Back On Meds - But Will It Help Me?

[adrian_newbridge]

I've done really well for the past few months and then I get triggered by a couple of things and end up having a relapse, not quite bad enough to end up back in hospital but still severe, the hallucinations and intrusive thoughts have come back as well as fierce flashbacks, I went to see my psychiatrist last week and he said that stress was causing anxiety and that was sparking off my symptoms again.
He prescribed LYRICA or PREGABLIN for the anxiety, I wondered if anybody has taken this drug in the past and does it work.
I found it strange that it is also used to treat epilepsy and severe pain. Can one drug do all three?
On a positive note I started night school last week and it's helped take my mind off things for a couple of hours a week, I am now officially a mature student, and have an I.D. card to prove it. it's so wierd going back to college after 38 years away.
Keep surviving everyone :thumbs-up

 

[cherryblossom]

Although I'm a medic, I'm not a doctor: however, I believe that such a drug can work on all three by decreasing the release of neurotransmitters. Similarly benzodiazepines are used to treat both epilepsy and anxiety by slowing down the CNS (central nervous ststem).

LYRICA or PREGABLIN is licenced in the UK for use in generalised anxiety disorder.

The following is taken from the BNF (british national formulary), which is used as a guidline for prescibing medication in the UK.

"Management of acute anxiety generally involves the use of a benzodiazepine or buspirone. For chronic anxiety (of longer than 4 weeks’ duration) it may be appropriate to use an antidepressant. Combined therapy with a benzodiazepine may be required until the antidepressant takes effect. Generalised anxiety disorder, a form of chronic anxiety, is treated with an SSRI such as escitalopram or paroxetine; pregabalin and venlafaxine are also licensed for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder"

I hope this puts your mind at ease , in that it CAN help your anxiety.

Good luck with college and I hope things get better for you soon

CB

 

[Deleted member 541]

I hope that they do work for you...But even if they don't there are always a bounty full of drugs that you can try. Good luck with college....

 

[adrian_newbridge]

Thanks Cherryblossom and Shecat for replying, I've just upped the dosage today so I will keep taking them for a while longer and see what happens, but I want to get back into seeing a Psychologist, I'm on the waiting list and should start again in late October/ early November. I found with my last psychologist, she helped me so much I could manage without meds, just taking the odd diazapam when I got to anxious. How I wish she hadn't left the area !! I managed college it was great.

 

[midi]

I hope the drugs work. Good luck with college, eh.

 

[FlameTachiku]

I do believe that Anthony addressed this drug in the past, it may be worth searching out. It was indepth.