Are You Taking Any Prescription Medication?

[Deleted member 1606]

Effexor. Wellbutrin.

 

[lsully]

Well meds were terriable made me crazy gonna try it my way

 

[Booknerd]

I tried to handle it for 4 years without meds. I got to the worst point in my life. Meds saved my life literally. I was having 4 or more panic attacks everyday. I was so depressed, I cried all the time and could barely function. Different meds were tried, and Lexapro, Klonopin, Ambien, and Adderall are what I take now. I feel the best on meds but I do a lot of other things to help as well. I started exercising, taking vitamins, and trying to eat right. I use self talk and calming exercises. I practice positive thinking all the time and some times that is very hard. I go to my Pdoc and therapist regularly and I work at it. It's hard, but this is the best I have felt in years. I would rather not have to rely on meds, but for right now I need them. Try to think of them as tools to help you on your way.

Booknerd

 

[Yumeko-chan]

I was on propanolol for my tremors for a short while in mid-'03, then was taken off of them when they dropped my BP too low, AND stopped working.

I think I started taking Zoloft at the end of '03 at a 50mg dose, then it was upped to 75 when the 50 stopped working. Took that until mid-'06, when I ran out of the samples the psychiatrist had given me in college (graduated at the end of '05), and then I was in three months of withdrawal. Haven't been on anything since. Also during that time he prescribed me some Ativan and told me to take one when I was anticipating a panic attack on such-and-such day, but the thing is, I never know when they'll happen, so fat load of help that was.

B/f says he wants me to be "naturally happy" instead of "artificially happy." I see his point, but part of me is wondering if I should try to give it (or something else) another shot. Of course, I don't want to end up dependent again...I NEVER want to go through withdrawal again.

 

[2notbedefeated]

My question is, "Have those on psych meds been able to successfully work through their PTSD and other trauma while on medication?" I just don't want to be back where I was (on 8 psych meds daily, over 30 pills total each day). I was so dazed, in a fog, and falling asleep during the day even while sitting up and not moving towards healing and recovery. My husband and I were just talking about whether I should go back on medication or not.

I was over medicated and could not function at all hardly. I have two kids I can't just be "doped out all the time." So over the last four years I have come off all of them except sleeping pills (still don't sleep well). By Septmeber of this past year (2008) I was off all 8 psych meds. While on all these these meds I was so numb that I never got in touch with feelings, etc. and never dealt with issues.

We moved and I now have a new doctor/psych/naturalpath who helped me come off all of them. I started therapy this past August with a new therapist

So, here I am into my 4th month of no psych meds and certainly in touch with emotions, having traumatic episodes, intense - feel like I'm going crazy moments, flashbacks, panic, run and hide feelings, intrusive images, thoughts, etc. Because of no meds I am beginning to get in touch with feelings associated with my abuse and trauma, but my therapist, and husband are concerned that if I don't take something I might end up in the hospital. By the way I don't get suicidal, just overwhelmed with the intensity of emotions.

My husband who was so against my being on anything and one of my main advocates wanting me to come off them He and my therapist are now wanting me reconsider taking a little something to take off the edge of my panic, aggitation, depression, "fits of trauma" that I go through)

It was "hell" going through withdrawals every day for four years in order to to get off them, and now I'm just alittle cautious about starting down that road again. It was such hard work to get off all of them. I don't want to have to go thorough that experience again.

I welcome your thoughts about this.

 

[morgan]

I have been on meds again for the past three years and I wouldn't have been able to work through my traumas otherwise. I am not really over medicated though. I do take three different psych meds (paxil, giadon and klonopin) but they all do different things and do not make me groggy. Without them I would not be able to function well enough to work through my traumas. I can also feel my feelings on them. I am very fortunate to have found the right combination for me. That is what it really boils down to.

Take care, Morgan

 

[Cindy]

Touchy question right now ...

I have a difficult time accepting the 'need' for meds. At times I just don't bother taking them. I always pay in the end when I crash. I know I wouldn't have worked through all that I have without meds. Emotional pain is an important part of the process but a level of stability helps to keep it in perspective. I agree to totally numb out on meds is counter productive.

 

[Salu]

I took Remeron 15 mg a day at some point. It worked pretty well for me because it helped me to start eating again and I actually managed to get more that two hours of sleep at night. Plus rearangements in my daily routine.

I probably would have taklen it longer but I just couldn´t pull myself together for the next visit. Sadly.

 

[anopeet]

I have used Zoloft for several weeks, but it make me feel strange. I'm looking for a kind of drug that reduces my remember to the traumatic event and reduces my anger.

 

[Loola]

I am 20 years old...I quite changed some medications. I am on Seroxat currently, which i take two tablets daily, each 20mg.

It is not easy figuring which medicine suits you best, yet it could help - believe me. You know you are taking it for a period of time; my advice is not to mess with medicines before consulting a doctor. The anti-depressants have some annoying effects but they don't seem to last for more than the 1st two weeks. If you are tired, and feel you need them and they might help, reconsult your doctor I say. They have helped me indeed.

I also take 0.5 mg of Xanax when needed, but it is way too addictive so I try not to take it much.

 

[Ruth09]

I was on started on citalopram 20mg, and it helped with the hypervigilance (security checks/"neighborhood watch at 2am"), ocd (checking locks, gas stove, electrical lights/outlets for 20 minutes before I could leave the house, or go to bed), and anxiety. Right with the first pill. But, after a week, I my moods were not me. Pissed off, road rage,...I'd just let it burn within me. I finally went to the ER after my psychologist said it would pass. And almost went through the glass to get at the little ER nurse. There had be the normal confusion because I showed up at shift change,... Kind of like getting caught at the cash register,.. ya know. Yeah,... I almost got to the point of actually reaching in through the little hole in the glass and pulling that @#$@#$ though it.
So,...I'm not on it anymore. It took a week of actually going onto my front lawn and just laying on it. (it was relaxing, my neighbors think I'm strange regardless)

I'm now on Sertraline 100mg, but at the 50mg dosage (I have to cut them in half). I just started, last night. I'm to do this for the first 7 days then increase it to the full pill. I was warned they might cause nausea and a headache, so take it with a small meal.

So, I almost threw up the onion rings I ate with my pill. As I lay in bed 30 minutes later, I had the "I was sooo tired I couldn't sleep feeling" for two hours. Then my stomach started acting up and drank a can of sprite to calm my stomach down. Then, I farted the rest of the night.

Ya know,...this crap better start working soon.

Ruth

Oh,... and I'm on Trazadone 100mg to help me sleep at night. I didn't take any because I thought I'd throw up for sure.

 

[Kunoichi]

Anyone ever take effexor and if so how did it work? What were the effects and is it addictive?