Are You Taking Any Prescription Medication?

[fin]

I took efexor Kunoichi, Venlafaxine.
It is addictaive in any way that a med you have to take regularly is.

When I came off them...it took me nearly 4 months...but I did do it really slow...I dont know if 4 months is the norm. I wanted to do it really slowly, and I had my Gp's blessing.

I had many side effects...but at the peak I was taking the maximum dose.

I know and have been told that many people get on with it quite well.
It stopped me-right in my tracks...I felt "shut in" with my problems and stuff.
I was still having issues all the same, but I felt like I was no longer able to react to them at all.
While this may have been good...I still had a husband that was calling over and it just meant that I no longer "cared" what he was doing, I say that word loosely...I just couldnt be "bothered" any longer to stop him.. again that isnt the right word either...just my brain is off-kilt this evening.

I was not being moderated on them and I think that was a major problem.
I was on them for nearly four years. Completely un-checked...my GP has said since that it was wrong how I was treated in this way.

It is difficult to say if they improved my situation at all. And it does depend who you ask. Because I was very numb in many respects...but I did feel that I was still reliving...I was just in no way able to communicate this with anyone.

If taking anything...I would really keep a diary of effects etc. -esp.if you find you have any side affects. And also make sure that you are regularly checked out on them. that someone is monitoring you at regular intervals.

It basically shut me up...it didnt help me at all.

But as I said earlier I have heard of people doing very well on them.
It is important to remember everyone is different and that all meds react differently with each person.

I meant to say ...the psychiatrist that prescribed them did so saying that I would only be taking them short term-6 months max...as an interim measure until I could begin some trauma therapy. Unfortunatly she left the department that was treating me and the care co-ordinator at the time didnt follow up. She kept telling me there was a awaiting list for treatment, which was and is true..its just because I wasnt a problem I kept getting passed over. It was the care-co-ordinator (CPN then) that was at fault not the psych. or my GP. The care co-ordinator didnt bother to follow-up on anything. I was quiet and compliant...and she was waiting to retire. That sounds pretty bad ...but it is pretty much true. I wasnt able to work any longer, I no-longer cared about what I looked like or ate or anything...I believe it exacerbated the depression I had.

I am much more pro-active now...I would advise educate yourself at each step.
It doesnt have to be so bad for anyone and it shouldnt have been so bad for me. I should have been monitored...what happened to me should never have happened.

As you may have read from other posts of mine...I have had a catalogue of let-downs and bad treatment...so please take advice measuredly.

hope this helps


~fin

 

[kers]

It is important to remember everyone is different and that all meds react differently with each person.

Hear, hear, fin. This is why it is so important that any medication questions be primarily directed towards the prescribing doctor, and why med changes/going off meds should be done under a doctor's supervision, too.


I am on Sertraline 100mg and Trazodone 300mg. I can sleep for a full night for the first time in my life, so I'm in no rush to get off them!

 

[isis8]

I am a recovering addict, attend 5 meetings a week (have almost 7 years clean) and still have to take medication for severe depression. I started seeing a new psychiatrist who has me on 100mg Topomax and 5mg FocalinXR plus 225mg EffexorXR. The FocalinXR boosts the serotonin and for the first time in my entire life, I feel good. I can concentrate and the Topomax helps with the irritibility.

 

[ocean]

Medication question

Does anyone know of medication that helps with excessive sweating when anxious? My ptsd symptoms are very physical. Propranolol controls heartrate and shaking well. Thank you for your help.

 

[redheaddanyell]

I refused meds when I was a teenager but since my ptsd has gotten worse I welcome them and welcome them all.....I felt desperate. My Dr put me on Lexapro 10mg and I saw a difference right away....almost too much. I was dealing with my father dying...still am and I was overly jubilant, not because of dad but just in general. After 3 weeks I think that it is having less effectiveness as I am feeling depressed again like before. My anxiety attacks are less frequent but when they do happen they are extreme...Dr prescribed Ativan 1mg for those. I also am taking Ambien for sleeping. Which is great except I really have to be in bed as I swallow...if I stay up and wait to feel tired....I feel drunk and stamer up the stairs to bed...not good lol. I am giving Lexapro a couple more weeks but if I still feel this way I will ask for something stronger.

 

[kayjay]

Meds - Any Specific Ones?

Hey all,

Just wondering what your experience of medication has been.

I've been on citalopram up to the max dose and found it had no effect.
Am currently on duloxetine (cymbalta) 90mg and have yet to find that helpful. Makes sleep worse and I feel spaced out constantly, doesn't help with my grip on reality!

My doc prescribed all that for depression before I was diagnosed with PTSD, are they any drugs that are more specific for PTSD, or do they treat it with anti-depressants?

Anyone on any drugs that have been successful?

Kayjay

 

[Mina]

Hi, KayJay - I merged your thread with an existing one on medications. Hopefully you will find the responses here helpful. :smile:

 

[blackdove]

I have started citalopram recently - not sure what its doing yet - no side effects that I have noticed. Sleep is the main problem for me. My sleeping pills give me exactly 5 or so hours but I never feel rested. Without them, I have too many nightmares and wake up every hour or so. My ad below explains things better :-)

MISSING: Sleep
Reward offered: HUGE Thanks
Last Seen: February 2009
Description: 8 hours long, peaceful, deep and surrounded by happy sheep

 

[dancingmayflower]

Hi KayJay

There are no specific meds for PTSD but I believe some of the anti - depressants are licensed for use in PTSD. I take 100mg sertraline and 25mg amitriptyline. Prior to settling with these meds I tried citalopram like you, mitizipine and numerous sleeping pills, all of which had no effect on me. Everyone is unique in how they respond to meds but sounds like you need to try something new. Sertraline is supposed to help with PTSD symptons - it helps me lead a fairly 'normal' life and the amitirptyline helps me sleep (this is a tri-cyclic antidepressant) - without these I cease to function. Have tried to reduce meds numerous times but my body and mind cannot seem to function without them so I have finally accepted the need to keep taking them long-term (taken me 4 years to accept that!).

 

[louisa]

Sertraline/Zoloft And Other Forms Of Medication

Hi,

Before I developed PTSD, I was suffering from depression - something I've suffered from throughout my life. I gave up medication as I felt that it made me zombie-like, and it also never worked except at the beginning - in the first 4-6 weeks when according to them it wasn't supposed to work. I also felt that the zombie like state it enduced (as they kept uppping the dose cos I complained that it wasn't working after the initial 4-6 week period) made me more vulnerable to the attack that almost ended my life.

Anyway, about a year and 10 months after the attack, I finally relented (after a suicidal bout of depression - this was about 3 weeks ago) and began to take Sertraline/zoloft - yeah I know it's supposed to take 4-6 weeks to work - but that's what they said about the anti-depressents - they didn't work, and so they kept upping the dose til i turned in to a zombie - these (the sertraline) aint working either. I think that this thing with medication is just part of their agenda to control us - our feelings and responses are a natural response to what has happpened to us - but because they don't know what to do with us, they just chuck medication at us. What do other people think about this, and do u think I'm being paranoid?

 

[kers]

We all have different perspectives on medication. What's important is that whatever treatment you seek, it is right for you, an approach that you feel comfortable with and get relief from.

 

[Grainne]

I have attempted to deal with my symptoms with and without meds. Most of the medications I have taken for depression have made me feel worse, eventually, but some did help with my anxiety. I don't 'like' taking meds...but, if they help me stay level and focused on feeling better, I'll take them. But...that's just me.

I agree with Kers. Defining the treatment that works best for YOU is the right way to go...no matter what it is.