Research Person Who Quit Ptsd Meds Needed For Master's Thesis Please

[smr]

Hi,

my name is Samira! I am writing my master's thesis to obtain my masters in nursing and healthcare management.
I am researching why people with PTSD decide to quit their medication and if/which coping mechanisms they have developed.
I need to do an anonymous interview and would appreciate any help!

 

[The Albatross]

I private messaged you.

 

[EveHarrington]

Hi, are you looking to interview more than one person?

 

[smr]

At least one, but two would be better!

 

[hodge]

Hey, smr. I've quit most meds, but am still on generic Celexa, Propranolol, and Clonidine (for nightmares). The only med I know of approved for PTSD is Paxil, and maybe Prozac, but I haven't taken either of those for years. So I don't know if I meet your criteria, but if so, I'd be glad to help. You can pm me if you want.

 

[Friday]

My understanding is that, unless we have a comorbid diagnosis that needs medication management, we're ALL supposed to go off meds. That medication is a short term tool to use during the beginning of therapy round1 -if and only if needed, and not everyone needs meds-; and then they're peeled off after coping mechanisms are taught/learned & the person is more stable. Then round2 for therapy off meds to finish processing things straight.

So when you're talking off-meds, to be very specific, are you only looking for people in the very beginning of treatment who have quit meds while still highly symptomatic, or at any point during the treatment arc?

 

[hodge]

Obviously my treatment hasn't followed the course you describe, Friday. My psych has kept me on meds for 10 years now, and beyond my therapy. He seems to think, and agree with my therapist, that I've done all I can do on my own and that I still need some meds. I wish I had met the standards you describe. But I know I would be a wreck at least without my anti-nightmare med.

 

[EveHarrington]

I'm a bit confused, too-----

It seems like you're coming at it from this perspective-----

People are on meds which control symptoms. People then quit their meds. Without meds people need to develop coping skills. People then develop coping skills.

This isn't the aim of psychiatry and most of us here on the forum are developing coping skills regardless of medication usage because meds are pretty poor at managing symptoms alone.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Neverthesame]

I always believed that it was the idea for meds to be temporary. As a general idea anyways.

I think in practice that certainly doesn't fit everyone. I'll probably be off and on meds forever, which is fine. Other people may need them all the time, which is fine too.

I think if whatever you're doing is working for you, without harming you, it's not bad. Just the treatment regimen that best suits your individual needs.

Mind you I'm not a psychiatrist, or a marketing agent for a pharmaceutical company. Whether or not you take meds, has absolutely zero impact on my bank balance. Maybe if it did I would have a different opinion... But that's a topic for another thread.

@smr
Personally I have had to quit my meds after a short time 4-6 months, usually.

Either they stop working, or they make me ill.

• Paxil - 6 months. (Persistent nausea, headaches)
• Prozac - 4 months. (No notable effect positive or negative.)
• Amitriptyline - 9 months, 6 months and again 6 months. (Worked great the first couple of times. Then for some reason, it stopped working. No idea why. I also didn't suffer from discontinuation syndrome when stopping this drug. Made it ideal for a on again off again medication)
• Remeron - 4 months. (Nausea, vertigo, dry mouth, accommodation, headache, Somnolence. No real positive effects)
• Effexor - 6 months. (Vertigo, loss of appetite, mania, persistent runny nose, brain zaps while taking it. The loss of appetite continued to get worse, eventually was unwilling to eat. Had to go off of it. Lost about 30 lbs. My weight when starting med was around 130lbs. I am a 5'11" male.)

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I have been prescribed other meds along side with the ones listed, but not at the therapeutic doseages.

I also sadly don't recall what dosages I was prescribed for the ones I listed.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

I quit effexor because my head felt like someone was punching me really hard. I have had problems since - leg pains that were sharp at the back of my thighs and calves, breathlessness, dizziness, now all my joints are clicking :(

I hate effexor, I didn't have these problems before it.

Now not taking any medicines. And having to take a break from therapy because of my physical issues and increased panic attacks. :(

 

[smr]

Hey everyone!

Thank you all for your response! Let me clarify:

I "came up" with this idea because someone close to me has PTSD and only took the meds for a very short period of time, probably even too short to tell if they would help. Since then he has problems with anxiety and sleep problems (nightmares, cant sleep through the night) etc. So I was wondering, what was so horrible about the meds that someone would rather go through anxiety attacks, not being able to do things because of it and everything that comes with PTSD symptoms. And then I wanted to find out how are people dealing with the symptoms pf PTSD without meds. Maybe they are way better off without them because they have found their own ways to deal with it.
Criterias:
Diagnosis of PTSD, having been on medication for it/for the symptoms and then having made the personal decision to try it without the meds and their experience with it.

I still would love one more interview! It would have to be recorded (no video, no names or anything). So if someone here is willing to talk to me, please message me!

 

[Pakadlangitok]

I hope your friend is OK. But I always feel uncomfortable when people come on asking for our help, especially therapists because on the whole, therapists are very unwilling to hep those whose PTSD has rendered them unable to work and make enough money for either care or to buy insurance for care. Essentially many of us are left to die. Very few therapists do pro bono cases anymore, and people with PTSD can end up homeless suicidal and dead. We are not statistics and I think it is unfair for therapists to ask for our help when so many therapists are unwilling to help us. Perhaps in exchange for our advise, you can do some EMDR or other sessions with people who are telling you their personal stories.

I don't know you and you may be doing all pro bono work, so please understand ----- many of us are just very sensitive to the neglect we have had from your profession. I am sure you will be a good therapist, but when you get your degree, please make pro bono work part of your practice and remember that the people who may need you the most may not be able to pay for your care.