Are Meds Necessary? Or Can Therapy Alone Help?

[bluejayway]

I just got official PTSD diagnosis today at 3rd therapy visit. I've been on Wellbutrin before for depression, which seemed to help at the time, but I've been off it for about 1-1/2 years because of no insurance. I was on Vyvanse for a few months for what we thought was adult ADHD but now I can see was probably PTSD, and it helped with feeling tired all the time, but again it was expensive even with insurance much less without it. There are a few depression meds I could get at a very low cost and wondered if I should look into this in addition to the therapy, or should I just continue with therapy alone? I know everyone is different, just trying to get an idea of other people's experiences before I make a decision. Thanks - Marisa

 

[Deleted member 541]

Hi,

It really depends on your symptoms....If they are way off the charts, you're having a hard time dealing and functioning, then you may want to go that route.

If your symptoms are manageable through coping skills, then there is little advantage to taking meds. It comes down to a personal choice.....

 

[bluejayway]

Thanks for the input SheCat

 

[Mina]

Hi, Marisa - Glad to hear you got diagnosed. I know that probably sounds weird, but at least for me, getting diagnosed meant I knew what I was dealing with and could therefore approach it and start working on it. Hopefully your diagnosis and therapy is a start on the path to healing :smile:

Like SheCat said, need for medications depends on the person and how their symptoms manifest and play out. I don't and haven't taken meds, but I get the idea that my PTSD is fairly mild compared to many. I do occasionally take a homeopathic (Staphysagria) I received from my naturopathic doc...it helps with my concentration and cognitive functioning after I've had a bad night but have to go to work anyway. It's sort of a med, but not as one usually thinks of them. Therapy and EMDR have been my biggest help.

 

[trapped]

It really does come down to a personal choice for most... because it really is individualized and depends on your symptoms and the extent to which they interfere with your life. With medication, there is a lot of side effects to consider. For me, acupuncture works better than any medication, although I do take xanax for the anxiety since the anxiety has gotten to be so bad, but I am trying to wean off the xanax and learn to handle the anxiety thru coping tools, acupuncture, and herbal supplements... but, that is just my choice and how I want to handle things.

 

[bluejayway]

Thank you Mina and trapped - I really want to get a handle on my symptoms as they seem to go from one extreme to the other and we haven't gotten to any coping skills yet in therapy. I just hate feeling like crying all day and would like to be able to actually fall asleep instead of lying there for forever because my brain just won't shut off.

 

[PurdueJaime]

Personal Choice

Hi and welcome. Glad you got a diagnosis. It took me a lot of time and yelling, lol. (And throwing waffles (with the plate), the food processor, etc at my poor hubby) for them to realize what was really gone.

For me, it took so long to get to the diagnosis that I was on the extreme side of things and felt IMMEDIATE relief when I got on the right meds. Some antidepressants the SSRI's (Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft) made me agitated and more anxious, but SSNRI's (Pristiq, and Cymbalta) made me just right for the depression. I REALLY needed an anti-anxiety medicine and that has made the world of difference for me. I take Klonopin and it allows me to be calm and rational enough to actively work on the behavioral stuff without it being too traumatic.

Also, I take trazadone for sleep which helps with the nightmares too. However, EVERY person is different and some medicines have different effects in different people. My biggest suggestion from my own experience is to not wait too long to try medicines. They were a lifesaver for me and really helped me to have the patience and rational thoughts to work through my PTSD. I feel that if I had not waited as long to try medicines, I would have not done the horrible things I did to my family.

So for me personally, if your personal relationships are REALLY affected by it, I would seek medicinal treatments early than if they are not. Hope this helps!

Jaime

 

[midi]

I've had PTSD since I was really little, but wasn't diagnosed until a few years ago. Small doses of several drugs plus daily exercise and modified diet have really helped to deal with the depression/anxiety/anger issues while I learn coping mechanisms and accept that it's ok to have mental illness.

 

[Dylan]

Hi Bluejay,

As you mentioned, it's highly individual.

My yardstick is similar to what SheCat described. When symptoms are low and manageable (with hard exercise, meditation, CBT, etc) I may use nothing. When symptoms are moderate I bring in amino acids and naturopathic medicine (I use Zisyphus) and counseling. When symptoms spiral out of control and nothing is working (all of the above) to bring them under control, I resort to medication.

Welcome to the forum.

Dylan

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi Bluejay,

Unfortunately it is a case of trial and error and personal preference.
At times I've been so low that I've been willing to try any medication. I have yet to find anything that really helps, except zolpidem, which I take occasionally to help me sleep.

Side effects have been a real problem for me, as have withdrawl effects when trying to come off them. It took me about 9 months to wean off one anti-depressant.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, make sure you have all the facts before you try a medication. In the past I have just taken something prescribed by my Doctor, because I was so desperate to find something that would help. Make sure you are aware of the side effects, any possibility of addiction and any withdrawl problems you may have.

Meds are not for everyone, some swear by them (they saved my life etc), others have experienced bad side effects and won't go near near them. They are certainly not a quick fix solution. Everyone responds to meds differently, so it has to be a personal choice.

If symptoms are way out of control, sometimes it's the only option, just to get you functioning enough to get you to therapy.

Regards, CB

 

[bluejayway]

Thanks for everyone's input. It really does help for me to see others' thought processes. I have general ideas in my head about things, but I sometimes have problems putting those ideas into words until I hear it from someone else. Years ago I was on Paxil, which I don't think did much of anything for me honestly. As I said before, I was on Wellbutrin and it did help with energy and focus. My insurance is supposed to start in about a month, so I will reevaluate then, but I do think I maybe a small dose of something would be helpful until I can start learning some coping mechanisms.