[Kiya]

Is there such a thing that really works?!?! I'm sick of being a guinea pig.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Kiya

Is there such a thing that really works?!?! I'm sick of being a guinea pig.

Some of the SSRIs are prescribed for people having only anxiety or anxiety+depression. The ones I know about are Paxil and Lexapro/Celexa. Paxil is "classic" in this regard. I know several people who have taken Paxil with great success for anxiety/depression, but all of them, unfortunately, gained weight on it (greater than 20 lbs). Kiya, I know you have tried Celexa, so I guess it must not be helping with your anxiety and depession. Perhaps there will not be just one pill that helps with you with both conditions. Have you tried one med for anxiety + a different drug for depression? I know a lot of people do well with ativan/xanax/klonopin plus an SSRI.

[Beholden]

Pevexa is the one I'm on for both depression and anxiety. It is related to Paxil, but isn't supposted to add weight. my diagnosis is Depressive Disorder/NOS, which is a combination of depression and anxiety, short term and doesn't meet the full criteria for major depression.

It is manufactured by a different drug company from Paxil and my pdoc said most family practice docs don't know about it, that the drug reps promote it with just pdocs. I like the result I have from it.

BBBBut I have gained weight. I can't blame it on the drug though.

[Kiya]

I started on lexapro. it was alright - i was pretty out of it, but I didn't know it until i started citalopram (celexa) which sent the anxiety thru the roof. So then i was on citalopram and buspirin (for anxiety - buspar)... and i keep increasing the busPIRin. ANd of course, on top of that I am still on lamictal (lamotrigene or something) that i hate. In theory, lamictal would replace citalopram and buspirin... ain't gonna happen.

I will research the Pevexa too, but have you experienced side effects from it. Beholden?

[sunrise]

Kiya, have you ever tried a benzo, like Klonopin/Ativan/Xanax, for anxiety? It is very common to take a benzo for anxiety + an SSRI for depression. It sounds like you've tried so many things, si maybe you already tried a benzo? If not, might be worth a question to your prescriber. (Most people find a benzo more effective at dealing with anxiety than Buspar.)

[Kiya]

You know, my gp wouldn't give me one - says they are addictive. =( but i may talk to the pnurse about it. thanks, sunrise

[possum220]

Aropax is a sedating ssri.........

[DivideByZero]

Originally Posted by Kiya

You know, my gp wouldn't give me one - says they are addictive. =( but i may talk to the pnurse about it. thanks, sunrise

Apparently there is a high risk for dependency and abuse with Benzos, so my doctor will not prescribe them either. My experience has been that doctors are acutely aware of this and reluctant to prescribe them to an insane degree. I was given seroquel PRN for anxiety, it is horrible. So I couldn't get benzos and seroquel did not help, I was cracking up so I ended up taking OTC pills with codeine in them to take my anxiety down and drinking more to allow me to have a break from this ****ing nightmare of a brain. Unfortunately unless you live in Japan OTC codeine is mixed with stuff like acetaminophen which is hepatoxic and is ruining my body, additionally codeine is more addicting than benzos. So I feel like I have been forced to self medicate to give myself a quality of life where I don't want to commit suicide every second of every day when benzos might have worked for me. That raises the question, if a person is going to kill themselves should they be given something crazy like opiates to help them through the crisis (if it helps them) or is that unethical? Or should doctors be more concerned about the possibility of dependency?

Finding the right medication or medications is trial and error. I too got extremely tired of being a guinea pig. Some of the latest research on the efficacy of antidepressants is not cause for solace.

Oh well, we cannot stop trying to better our lives. Good luck.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by Kiya

You know, my gp wouldn't give me one - says they are addictive. =( but i may talk to the pnurse about it. thanks, sunrise

GPs are sometimes more reluctant than specialists to prescribe drugs with addictive potential, like benzos for anxiety and stimulants for ADHD. They are being cautious and respectful of their own lack of expertise in this area. A specialist like your PNP or a pdoc should have more confidence and can assess whether you are a good candidate for a benzo. I am on stimulants, and I know that most prescribers are reluctant to prescribe them if there is history of addiction in the patient, either to prescription or illegal drugs, or even alcohol and nicotine. So don't be surprised if you ask your PNP about benzos and she then asks you about your history with these other addictive substances. I'm not trying to push the benzos. I know some people get addicted to them and have trouble stopping, but some people are really helped with their anxiety by them too.

There is another drug my PNP prescribed for me once for spot anxiety in stressful situations. I wanted something fast acting, like a benzo, but not something that would impair my alertness or cognitive ability (as benzos can do). I needed to be alert and sharp. So she gave me a prescription for propanolol (sp?) or something like that. I was directed to take it right before particularly stressful situations. I guess actors and public figures use this to help combat stage fright. I used this a few times and it seemed OK. I do not believe it is addictive. (It is also prescribed for high blood pressure.)

Good luck!

[coko27]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Some of the SSRIs are prescribed for people having only anxiety or anxiety+depression. The ones I know about are Paxil and Lexapro/Celexa. Paxil is "classic" in this regard. I know several people who have taken Paxil with great success for anxiety/depression, but all of them, unfortunately, gained weight on it (greater than 20 lbs). Kiya, I know you have tried Celexa, so I guess it must not be helping with your anxiety and depession. Perhaps there will not be just one pill that helps with you with both conditions. Have you tried one med for anxiety + a different drug for depression? I know a lot of people do well with ativan/xanax/klonopin plus an SSRI.

Zoloft and xanax is a good combo.

[Kiya]

I have also heard and read that people dealing with extreme anxiety do not get addicted to the benzos because it is the only thing that helps them feel human... it isn't a need as in crutch... but like a need as in pacemaker. dunno, myself.

[Trying & Caring]

Agree--don't get "high" or feel good or something from Xanax or Klonopin (been on one or the other for 20 + yrs. at a low dosage at night to help w/sleep) w/meds for bipolar 1. But because some people are addictive types to these meds really makes it a disservice to people who would be helped by these meds. If the doc prescribes it, you are "watched" in that you cannot refill your script too soon & have to show ID at the prescription counter as if you were a criminal.

Same thing w/pain meds & meds for ADHD or Provigil (stimulant helpful in treatment for bipolar).

[embarassed]

Have you tried Luvox? That has worked well for my anxiety and depression.

[Kiya]

No i haven't tried that. thanks for the info. I think I will finally call pnp this week. i keep putting it off - but things are getting bad. I'm increasing the buspar and will run out, irritability is up, temper is being lost regularly (?!?!), crying all the time now... i really don't understand. and now, just for added fun, my old "accident proneness" is back. But hey - at least my memory and grad school level vocab has returned!

[sujunew]

Hey
I was taking a mix of effexor, clonaz (thru my GP not my pdoc!!) and serequel but now only take the effexor with prn clonaz at night, and serequel during the day if I really need it. Hope you find a combo that will work for you. (I was on citalopram until I had Michaela but since then have been on effexor, which despite the side effects at times has been the best med for me). See you in the warm tropical sun hehe

[Kiya]

Thanks Sujunew - I'm writing all these down...
I forgot that "this week" is already past pnp only works wed. and this is friday (i thought it was last monday). Soooooo I guess i will *not* be calling her this week lol.

[ABretting]

As earlier posted, the newer SSRI's generally target both anxiety and depression.

I respect and support clients decisions to try medications or not. Also, I inform them that the Rx in combination with talk therapy typically yields the best results - in therapy the coping skills, triggers and updated tools help one to play a part in their overall outlook and life.

I understand the Frustration Factor when it comes to finding the right Rx!

[perpetuallysad]

Kiya, did you ever get anything for the anxiety?

As a few others have said, xanax works best for me. And I don't get any sort of high from it, in fact, I was surprised when I first found out it was abused because of that. I have to take mine regularly 3 times a day and my anxiety is still pretty high. I have recently started taking the anti-psychotic navane (its a 1st generation anti-psych-I'm bipolar). It has anxiety relieving properties, so the combo of the 2 has helped a bit more. Its not magic though (dammit, why can't it just be magic???) and I still have a lot of "break through" anxiety almost constantly.

[Rebound]

Originally Posted by perpetuallysad

(dammit, why can't it just be magic???)

Yes, I ask myself that very question pretty much daily. Alas, no joy so far.

Re: meds, I just started taking Clonazepam/Klonopin and Olanzapine/Zyprexa.

So far my anxiety has become less severe, but I feel very strange in a way I can't really describe, sort of if all that nervous energy has transferred to mania. I've never had much luck with anti-depressant medication; I've done much better on Lamictal.

The thing is, every medication affects people differently but I'm a firm believer that it's important to keep trying since there's a likelihood something will eventually help; therapy will further increase your chances of improvement.

Don't give up. We're all pulling for you.

[Kiya]

Originally Posted by perpetuallysad

Kiya, did you ever get anything for the anxiety?

well, I already have the busparin 3 times a day. And i keep wanting to up the dose - but I never get around to asking. By the time I get around to asking the pnp, i am no longer pulling my hair out, so i go eh.... why bother. and give up. seems to be cyclical. i guess i freak out weekends - tuesday, and the pnp is in on wed. so there is something to that. or i freak out again thurs and it is already too late to call her. i don't get it. i also keep thinking i will run out of meds, but then they call me to come get it. so at this point i am still on the buspar, lamictal, and citalopram. i go between anxiety and 'who cares'.

((((((((((Thanks all for the continued support!))))))))))

Originally Posted by coko27

Zoloft and xanax is a good combo.

I was going to mention this. That is what I take along with dextroamphetamine (talk about addicting!) to take care of depression/anxiety/and symptoms of PTSD. If they stop working, my PNPC adds Abilify. If you saw p doc, they'd be more willing to give you a benzo. I am dependent on them but without them, I would be dead. I guess it's a trade off.

Oh I orgot to add, if you have no luck with getting benzos ask p doc for propanolol. It's a blood pressure med but it's being used to lower the anxiety thresh hold. You need to watch that your PB doesn't drop, but other than that it works well.
Good luck with his; I know it's hard.

[Kiya]

((((((((Calista)))))))))) glad you are not dead!

(((Kiya))) thank you