Complex Ptsd And Meds

[billie]

Hi all, I am curious to what the C-PTSD population has been prescribed?. I have had allergies to both SSRI and SNRI (Zoloft and Effexor). I also take Seroquel (antipshycotic for flashbacks night terrors).

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I've taken SSRI's, Fluoxetine - increased anxiety & OCD, Citalopram - allergic, Sertraline - 6st weight gain in 2 months; Buspirone for anxiety - ineffective; Promethazine for anxiety - still not effective enough; Trazodone for anxiety and depression - no change whatsoever; Amitriptyline - made me suicidal, but now Mirtazipine (Depression & Anxiety), Lorazepam (Anxiety & Panic) and Zopiclone (Sleep)- only been a week and a half, not great changes, but takes the edge off.

 

[billie]

woa!! 38kg thats a lot in 2 months. Im kinda thinking maybe refuse antidepressants because my body is not taking to them quite well. I wonder if it's because complex trauma has such serous effects to our brain maybe my neurotransmitters regulating seratonin are stuffed. Who knows?

If I keep up my journaling, doing my cbt training and take up meditation it may improve. I go to therapy once a week at the moment but my SI and depression is a bit bad. Im hoping the full night sleep I get from Seroquel may help as I hadn't slept properly for a VERY long time. It was to the point I had signs of mania.

 

[billie]

I hate playing with meds.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Yeah, I know - my doctors always say to me "Sertraline doesn't usually cause weight gain", as if I'm lying, but woaah nelly, I'm not touching that again. There are other types of meds though, even though Tricyclics, tetracyclics and MAOIs are older, they can be used very effectively in certain people and situations, and whilst they do have some negatives, maybe even a lot, those are different from person to person and their benefits shouldn't be overlooked.

 

[rightkindofme]

I take cannabis because everything else makes me not able to live. I'm grateful I live in a place where it can be legally prescribed.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

I take cannabis because everything else makes me not able to live. I'm grateful I live in a place where it can be legally prescribed.

Does this increase depression for you? I'm just curious because maybe it's something I should look into.

 

[CVC]

I used to take Escitalopram (Lexapro), and glad to be done with that. Currently, I am prescribed cannabis, and do not find that it causes any kind of depression increase. In fact, I think it might help protect me from depression. It certainly helps with insomnia and anxiety.

 

[WillowMarie]

Yeah, I know - my doctors always say to me "Sertraline doesn't usually cause weight gain", as if I'm lying, but woaah nelly, I'm not touching that again.

No way you are lying, happened to me, too! I was naturally super skinny and ate whatever I wanted, but as soon as I started Zoloft, I started to pack it on.

This medicine also numbed me a lot, personally.

 

[rightkindofme]

I feel like my depression is a lot easier to manage with it. I know that the precise strain and dosage impacts how it effects me. I still get depression but I can have some sativa and find the energy to get off the couch and get something done even though I "don't care". When I am having days when I'm bouncing off the wall with anxious energy then indica makes me calm down and relax. Smoking is a COMPLETELY different experience than a vaporizer or edibles or tincture. I tend to bounce between the different ingestion methods as they are very differently priced. Smoking is the cheapest but the hardest on my body. :-\

I have been tapering heavily (see other threads on this site) and the first horrible thing is the nightmares came back. Apparently staying pretty stoned for almost five years eliminated my nightmares and I only kind of noticed until they came back with a vengeance. Now I don't take for granted the peaceful sleep.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I've been prescribed almost everything (except those meds released in the last few years) and the older antidepressants. It's been a long journey!

Different meds worked at different points. Topamax was a wonder drug the first time I took it, but skyrocketed my anxiety when I restarted years later. Remeron was great for my depression and insomnia the first time I took it, but when I restarted it years later, it made my insomnia worse and I was awake for days at a time.

Right now Geodon is my go-to drug when things get bad, but I only take it to control my obsessive thinking as controlling this symptom is the key to controlling most of my other symptoms. I cycled off it again because it was increasing my depression and was making my muscles weak. I've been off of it for almost 2 months and my muscles still haven't fully recovered :(

 

[cherryblossom]

I wonder if it's because complex trauma has such serous effects to our brain maybe my neurotransmitters regulating seratonin are stuffed.

Or it could be that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your brain chemistry at all. In which case no amount of anti-depressants will change how you are feeling.

Perhaps you feel depressed because all the symptoms of PTSD are just so wearing. Lack of sleep, constant anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares - whatever your particular symptoms are - it's probably making you feel low /depressed.

You do right to continue your therapy, journalling, CBT etc, etc. These things all have a greater chance of improving your mood long-term.

I'm not against meds, but they have to be prescribed for the right circumstances. If depression has an underlying cause (such as PTSD), then there is a very good chance that there is actually nothing wrong with your brain chemistry. Treating the cause (with therapy, CBT), is often better than treating the symptom .

A short term course of sleeping tablets may help, because when we're completely exhausted even the smallest task is difficult to achieve.