My life being in hell for the past year.

[darklane]

So one year ago/one year and a few months I was going great. Living like any other young guy having fun, using some drugs (pot and some jwh also meph in short party powders). Last summer I had to quit them all and I started having very bad panic attacks , all summer I was "locked" in my house because every time I went outside I was feeling like i was going to pass out, so I had to stay in my bed most of the time, also smoking cigarettes gave me very bad panic attacks so I smoked very few I had to chose between satisfying my need and getting another panic attack. Well summer almost ended and I started to get back on my feet little by little but life is not the same since then, I still have panic attacks now I started taking lorezopam and quit taking cipralex and trittico, because both worsen my anxiety( I never took them for more than 1 week) .
I don't know what to do next, I don't want to take benzos since their so addicting I just want to get back to my old self , but the doctors here suck when it comes for a treatment plan since they don't really take time to discuss with you about your problems, I'm hoping some of you guys may know a treatment plan I can discuss with my doctor for my panic attacks/ anxiety that worked for you , since what i received until now didn't work so great at all..
p.s: people around me don't know about my problem I don't wish to tell my friends because of what they will think about me and also my family since their very anti-pill taking for getting well and think only low character people take them who can't handle the world( referring to mental pills)
Thank you so much and sorry for my bad english.

 

[yuhhhhh]

have you considered any kind of counseling? it may be beneficial for you. i hope everything works out for you.

mephedrone sounds so completely fucked.

 

[darklane]

I started Cipralex again in combination with Medazepam, I take both at night . This is my first day , feeling kind of dizzy and anxious . I decided to fight this and go thru with the treatment, I read that the first week is the hardest. Will keep you updated everyday.
My current dosage is 10 mg Cipralex (escitalopram) and 10 mg Medazepam.

 

[suessmayr]

darklane - I think that the best, or at least the most sustainable, treatment for you would involve one or several anti-depressants. Benzos are great for occasional use but over time the almost invariably lead to worse ("rebound") anxiety. They're also very addictive, frequently cause depression, inhibit cognitive function and often produce apathy/indifference or even irritability and aggression.

I think it may have been a mistake to only try escitalopram for one week. Most anti-depressants increase anxiety for a week or so before they begin to take effect - this has been the case with every anti-depressant I've ever tried.

Also, some anti-depressants (like escitalopram) are called "activating" (meaning they stimulate you) whereas others are "sedating". If you are anxiety prone - and it sounds like you are - you may want to try some of the more sedating anti-depressants (avanza, paroxetine, and most of the tricyclics and MAOI's). These seem to be indicated specifically for people who are anxiety/panic prone. If they are too sedating you can just take them at night before bed.

 

[Bernard9002]

Well, I think if you were addicted, then you shouldn't give up everything at one time.
You should continue with this stuff by decreasing the drug amount. Gradually, you feel that
you need a very little quantity of drug and then no drug. Apartments by UCF
Best of luck.
regards

 

[darklane]

darklane - I think that the best, or at least the most sustainable, treatment for you would involve one or several anti-depressants. Benzos are great for occasional use but over time the almost invariably lead to worse ("rebound") anxiety. They're also very addictive, frequently cause depression, inhibit cognitive function and often produce apathy/indifference or even irritability and aggression.

I think it may have been a mistake to only try escitalopram for one week. Most anti-depressants increase anxiety for a week or so before they begin to take effect - this has been the case with every anti-depressant I've ever tried.

Also, some anti-depressants (like escitalopram) are called "activating" (meaning they stimulate you) whereas others are "sedating". If you are anxiety prone - and it sounds like you are - you may want to try some of the more sedating anti-depressants (avanza, paroxetine, and most of the tricyclics and MAOI's). These seem to be indicated specifically for people who are anxiety/panic prone. If they are too sedating you can just take them at night before bed.

I tried trazodone, gave me the same effects and after long research I found that Cipralex is one of the best so I will keep on with it and will gradually reduce the benzo after 3-4 weeks on Cipralex . Anyway thanks a lot for the information and I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only person that ( as i thought ) has increased anxiety after taking anti-depressants.

 

[welshmick]

Just good luck with the cipralex m8.

Did not work for me, but I do know people who have had good results with them.

 

[darklane]

The thing that I forgot to tell you guys is that I've taken it before but only for one month, and It worked out great in combination with Medazepam, I don't recall felling any bad side effects from Cipralex then, the problem was when I got back to the doctor I mistaken the treatment from Ansilan ( Medazepam) to Anxiar (lorezopam) , now I see that I don't tolerate the side-effects as well but I'm hoping this combination will work again the same way it did a long time ago.

As I said the problem comes from the doctors here, because I was not informed that the duration of the treatment with Cipralex should last for at least 3 to 6 months and I thought one month was enough since I was feeling good. If this treatment works again I strongly recommend Medazepam to everyone that does not tolerate anti-depressants well , of course taken for a short period of time to mask the side-effects.

 

[suessmayr]

We would rip the faces from the skulls of anyone who uttered such nonsense in our presence; And we would do it with our teeth; and it would be brutal and bloody and exciting and everything we dream it to be.

^ nice.

OP - I think you need to understand that anti-depressants seem to be highly personal; just because many people like escitalopram doesn't mean it will work for you. It never worked for me. Just know that you have many, many options.

Also, I don't think it's a good idea to start tapering the benzo after just 3 weeks on the anti-depressant. After 3 weeks the anti-depressant is still only "beginning" to work (though most people report effects within 2 weeks). So you should wait a bit longer.

Also, some anti-depressants typically begin to work faster than others. Avanza is one of these - I felt dramatically better on day 5.

As to your friends I think that friendship is too complicated and situational for any of us to be able to comment. You need to decide whether to open up or not. You may find that things become alot easier for you once you've shared with some mates. It can be very therapeutic.