anxious and I do get little spurts of anxiety.

Thoughts on this?

[dontcarewhatusernameis]

Well I saw my GP today and I was just about ready to lay down the fight and beg him for scripts..Xanax, Prozac.

My GP is reluctant to write scripts. He claims the following:

a) There are many side effects, some of which are worse than the anxiety. Weight gain. lowered sex drive etc.
b) 50% of the time there is no difference than a Placebo in terms of helping with anxiety.
c) Therapy and diet/exercise changes are way better than drugs in the long run.
d) I am getting better. This is particular to me but I have seen improvements in my various anxiety issues. I haven't had a panic attack in almost 2 weeks. I used to get them multiple times a day. I am currently just generally anxious and I do get little spurts of anxiety.

Thoughts on this?

a. I think it's a quality of life decision that only you can make. The doctor should explain what the benefits and risks are and you should choose whatever you think is best (unfortunately the doctor can just deny you prescriptions though).

b. You mentioned xanax and prozac. I would 100% disagree at least over the short term that xanax would be no different then placebo 50% of the time unless, and its very possible for anxiety, there is a extremely high placebo response rate.

Prozac is an ssri and in my experience they have not been helpful at all (maybe even caused me mental health problems) although others swear they work and you can't argue against someone feeling better. There have been meta analysis of studies done both showing ssri are more effective, about the same, and less effective then placebo. Its important to note though that enormous sums of money are spent every year by the biggest 5 pharma companies funding most of these studies that they analyze so there is almost certainly a bias towards showing the drugs to be effective.

If your interested in how these companies operate you can get an inside look of gsk courtesy of the United States Department of Justice by googling "gsk doj docs". They have many internal papers on their website they gathered during their investigation against them which gsk paid US $3 BILLION to settle including paxil study 329.

c. I 100% agree with this. If you start taking drugs and they help you great but I think it would be a bad idea to not make any changes afterward. You may need some drugs to help jumpstart you making some changes in your life. Use the time you feel better to do exposure therapy, exercise, learn stress reduction techniques, see a therapist, or do whatever else that might lower your anxiety over the long term so you won't need the drugs anymore or can get by on a lower dosage. (lower dosage = less side effects)

d. Same opinion as a. Its really up to you what the best decision is. Maybe you will get better either way? Maybe you could get better even faster with the drugs helping jumpstart making some changes? Maybe the side effects wouldn't be worth it? All you can do is try to learn what the benefits and risks are and make the decision you think is right for you.

[Kirk]

If all else fails and you can't function normally, then medication may be the only viable option.

[Dahila]

Sometimes medication is the answer, but as long as it is not for years. I do not like SSRI , I do not believe in them. Too many side effects , I do not tolerate it. Many people here are on meds and they , have good life, One day they will be able (I hope) to go off it.
Only you can decide it .
At least you have doc who warns you, mine will write prescription without telling me about side effects..........
You do question the meds, that's a good sign:)

[Kirk]

All medications can have side effects. The key is do the benefits outweigh the risks.

[Kirk]

Just to let you know that I am not in favor of medication either and I think it would be better to do without it, if possible.

[Anne1221]

Isn't it strange how doctors can vary so much? Some pull out the prescription pad as soon as you walk in the door, and your doctor is trying to talk you out of it. I would say your doctor is the rarity, not the norm. This is what they learn. What I have learned from this forum is that each of us is different. Some have social anxiety, some have health anxiety, some focus on the past, some focus on the future, etc.

Each person has to find the right path for themselves.

[CantTalkSober]

Meds are definitely worth trying. I didn't have a great experience with SSRIs, but benzos on a PRN basis are a god send. I only need them like twice per month but the simple thing of having a supple of something that can eliminate a panic attack in seconds is invaluable

[Kirk]

I agree with you.

[piatzseo]

I do agree with you that other natural or alternative methods should be tried first before medication if possible. BÃ*i đăng sao nhiều link thế. đừng spam nha bạn

[gypsylee]

Isn't it strange how doctors can vary so much? Some pull out the prescription pad as soon as you walk in the door, and your doctor is trying to talk you out of it. I would say your doctor is the rarity, not the norm. This is what they learn. What I have learned from this forum is that each of us is different. Some have social anxiety, some have health anxiety, some focus on the past, some focus on the future, etc.

Each person has to find the right path for themselves.

They not only vary with their approach, they vary with their knowledge. A few years ago I had this lump on my finger - nothing major but it was pretty painful and annoying. I think I saw 2 or 3 doctors at the same clinic and they all said different things! It must have gone away on its own but at the time I was thinking "this is ridiculous".

Then don't get me started on mum and her hips. She saw 3 SPECIALISTS and I can't even count the number of doctors. She was told she might have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair (by a specialist) and when I showed up at hospital she was in tears (understandably).

Then some x-ray showed her hips were basically bone-on-bone. Double hip replacement and she can walk with a walking stick or one of those trolleys with the wheels. Not to mention the pain she was in compared to now.

I know I go on about this but I was her carer and I was appalled by the incompetence. My GP (who I took her to) was so embarrassed for missing her hips and apologised about ten times. He's a funny guy and his words were "that shit-show went on for WAY longer than it should have". Hips are not rocket science!

Anyway, I use any excuse I can to tell this story. She lost her son (my brother) at the start of 2014 then went through that until the surgery was done mid-2015. She's a pain in my arse LOL but she was absolutely suicidal and it could have been avoided if someone had just used their common sense. I even mentioned hip replacement surgery early on but I never insisted they look at her hips. In hindsight I definitely should have and next time either of my parents needs medical treatment I'll be right up in the doctors' faces lol.

[BlessedBackyard]

I feel sorry for a lot of doctors, even though many make me angry. They can only know what they've been taught. I believe most doctors go into the profession genuinely wanting to help people, but med school and our whole medical system (at least in the US) is so skewed. And after investing so much time and money into the system, it's difficult for many to admit that they're way may be wrong. So many stories like Gypsy's mom.

As for medication, I wish doctors would give warnings and alternatives with each prescription. Then, it's in the patient's hands. Some want a quick fix because they don't want to change their lifestyles. Some need a quick boost, because they're too severely ill (mental or physical) to wait for the effects of alternatives. Some have tried alternatives but haven't found the relief that medication can offer.

For awhile, doctors kept prescribing me meds, and I took them like a good little girl. They didn't warn me though...
Antibiotic -- caused thrush in my mouth. Nasty stuff.
Heartburn medicine -- caused polyps in my esophagus.
Birth control pills -- caused anxiety and severe depression
Another antibiotic -- caused a fungal flare-up, resulting in lots of undesirable symptoms

I'm staunchly against medication for myself unless absolutely necessary, but there have been a handful of times that I would have taken anti-anxiety meds if they had been readily available. Desperate times, desperate measures.

[Teafrenzy]

So my doctor decided not to medicate me.

But you know I think I should have been medicated.

He should have asked me about my symptoms, how bad they are. How often they came. How much I needed relief to help with my job interviews.

A Doctor who says no to meds in 20 seconds is just as bad as a doctor who says yes to meds in 20 seconds.

My anxiety was simply out of control. I was simultaneously suffering from just about every form of anxiety disorder. I was having panic attacks, phobia, 24/7 anxiety, OCD and depression.

The OCD and depression are ultimately much worse than the panic attacks.

[Kirk]

One should do whatever is necessary to get ones life back on track.

[LivingWell]

Uggggghh. Coming off Benzos is the worst. I had been having huge panic attacks from it, even though I was doing a slow withdrawl.

I was nervous to take L-Theanine supplements, and St.Johns wort to help me taper off, because I heard it might interfer with the other meds I was taking.

I take CBD every day now. I don't think there is a real limit on how much you can take because it is non psychoactive. I still just take it two times a day.

I take Oil of Sunshine variety mostly. I like it because it seems easy to dispense after I received it . I don't always notice the effects from it that day, but a week or two into the
Oil of Sunshine and I think it is really helping with the severity of my panic attacks.

Wish me luck!

[RuBisCO]

I have been on paxil since September, 10 mg to now 20 mg. I think it has been working. I get anxiety attacks in 1-1.5 month cycles (I'm male by the way). My first and second cycle was really bad and I had only lorazepam for it, my third cycle I was on 10 mg of paxil for 1 month (october) and it was not as bad, I uped my dosage to 20 mg and my forth cycle (early December) was very manageable and I needed no lorazepam for it.

I take 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night. At first the paxil caused some insomnia and yawning but that dissipated after a few weeks. With only 3 months I can't say for sure the paxil has helped but it has certainly not hindered so I will stay on it until it fails, then ween down try something else.

I still take lorazpam now end then for sleep, but only intermittently in small dosages, and I try to take it only as a last resort during the day for anxiety when meditation and cognitive therapy fail me. During my bad cycles I took at most 2 mg of lorazpam a day, and when I started feeling better I weened down slowly over a week from 2 mg to .25 mg.

[Kirk]

I take Valium when I fly in an airplane as I get dizzy from motion sometimes.

[Dahila]

Rubisco Lorazepam aka Ativan is short and fast acting benzo. I have it the one sublingual, it acts almost immediately and is smaller dose, just 1 mg, I keep it for panic attacks. Talk to your doc about something different for sleep because you do not want to develop resistance to it, It is still the best for panic attack in my opinion.
Kirk is Valium oxazepam? I can never remember what valium is, no matter how many times I do check it;) I would not even go to airport without benzo ;)

[gypsylee]

Rubisco Lorazepam aka Ativan is short and fast acting benzo. I have it the one sublingual, it acts almost immediately and is smaller dose, just 1 mg, I keep it for panic attacks. Talk to your doc about something different for sleep because you do not want to develop resistance to it, It is still the best for panic attack in my opinion.
Kirk is Valium oxazepam? I can never remember what valium is, no matter how many times I do check it;) I would not even go to airport without benzo ;)

Valium = diazepam :)

I have to go to Melbourne airport tomorrow in fact.. God (and Mogadon) help me! To make things even more interesting they're working on the freeway and there's a 40 minute detour apparently.. :rolleyes:

[DWB]

I've been taking 1mg Xanax now for more years than I can remember, and it helps a lot. Having said that, I can't take that stuff during the day and drive a commercial vehicle. Now I'm going to give L-Theanine a try. I've heard great things about this supplement and really hope I see results.

[wolvie15]

I had a bipolar friend hat has tried everthing. Natural remedies, mediation, psychological therapy. then he got drgs. And it helped somehwat. He ended up taking his life as his father and mother , both bipolar did.
I am certain that without medication, he would have killed himself years sooner.

In my case, i have lived for years with a level of anxiety that is so high that when i described to normal people how i feel all the time, they tell me they don't know how i can bear it. I bore it because it has been my reality all my life. But, in the last few months , it increased . My sleep, which never was very good to start with got to the point i was sleeping 2 3 broken hours a night. And the level of anxiety came to be unbearable. The symptoms were those of a panic attack, but that would last 24 hours a day.
I finally accepted that i needed help , saw my doctor. Who diagnosed a Gad. ( duh ! ) . He prescribed me Cipralex. Put a report to the local CLSC ( a public service center where you can get free psychological help as my insurance does not cover the services of psychologists and i can't afford the $100.00 + an hour privae sector psychologists charge.) Of course, there are waiting lists for these public services. I may have a place on a group therapy group in Aptil , if it's not yet filled. Otherwise, it will be in September. But, i wasn't sleeping , i wasn't eating ( but losing 25 pounds when you're weighing 310 pounds is no suh a bad thing )

And, i had begun having suicidal thoughts. i wasn't going to act on them, they were there. So, i began meditating, using breathing techniques. that wasn't enough. I still did not sleep. Medication was needed. My Doc tried Ciipralex.
My pahrmacist tild me to take a half pill ( 5 mg ) in the beginning. But, i thought, i am a male. I can take the whole 10 mg. Well, my male pride was squashed ( lol ) . After 3 days, i had almost all the side effects on teh book for that pill, except for drowsiness and dry mouth . I slept even less. So, after 3 days, i stopped. A week later , after calling my doc, i tried again, 5 mg this time + 6 mg of melatonin. No change. the melatonin did not help me sleep. I stopped after 2 days, saw my doctor a week later. i continued the melatonin . Still got 2-3 hours of sleep a night, but at leasthey were consecutive hours.
And i got Seroquel prescribed. At 25 mg. After the Cipralex debacle, he gave me the minimum dose. It has been only a week. But, from the first dose, i got a great night sleep. I get to sleep within 30 minutes of getting to bed. i take the pill an hour before going to bed ) . I sleep like a baby for 7 hours . If i have to get to pee during the night, i fall back asleep right away. And i don't wake up drowsy. I don't have more vivid dreams than usual.

I keep reading how bad Seroquel is, but s far, apart from my appetite returning and dry mouy=th, not much side effects. I know, it is early. But a week of great sleep has done more to diminish the anxiety than meditation has.

At the point i was in , being in a near state of panic 24/7 , i needed something.

SSRI and SNRI all targeting the same receptors in the brain, they were excluded. I had had such huge side effects so rapidle to the best tolerated SSRi . Even teh sexual side effects, that usually take weeks to appear happened right away.
Benzos and sleeping pills were also out as i already have balance problems ( and i have known people that took valium for 30 years and were barely functional )

According to many people posting here, i should have said no to seroquel. And, come from the state i was in thinking death would be stopping teh suffering to maybe acting up on those thoughts ? Really ?

My internal house was burning. there needed to be something to do that would put out the fire NOW. So, i took it. At the moment, i am not experiencing confusion. I have more energy. I don't wake up drowsy . Do i hope i can get off that pill eventually. yes. of course. We'll see.

[Teafrenzy]

I am going to give myself 1 year of being medication free. If I still have symptoms in September (1 year anniversary of when symptoms came on me) then I will go on drugs.

I am afraid to take drugs. My mom has taken Prozac for more than 20 years. However, she has come down with all kinds of medical conditions, Cancer, Parkinsons, High Blood Pressure, Shingles. No proof this is caused by the Prozac of course, but it could be.

I think my condition should have fixed myself by now. My friend encourages me to take drugs. He told me that my condition is the perfect fir for drugs. Basically I can't sleep well and I get extreme fear in the evening.

[gypsylee]

I think my condition should have fixed myself by now. My friend encourages me to take drugs. He told me that my condition is the perfect fir for drugs. Basically I can't sleep well and I get extreme fear in the evening.

This is interesting because I read your reply before, on the alcohol thread, and thought the fact that the beer helped you think clearly points to a chemical imbalance. Also, the fact your mum has been on Prozac for over 20 years (I assume for anxiety/depression) means you may have a genetic predisposition to anxiety. I know the chemical imbalance theory is controversial but my experience with and research into addiction supports it.

I've been on and off SSRIs for 20+ years like your mum and don't have any of those conditions (not even high blood pressure!) They aren't a miracle cure for anxiety at all but they can definitely make a difference.

[wolvie15]

I am going to give myself 1 year of being medication free. If I still have symptoms in September (1 year anniversary of when symptoms came on me) then I will go on drugs.

I am afraid to take drugs. My mom has taken Prozac for more than 20 years. However, she has come down with all kinds of medical conditions, Cancer, Parkinsons, High Blood Pressure, Shingles. No proof this is caused by the Prozac of course, but it could be.

I think my condition should have fixed myself by now. My friend encourages me to take drugs. He told me that my condition is the perfect fir for drugs. Basically I can't sleep well and I get extreme fear in the evening.



One thing i know is taht not sleeping well is not helping anxiety a bit. If you don't sleep well, you can't reason at all You can't calm yourself. Prozac may not be the best fit as a lot of people who take SSRI and SNRI do not sleep well either. The problem is that doctors don't measure the levels of serotonin and melatonin of people before prescribing.
If you have normal levels of serorotine, what is the use of prescribing serotonin reuptake inhibitors that will only raise the serotonin level in your blood and prevent you from sleeping ?

That said, again, it is up to you. But the longer you have insomnia, the more difficult getting your anxiety within acceptable limits will be.

[Kirk]

I agree that not getting enough sleep can wreck havoc in many ways.

[xnnyc]

I recently came across a company called Pillsy, a smart prescription bottle that helps you keep track of your medication. The smart cap is linked via bluetooth to an app on your phone that sends reminders and alerts. As someone who has a difficult time remembering to take my medication, I can definitely use this in my life!

The company is currently in leading up to its prelaunch and is therefore offering some promotions and free products. There is more information available on their website.

[Kirk]

Thanks for the information.

[Teafrenzy]

I am going to give myself 1 year of being medication free. If I still have symptoms in September (1 year anniversary of when symptoms came on me) then I will go on drugs.

I am afraid to take drugs. My mom has taken Prozac for more than 20 years. However, she has come down with all kinds of medical conditions, Cancer, Parkinsons, High Blood Pressure, Shingles. No proof this is caused by the Prozac of course, but it could be.

I think my condition should have fixed myself by now. My friend encourages me to take drugs. He told me that my condition is the perfect fir for drugs. Basically I can't sleep well and I get extreme fear in the evening.

I might have to eat these words. I can scuttle by right now and live day to day. It's not comfortable. But I do it.

The problem is when I want to engage in the real world. Loss of memory, confusion, anxiety (constant fear), depression. It makes it really hard to get a job. I have had 3 interviews the past 3 weeks and I honestly don't like how I sound. I talk too fast, it sounds like I am confused (Because I usually am) and I make a lot of stupid mistakes.

I used to have a really keen mind (Jeopardy Smart) but because of the anxiety, I don't think I will be able to work anything other than manual labor.

Today I got a scrip for CIPRALEX 10 mg. I am debating to myself if I should try it. My past week has been very stressful so maybe I just need a stress break. I have noticed I am generally better. But it's still uncomfortable.

[RuBisCO]

Well it has been 6 months since I started Paxil to deal with my GAD and so far it as worked, had would get cycles of anxiety every 1-1.5 months since june of last year, start paxil at 10 mg in September when I had my worst cycle, by October it was not as bad but I raised the dosage to 20 mg and after that my last cycle was in December, I think, it was barely noticeable. The only side-effect after an initial phase of increased insomnia for the first month is occasion minor muscle spasms.

Either the paxil is working or the GAD was temporary which considering my family history is possible as my mother is much worse with panic attacks and social anxiety that comes and goes at random in intervals of months to years.