Med Recommendations?

[ericaboo]

Just one sufferer to another - any med recommendations? (I know we are not psychiatrists) I suffer from anxiety (panic?) attacks, insomnia and nightmares.

I'm maxed out on Klonopin and it isn't doing hardly anything for me anymore. I'm losing it at work and home and have no choice but to try another pharmaceutical. I'm going to see my psychiatrist next week, but I don't want to go in without a game plan or suggestion.

Problem is - I've got nothing. I've combed the net, and just found a mish-mash of positive and negatives about all kinds of different alternatives. I'm going to need something to keep my anxiety lowered - especially during work - I can't lose this job!

Any thoughts would be appreciated... even just websites to look at, resources or food for thought.

Thanks.

 

[Srain]

I'm sorry to hear you are not doing well, anxiety can be such a distraction and highly uncomfortable. :(

I don't know if you have read Anthony's post on his Valium experience but I think it's worth a read. Personally, I was unable to take it because it made me depressed but then so did klonopin as well as some others. I pretty sure you can just do a search on it.

I have used several alternatives with varying results, Gabapentin was very helpful when I was unable to take benezo but the weight gain, though not more than 10-15lbs, was more than this body dymorfic sufferer could handle after awhile so I switched. Some people have good results with buspar, others with meditation, I personally do so much better with my early morning power walk and stopping throughout the day to do some deep breathing.

Sorry if this not anything you didn't already know. Please take care.
Rain

 

[ericaboo]

I personally do so much better with my early morning power walk and stopping throughout the day to do some deep breathing.

Thank you so much Srain - I appreciate the response very, very much.

My heart of hearts just wants to "man" this out and go with the meditation and walks, but I'm very new at this, and I am not doing well enough yet with those tactics - but I believe I will eventually achieve this!!

I will look into the ideas you have written down, and hope I can find a temporary solution to keep me going until my therapist can help me learn to cope better with less or no "chemical" intervention.

-Erica

 

[catjudo]

I've got nothing. I've combed the net, and just found a mish-mash of positive and negatives about all kinds of different alternatives.

I believe even asking the question here, you will get the same results you've found by searching the internet. The reason being, what is the perfect solution for one person is a miserable experience for the next. There is no easy answer...the benefits and side effects of different medications are quite different from person to person. For every person who says a particular medication was the best thing they've every tried, there will be another who will swear it is the worst drug ever invented and you should never consider even trying it.

It's not really your job to go to your psychiatrist with a list of medications you would like to try. You should go to your psychiatrist and let them know why what you're taking now is not working for you. They should know what things you've tried in the past that have or have not worked for you. You should talk with them to let them know what types of potential side effects you would be willing to risk or tolerate and what types of side effects would be absolute deal-breakers for you. And based on all that information, your psychiatrist should then use their training and expertise to made a recommendation to you on what type(s) of medications they can offer you to try. The two of you could then work together to decide what medication to try and a plan on what criteria you will use to decide whether or not it is effective for you.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

I read a post the other day that said she started taking Lexapro for her anxiety and it was working good. I remembered that because it's not often you hear someone mention a drug and say how well it works. But like Catjudo said, what works for one is not necessarily going to work for another. But I guess you could always try it and see.

Valium works well for me but I refuse to take it on a daily basis. It's there if when I really need it, and that works for me. And the generic version leaves me like a zombie. I just take the band name "Valium". it works much better. I dont think doctors prescribe that for anxiety alone. My doctor gives it to me for my combination of PTSD symptons and my pain from fibromyalgia.

In my honest opinion I think a good healthy diet and exercise are the best for PTSD. The good food gives you the needed energy and nutrients to feel your best, and the exercise release the right chemicals to make your body feel good and strong. At my best that's all I did and my PTSD was very manageable. However, with that said The the PTSD was still there, and everyday was still a struggle, I had to fight off insomnia etc. But it was "manageable" opposed to stifling, as I am experiencing now. And it is not easy to go from stifling back to manageable. This is something I'm working on now.

I would keep talking to your doctors and tell them you want to try new things until you find something that works for you. Probably after a while you will find a combination of things that work for you.

Take care,

Solo

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Hi Erica, I am a believer in medication that helps achieve stability, not meant for long term I know. I am on celexa, effexor for anxiety, and oxazepan for anxiety, a very low dose. It does make a difference for me. I hope you find something that will work. I think it is very good that you are researching the meds. I have gone in and requested medication and recieved it. He keeps wanting to take me off of the effexor but a few months back I was a basket case and was told I was going to be hospitalized. I know keeping your job is very important to you, so you need the meds that will cause you to stabalize. You will feel numb, but it will help alot. I hate being a basket case , and that is what I was before the medication. I love being stable.

I hope between the 2 of you, you will find the right solutions to your problems and you will experience relief. Big hugs. Sorry I couldn'nt be more helpful. I do not think we are supposed to be suffering so much. There are things that we can do.

 

[catjudo]

I read a post the other day that said she started taking Lexapro for her anxiety and it was working good.

I tried Lexapro once...it was awful. I found it to be incredibly sedating. It did not matter if I took it in the morning or at night time, I was a zombie...could not stay awake or keep my eyes open for anything. I've known others who had the same experience.

I just take the band name "Valium". it works much better. I dont think doctors prescribe that for anxiety alone.

It depends on the doctor...mine prescribes valium. I only take it when needed. I take the generic and have no problems.

See what I mean about everyone's experience being different? There really is no way to know what will work for you just based on what has worked for others.

 

[freakofnurture]

My anxiety was less bad when I was on a higher dose of Effexor. Buspirone did nothing for me. I tried Lorazepam as emergency med and it was the horror. Now I'm on Lyrica but I can't say anything about it yet.

Altough, Srain mentioned Gabapentin and weight gain. Lyrica aka Pregabalin is the same class of med and causes at least some weight gain in 14-16% of patients. I don't know what the percentage is in Gabapentin but otherwise Lyrica is said to have less and milder side effects than Gabapentin.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

I tried Lexapro once...it was awful. I found it to be incredibly sedating. It did not matter if I took it in the morning or at night time, I was a zombie...could not stay awake or keep my eyes open for anything.

That's exactly how I reacted to Cymbalta, (I do have a willingness to try things). I tried Cymbalta and it was like a real heavy tranquilizer that was terribly sedating & zombie like, uhg.

Now we'll probably here from somebody who took Cymbalta and had great results. :laugh:

My experience of what works for me came with a lot of trial and error. I think that how it's done. We try things until we find what works for us individually.

Hope this helps Erica,

Solo

 

[ericaboo]

Thanks for all the responses- It's reassuring to have any information to at least think about.

I went to my T today who is going to coordinate with my other docs about the issue. For now, I'm going to concentrate on diet and excercise for another week, and see what happens...

Another thing I'm going to work on is making my routine as "clockwork" as I can - what time I take meds, eat, sleep, etc.

I'll keep you posted...

 

[piratelady]

You can do this Erica! Something about having a routine is very calming - to me at least. Change what you can in your life and maybe that will be enough for you to "man" this out.

 

[^^FlyingSolo^^]

Yep routines are great, good idea. :tup:

Good luck with everything and keep us posted. xx