I Think My Doctor Is Afraid Of My Drug Addiction

[Muncher72]

I have a long history of cocaine abuse which I freely admit to my current and former doctors. This time around however, my new doctor seems a little reluctant to give me something serious for my anxiety and stress.

Keep in mind, I moved back home with my abuser mother who TORTURED me and my brothers and sister for all my childhood. To live with her is like pouring alcohol on an open wound. I have major disassociation/flashbacks complete with heart palpatations, chest pain and jaw clenching to the point of cracked molars (teeth). I feel like I am being treated too cautiously with the benzodiazepines. One of her tid-bits of therapy was to advise me spend more time out away from this house, which trust me I'm doing!

I'd like to list my meds and get some input. Are these meds really helpful for anxiety? Or is it a little like licking an aspirin for a headache. Your thoughts please because I don't think my doctor is really hearing me say "I'm stressing out beyong control".

Lexapro 20 mg 1 PO QD
Topamax 100 mg 1 PO BID
Geodon 40 mg 1 PO BID
Ambien 40 mg 1 PO Q HS

 

[catjudo]

I think it sounds like your doctor is being responsible and approaching the situation the way that most doctors would. If you have a history of drug abuse, benzos are generally contraindicated.

 

[cherryblossom]

I'm in agreement with Catjudo. Benzo's are well documented to be addictive, so with your history of addiction, it sounds like your doctor is being cautious. I'm not familiar with some of your medication, nor am I a doctor. The following, as such is not medical advice, just my observations, and some things you might want to discuss with your doctor.

40 mg of Ambien is a high dose. In the UK ambien is named zolpidem and is licensed for short term use (up to 4 weeks), with a dose of 5-10mg. On a personal note however, I take 10-20mg every night, and have been taking it for several months. However, my GP is fully aware of my sleep issues, and is aware of my use, also I don't have any history of addiction. 40mg sounds like a high dose, so you should be getting adaquate sleep with that, and I doubt your doctor would add any further sleep meds. But it might be worth stopping that medication and trying something different, if you are not getting enough sleep.

Also in the UK, Lexapro is called cipralex, and 20mg per day is the maximum dose. There are many different anti-depressants around, everyone will experience different levels of efficacy. You are on the maximum dose recommended in the UK (It may be different in US, because different countries have different licences for different drugs). If you have been taking this medication for long enough (4-6) weeks, and it has not helped with your depression, it might be worth asking your Doctor about trying something different.

I'm not familiar with your other 2 medications, so I will not comment on those.

I do however take mirtazepine at night, which is also an anti-depressent, but it has the added side effect of causing drowsiness, so that also helps me to sleep. I also take propanalol, in the morning. This is a beta-blocker, which in my case was precscribed solely for anxiety. I am only on a low dose, but it has helped enormously because it slows your heart rate which help to combat that heart racing panic feeling.

Please remember that everyone has different experiences with medications. Also they are not a solution to your problems. I hate taking 5+ medications daily, but they are helping to get me through until I get the right help that I need, which I'm actively seeking.

Personally, I think your doc is being very responsible, keeping you away from benzo's. Firstly due to your history of drug addiction, and secondly because you are already on a high dose of hypnotics (ambien). It would be worth asking about other meds that might help, such as propanalol.

 

[Muncher72]

Turns Out Doctor Is Listening

First off let me just apologize and correct what I said about my ambien being 40 mg. It is in fact 20 mg. Goes to show you guys are really paying attention and I appreciate that.

I had my appointment today and my doctor prescribed klonopin 0.5 mg bid prn for the those rough patches during my day. You are right, she has been cautious and for good reason. I have been sober for 3 months and I am leary of stronger meds to control anxiety, however I am even more scared of the tension and rage that builds within me being here with my former abuser. I cope better when calmer.

Hey thank you again for you input.

 

[bluerosa]

Hi Muncher,
It's good your Dr. is steering you clear of the benzos. Your Klonopin is a is a very low dose.

I take Topamax and it is actually prescibed sometimes for weaning alcoholics off the bottle. I am on it for a mood stabalizer at 250mg a day. I sounds like you are taking 200mgs ( 100mg BID means twice a day which is quite a bit. 400-500 is a lot) It took me quite a while to get up to my dose of 250mgs per day. I don't find that it bothers me much for insomnia if I prepare well for a good nights sleep. I have been on it for about 4 months and I feel stabalized on it now and most of the side effects have worn off.

Topamax is a well respected medication to be used with your history of drug abuse. It sounds like your Dr. is well advised. I really think it is working well for me and I was stressed out beyond belief!!! He recommended to me so that I wouldn't have to take so much Klonopin. So it is a 4 out 5 for me becuase no drug is perfect and I've been on about 30 different kinds of medications at one time or another.....so I guess I feel well guinea pigged enough to judge.

The good effects of Topamax are, that I don't feel the daily need to take the edge off my anxiety (when my other meds didn't seem to work), with a beer or two. I am also losing some unwanted weight (every likes that) that the Paxil and Seroquel that I was previously on, made me gain thirty pounds with.

I also take Klonopin. It is extremely addictive as a benzo but not as bad as Ativan or Xanax but it is the only one that works for my anxiety. I give it a 2 out 5 because I have a life-long love hate relationship with it and have had to find alternative ways to treat my intense anxiety. Your doctor probably gave it to you because it has a longer lasting effect than the others and you are less likely to withdraw from it and therefore get anxious just from withdrawing from it. Be careful with it.

I've taken Ambien. It was one of the first sleeping pills if I remember correctly "not" to give you a hangover.

How's everything going, It's been such a long time since last summer?