Are You Taking Any Prescription Medication?

[Cecilia]

Effexor XR - 150 mg, Klonopin as needed, and a Beta Blocker.

I also do Pilates twice a week and Yoga once a week. I watch what I eat and try to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables with very little meat or junk food.

 

[Dylan]

Meds and thanks to Ga Yankee

Hi Moonshadow,

I was, and still am, pretty ardent about not taking medication. For me, it has to be a last resort. My symptoms skyrocketed back in December and I finally consented to medication in March because none of the tools I have were able to match the distress symptoms.

I have taken Effexor but it made my joints hurt. Getting off of it was difficult. The doc gave me Klonopin (kind of like Xanax and Valium) because it seemed that the hypervigilance/insomnia/anxiety were my biggest problem. What we didn't know was that extreme depression lurked just behind it and it took me to the point of...well, it was bad. For that reason, I think any benzos should be handled with extreme care!

Long story longer, I now take Zoloft and Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin definitely helps with energy level. Supposedly Zoloft does, too, but I don't notice that. I have a liiiiittle bit of sleepiness with Zoloft the first couple of hours after taking it, but then it dissipates. The Zoloft helped a lot with anxiety and the inability to stay IN my own body. For me, the best approach to avoid side effects is extremely slow increase to the desired dose. I consented to 3-6 months at the strong urging of both psychiatrist and counselor. I'm now in month 4 and am beginning to taper.

Ga Yankee - I so appreciated your post. "Hyperivigilance is a bitch" really helped me realize that I am definitely NOT alone. For me, the hypervigilance and being removed are the worst of this thing.

 

[redtriskell]

For years I simply refused to take meds. My father used to make me consume things to see what the effects would be, so I have issues about putting things in my body. Anyway, after 18 years, I finally accepted that I had reached a point where I could go no further without medication. So I tried prozac- which made me suicidal. Trazadone- which made me a zombie. Valium- which made me throw up after two hours. Geodon- which almost killed me. And now I'm on zoloft- which seems to be doing nothing either good or bad; klonipin for anxiety- which works GREAT for me; and ambien cr- which either sends me to sleep for 12 hours or not at all. *sigh*

My best friend, who is a clinical psychologist, says most people, once they're on stabilized meds, should expect to be on them for around 18 to 24 months. Understand this means that the person is actively in appropriate therapy with a good social and family support system in place.Since alot of times these conditions aren't met- ie, you don't go to therapy or don't have a stable home environment- people can end up taking medication for the rest of their lives. And some conditions, like schizophrenia, will always need to be controlled with meds because the symptoms are so extreme in most cases.

I feel it's important to try everything reasonable to help ourselves. And if things don't seem to be working after awhile, I think it's ok to move on to another method of treatment. I mean, all treatments don't work all the time for everyone, or else we wouldn't need this forum to share these answers with each other. You have to be your own advocate- if something in your treatment isn't helping, it's up to you to say so and request different help, whether that's a different therapist, psychiatrist, or medication. All I can think right now is how brave everyone is to confront their problems and try to find a way out of the dark... (feeling weirdly emotional) red

 

[Moonshadow]

Thanks all! You've given me a lot of information. I think I am going to stay off the drugs, for now, but I will definitely give it more consideration, the next time I bottom out.

For now, I will stay with the 5-HTP, and possibly increase the dose, slightly. I think the Omega 3-6-9 I've been taking, is helping. Lately, I feel more optimistic, and have been having less flashbacks.

The flashbacks have been weird. It's like I've been able to close the door on them. Periodically, the door will swing open, to a torrent of cacophonous intrusions. If I catch it quickly, I can slam the door again, and refocus my mind.

I've always tended to do things the hard way, and, for as long as I can, I am going to try to cope using natural methods. I've been trying to exercise, but I'm so tired all the time, it's hard to be motivated. Even yoga leaves me feeling exhausted. I know that if I keep with it, things will improve, but that's hard to believe in when my body aches so much.

 

[ga yankee]

The reaction my body has given me has probably been the hardest thing for me also. I used to be so in control and on top of things. Which ended up being my down-fall and a very bad symptom/trigger now. My job demanded control and hypervigilence so I was incredibly good at it. But now that my head is involved...well it sucks. I'm permanently tired...more like exhausted. If it wasn't for my son I don't know if I would ever get out of bed. As for flashbacks...mine come at the oddest times and as hard as I tried...I couldn't control them. Now I don't want to. I can't stand remembering but if I close the door, it only hurts me in the long run. I firmly believe mine come when my body/mind are ready to deal with them. I fought it for a long time but now I see I don't want to control them. I always say...same shit...different memory. I'm going to start a line of tshirts with all these slogans

 

[midi]

Resurrecting a thread here! I'm on Zoloft--the pharm said it would take 3 months before I notice any improvements. I see it as a temporary measure. I work out daily and I'm a veg head, so that helps. I told the psych that I thought exercising and eating right would get rid of the symptoms. Oh well, so Zoloft it is. I understand it's the start of one big drug experiment...

 

[cragger65]

Anti-depressants are expensive and over prescribed in my opinion. I take Efexor and Respiradone. Now I feel stuck on them, though I'm going to talk to docs about weaning down a bit in the spring.

My advice? If you can manage a reasonable mood on your own, through keeping yourself occupied and your attitude optimistic, don't bother with the anti-depressants.

Of course, this assumes that there is not a more significant struggle there than you're recognizing from the inside. Are friends or family members noticing any troubling patterns or behavious. I only ask because my own experience is that others can see things readily in us, that we can't see for ourselves because it's too close to us... we're smack dab in the middle of it. Just a thought.

 

[Other]

I'm currently on Pristiq and Seroquel (Note other thread :D) I've been on them for about a month now, and I haven't noticed any good effects, only some mild side effects. For many years I have stayed away from any kind of medication, even most over the counter stuff besides basic pain medications (tylenol, advil, aspirin only). Medicine tends to scare the crap out of me - but I'm at the last resort stage, and it is my last hope, along with therapy.

I'd suggest you keep an open mind about it - yes there are a lot of horror stories out there with medication, but there are also many success stories.

-Other

 

[midi]

Other,

Yeah, I'm at the last resort stage too. Open mind, insert new approach!

 

[Deleted member 541]

UGH!!!! I have been off all meds for awhile, back on Trazadone for sleep....But if I don't sleep my symptoms rise....Vicious cycle....

 

[feisty]

Hi, I'm new. I was 100% anti meds, saw my sister be a zombie on them and swore that would never happen to me. I have to admit that without them currently I would not function as well, work and be with my family. I tried quite a few different things initially for insomnia from the nightmares associated with PTSD. Now I am on 200mg seroquel at night to sleep, plus klonopin and also celexa 20mg. I have faith that my shrink will take me off them when its the right time, but that is not now, my moods are way to irritable and unstable at times.
It was a really hard thing to do but I had to have faith and surrender. The right thing is the path that is right for you.

 

[lsully]

I just started wellbutrin I'll let you know how it goes.