Haven't Been On Meds For A Week Or Two

[Jibby]

I wouldn't recommend my way for anyone, but for me meds just don't seem to work. I realise what works for one, might not another and vice versa, but I've just chucked my towel in now on meds.

Over the past 10 years I must have tried almost most of the pharma meds out there, latest were double cocktail of Duloxitine and Temazepam, and just none of them seem to touch the sides. I feel nothing, even after months of taking regular as instructed.

My GP went through with me a week or so ago what I have been prescribed over the years and I should be a guinea pig. I've done some for a year here, year there, 6 months here, 6 months there...this dose, that dose but I just never feel any different. I don't even get side-effects. I've stopped a few abruptly, again with no apparent knock on effect.

I did take a lot of ecstacy/cocaine when I got out though for a good 2-3 years and still smoke pot (which does have affect on mood), not sure if that's had an effect now or the cause of the above, but even then I'd find if the group I was taking the E's with would need x number of pills to buzz I'd always need x+ to get the same. Even over the counter paracetomal/painkillers I have to take over the dosage for them to have an effect. I'm not a particularly big guy in size, so not sure what the hell it is. Maybe I'm just immune.

I think a few GPs I've seen in the end either believe I'm not been taking them or just given up with a "what the f**k else do you want me to do?" and run out of ideas.

As I said, I'd not want my experiences to influence anyone else; just sharing how I've found the whole meds thing. Completely lost faith in it all. I also realise that medical science moves on fast, so every year the meds are probably improving, but sod it.

I've not found pot addictive, I can take it or leave it and often go 3-4 weeks without and only smoke it after kids have gone to bed anyway so not exactly caning it, and I do drink way too much (but dry since Saturday because intake was getting ridiculous! Get me! :) ) and pot does chill me out, calm me down and put the demons aside for a bit. I know it might be a false friend but have been smoking it on and off for 15 years now (might explain alot!! :) ), but that's it really.

Wanted to waffle on in case anyone ever finds the above the same for them.

 

[Jibby]

*Will say I gave up the Temazepam/Duloxitine after 5-6 weeks though as most recent; pretty much guilty as charged not given them chance, but after trying everything else now kind of quick to chuck the towel in...

 

[Anglesachse]

Me for my part just got sick of taking shit on a daily basis.

When I was admitted to the clinic I was allready on a mixed salad of painkillers for my back, and then was given a hand full of Anti Dep`s and Chill out pills for the Suicide side of life, got to the point I was actually taking 12 mixed tablets of a morning 10 midday 12 of an evening and then 6 to sleep. 40 tablets a day? Totaly over the mark in my opinion.

If I hadn`t of had my magic box to portion the shit I would have lost all oversight of the stuff. When I then moved clinics and was due to come be released, the Doc had me weened of the lot, and I left Med free. not fixed by no means but my Liver was having a bad time due to the amount I was popping. only started on Mirtazapin a couple of months ago due to sleep issues again, but have now changed to Alternative medicine, which seems to have actually achieved more in the last couple of months than all the meds did since 1995.

But like Jibby and a few other`s have said, what works for one doesn`t have to work for another.

 

[JarHed]

what works for one doesn`t have to work for another.

Well said Angle

It's an unfortunate mindset of doctors today, I think. They don't often enough go beyond the obvious to determine what is actually wrong with a person. It's very easy for them to just prescribe something and hope it works. And if it doesn't they'll prescribe something else. No simple answer here, of course, but the meds you take have a strong and long term effect on your body. It's something that's rarely addressed by our doctors.

I also agree with looking at alternative meds and treatments. They can be most helpful, for some things at least.

Here's an example of what I mean. A short while ago a pulled something in my lower back. Muscle or tendon, very painful. Not the first time or the last time I'll do something like this. Just doing some work around my house. After suffering with it for a few weeks I knew that I needed to do something about it. It just wasn't getting better. If I'd gone to the doc, she'd prescribe pain killers, which I can't take because they don't agree with me and nasiads anti inflammatory drugs which I also can't take because of my kidneys. So, what to do.

I have a close friend that is a certified Acupuncturist and contacted him, made an appointment for a treatment. First, I believe that more should be done to accept these 'new' forms of treatments that have really been around for thousands of years. I've had one treatment and I'm already feeling much better. The pain is almost completely gone and I can almost stand straight again. No medication just a few needles that you can't even feel and I'm markedly better than I was. I'll probably need a few treatments but it's better than the meds route for me. They just usually make me ill and so I don't take them after a while.

I guess what I'm saying is seek out that which will be of the best benefit for you. Obviously you wouldn't use Acupuncture for a broken leg but I think it has it's place as well as herbal remedies and the like.

When doctors, even the best ones, prescribe a med it's with the best intention of helping you get better. Unfortunately that's not always the case and they have to try a few times before they hit on the right ones for you. You just have to be a savvy consumer when it comes to what you're putting into your body. You also have to trust that the doctor knows what they're doing and you're not just another number to them.

Jar

 

[Barberian]

Well, shortly after I wrote the last post I reduced my meds to just the Gabapentin (also prescribed for anxiety), mostly for pain, with an occasional Tramadol and Motrin.

I've had a terrible time with anger management for some time now, and have been getting worse with anxiety and depression. SO... I decided to restart a few of the meds for that for my wife's sake. I've been high as a kite for the last few days, anger management has been easier. Anxiety has been mixed, mostly still pretty strong most of the time. Depression.... not sure yet. Meds usually take over a week to affect that aspect.

I'll see how it goes, if it doesn't improve with the meds I have at hand (active prescription) I'll make an appointment with the psych for a med evaluation.

 

[Koala]

I am in the same boat.. currently on the following.

cymbalta 120mg
Avanza 30 - 60mg

The Avanza sometimes works and then does not - often leading me to be late for work (yeah still working). I can average about 2 - 3 hours a night and then all of a sudden I will wake up at 11:00 the next day after a few days of the sleep deprivation sleep. Cymbalta works for me but is loosing its mojo after a couple of years, if I drop the cymbalta I am physically ill, throwing up, dizzy and feel like I am floating.

Every now and then I forget to take them over a weekend, whether consciously or subconsciously. I think I am fine but start to get the weird vibe from people that my comments, conversations are simply weird. So it is very hard to gauge how you are traveling, you need an outside influence to help determine if you are cruising the highway (normal ish) or walking down the highway butt naked thinking you are in a car.

Oh, a doctor advised me when taking Cymbalta in such a high dose, if you go off it you should start back at a 60mg dose for the first week and then a 120mg from then on.. This can stop the honeymoon period being so overwhelming.