Drug Treatment For PTSD (Suggestions And Ideas)

[ayuria]

I was diagnosed almost two years ago, and have been on a combination of anti psychotic and antidepressant medication the entire time. I started on seroquel, up to 200mg and was on that for quite a while, but went off it because of weight gain; I then moved to zeldox, imgraven??, and solian before going BACK to serquel, which I am now on again. Zeldox made me too tired, and solian was too expensive. I do not want to be on seroquel. I am taking the long lasting version- seroquel XR at 50mg a night. I have also been on lexapro, mitirzipane, cymbalta and now pristique in regards to antidepressants.

My question is this. Is there another drug treatment out there, that is not a combination of anti psychotic and antidepressant, or have I really exhausted all my options? I want to look for a new psychiatrist who might look at alternative drug therapy, but is there anything else?

I have also used Valium.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Any suggestions? Is there another option?

 

[cat]

I was also diagnosed 2yrs ago & at first I tried the alternative approach with Homeopathy, alternative therapies, vitamins etc thinking that I would be better off without chemicals, but found that they had little affect on my anxiety. For the last year I have been taking 40mg Citalopram with good results, I has made me put on some weight & I have a dry mouth but other than that is has been a life saver for me.

I feel that any medication therapy needs to be used in conjunction with psychotherapy & relaxation therapy. At first I tried psychotherapy without drugs but it raised my anxiety right of the scale & my psychologist was reluctant for me to continue without medication. Since taking meds I have been able to fully engage with therapy again with good results, as my anxiety levels are much lower when working through my trauma.

 

[suzie q]

My history started off with anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety meds, and sleeping meds. I started all the mixes thereof in 1986. My side effects where many and the combinations were exhausting. I knew I had to have some kind of medication because I could not function without them (had dissociation really bad along with fragmented personality major manic moods and eating disorder) I've gone through about a dozen different doctors/therapists and they kept encouraging me to keep searching for the right combination.

Now after being on the forum, I've learned that the situation with that was probably because they were getting kick backs on the prescriptions. I eventually went to a rehab for eating disorder and the psychiatrist put me on Seroquel for 60 days. After about 30 days, my mind felt like it was being released from a coma. I had a much brighter, clearer, more focused look like I had been asleep all that time. The first 30 days use knocked me on my arse, but then my body adjusted. I take 200mg/nightly and feel like I'm out of the haze.

I also take 75mg/Prozac daily, 150mg/Trazadone at night to sleep. The only problem I have with the Seroquel is the side effect of restless leg syndrome. I take a 2mg/Requip at night to stop the cramps. Taking any type of narcotic medication is strictly a no-no. I'm a recovering Alcoholic and Drug Addict so I have to stay away from self-medicating.

I agree completely with Cat in that the talking (CBT) type therapy is really necessary to help with your issues. I haven't had EMDR yet, but am looking. I had 8 years of CBT and it helped me get rid of alot of the high anxiety/manic symptoms. Everyone is different, just thought I'de share my experiences. Whatever you decide, don't ever give up on looking for the answers that are for you!!
Best of luck on your journey
suzie q

 

[ayuria]

I have definitely been with a psychologist and psychiatrist for something other then drug therapy. however, I am only interested at the moment in looking at alternative drug treatments, due to the fact that Im back on a drug I dont want to be on. I am already doing CBT and other "talk-therapy" treatments. Any ideas on drug treatments, would be really appreciated! thank you!!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Well, there are benzodiazepines, but there is argument over whether or not they should be used to treat PTSD. Yes, they help with anxiety, but are also highly addictive. I've become dependent on both Klonopin and Ativan and coming off of them was no walk in the park.

There is one non-benzo anti-anxiety medication called Buspar. It works well for some people, but it has also been said that it doesn't work well for those who have been on benzo's before. I haven't found this to be the case.

And then there are mood stabilizers. You didn't mention this class of drugs, so I assume that you haven't been on them before. I am diagnosed with major depression, but can't take anti-depressants because they cause me to mood cycle like crazy. I am left to battle my depression with mood stabilizers alone. Which, all in all, isn't such a bad thing, because my depression isn't one of those "stay in bed for three months straight" kind of depressions, rather it is a constantly cycling between normal and depressed kind of depression. So while I'm not bipolar, mood stabilizers have helped to even me out. I still suffer from a low grade depression, but hey, its so much better than constantly cycling up and down and up and down...

 

[ayuria]

You are right- I dont think I've been on mood stabilizers before. I will look into this. Thanks. Is lithium a mood stabilizer?
I have been on a benzo - or at least im fairly sure Valium is a benzo. And with my history, I doubt my doctor would let me be put back on them, due to addiction and other things.

I will also look up Buspar. Thanks.

Thank you!!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Yes, Lithium is a mood stabilizer. I have been on it before, but I couldn't deal with the side effects. I've also been on Topamax, with good mood stabilizing results. I had to stop taking it because it made my anxiety worse! However, it did a great job in "evening me out" so to speak. Those around me could really tell a difference! I've also been on Neurontin, but had to stop taking it because of side effects. Right now I'm on Trileptal, and it does a good job with evening out my moods. There are a few other mood stabilizers out there. These are just the ones I have personal experience with.

And I forgot to mention one other anti-anxiety med. I'm currently taking Vistaril, a non-benzo anti-anxiety med. Its actually in the antihistamine family, I believe (related to benadryl, but you need a script for it). It can also be used as a sleep medication. I was taking it for sleep, but it no longer helps me sleep. I have switched to taking it during the day, and it really helps with my anxiety.

 

[penelopetree]

Hi! This post is a little late, so I certainly hope you've found something to work. There is lamictal, a mood stabilizer with mild antidepressant effects.

Best regards,

P.

 

[James B.]

Am another who has found Seroquel useful. I don't buy any foods that could cause weight gain, so this hasn't been a problem. Also, I can't put any snack foods in the house because of recovering eating disorder - bulimia. Etc.

Am using Neurontin (gabapentin) as a general mood stabilizer. Careful with this one, too much = some pretty serious suicidal thoughts for me.

Am considering clonidine - to help me quit an addiciton to nicotine. I have an atypical reaction to not using nicotine, it doesn't seem to ebb with time. Also, have "hypersensitivities" - I have to live alone in a rural setting or I get overstimulated. Also tendency toward ADHD type problems.

My neurotype is strongly creative, physical, connected to the natural world, etc. My Seroquel dose is 50mg XR @ night. My Gabapentin is 300mg in the am, then another 300mg at 4:30pm.

Am going to look into clonidine. Very sad about what happens to me during sustained abstinence from nicotine, so this may help.

Would like to cut my second PM dose of Gabapentin is I can.

Good luck everyone.