Anyone had these medications? (Adderall, Xanax, Ambien, or Prazosin)

[Live2love]

Does anyone take Adderall, Xanax, Ambien, and/or prazosin? They help but wondering what the long term effects might be or how others felt it helped them with PTSD.

 

[blackemerald1]

Xanax,

^This is highly addictive, even at low doses.

It takes quite a while to find your way back from the anxiety, depression and a host of physical symptoms it, the med may cause. Particularly when you stop after even reasonably short periods of taking it.

So please be very, very careful with this.

 

[Live2love]

^This is highly addictive, even at low doses.

It takes quite a while to find your way back from the anxiety, depression and a host of physical symptoms it, the med may cause. Particularly when you stop after even reasonably short periods of taking it.

So please be very, very careful with this.

Thank you for responding. I’m on the lowest dose possible and do not take it daily only when the physical systems from panic attacks are extreme. What suggestions do you have for coping with anxiety?

 

[blackemerald1]

I think it has to be handled in a holistic way. That's what I do. I have to really work at it all of the time to keep on top of my anxiety otherwise I'm peaking and troughing in waves all day, every day.

For me what works is the following but I understand everyone has to accommodate and learn what works best for them so your strategy or regime could look entirely different and that of course, is fine.

If it works and it's good for you then I'm all for it. And btw it's taken a long time for me to find and apply this stuff and I'm still learning how things work within me and for me.

Exercise, small meals, no alcohol/drugs, no tea/coffee, severely limiting sugar, therapy, getting decent sleeps.

No.. I'm not locked up in a monastery. lol

Exercise for me is right up there with the best possible thing I can do for myself each day. It's that noticeable in terms of anxiety for me. Nothing else gives me the 'release' and calms my head down like a sustained period of exercise each day. Of course I can talk myself out of it easily and sometimes I do cave. I always regret this.

If exercise, meaning sustained, cardiac exercise where your heart rate is right up and you are putting in a decent effort for at least thirty minutes or more a day, isn't something you are doing, and you can physically manage it then I'd thoroughly recommend it as a way to begin to manage anxiety without resorting to meds to regain control.

But please, if you are not fit and haven't exercised for a while start really gently and work your way up. And don't stop until it's a habit... so about 40 days give or take I reckon (for me)

What exercise does for me -
1. I eat less & better
2. I sleep better
4. I don't tremble/shake as often
5. I'm way, way calmer - regardless of what's happening
6. My general mood is lifted and omg my sense of humour is still there inside of me! And I'm more tolerant, patient & less hyper everything.
7. I've got more energy to get other stuff done.
8. I cope better with my other issues and ffs there's a few of them just quietly. :sneaky:

I know I sound like an exercise maniac. But I'm not. I do it and get it done and then get on with my day whatever that might be.

It's true that I've needed to be above average fitness for my job in a previous life. But now the only real reason I do it is to help manage my anxiety. There are other benefits and they are a bonus.

Hope this helps but if not keep looking.

 

[Live2love]

I think it has to be handled in a holistic way. That's what I do. I have to really work at it all of the time to keep on top of my anxiety otherwise I'm peaking and troughing in waves all day, every day.

For me what works is the following but I understand everyone has to accommodate and learn what works best for them so your strategy or regime could look entirely different and that of course, is fine.

If it works and it's good for you then I'm all for it. And btw it's taken a long time for me to find and apply this stuff and I'm still learning how things work within me and for me.

Exercise, small meals, no alcohol/drugs, no tea/coffee, severely limiting sugar, therapy, getting decent sleeps.

No.. I'm not locked up in a monastery. lol

Exercise for me is right up there with the best possible thing I can do for myself each day. It's that noticeable in terms of anxiety for me. Nothing else gives me the 'release' and calms my head down like a sustained period of exercise each day. Of course I can talk myself out of it easily and sometimes I do cave. I always regret this.

If exercise, meaning sustained, cardiac exercise where your heart rate is right up and you are putting in a decent effort for at least thirty minutes or more a day, isn't something you are doing, and you can physically manage it then I'd thoroughly recommend it as a way to begin to manage anxiety without resorting to meds to regain control.

But please, if you are not fit and haven't exercised for a while start really gently and work your way up. And don't stop until it's a habit... so about 40 days give or take I reckon (for me)

What exercise does for me -
1. I eat less & better
2. I sleep better
4. I don't tremble/shake as often
5. I'm way, way calmer - regardless of what's happening
6. My general mood is lifted and omg my sense of humour is still there inside of me! And I'm more tolerant, patient & less hyper everything.
7. I've got more energy to get other stuff done.
8. I cope better with my other issues and ffs there's a few of them just quietly. :sneaky:

I know I sound like an exercise maniac. But I'm not. I do it and get it done and then get on with my day whatever that might be.

It's true that I've needed to be above average fitness for my job in a previous life. But now the only real reason I do it is to help manage my anxiety. There are other benefits and they are a bonus.

Hope this helps but if not keep looking.

This helps very much so! The only thing that’s confusing to me in the “previous life” I’m not sure what you meant by that as I have heard this spoken of before but never understood. Anyways, I’ve been through so much from being tied up beat almost to death, poisoned for years and years with so many drugs which I’m not even sure what the hell it was I know for a fact the date rape drug but there’s no telling what else. My ex husband tried to kill me countless times but somehow I survived and I’m here. That being said I can not exercise like I used to. I’m having to move and relocate.. actually my whole entire family is relocating because of the monster (my ex husband) i can barely breathe right now my anxiety is so high on top of feet hurting, knees hurting and my wrists hurt so bad. He was very emotionally abusive but also extremely physically abusive as well. I am in therapy. Trauma therapy and physical therapy. I’m trying by best but that being said.. my body, mind, heart has taken a toll. I’m in my later 20s with a new first baby girl. She’s my whole world. She’s the best therapy ever and my anxiety is out the rooftops cornering her safety. I worry about her way more then I do myself but that’s a whole different story so yes I used to LOVE physical exercise but right now I’m pretty sure my body can not handle any more stress as my stress level is completely maxed out. I do get exercise changing my sweet princess around and being a mom to a one year old that keeps me on my toes and I do get exercise from moving/packing/organizing/cleaning but as far as adding an extra physical routine probably isn’t the best but hey you gave me motivation to stretch and do my physical exercises I’ve learned from the PT which doesn’t involve getting my heart rate up by any means it’s more of strengthening my muscles to help cope with the pain related to the trauma my ex put me through. Which in return once I get the pain to go down I’m hoping to decrease my anxiety & stress. Thank you very much for responding. I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns. I’m SO OPEN MINDED and very appreciative of you taking the time to help me!! I’m so desperate for relief! I seriously think I’ve already experienced several mini strokes and want to get my anxiety/stress under control before I die of a heart attack or a massive stoke because my precious baby girl needs me here and healthy!! I love her so much!

 

[FauxLiz]

Does anyone take Adderall, Xanax, Ambien, and/or prazosin?

I take all of the above or have at one point or another. I have taken ambien daily for over a decade after several decades of major insomnia issues and many other holistic approaches taken. Even with the ambien I am lucky most days to get 6 hours of sleep, shutting my brain down for extended periods of time is difficult. I take xanax daily and while yes it is a benzo it is far less addictive than many others. My P-doc and I are careful to take breaks from it from time to time and I have never experienced withdrawal and consider myself lucky. Of course I have gone from take 1mg 3/day to .25 twice a day so on much less than I was when I first started getting treatment for my ptsd not just the anxiety/panic symptom. Adderall, I have been taking for about 3 years daily. Not something I really wanted to be on but I had a mini-stroke which caused cognitive issues and after trying several other meds including Alzheimer's meds Adderall is the only thing that allows me to focus enough to function in a work setting with multiple inputs from many directions all day. I was on prazosin for about a year but have reached a point where I don't have nightmares just the misfortune of dealing with intrusive memories that blindside me in my waking hours. I also take other medications for blood pressure so they don't like having you on more than one blood pressure med at a time.

I agree with @blackemerald1 that physical exercise can do wonders to help and alleviate the need for medications. Unfortunately, I don't see myself being able to go med free for quite some time. Kids can definitely keep you running and packing and preparing to more is a lot more physical than many people realize so kudos to you for doing that work and for working on your stretches and PT exercises.

 

[Sideways]

Everything that @blackemerald1 said.

For anxiety, benzos and sleepers can be incredibly effective. Until they're not, and you're just addicted.

Investing in a cardio exercise program is a lot more work. Takes a lot more commitment. And the benefits will take over a month or 2 to really start to show up. But the cool thing is the benefits are going to help your mental and physical well-being in a tonne of different ways.

Unfortunately? Benzos and sleepers? Make you less inclined to exercise. Dang!

Go with what you need. Sometimes we need the medication, and we need it fairly urgently. Sometimes, we need a long term management plan because our mental health issues are chronic. You're best placed to know what's right for you.

 

[blackemerald1]

The only thing that’s confusing to me in the “previous life” I’m not sure what you meant by that as I have heard this spoken of before but never understood.

^ In the context I meant, before I retired from my job. I refer to it as a previous life.

Not sure of where else you've read it and in what context it was used so cannot help with that.

I’m pretty sure my body can not handle any more stress as my stress level is completely maxed out.

^I'd imagine you are very busy with moving and your daughter. So no argument's from me for sure and I'm sure medication in the right place are helpful too.

However, once you have resettled and are looking at longer term approaches and benefits I reckon exercise is far better than meds.

You can certainly get exercise whilst caring for a young child. Eg jogging with baby in a stroller, cycling with a baby seat or stroller, swimming, childcare for an hour a day etc., Even a sling with baby inside and going for a brisk walk every day?

All good.

 

[bellbird]

Prazosin is a first line drug for treating nightmares, unfortunately it gives me tachycardia so I can't use it.

Xanax I've only been administered in unknown quantities by my abuser.
But seconding the warnings above about benzos in general, and speaking from experience: addiction can happen before you've even realised, so tread very carefully. They're a useful tool, but much better to develop other more reliable and long term coping mechanisms :)

 

[Mach123]

I was on all those and lots more but drugs don't work for me. I still believe in them for severe symptoms though as a stabilizing tool.

The problem is that has to be closely monitored and the pill pushers are quacks mostly. IMHO

I have been using grass for a few years which worked wonderfully for anxiety but I noticed that it's creeping up on me again, everything does.

The good news is there are pot stores now and I'm going to one tomorrow for the first time to talk about strains. I'm also getting some injections for pain this week so hopefully, in a few days ill be feeling better. : )

 

[DharmaGirl]

I was on Prazosin and it was wonderful until I developed an allergy to it. I take a benzo every night. I used to take two a day, but I found I didn't need two so after 3 years of taking it I weaned myself off two and just take one. No withdraw, no addiction I can take two a day but I just don't need it. My body adjusts to it, but that's not addiction. Addiction is when you have to have it and will lie, steal, doctor shop etc. to get it.

 

[FauxLiz]

Addiction is when you have to have it and will lie, steal, doctor shop etc. to get it

I think that this is an important distinction. Many people use addiction as an interchangeable word for dependence. Many patients develop dependency to benzos, ambien even adderall but the difference between that and addiction is as you said if the person is willing to do anything to get the meds including resorting to illegal methods.

the pill pushers are quacks mostly. IMHO

a lot of people feel this way about doctors and I won't deny that it often feels like doctors are this way but that is why I am careful about the doctors I see, I prefer to see D.O.'s rather than M.D. due to their additional training in holistic methods.