Best drugs for Anxiety + Depression

[pally pete]

Doesn't matter. Saying you take 100-200mg of benzo's (I'm going to assume it's Xanax, since you as much said it) would be like saying you drink 100-200 beers every week. It doesn't matter how you break it down, you're doing an insane amount of benzo's and you have a serious habit that would likely kill you were you to stop cold turkey

That's an impressive kind of stupid. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but you seem like you need a wake up call.
You need to use the word stupid a little less often, im well aware of what i have done was suicidal to say the least.
At the levels you claim, you should get into detox. It would be dangerous, and even life threatening, to attempt to quit that large an amount on your own.

Thanks, the 300mg Xanax was done over the course of 48 hours, not a week (And i repeat im not impressed by this, im ashamed and embarrased) I havent used these levels for over 18 months now.
Never assume, it make an Ass out of U and me

It does matter drinking 100-200beers every week because the %Alcohol in the beer has a huge factor on the harm it does to your health

Ive also stopped Cold Turkey on many many occassions> And luckily im still here.

Im applying to enter a Detox clinic this Thursday.

I dont use Xanax at anywhere near them levels anymore, if at all, i generally try to just use Diazepam, and im not stupid, just very silly!
@ SPC123 why do you ASSUME I still use these amounts of Xanax? when i clearly state i have not done so for over 18 month, did you just CHOOSE to not read this? As i have written i now generally just use Diazepam which i try to keep at levels of between 100-200mg over the course of 1 week (With the occassional blip - like last night)

Just FYI pete, I wasn't calling YOU stupid, I was calling the act of taking hundreds of milligrams of Xanax stupid. We ALL do stupid things from time to time, and on a harm reduction site I feel it's very important to point out to people when they are ACTING stupid. I don't know you bro, but I do care about you. If I didn't I wouldn't waste my time trying to give you what I believe is the best advice possible: Go to detox and get help before you kill yourself!

I appreciate your sentiment but then you go on to mention about " wasting your time "

^ Why the fuck do you keep talking about Xanax? pally pete was talking about Diazepam.

Thankyou, my saviour.

That said, quoted from pally pete: But please remember ive had these symptoms 15 years + yet only ever took my first Benzo 3 years ago and in that time my Tolerance/Abuse reached a high as 300mg Alprazolam a weekend!
Note that alprazolam is the active drug in Xanax.

Like i said read ALL my posts and you will realise i now very very rarely take Alprazolam (Xanax) as ive mentioned in a previous quote on this post and others threads i have written.

 

[silentcowboy]

IME kratom is best

 

[SPC123]

I said if I didn't care about you I wouldn't waste my time. As I do care, I don't feel I am wasting my time in trying to help you. Your posts largely refer to "benzodiazapines" which encompasses a large number of drugs. In this thread you mentioned Valium twice, Xanax twice, and you mentioned that your drug counsellor advised 30-40mg was the largest daily dose to begin a taper. For diazepam, in severe cases up to 80mg per day are indicated. Even so, if you are taking 200-300mg of diazepam a week, you are within your drug counsellors guidelines (as low as they are). 30-40mg of diazepam a day is 210-280mg a week. And while I appreciate the fact that you use the diazepam in two large doses rather than over time, diazepam has a half life of up to 8 days. If you are taking it to avoid anxiety and rebound anxiety rather than to simply catch a buzz, it won't matter how you space your doses. You could take 150mg in one go as you have been, then the next day take 40. By the time you reach the lower end of the diazepam half life, you'd have another 160mg in your system doing its thing. My point is, if you are saying now that you are using 200-300mg diazepam in a week, then your posts begin to lack coherency.

 

[pally pete]

I said if I didn't care about you I wouldn't waste my time. As I do care, I don't feel I am wasting my time in trying to help you. Your posts largely refer to "benzodiazapines" which encompasses a large number of drugs. In this thread you mentioned Valium twice, Xanax twice, and you mentioned that your drug counsellor advised 30-40mg was the largest daily dose to begin a taper. For diazepam, in severe cases up to 80mg per day are indicated. Even so, if you are taking 200-300mg of diazepam a week, you are within your drug counsellors guidelines (as low as they are). 30-40mg of diazepam a day is 210-280mg a week. And while I appreciate the fact that you use the diazepam in two large doses rather than over time, diazepam has a half life of up to 8 days. If you are taking it to avoid anxiety and rebound anxiety rather than to simply catch a buzz, it won't matter how you space your doses. You could take 150mg in one go as you have been, then the next day take 40. By the time you reach the lower end of the diazepam half life, you'd have another 160mg in your system doing its thing. My point is, if you are saying now that you are using 200-300mg diazepam in a week, then your posts begin to lack coherency.

Thanks again for your time.

Im guessing you do not live in the U.K? Please correct me if im wrong?

All the Health professionals i have seen, my G.P/Psychiatrist/Drug councillor all say 100-200mg of Diazepam per week, equaling roughly 15mg-30mg per day is within guidlines yet they refuse a taper no matter how much i beg, and i may of mis-read my own post but i dont recall mentioning averaging 200-300mg Diazepam per week on this thread, again please correct me if im wrong.

Raa dtree sawat kap

 

[effie]

I mentioned it in the other thread, but could we try to keep things civil and on topic please you two? Thanks

This subject has been covered a lot here before, you're right, and the problem is it is highly individual. Most antidepressants have fairly equal efficacy when you look at studies, but one could work amazingly for one person and not at all for another. Unfortunately it really is just trial and error, as well as thinking about the characteristics and side effects of different antidepressants (stimulating, sedating etc).

You've tried a few SSRIs and a SNRI so it is probably worth changing classes now. Have you tried any tricyclics? They aren't licensed for anxiety like the SSRIs, but as you are finding, there isn't a wonder-drug that can improve anxiety really - it is more up to therapy in it's various forms. Tricyclics are effective, but they do have side effects which some people don't get on with (dry mouth, blurred vision, sometimes confusion) and they are more toxic on overdose.

Another one to consider is mirtazepine, a tetracyclic. It is quite sedating but has few side effects and is sometimes effective in treatment resistant depression.

If all else fails then there are the MAOIs but these are often poorly tolerated and require dietary changes and interact with a lot of other medications.

Really, though, this is something for you to discuss with your doctor. I am sorry you had a bad experience with your psychiatrist. I am surprised they did not suggest a tricyclic or mirtazepine, and I wonder if there is a reason for this which we aren't aware of?

To what extent have you explored therapy, Pete?

It's very difficult for us to try to give you any advice here as we're not a medical/psychiatric forum, and even a psychiatrist would need a face to face in depth interview, but (like I said in your other thread) I really do recommend starting a thread in The Dark Side, or taking a look at their depression and anxiety megathreads for further help and support with this.

Good luck

 

[CitioKid]

I'm sorry but I think even mentioning the usage of 300mg of xanax in a 48 hour period is dangerous, as it makes such a high dose, while high, seem a bit more "normal" to whatever tweens may be lurking the forums, as I'm sure thousands do.

Developing a tolerance of 150mg of xanax a day in less than an 18 month period (said you started benzos three years ago, haven't "done that" in more than 18 months) without daily use is, I personally believe, improbable and likely physically impossible. Even a third of that is extremely unlikely. I know heavy daily benzo users who have used for up to five years, and the highest dose I've seen is maybe 15 -20mg xanax a day.

But whatevs.

Anti-depressants are completely ineffective when massive amounts of drugs are being consumed. Always been my experience. Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

 

[pally pete]

I mentioned it in the other thread, but could we try to keep things civil and on topic please you two? Thanks

This subject has been covered a lot here before, you're right, and the problem is it is highly individual. Most antidepressants have fairly equal efficacy when you look at studies, but one could work amazingly for one person and not at all for another. Unfortunately it really is just trial and error, as well as thinking about the characteristics and side effects of different antidepressants (stimulating, sedating etc).

You've tried a few SSRIs and a SNRI so it is probably worth changing classes now. Have you tried any tricyclics? They aren't licensed for anxiety like the SSRIs, but as you are finding, there isn't a wonder-drug that can improve anxiety really - it is more up to therapy in it's various forms. Tricyclics are effective, but they do have side effects which some people don't get on with (dry mouth, blurred vision, sometimes confusion) and they are more toxic on overdose.

Another one to consider is mirtazepine, a tetracyclic. It is quite sedating but has few side effects and is sometimes effective in treatment resistant depression.

If all else fails then there are the MAOIs but these are often poorly tolerated and require dietary changes and interact with a lot of other medications.

Really, though, this is something for you to discuss with your doctor. I am sorry you had a bad experience with your psychiatrist. I am surprised they did not suggest a tricyclic or mirtazepine, and I wonder if there is a reason for this which we aren't aware of?

To what extent have you explored therapy, Pete?

It's very difficult for us to try to give you any advice here as we're not a medical/psychiatric forum, and even a psychiatrist would need a face to face in depth interview, but (like I said in your other thread) I really do recommend starting a thread in The Dark Side, or taking a look at their depression and anxiety megathreads for further help and support with this.

Good luck

Thanks effie - The voice of reason.

Ive spoke to my G.P and the Psychiatrist and they will not prescribe me Mirtazapine (Or Agomelatine) as they both say they are both heavily Contraindicated due to my Benzo use.

Of which ive found little evidence and intend to produce this to my G.P on Thursday of which i fear it will fall on deaf ears

Im also going to phone the local mental health clinic tomorrow (Monday) and ask for a Talk/Another interview/Appointment with the Psychiatrist or another Psychiatrist, if this fails i will ask my G.P to be refered again as over the past months i now feel i have become an imminent danger to myself and others around me.

Ive tried Anxiety Therapy classes with zero luck.

And just for the record i hardly ever use Xanax or any other Benzodiazepine anymore apart from Diazepam, in part thanks to Professor Heather Ashton, who i believe should be Knighted and upon her death she should be Beatified/Canonized.

Thanks again effie - you help hold this place together and your work, time and effort is invaluable and does not go unrecognised (Not by me anyway) %)

 

[pally pete]

I'm sorry but I think even mentioning the usage of 300mg of xanax in a 48 hour period is dangerous, as it makes such a high dose, while high, seem a bit more "normal" to whatever tweens may be lurking the forums, as I'm sure thousands do.

Developing a tolerance of 150mg of xanax a day in less than an 18 month period (said you started benzos three years ago, haven't "done that" in more than 18 months) without daily use is, I personally believe, improbable and likely physically impossible. Even a third of that is extremely unlikely. I know heavy daily benzo users who have used for up to five years, and the highest dose I've seen is maybe 15 -20mg xanax a day.

But whatevs.

Anti-depressants are completely ineffective when massive amounts of drugs are being consumed. Always been my experience. Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

DO NOT CALL ME A LIAR. ThankyouPlease.

And apologies for being honest about my previous Benzo/Xanax use.

 

[Immolated]

The only drug I would really recommend to use to help with anxiety and depression is weed. You're able to smoke all day every day and still be able to function, tolerance builds slower than other drugs, and don't have to deal with withdrawls. I love other drugs and I'm not trying to put them down (Writing this coming down off of some ice.) but the toll that chronic hard drug use
takes on your mind would only make things much worse. I have to admit I deal with depression, but when I do drugs like Heroin and Meth it's not to make me feel not depressed, I just love the highs. Taking anti-depressants or smoking weed every day isn't going to make your depression go away. It'll be right back where it was when you left it, awaiting your return with growing enthusiasm. I know you probably know all this and I'm just rambling aimlessly, just my advice though.

 

[pally pete]

The only drug I would really recommend to use to help with anxiety and depression is weed. You're able to smoke all day every day and still be able to function, tolerance builds slower than other drugs, and don't have to deal with withdrawls. I love other drugs and I'm not trying to put them down (Writing this coming down off of some ice.) but the toll that chronic hard drug use
takes on your mind would only make things much worse. I have to admit I deal with depression, but when I do drugs like Heroin and Meth it's not to make me feel not depressed, I just love the highs. Taking anti-depressants or smoking weed every day isn't going to make your depression go away. It'll be right back where it was when you left it, awaiting your return with growing enthusiasm. I know you probably know all this and I'm just rambling aimlessly, just my advice though.

Thanks all the same, but i smoked cannabis every day of my life for over 13 years of my life, in the long run it exacerbated my Anxiety and Depression.

Dont get me wrong, im not Anti-Weed, it was a MASSIVE part of my life, l ike i say i smoked everyday for 13 years and at my peak i used to go through 1 OZ of Green a week to myself, 99% smoked in Joints, then whenever and wherever i was in public with my friends we would be smoking constantly, we used to visit Amsterdam on our Annual pilgrimidge every year for 5 years running during our late teens/early twenty's.

Now i know everybody talks about The Cannabis Cup held in late November IIRC but in our experience the best time to be in Amsterdam was on April 30th (Queens day) (But try and get there a day or 2 earlier to sort accommodation and suss the place out a bit and find your way around) nyway back to Queens day, The dutch queens birthday, well infact its not her actual birthday as that falls in mid-winter but in keeping with her Mothers tradition she kept the date of the 30th April, and i can honestly say they were some of the best experiences of my life! Street parties full of happy people dancing and smiling everywhere you went, and people from all over Holland in Amsterdam to celebrate, i think the original tradition which is still followed was that people would set up a stall on the floor or tables along the sides of the streets selling there unwanted goods at knock down prices (Especially if you haggled a bit!) :D

Anyway i went totally off-Topic but the moral(s) of the story are.... Weed is no longer for me, and get yourself to Amsterdam for Queensday.

 

[SPC123]

Thanks again for your time.

Im guessing you do not live in the U.K? Please correct me if im wrong?

All the Health professionals i have seen, my G.P/Psychiatrist/Drug councillor all say 100-200mg of Diazepam per week, equaling roughly 15mg-30mg per day is within guidlines yet they refuse a taper no matter how much i beg, and i may of mis-read my own post but i dont recall mentioning averaging 200-300mg Diazepam per week on this thread, again please correct me if im wrong.

Raa dtree sawat kap

You are correct sir, I am in Canada. I hope the detox clinic you are looking into will help you with a taper. I think it is really disingenuous of your doctors to deny you a taper, and yet tell you they won't help you with your depression and anxiety unless you cut back on benzos. Benzo WD can be fatal, they must know that.

To reiterate the point and stick to the topic, there are several different options for treatment, and I am sure there is one out there that will work for you. I have personally found an SNRI worked for me (venlafaxine). I know you've tried it, but it's difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of an SNRI when you are also using benzos and/or opiates. Venlafaxine worked very well for my baseline anxiety, but it didn't do a damn thing for the depression that came during opiate withdrawals. So if I were to have evaluated venlafaxine strictly during a period of opiate use, I would've said it didn't work. Not implying that you were on opiates during your attempt with venlafaxine, just pointing out one possible caveat.

Best of luck to you! And please don't try to quit benzos cold turkey. If you have to, try and taper down on your own. If you are interested I am more than happy to help you with a tapering schedule, as are I bet many others here.

 

[pally pete]

You are correct sir, I am in Canada. I hope the detox clinic you are looking into will help you with a taper. I think it is really disingenuous of your doctors to deny you a taper, and yet tell you they won't help you with your depression and anxiety unless you cut back on benzos. Benzo WD can be fatal, they must know that.

To reiterate the point and stick to the topic, there are several different options for treatment, and I am sure there is one out there that will work for you. I have personally found an SNRI worked for me (venlafaxine). I know you've tried it, but it's difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of an SNRI when you are also using benzos and/or opiates. Venlafaxine worked very well for my baseline anxiety, but it didn't do a damn thing for the depression that came during opiate withdrawals. So if I were to have evaluated venlafaxine strictly during a period of opiate use, I would've said it didn't work. Not implying that you were on opiates during your attempt with venlafaxine, just pointing out one possible caveat.

Best of luck to you! And please don't try to quit benzos cold turkey. If you have to, try and taper down on your own. If you are interested I am more than happy to help you with a tapering schedule, as are I bet many others here.

Thank You very much Brother/Sister

I greatly appreciate your advice, believe it or not?

With regards to my previous posts, you may or may not believe, but i absolute detest conflict of any kind, even on a Public Forum like this.

PeaceLoveUnity. %)

 

[CitioKid]

I didn't call you a liar. I said its impossible.

The internet is full of people who deny/lie/exaggerate and, like real life people, they will defend their statements to the death.

But thats the last thing I'm going to say in this thread.

Right-O. Carry on

 

[weekend addiction]

I didn't call you a liar. I said its impossible.

The internet is full of people who deny/lie/exaggerate and, like real life people, they will defend their statements to the death.

But thats the last thing I'm going to say in this thread.

Right-O. Carry on

I have personally seen people eat over 60 mg of xanax and drink lots of alcohol in a night and feel fine the next day. Tolerance to benzos can get rediculous if you have access. Tons of barred out mother fuckers where around my town a couple years ago.

Point is there is no reason to call him a liar. These people are fucking retarded and probably did some brain damage. But its definitely possible bars are really cheap one could get a bad habit quick.

 

[pally pete]

I didn't call you a liar. I said its impossible.

The internet is full of people who deny/lie/exaggerate and, like real life people, they will defend their statements to the death.

But thats the last thing I'm going to say in this thread.

Right-O-Cowboy. Carry on

Surely you have just contradicted yourself Cowboy

I have personally seen people eat over 60 mg of xanax and drink lots of alcohol in a night and feel fine the next day. Tolerance to benzos can get rediculous if you have access. Tons of barred out mother fuckers where around my town a couple years ago.

Point is there is no reason to call him a liar. These people are fucking retarded and probably did some brain damage. But its definitely possible bars are really cheap one could get a bad habit quick.

Danke

 

[Escapedysphoria]

Anxiolytics: Pregabalin (Lyrica), Gabapentin, Diazepam, Low dosage clonazepam (or fit to one's tolerance), hydroxyzine is the only anithistamine I'd consider for anxiety, and of course, potent Indica strains with high CBD's (GDP, Purple Bubba Kush, Afgooey).

Antidepressants: Low dosage of Buprenorphine, mirtazapine (Remeron), potent strains of marijuana (Hybrids IMO: Chem X Diesel or Sensi Star X Diesel, GDP!), Ketamine, DXM.

 

[likeakite]

DXM 100mg is what works for me, sometimes a little more.

 

[Pjkt2501]

This is devolving somewhat rapidly, so I'm going to close the taps before anything bursts.

Pally - ED's post is excellent.

Your doctor (I know.. I know) is the best person to talk to here. If (s)he isn't providing the necessary care you need, you have every right to look elsewhere.

Closed, PM me with any questions.