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Benzos Would benzos help me? (therapeutically)

ChipTrippyFox

ChipTrippyFox

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 25, 2013
Messages
887
Would benzos help my anxiety and depression issues.

I've been on duloxetine, escitalopram, mirtazapine and seroquel in attempt to ease my depression and mood issues.
I've been on mirtazapine for the last month and the side effects are driving my crazy. I feel like I'm truly loosing my sanity.. my anxiety is through the roof, depression mildly improved (mildly...), having mild visual and auditory hallucinations.
my anxiety plays a large part in my overall behavior and mood and I don't like living like this..

would somthing like xanax or valid help me? How do I bring it up to my doctor.

I've had 1mg klonopin once. No noticeable effects
Marijuana ussualy helps but my mate doesn't let me smoke anymore...
 
If you had 1mg of klonopin with no effects...idk what to tell ya....1mg for someone with anxiety should def notice it...before I developed my massive tolerance, 1mg of ativan took away my anxiety and made me feel good...tell your doctor that you were at your grandma's house and you felt super anxious and she gave you one of her Xanax pills and it helped you out.
 
Antidepressants, the cure all of pills........only thing they do is take your willingness to live & turn you ino a zombie......good luck cause life's a bitch w/o depression & anxiety, can't imagine with it.

Like the above poster suggested, tell your doctor that you were having severe anxiety & someone gave you a xanax or Valium, your choice & it helped BUT the last thing you want is a benzo addiction, its no joke.
 
You want to know what's giving you anxiety? all those quacky SSRI'S. I was on all that shit. Escitolopram was definitely interesting though I felt really "head in the clouds" when I took it for a month, and had some really happy days on it. Prozac gave me a "pep" and numbness to depression but gave me anxiety up the ass, and made me fiend GABA drugs. Like alcohol and Xanax.
 
etnies said:
If you had 1mg of klonopin with no effects...idk what to tell ya....1mg for someone with anxiety should def notice it...before I developed my massive tolerance, 1mg of ativan took away my anxiety and made me feel good...tell your doctor that you were at your grandma's house and you felt super anxious and she gave you one of her Xanax pills and it helped you out.
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I had a 1mg klonopin that I split into two pieces, each consumed on a separate day. I don't think I was feeling particularly that anxious and I suppose maybe just trying to catch a small buzz.

Do I really have to lie to my doctor to trick him into prescribing me these?

I know that these antidepressant s I've been given are causing me alot of anguish and I'm loosing my patience with alot of it.. people seem to keep telling me that I'm choosing to be miserable if the meds aren't working..
 
What the people telling you that you're choosing to be miserable cause the meds aren't working are stupid......the meds themselves are causing side effects that can be very bad & are causing you to be miserable......no one chooses to take antidepressants to be miserable, but the facts are more than not that they destroy many lives.
 
If you're in the UK, GPs are reluctant to prescribe benzos, etc. Mirtazapine I found horrid. Escitalopram is fine for my depression but rubbish for anti-anxiety. Due to the reluctance of my gp to give me anything for anxiety, I've resorted to a regime of phenibut, etizolam, 4-fa and alcohol. All in good moderation, for over 2 years, no dependence yet. There is a good balance, you have to take some time to find it. I've spent nine years working through the anti-depressants on the market, to find one that gives at least a fighting chance of living a normal life, while also trying to fend off the wolves that the government let loose to hound us day and night. It's hard but keep trying.
 
Pointing out the obvious here but I agree with TheLostBoys. Benzodiazepines can be a very useful tool for tackling short-term anxiety but are certainly no joke when it comes to tolerance, dependence and addiction.

Benzodiazepines should only be prescribed as an acute intervention that should be taken for a maximum of 4-6 weeks.

I don't mean to be condescending but have you thought what you are going to do after the 4-6 weeks? Suffer from rebound-anxiety effects and crave them more? Or carry on taking them and become dependant on them? In 95% of cases, Benzodiazepines are not the answer for treating anxiety.

I also agree with Ignot, that some medications can exacerbate symptoms of both depression and anxiety, either temporarily or permanently (only - to the extent of the period in which you take them). Citalopram/Celexia turned me from a slightly anxious young-man into a complete nervous-fucking-wreck too anxious to piss for fear of my dick falling off.

And no you don't need to, and shouldn't need to, 'trick' your doctor into prescribing you anything. You should always be upfront and honest. There's a clear difference between doing thorough research on medications and being well prepared to discuss all of your available options with your doctor, and drug-shopping with your doctor. For those who are telling you that you're choosing to be miserable, it's honestly not worth entertaining their remarks. I used to, and it wound me up even more. I quickly learned that they were just ignorant to mental health problems, and it probably wasn't their fault for being so ignorant. For those who've never experienced a clinical mental-health problem, it can often be hard to get your head around it.

Depression? Cheer up.
Anxiety? Quit worrying.
OCD? Get over it.
Schizophrenia? Attention seeker.
Anorexia? Grow up.

The sooner you realise that they are just ignorant to the facts of these conditions, the sooner you'll be able to let it go. I know it's easier said than done, but just try to ignore them. If they're unfortunate enough to ever suffer from any of those conditions, they'll soon learn how ignorant they were.

However...

If you can tolerate them, you have quite a few more viable options than Benzodiazepines. Also please note that just because one drug in one class of medications didn't go down too well, doesn't mean you'll respond in the same manner to all of them. It's likely you'll also have to endure a rough 4-6 weeks of ill side-effects before you may see any improvement with a lot of them - as you'll probably know from having taken Duloxetine, Escitalopram and Mirtazapine. There's no magic cure to anxiety, if you had one - you'd be a billionaire, and it's largely a game of trial and error.

Here's a list of the most common types of medications used to treat Chronic Anxiety/Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and particular medications within such groups, which you may be familiar with since you've tried a few for your depression. Please note I'm from London so I'm referring to the generic English pharmaceutical names, which may differ to that of which are used in America, Canada & other parts of Europe.

TCA's Common ones: Amitriptyline/Nortriptyline/Dosulepin/Clomipramine/Imipramine

TeCA's Common ones: Mirtazapine

SSRI's Common ones: Citalopram/Fluvoxamine/Escitalopram/Paroxetine/Sertraline/Fluoxetine

SNRI's Common ones: Venlafaxine/Duloxetine

5-HT1A Receptor Partial Agonists Common ones: Buspirone/Tandospirone

Others/Misc: Pregabalin/Gabapentin/Agomelatine/Propranolol/Clonidine

I too suffer from both Major Depressive Disorder & Generalised Anxiety Disorder and have taken most of the above in order to treat my symptoms with varying results of success. For what it counts, I found my symptoms of anxiety much, much easier to control than that of depression. Pregabalin, Agomelatine and Dosulepin were notably successful in helping to treat my anxiety, however, I really struggled to control the depression - and still do. This is usually the case with patients who are suffering from both conditions.

If there's anything else I can answer/help with - just hit me up.
 
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More anti-ssri propaganda, what a surprise. For a harm reduction site this place sure is hateful on an entire class of drugs based purely on hearsay.

I'm on escitalopram and it has literally changed my life for the better. It drastically reduced my depression and moderately reduced my anxiety. I have zero negative side effects right now. You need to try different drugs until you find the right one because each person reacts to different SSRIs differently. It can be a long road but for me it was worth it. I use mindfulness based meditation to deal with my remaining anxiety and I can't recommend that highly enough. Research it online and if you can afford it find a class or group near you. There is a lot of solid science behind it, it has zero side effects, and its value goes beyond dealing with anxiety and depression.

I agree with Rybee that benzos aren't a good call long term. They are highly addictive, lose efficacy quickly, and the withdrawal can kill you. Using them temporarily is just delaying the inevitable. I think they have value when used infrequently, though.
 
Doldrugs said:
More anti-ssri propaganda, what a surprise. For a harm reduction site this place sure is hateful on an entire class of drugs based purely on hearsay.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call 4 years of rotating from ~10 different SSRI/SNRIs hearsay.

SSRIs get hated on because they're over prescribed, an unnecessary form of 'treatment' (I use that word lightly as there's no evidence that they treat anything), and usually result in awful side effects.

SSRIs suck dick.
 
velmwend said:
If you're in the UK, GPs are reluctant to prescribe benzos, etc. Mirtazapine I found horrid. Escitalopram is fine for my depression but rubbish for anti-anxiety. Due to the reluctance of my gp to give me anything for anxiety, I've resorted to a regime of phenibut, etizolam, 4-fa and alcohol. All in good moderation, for over 2 years, no dependence yet. There is a good balance, you have to take some time to find it. I've spent nine years working through the anti-depressants on the market, to find one that gives at least a fighting chance of living a normal life, while also trying to fend off the wolves that the government let loose to hound us day and night. It's hard but keep trying.
Click to expand...

how often do you think using phenibut be ok? i like 1 or maybe 2gs for sleep. i don't use it much but want to use it some more. works better than any benzo i'vee had. just makes me super stoned with weed too lol
 
I saw my doctor today and I told him about the crap shoot I've been dealing with and all the side effects I've been getting. (Loss of cognitively, speech difficulties, constant fatigue, increased anxiety , weight gain and hallucinations) and he told me to see him again in a week and to stop taking the mirtazapine. Every time I see him it's like he just does not give a shit about what I have to say. He keeps telling me that medicine doesn't work for everyone's depression but I've only tried 3.. There are literally hundreds of different ssri's alone; along with TCA, TeCA, SNRI and MAOi s....
I'm dealing with chronic back pain that he LITERALY mocks me about whenever I bring it up.. I asked about gabapentin to help with the pain since he refuses to give me opiates and he just sneered at me asking me "under what diagnosis?"
YOU TELL ME, QUACK..


Arg... I didn't even get a chance to bring up benzodiazapines before he was rushing me out the door since he had more important patients to see... Though I doubt he'd give me any.


My anxiety isn't a constant thing, it's mostly a social anxiety/agrophobia. And a constant fear that my life is gonna be nothing but a downward spiral. I'll never get a good job, I'll never get an education, I'll never have friends and I'm doomed to be a miserable looser for the rest of my pathetic life..
Ok maybe it's more constant than I thought.. but honestly a pick me up now and then to boost my bravery would be a blessing. I could follow through with learning to drive, I could find a way to pay down my debt and get an education.. I really want to be something.. im tired of this minimum wage bullshit where I bust my ass harder than any of the bitch asked punk highschool kids just to have more shit dumped on my plate..im So sick of my current life.



Sorry for the rant.. I appreciate all the help thus far..
 
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Man it is all benzo nazis up in here there isnt any point in askibg anything about a benzo and def not if u should take it
 
Hey trippy, I have chronic back pain and extreme anxiety / chronic panic attacks too. My anxiety is a little different - I mean it's the same stuff you get but possibly much worse because of the physical symptoms - without medication, my heart rate skyrockets and I constantly feel like I am having a heart attack and I experience numbness and like I am fainting, crazy uncomfortable tightness in my heart area. My body is ROCKED by it to the point that I can't so much as cook myself food, lay in bed, or enjoy a good movie or video game let alone work or study or something productive. I just pace pace pace and eventually show up at the ER begging for mercy. This is my sober state of mind. My life would be a 24/7 panic attack - before I discovered benzos I was becoming an alcoholic, gaining weight, doing nothing productive at all and living in hell. I was ready to end the bullshit of living with 24/7 chronic full blown panic attacks. I live the life of a tortured soul, and I look forward to death. I can't deal with this shit any longer, so I picked up benzos and opioids as a last resort. I haven't had a sip of alcohol ever since and I used to binge abusively, I'm just on a totally higher level of functionality now.

Did you know that benzos are really effective skeletal muscle relaxants? They are so effective at relieving the chronic agony in the middle of my spine, that I only need to rely on an additional 5mg of oxycodone a day in order to be a reasonably happy human being. Otherwise I'd probably be really heavy into heroin or something. My chronic pain is SO BAD without the benzos it is INSANE, but I hardly notice it when I take them along with half a percocet. By the way, if you are suffering chronic back pain you need to get ahold of some low doses of opioids dude, that's a no-brainer... script or no script... it's stupid to even mention the word "benzo" or "opioid" to a doctor, it's best to keep your mouth shut with them.

I share your frustration with the medical system... I too am mocked when I bring up the back problems. I'm told to "calm down, you sound really anxious." No shit morons, I'm trying to drill it into your heads that this back pain ruined my life because you are so complacent about it, content so long as you rake in the cash. Plus I have extreme anxiety issues you are well aware about and that I am self conscious enough of. The back pain stole everything from me, including a $70,000 a year career job that I had to quit cause of the injury. I have been trying so hard, I've seen like 4 specialists recently and a chronic pain clinic but I cancelled all my appointments. It's completely pointless as I've realized that there is nothing they can do to fix my back, they have no idea what's going on and they never will. They are also brainwashed / programmed by the higher powers that be to NEVER, EVER prescribe benzos or opioids to anyone, even cancer patients where I'm from don't get anything. This has thrown me into a dark depression, and I'll never step foot in a doctors office again. Some people say FUCK the police, I say fuck the DOCTORS. For all their education, they're fuckin idiots when it comes to back problems and mental health issues. They have left me hanging in a pit of suffering and despair, if I didn't know how to self medicate I would be royally screwed. I sure as hell wouldn't be in school.

I think that you are on a whole bunch of crazy meds dude, and some benzos would chill you out. They'd probably help your back pain out too, maybe throw in a little oxy for the depression and to further help your back pain. Then you wouldn't need that other stuff, seroquel really fucked my head up man. That shit was making me fat too, I'm skinny and fit again as I can do a lot of biking now. Seroquel is poison filth.

All I know is that ever since I have started doing this, I am no longer suicidal and I no longer suffer an agony of hell. Instead, I am going back to school, getting physical exercise instead of being bedridden all day suffering in agony, I have a reasonable amount of initiative, I am generally more sociable instead of a misanthrope and my life is back on track.

Benzo nazis will be benzo nazis, but they can pry my xanax bars from my cold, dead hands. Everyone seems to think that they are never a good idea. I knew someone who lived til 90 taking 4mg of lorazepam a day merely for insomnia for decades and decades and was totally fine, no side effects at all. Once you get on them, you just ain't comin off em too easy. Also, I have experienced no side effects whatsoever from my benzo use and my tolerance is about the same after a long while of daily use.

These are unconventional views, but everyone has their opinion when it comes to the world of drugs that everyone has different experiences with. Just throwing in my 2c... some would say I am on my way to ruining my life, they may be right; I say that my life was ruined to begin with and I have found a way to cope with unbearable suffering, at least temporarily to give me some further years of enjoyment on this earth before I croak a little prematurely. Time will tell... perhaps my back will magically heal, or I'll stop having panic attacks but I highly doubt it. I'm stuck with this crap.

I am not sure if this applies in any way to what you are experiencing or if you can relate to this, I am stating that these "devil drugs" have saved my life, personally, and that I was an utter fool to put blind faith in doctors for a good year to no avail, which resulted in frying my brain with nearly a gram of seroquel a day at one point. It's just they always helped me out when I shattered bones and stuff, but now I see them as the enemy.

Peace and good luck dude, I know this was just a rant on my part but I've been really fucking frustrated lately with all of this and I'm a lost soul, covering up agonizing physical and emotional issues with meds. At least I've found the good shit, though.
 
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Citalopram gave me some nice hypomania when I first started taking it, but after a few weeks I didn't really feel any different than I usually do (I was prescribed it for anxiety), plus I was experiencing some unpleasant sexual side effects, so I stopped taking it. I'd rather be anxious and still be able to get it up, and I was barely able to do that with mrs hand and her five daughters, much less reach climax, which was basically impossible. I guess that's a pretty common side effect of SSRI's, though. That's pretty much my only complaint about the medication (besides its general ineffectiveness), but it's a big complaint.

I've known people "in real life" for whom anti-depressants have helped a great deal, though, so I can't write them off entirely. YMMV

Benzodiazepines are great drugs that get hated on unnecessarily around here. It's understandable in a way because addiction to any drug sucks, but addiction to benzodiazepines is especially problematic. But they're not terribly addictive drugs...the article on Wiki about Xanax is actually surprisingly good for a Wikipedia benzodiazepine article, which for the most part are terrible. Most people who are prescribed Xanax for anxiety (and who are not recreational drug abusers) do not up their dose and still get a good anxiolytic effect from the drug, even after months and months of treatment. It's generally not a good idea to take benzodiazepines as a drug regiment though, because that often leads to problems in the absence of the drug, either mental or physical. As needed, though? Fantastic drugs.
 
I'm also an anxiety and chronic pain sufferer, emanating from my lower back, with a lot of associated neuropathic pain and numbness and spasticity. It sucks. The only medical condition I know for a fact that I have is type 1 diabetes, though, which may be a factor in it. I think I might talk to my doctor about it next time I see it...I don't expect to get (or even want, as I'm not sure how effective opiates are for neuropathic pain, which is a tricky beast) opiates, but hopefully I can get something to deal with it. Neuropathy is a profoundly disturbing sensation. Might get (another) MRI while I'm at it.
 
Go to your doctor if your having anxiety/panic attack... I know Klonopin is very popular right now with doctors... Good luck getting zanX or anything like that..
 
I'd rather have Klonopin than Xanax anyway.

It wasn't that long ago that drs in the USA would practically throw Xanax at you, then SSRI's became the new "shut the fuck up pills".
 
ChipTrippyFox said:
I saw my doctor today and I told him about the crap shoot I've been dealing with and all the side effects I've been getting. (Loss of cognitively, speech difficulties, constant fatigue, increased anxiety , weight gain and hallucinations) and he told me to see him again in a week and to stop taking the mirtazapine. Every time I see him it's like he just does not give a shit about what I have to say. He keeps telling me that medicine doesn't work for everyone's depression but I've only tried 3.. There are literally hundreds of different ssri's alone; along with TCA, TeCA, SNRI and MAOi s....
I'm dealing with chronic back pain that he LITERALY mocks me about whenever I bring it up.. I asked about gabapentin to help with the pain since he refuses to give me opiates and he just sneered at me asking me "under what diagnosis?"
YOU TELL ME, QUACK..


Arg... I didn't even get a chance to bring up benzodiazapines before he was rushing me out the door since he had more important patients to see... Though I doubt he'd give me any.


My anxiety isn't a constant thing, it's mostly a social anxiety/agrophobia. And a constant fear that my life is gonna be nothing but a downward spiral. I'll never get a good job, I'll never get an education, I'll never have friends and I'm doomed to be a miserable looser for the rest of my pathetic life..
Ok maybe it's more constant than I thought.. but honestly a pick me up now and then to boost my bravery would be a blessing. I could follow through with learning to drive, I could find a way to pay down my debt and get an education.. I really want to be something.. im tired of this minimum wage bullshit where I bust my ass harder than any of the bitch asked punk highschool kids just to have more shit dumped on my plate..im So sick of my current life.



Sorry for the rant.. I appreciate all the help thus far..
Click to expand...

Just picked up your reply above ^^^

First of all, that sucks. However, I will reply - I just have to go to work right now (from London) and I'll reply when I'm home in ~12 hours.
 
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