ZigZiglar
09-29-2015, 07:54 PM
Hi all,
First post here! First time joining a support group for my mental health struggles. Just after some advice from those more experienced with treatment for anxiety disorders.
I am currently taking 200mg Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) in the morning and 25mg Seroquel (Quetiapine Sandoz [fast release]) before bed.
The former was prescribed for chronic depression and the latter for generalised anxiety disorder. I find the Pristiq to be helpful in coping with depression and it gives me more mental control when it comes to interrupting impulses, but my anxiety has escalated over the past 5 years to a point where it has become the main focus.
The Seroquel pills certainly improve my quality of sleep, but they don't seem to do anything for my anxiety. I've experimented by taking the tablet in the afternoon, rather than just before bed. I can easily feel the drug taking effect and it does very little to prevent or minimise anxiety or panic attacks. It simply makes me very drowsy and even dim-witted. Getting out of bed to deal with my kids during the night has become a big problem (as I'm a Zombie) and getting up out of bed to get ready for work is also becoming very challenging. I can also feel withdrawal headspins (for lack of a better description?) throughout the following day, which make it more difficult than usual to stay focused.
I will naturally discuss this with my GP, but I thought I'd join a support group as I expect there must be others (particularly in Australia where these two meds are very popular) who have been through the same. If anyone were to describe an alternative to Seroquel that worked for them, I'd be much obliged and will research the drug and see what my GP thinks.
I'm kind of sceptical of Benzos, as I feel I may require medium term RX support to cope with my volatile life. I agree with my GP in trying Seroquel first, but I just can't continue like this.
I'm in the process of researching my own pathology to see where supplements and dietary changes may assist, so any advice there would also be appreciated!
I will be taking 10,000iu D3 and a typical dose of Chelated Magnesium with some Vitamin C support until my bloodworks look better. What I'm particularly curious about are the monosaccharaide (like N-Acetyl Glucosamine) and amino acid supplements (Acetyl-L Carnitine, Lecithin/Phosphatidyl Choline etc.) that can really help with people with chronic inflammation (which can affect chemical transmission efficiency in the brain). Also curious about CoQ10 etc.
I will be taking Tumeric Extract and Flaxseed Oil to help with inflammation and gut health too.
I am in the category of "wired but tired" and will be seeing a psychiatrist in around 20 days to look into an adult ADD diagnosis (I was diagnosed as a child and found dexamphetamines crucial to my academic achievements and behavioural control).
I also have physical evidence of chronic inflammation (knee and shoulder problems, carpal tunnel etc.) and immunity issues ... my own conclusion is that my SNS (sympathetic nervous system) is highly elevated. I am so hyper-alert that I can be deep in thought and become instantly irritated and distracted by the most subtle of noises from far away. I find it impossible to fall asleep (even on Seroquel) without using ear plugs to dampen these stimuli.
I don't really panic about specific life/environmental issues. My anxiety is more subconscious, except for the haunting issue of existence and mortality, but I have a thousand reasons in my life to be anxious/stressed; ranging from living with a mentally ill wife, highly anxious and poorly behaved children, financial issues, toxic work environment, etc. etc. I'm slowly working through improving these things and am receiving counselling to empower me with the skills to active the Parasympathetic NS (breathing/meditation, CBT/DBT etc.).
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Cheers
First post here! First time joining a support group for my mental health struggles. Just after some advice from those more experienced with treatment for anxiety disorders.
I am currently taking 200mg Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) in the morning and 25mg Seroquel (Quetiapine Sandoz [fast release]) before bed.
The former was prescribed for chronic depression and the latter for generalised anxiety disorder. I find the Pristiq to be helpful in coping with depression and it gives me more mental control when it comes to interrupting impulses, but my anxiety has escalated over the past 5 years to a point where it has become the main focus.
The Seroquel pills certainly improve my quality of sleep, but they don't seem to do anything for my anxiety. I've experimented by taking the tablet in the afternoon, rather than just before bed. I can easily feel the drug taking effect and it does very little to prevent or minimise anxiety or panic attacks. It simply makes me very drowsy and even dim-witted. Getting out of bed to deal with my kids during the night has become a big problem (as I'm a Zombie) and getting up out of bed to get ready for work is also becoming very challenging. I can also feel withdrawal headspins (for lack of a better description?) throughout the following day, which make it more difficult than usual to stay focused.
I will naturally discuss this with my GP, but I thought I'd join a support group as I expect there must be others (particularly in Australia where these two meds are very popular) who have been through the same. If anyone were to describe an alternative to Seroquel that worked for them, I'd be much obliged and will research the drug and see what my GP thinks.
I'm kind of sceptical of Benzos, as I feel I may require medium term RX support to cope with my volatile life. I agree with my GP in trying Seroquel first, but I just can't continue like this.
I'm in the process of researching my own pathology to see where supplements and dietary changes may assist, so any advice there would also be appreciated!
I will be taking 10,000iu D3 and a typical dose of Chelated Magnesium with some Vitamin C support until my bloodworks look better. What I'm particularly curious about are the monosaccharaide (like N-Acetyl Glucosamine) and amino acid supplements (Acetyl-L Carnitine, Lecithin/Phosphatidyl Choline etc.) that can really help with people with chronic inflammation (which can affect chemical transmission efficiency in the brain). Also curious about CoQ10 etc.
I will be taking Tumeric Extract and Flaxseed Oil to help with inflammation and gut health too.
I am in the category of "wired but tired" and will be seeing a psychiatrist in around 20 days to look into an adult ADD diagnosis (I was diagnosed as a child and found dexamphetamines crucial to my academic achievements and behavioural control).
I also have physical evidence of chronic inflammation (knee and shoulder problems, carpal tunnel etc.) and immunity issues ... my own conclusion is that my SNS (sympathetic nervous system) is highly elevated. I am so hyper-alert that I can be deep in thought and become instantly irritated and distracted by the most subtle of noises from far away. I find it impossible to fall asleep (even on Seroquel) without using ear plugs to dampen these stimuli.
I don't really panic about specific life/environmental issues. My anxiety is more subconscious, except for the haunting issue of existence and mortality, but I have a thousand reasons in my life to be anxious/stressed; ranging from living with a mentally ill wife, highly anxious and poorly behaved children, financial issues, toxic work environment, etc. etc. I'm slowly working through improving these things and am receiving counselling to empower me with the skills to active the Parasympathetic NS (breathing/meditation, CBT/DBT etc.).
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Cheers