[Kiya]

Deal with depression, anxiety, complex ptsd.
am already on citlopram (generic for celexa). increases anxiety.
Was on lexapro before that, which controlled anxiety better, but had me pretty numbed out and i can't afford the price.
have already tried several things for anxiety including theanine, taurine, and now buspirone. anxiety is worse.
busp. side effects are pretty bad.

email from dr said:
all medications are a problem, and we really try to prescribe them keeping in mind the benefits versus the risks. I don’t like to prescribe anxiolitics at all, like valium xanax, ativan etc, they are highly addictive, and it is a huge risk, one can’t be on these for very long, and you have a chronic condition with anxiety so that it needs to be managed long term, these medications are not meant to be used long term.
Sounds like you need to be re-eval for the medication piece, since I am in primary care and your level of symptoms are more complex that what I could do, I would suggest that I refer you to our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in this clinic.

I am bummed. I don't know what to do any more. I never wanted to start meds in the first place. Over a year ago she said "open your heart to them" and so i did. and things have gone down hill from there. any suggestions? thanks

[_embrace]

I'm pretty much in the same situation as you, medication wise. I have different issues, but anxiety is my main problem. I have also done lexapro and then buspar (which I agree....buspar = awful side effects...I had the worst time coming off of it.) I also took clonazepam (aka klonopin) for awhile, which worked SO GREAT but is one of those addictive ones, so it wasn't a long-term solution.

I don't know where it goes from here, really. My doctor is currently saying that "Since the lexapro didn't work" no medication will probably work for me, which is pretty depressing. I have been off of medication for about three months now and have been doing rather poorly the past two.

I have heard good things about other antidepressants (especially paxil and effexor, but I've also heard effexor horror stories.) If I were you, I'd definitely see the CPN and find out what other options you have. Living with anxiety sucks hard, so any relief (to me, anyway) is welcome.

[jaeyw]

Hey,

I don't know if you guys are seeing psychiatrist or regular doctor. My regular doctor also has always been hesitant to prescribe benzos (xanax, klonopin). My psychiatrist, however, told me that people with anxiety issues usually do not abuse these drugs because their only effect is to make someone feel normal.

I have Xanax Xl and Ativan (no problem with abuse - use sparingly) for as needed plus celexa daily. I have to agree that celexa has not been a great help.

I don't know if this helps. Good luck!

J

[Slothrop]

There are so many meds out there...don't give up! I agree with jaeyw, a psychiatrist will have a better handle on psych meds than a primary care doc.

I saw my primary care doc for 7 years for depression, and never received more meds than one antidepressant at a time. I didn't understand why I wasn't getting better.

When I started with a psychiatrist (who diagnosed me with bipolar II), it was completely different...she was willing to try different meds and find the things that worked for me, and she had a very good understanding of each med's profile. It took a combination of meds to return me to something resembling normalcy.

Some say Paxil is a good antidepressant for people with anxiety. Just one possibility.

[splitimage]

I deall with depression, anxiety, and CPTSD, as well as alcoholism.

I take Effexor, Celexa, Risperidone, and Clonazapam (Klonopin). Fortunately my pdoc is one of the few who will prescribe benzos for long term use, despite my history of adddiction. And my addictions Dr. is ok with it, as long as I take it exactly as prescribed. I was on Ativan as a prn for a while, and I did wind up abusing it, because it was so fast acting and I liked the rush. I don't get the same rush from the clonzapam and it stays in your system longer so as long as I take it exactly as prescribed it just keeps me at a steady state, no major ups or downs for anxiety.

I sometimes feel like I'm on a real chemical cocktail, but it works for me, and getting the risperidone added at the right therapeutic dose made a huge difference for me too, both in terms of managing the anxiety and the CPTSD symptoms. So don't be scared off of the anti-psychotic family of drugs. I'd just be nervous of seroquel - I know several people on it, and it's basically turned them into zombies.

--splitimage

[Kiya]

Thank you all for the info - every bit of info helps! I can't wait to get off the buspirone - it is ruining my stomach!! I didn't take any today, and really suffered for it - finally taking one this evening, returning me back to "ok" with a hurt stomach *sigh*.
I've always been afraid of psych drugs. Well, any drug. We shall see what happens. I did tell the primary care dr i'd go see the psych nurse (have already chewed off all my fingernails) - don't know when I'll get in to see her.
kiya

[skeksi]

I think seeing a psychiatric specialist is key in finding an effective meds combo. A psychiatrist or PNP simply has more experience with the drugs, when they can be helpful, and how they can be combined.

I really get your frustration and apprehension, but this step could be very helpful for you. I was feeling "done" with psych meds after seeing a psychiatrist for a year, but when I switched to someone who had more interest in my issues (traumatic stress), I saw a real difference. I felt like I had many options and like he knew what to try next until we found a combo that worked (and we did).

Hang in there, Kiya!

[Kiya]

Well, I have an apnt... Sept 2nd. I'll be out of my meds before then. Dunno what will happen. Left that message with primary doc to see what she suggests. But i can see why primary doc emailed me 4 times throughout the day yesterday convincing me to go - so she could get the internal reccomendation for me to be seen in ASAP. Dr said they'd call within the week, and they called this morning as I was driving to work. @_@ When my dr. wants something, god help the person standing in her way! I've always said she could convince a pig to go to the slaughter house.
I am trying to rashion meds, but today was a 3 med day, as will the next 2 fridays be at least (those i am already scheduled to work). *shakes head*

Thanks Skeksi, that is a really valid point. I needed to hear that.