ANTI-depressant/anxiety pill that works?? (Think outside the box)

[Artificial Emotion]

I also used to LOVE mirtazapine and also quetiapine in fact because of the sedative qualities (which puts off just as many people as it does entice to the medication). An unfortunate part of taking this type of medication is that the sedation wears off eventually (it took about a year or so for this to happen after having taken it every day). Even though it doesn't produce any noticeable sedation I now cannot sleep without it and am dependent on it in this respect. Sleeping without it is like torture.

 

[puckboy]

Using amphetamines to decrease anxiety? I can see the look on my psychiatrist's face right now. Benzos do not work on you because you are dependent on them. If you are able to get off them, get back on and NOT abuse them, they can, in fact, be suitable for longer-term management of anxiety. The key is not abusing them.

Been there, done that.

I'll give two examples... I go to a friends house and take 20mg diazepam prior, I sit there, chat a little, but I'm hating it (and these are good friends), slowly become more withdrawn. Then leave having had a generally bad experience. And yes, this is 8 months after being no longer dependant on benzos and trying them again.

Second scenario... I take 15mg d-amp before. I arrive with no anxiety, I actually fucking talk and have conversations with these people, I'm actually somewhat happy, we laugh, have a good time then I go home.

Everyones brain is different, amphetamines calm me down and make me feel at peace. Benzos hype me up and make me angry in a similar way that alcohol can. Theres no single answer to this question because EVERYONE is different, same with the drugs and the way they effect people.

I'm really over the bullshit of benzos, I think my brain is weird, they make me worse almost. A script for only use as needed d-amp would change my life and I'd possibly be able to even get a fucking job! Whatever works for you.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

Amphetamines and other stimulants are good for decreasing social anxiety but not other types. The distinction between the different types of anxiety has to be made. Puckboy, you do not have a weird brain because of this. Most people with social phobia find their social anxieties disappear when using amphetamines.

 

[burn out]

I stopped using cold turkey when supply finally ran out. first 36 hours was a frantic (and unsuccessful) search for more benzos. Ended up seizing, fun trip to the hospital. After that, I decided to kick completely, and the first couple weeks were REALLY shitty, worse than heroin withdrawals i (later) experienced. ended up relapsing a few times, but for 2-3 days and not yrs./months. didn't pick up the habit again till a couple years later, month-long valium binge resulting in another seizure/withdrawal, but since then no benzo habit. Life is definitely better when I'm not beaned out all the time ;-)

wow what prompted you to relapse on them? how many months did it take you to recover completely from the withdrawal the first time?

 

[pygmycosmonaut]

wow what prompted you to relapse on them? how many months did it take you to recover completely from the withdrawal the first time?

heh, I wasn't intending to relapse, but i was staying with a friend who had a very large supply of diazepam. this was always my favorite benzo, and a couple days turned into a couple weeks REALLY QUICKLY. and I'd say after first kick i was physically better after about a couple weeks, and felt like myself again after about two months, but it was gradually getting better the whole time. benzos addiction is brutal, imo.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

heh, I wasn't intending to relapse, but i was staying with a friend who had a very large supply of diazepam. this was always my favorite benzo, and a couple days turned into a couple weeks REALLY QUICKLY. and I'd say after first kick i was physically better after about a couple weeks, and felt like myself again after about two months, but it was gradually getting better the whole time. benzos addiction is brutal, imo.

What happens when you go into benzo withdrawal and they successfully treat it with the standard ativan etc? Do they just send you on your way only to come back within the next 24 hours if you can't find any more? Here in the UK if that happened they would not let you leave the hospital. I've tried to leave a hospital in the UK for far less and was tackled by a security guard even though I had not been sectioned and was not ill mentally.

 

[Colmes]

Well, are you gonna go to that site and get off benzos or what dude?

sooo many replies. Why havent I been around? Some withdraw HELL. But I have made some GREAT progress!!!!!!!


Someone asked the question, do I use a Psych or my GP? Answer is I go to a psycho-pharmacologist, so the answer is pdoc.

Just two days have passed since i've been feeling better.


First off, thank you all so much for posting, I really truly appreciate it.

I am down from 60mg - 80mg valium + 4mg =8mg of klonopin a day to 40mg of diazapam a day. My natural energy shot up 10 fold.
If you dont know benzos, you may; "say 40mg of diazapam? wow congrats...." But the amount that I have gotten my dosage to is really monumental (to me at least) i'm back into the theraputic, or at least a dosage a doctor might actually prescribe.

I am down from 400mg Tramadol daily to 100mg, and will, within 2 months be off completely, I also will now very very slowly taper the benzo dosage, I checked out that website.

I had 2 weeks from HELL though. Body aches (especially my back), extreme lethergy COMBINED with hypertension, NO motivation, nightmares, nightsweats, insomnia, Some minor GI problems, increased anxiety, increased depression, even some hypochondriac like symptoms. I even had thoughts (never any that I would act on, or even consider) of suicide. Only because I felt like such shit i'd say something in my head like "it would just be easier to not be here". I read that this is actually to be expected, especially when you consider the anti-depressant effects of tramadol.

I know I shouldnt have done both at the same time, but I was SICK AND TIRED of being SICK AND TIRED, to be cliche.

Thank you all, and let me finish reading my thread ;]

Peace & love to all ya who posted, I may still be achy, I may still be on the medications, but i've made such great progress, and my energy is starting to really come back, i'm just really proud of myself, and am going to keep this benzo dosage (my prescribed dose) until i'm completely off tramadol. I will then very gradually (I mean real gradual, I'm not risking a seizure) my diazapam dose.

ill post when I have a noteworthy update, or if someone has any questions about the process and is going through something similar.

peace

 

[crevan]

I take Clonazepam and Cipralex for my social anxiety and they seem to be slowly working but they make you worse before better, like alot of meds. I feel calm in crowds now, my constant anger is gone and most of my anxety symtoms are gone. Alot of people don't like SSRI's though, but they have worked so far for me.

If you can do it naturally or herbally I would try that.

Speak to a physican before altering any medications. Talk to them about ALL your options, dont be afraid to mention anything.

good luck.

 

[burn out]

sooo many replies. Why havent I been around? Some withdraw HELL. But I have made some GREAT progress!!!!!!!


Someone asked the question, do I use a Psych or my GP? Answer is I go to a psycho-pharmacologist, so the answer is pdoc.

Just two days have passed since i've been feeling better.


First off, thank you all so much for posting, I really truly appreciate it.

I am down from 60mg - 80mg valium + 4mg =8mg of klonopin a day to 40mg of diazapam a day. My natural energy shot up 10 fold.
If you dont know benzos, you may; "say 40mg of diazapam? wow congrats...." But the amount that I have gotten my dosage to is really monumental (to me at least) i'm back into the theraputic, or at least a dosage a doctor might actually prescribe.

I am down from 400mg Tramadol daily to 100mg, and will, within 2 months be off completely, I also will now very very slowly taper the benzo dosage, I checked out that website.

I had 2 weeks from HELL though. Body aches (especially my back), extreme lethergy COMBINED with hypertension, NO motivation, nightmares, nightsweats, insomnia, Some minor GI problems, increased anxiety, increased depression, even some hypochondriac like symptoms. I even had thoughts (never any that I would act on, or even consider) of suicide. Only because I felt like such shit i'd say something in my head like "it would just be easier to not be here". I read that this is actually to be expected, especially when you consider the anti-depressant effects of tramadol.

I know I shouldnt have done both at the same time, but I was SICK AND TIRED of being SICK AND TIRED, to be cliche.

Thank you all, and let me finish reading my thread ;]

Peace & love to all ya who posted, I may still be achy, I may still be on the medications, but i've made such great progress, and my energy is starting to really come back, i'm just really proud of myself, and am going to keep this benzo dosage (my prescribed dose) until i'm completely off tramadol. I will then very gradually (I mean real gradual, I'm not risking a seizure) my diazapam dose.

ill post when I have a noteworthy update, or if someone has any questions about the process and is going through something similar.

peace

congratulations man, that is really great news. the road off benzos can be very long and difficult but you are doing it right with a slow diazepam taper. i am so glad to hear that you're taking the steps to get better.

 

[d4rk3]

congratulations man, that is really great news. the road off benzos can be very long and difficult but you are doing it right with a slow diazepam taper. i am so glad to hear that you're taking the steps to get better.

True that! Good job colmes. It really sucks at first, for a while. But I promise it gets easier. Props man, sorry for getting up your ass about dropping this thread.

 

[Middleway]

I hate how people demonise psychotropic drugs and say they simply don't work or the side effects of most of them are too severe. Pretty much all of them are relatively efficacious, however, like with any drug, what works with one person may be useless for another. In other words, there is no magic bullet. All antidepressants are more or less equally efficacious in a population on average.

Oh and these drugs don't cause 'brain damage'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia most commonly occurs in patients with psychiatric conditions who are treated with antipsychotic medications for many years. One study reported that within the first four years of using antipsychotic medications, 18.5 percent of young adults develop symptoms. Furthermore, 31 percent of those over 55 years of age develop tardive dyskinesia symptoms in the same time frame [7]. Other estimates suggest that it occurs in 15-30% of patients receiving treatment with antipsychotic neuroleptic medications for 3 months or longer.[citation needed] “A study being conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine has estimated that 32% of patients develop persistent tics after 5 years on major tranquilizers, 57% by 15 years, and 68% by 25 years.”[8] Other estimates suggest that with each year of neuroleptic use, 5% of the patients will show signs of tardive dyskinesia, i.e., 5% after one year, 10% after two years, 15% after three years with no clear upper limit.[9] Eventually, according to these estimates, if on the drugs long enough, the majority of patients will develop the disorder.[10] The incidence of tardive dyskinesia varies with the type of neuroleptic (e.g., haloperidol (Haldol) more often than perphenazine (Trilafon)), daily dose and duration of treatment (the higher the daily dose and the longer the duration of treatment, the higher the risk).

Several studies have indicated that long-term neuroleptic use is associated with both cognitive deterioration and atrophy of the brain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathesia

Akathisia is most often seen as a side effect of antipsychotic medications and medications such as reglan, but has other causes as well:
Non-sedating antipsychotics[8] such as haloperidol (Haldol), droperidol, pimozide, trifluoperazine, amisulpride, risperidone, aripiprazole (Abilify) and asenapine (Saphris). Less common in sedating antipsychotics such as zuclopenthixol (Cisordinol) or chlorpromazine where anticholinergic and antihistaminergic effects counteract akathisia to a degree.
SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac).[9] It has also been documented with the use of paroxetine (Paxil).[6] Akathisia has been studied as the mechanism by which SSRI-induced suicidality occurs.[9]
Other antidepressants, such as venlafaxine, the tricyclics and trazodone (Desyrel).
Certain anti-emetic drugs, particularly the dopamine blockers, such as metoclopramide (Reglan) and prochlorperazine (Compazine).
Opiate withdrawal.
The 2006 UK study by Healy, Herxheimer, and Menkes observed that akathisia is often miscoded in antidepressant clinical trials as "agitation, emotional lability, and hyperkinesis (overactivity)".[6] The study further points out that misdiagnosis of akathisia as simple motor restlessness occurs, but that this is more properly classed as dyskinesia. Healy, et al., further show links between antidepressant-induced akathisia and violence, including suicide, as akathisia can "exacerbate psychopathology." The study goes on to state that there is extensive clinical evidence correlating akathisia with SSRI use, showing that approximately ten times as many patients on SSRIs as those on placebos showed symptoms severe enough to drop out of a trial (5.0% compared to 0.5%).

 

[panic in paradise]

you left out neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

that was a looong blast i can barely remember, and wish i couldnt remember any of.

 

[Cornishman]

Doctors seem all too eager to put people on pills these days.

A friend of mine who has a problem with alcohol and cocaine was recently put on antidepressants - the doctor didn't even ask how 'clean' he'd been, or offer any sort of rehab, he was just more interested in getting him on some meds.

Now he's drinking, snorting coke AND taking antidepressants.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia






http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathesia

I see the point you're trying to make, but in future it might be a good idea NOT to quote Wikipedia for a variety of reasons.

 

[thelung]

For me, the combination of Methadone (85mg), Fluvoxamine (100mg 2x/day), and Seroquel (100mg) works really well for my depression and anxeity. Another combo that worked well was Celexa, Trileptal, Luvox & Seroquel.

 

[Unbreakable]

i have taken welbutrin,paxil and some others.... they all suck and didnt help me plus killed my sex drive....

now all i do is smoke weed and sometimes when i know im gunna be stressing take a benzo... btw i have general anxiety disorder

 

[Colmes]

I dont mean to bump my old thread, but I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who has shown support. Its great to have a bunch of people read what you wrote. I am continuing to decrease my dosage ever so slightly. I am still at 100mg of Tramadol, but have gone down to 35mg as opposed to 40mg of diazapam. I also stopped any "crutches".

But what really helped me? the answer WAS in this thread.

Yes, getting of benzos would prove to be wonderful, but you'd have to wait for a year or so for me to tell you that.

I was diagnosed with adult adhd. Its real, I'm not saying the medication isnt overprescribed, or that people just love to get high off these schedule II pharms.

I have them dispensed to me by someone trusted, I will not allow myself to abuse - oh yeah, Vyvanse is the medication (lisdexamfetamine).

I was prescribed it two days ago, and feeling normal again in 2 days? I feel VERY strange. Al good deal of my depressive / anxiety ridden behavior ceases while on my dose. It feels like a miracle, I know it can be bad for your heard, but do you want to live until 65 and be happy? or 70 and be sad? I hope it doesnt have negative effects as my BP is normal and Im not abusing.

Adult ADHD is debilitating, the complete lack of drive, never finishing a task, compulsive behavior, irritability, ect ect.

Yes, there is a comedown, i still have to gauge the perfect time to take my meds to decrease the comedown as much as I can (without increasing dosages of downers of course)

Yes when it wears off I feel weird, like, do I need this to be productive, happy?

I guess yes, at least at this point in my life, I was headed nowhere fast, and now I have a fighting chance. I dress nicely even if i'm not going somewhere, i just...feel different...yeah its kinda weird (since the change was so quick)

Drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta ect definitely have their place - and the people who need them, NEED them, just like you'd say someone who is bi-polar needs to be on anti psychotics, or ect ect.

I just hope things go smoothly

thank you again all, for all your advice, opinions, and personal stories

 

[burn out]

i am very proud of you for undertaking the journey off benzos but if you just started using stims like Vyvanse, well it is very common for people to think quite highly of these drugs before tolerance sets in. Also, a benzo taper isn't the best time to be using stimulants.

 

[Colmes]

i am very proud of you for undertaking the journey off benzos but if you just started using stims like Vyvanse, well it is very common for people to think quite highly of these drugs before tolerance sets in. Also, a benzo taper isn't the best time to be using stimulants.

Aye I know, I was on Vyvanse for about a year - about 1year 6months ago. Certainly tolerance sets in. I plan to only take it 3-4 times a week, this should help with the tolerance issue. Its when the abuse starts that the trouble really begins.

But my life off of vyvanse...I get nothing done. I gave it a long time off vyvanse too...I didnt give up after 2 weeks. Its the classic case of "talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of vyvanse"

I get no rush - I get an ability to focus, my anxiety is greatly decreased. I actually have adult ADD


oh edit: Thank you for the congrats, benzos are the worst to reduce, they make vyvanse look like tums. Not to mention the actual life threatening withdraw.
My doctor actually told me "No one goes to rehab for diazapam, and the withdraws are not deadly"

It was at that point that I knew I'd have to figure the whole tapering thing out on my own. Its okay, I almost have a Bachelor's in Psych and Substance abuse, if i'm not a qualified doctor like individual, I dont know who is!

 

[cerealbowl]

Its okay, I almost have a Bachelor's in Psych and Substance abuse, if i'm not a qualified doctor like individual, I dont know who is!

I sincerely hope this is sarcasm considering your original post.