Prescribed clonazepam and lexapro and seroquel.....

[Toker23]

I have sever social anxiety, insomnia and also suffer from general anxiety. Went to the psychiatrist to talk about this and he prescribed me 3(2 morning 1 at night) klonipin a day 200mlg seroquel at night and 20mg lexapro a day.

I have had anxiety for a long time and way before it got to the point where i couldnt walk in my front yard to smoke a cig.

Ive tried all benzo's before and 3 kpins dont do jack shit for me. Because of my past drug history he basically refuses to prescribe me anything else because he thinks ill abuse them. 3 klonipin for me is like drinking a beer, or taking one hit off a pipe of weed, popping a 5mlg lortab.... doesnt do jack fucking shit.

I dont even want to get high, i just want to be able to walk to the gas station, go to school, talk to a stranger and not have a complete meltdown. visited this fucker four times and he wont budge. What i need is xanax because i know this works because i have taken them on multiple occasions. Hell it doesnt even need to be xanax, i just want anything to help me.

He keeps saying that it will just take time to work, uses the word gradual desistation. basically that cause i walk up and down my culdasack every day then soon enough ill be able to walk down 2 blocks etc etc....

Makes me want to punch him square in his fucking face.

Ive taken 2 valium and a full bar, 5mlg of kpins and that could get me into a mall and walk around.

I just dont know what to do anymore, i cant switch docs in the same building because of thier policy and the next doc i can get to has a 3 month waiting list...

Any suggestions? i have no money no car,no phone. parents jacked all the rx drugs cause i was self medicating with my moms anxiety pills just to get to the hospital to get blood samples. pulled out all the liquer too. completly fucked and my current psych is a cunt.

Fuck.

 

[Lord]

I can't usually step outside my own house even if I've taken benzos (probably tolerance). High doses of alcohol and depressant combos can help me with this problem, but I can't recommend it. Even with the downers it can be difficult for me to see any of my friends. The only advice I can give is that I especially recommend against taking benadryl for anxiety and trying to go without drugs is a little beneficial if the problems aren't debilitating. I didn't have this problem before drugs (particularly grass) and I seem to get better when I take a few less drugs per day.

 

[LittlebyLittle]

I have sever social anxiety, insomnia and also suffer from general anxiety.

Because of my past drug history he basically refuses to prescribe me anything else because he thinks ill abuse them.

I dont even want to get high, i just want to be able to walk to the gas station, go to school, talk to a stranger and not have a complete meltdown. visited this fucker four times and he wont budge. What i need is...

i wouldn't want to be on a stronger benzo if i were you. i too have a doc that won't go past klonopin for the same reasons (she knows i used to get high on painkillers). i'm also on a mood regulator and a strong sedative for sleep (severe insomnia).

speaking from experience, klonopin is the best if you want to get better in life. the others are dangerous and debilitating. their use cannot be sustained. and really from what i've lived thru, b/c of rebound anxiety from benzo W/D, those drugs are fucking terrible. wanna feel like a complete, uncontrollable, depressed psychpath; cold turkey klonopin.

i feel you on wanting to feel normal, just try to think about how benzos aren't the solution, especially in the long run. give the other meds and chance and give yourself lots of time to figure things out (meditation, etc.)

i know this is lame advice but it's all i can be serious about giving.

hope something helps,

litl

 

[LittlebyLittle]

Any suggestions?[/SIZE]i have no money no car,no phone. parents jacked all the rx drugs cause i was self medicating with my moms anxiety pills just to get to the hospital to get blood samples. pulled out all the liquer too. completly fucked and my current psych is a cunt.

Fuck.

check yourself into a crisis emergency center for the mentally ill (maybe state funded since you have no money and parents aren't trying to help)

 

[Lolie]

It's a pity your psych didn't utilise the sedating effects of low dose Seroquel by getting you to take a couple of small doses during the day and a larger one at night. It works differently at higher doses, but I was pretty much stress and anxiety free at my starting doses of 25-50mg -not a high, but nothing really bothered me to any substantial degree.

Are you parents giving you your medication as prescribed at the moment or have they taken it away without arranging for any immediate medication review - because they really need to understand that SSRIs like Lexapro shouldn't be stopped abruptly and neither should Seroquel.

Given your past history and your tolerance levels, inpatient assessment sounds like a good idea for you. If your parents have been willing to pay for a psychiatrist, would they be willing to pay for inpatient assessment?

No-one's going to put you on Xanax long-term. Even if you could get a doctor to prescribe it for you now, they'd be looking at transitioning you to something different down the track so you might as well start off with that other drug. Otherwise you're just going to have to go through tapering off benzos later, with all the misery that entails.

You don't mention how long you've been on your current drug cocktail or who is working on the desensitisation therapy with you, but remember that the drugs aren't intended to eliminate your anxiety altogether - they're meant to reduce it to a level which can be managed by other means.

It sounds to me like your psych, your parents, and you are all on different pages. You don't mention a psychologist or other kind of therapist at all. If you don't already have one then consulting one would be a good idea - they can help clarify realistic treatment goals and act as advocates with your psych when you're not happy with your progress.

It does sound a bit like both you and your parents may be expecting too much too soon or that there might be gaps in your treatment plan. Maybe an inpatient assessment would make everyone a bit clearer about their role in you overcoming your anxiety disorder, exactly what steps that requires of you as well as of your doctor and counsellors, and how long it's likely to take. It doesn't sound like you or your parents are really clear about that at the moment and it's pretty hard to succeed when you don't even know what's involved in the plan.

The fact that your parents are paying for a psych suggests that they acknowledge you have a problem and they realise you need help to fix it. They might be willing to organise a different kind of help if you suggest it. If not, then you might be able to access either inpatient or day patient care through emergency mental health services. Be aware that whatever options you pursue, drugs will only be part of the solution - the rest will be sheer hard work on your part.

 

[unsettled]

I have anxiety problems and depression problems but I'm able to function fine (with meds, maybe without meds eventually..), I had some bad periods so I understand your situation because I've felt that way before but never for that long. I've had Panic Attacks that I thought were going to kill me regularly for a year, and always struggle with depression... I've never been terribly afraid of leaving the house for long so I don't know what that feels like but I can understand how easy it would be to reach that point when you're struggling with anxiety issues constantly.

Medication is only part of the solution, you have to work to face your fears, it's hard but it's the best way. Airplanes give me the worst anxiety but I never turn down a chance to travel, I was recently in Europe and on about 14 different flights in a few week period, I still hate flying but I won't allow my fear to stop me from traveling... of course I did sedate myself with xanax and alcohol for some of the flights so I'm not all that brave.

I don't know what medications you want to be on, I'm on Klonopin now 3mgs a day, I used to be on Xanax but I think Klonopin is much better if you need a benzo on a daily basis. I've abused drugs in the past (still do sometimes) but I've never admitted to what extent to a doctor or psychiatrist, I never denied it though, I told them that I used certain drugs daily at different times in my life... they never pressed the issue too much. Either way I think if you stick with a psychiatrist they will prescribe you what you need eventually if they are any good. It's a long process and they are always going to start with drugs like Lexapro first, you're lucky you got prescribed Klonopin already.

If you find the right Psychiatrists, Therapists.. etc and really work at feeling better I think you'll get what you need, whether it's a schedule II med or just a SSRI or no meds at all. Maybe you'll find a way past your fears on your own... just don't give up. I think most competent Psychiatrists realize that drug abuse is usually a symptom of an underlying disorder and as time progresses and they get to know you they won't deprive you of any med that may potentially really help you within reason. I doubt they'll prescribe you Oxycontin for depression but you know what I mean.

Keep looking for solutions to your problems and you'll find them. It may take awhile but every little step is a victory and will make you feel better and give you more confidence. Best of luck to you.

I just wanted to add that my doctor started me on Xanax when I first complained of having panic attacks... it worked great for awhile but the tolerance and addiction issues that come with it are hell, I had a seizure from Xanax withdrawal because I didn't get my refill quick enough, the seizure happened while I was driving and I totalled my car and someone elses. Luckily the other person wasn't hurt and I only had some broken bones.... Anyway, this xanax related incident is what led me to start seeing a Psychiatrist and really trying to find a better long term way of handling my panic attacks. Xanax is a godsend if you have panic attacks but if you abuse it it'll turn into a huge nightmare. Your doc is doing you a favor by not giving you xanax at the moment, for me Klonopin helps a ton. You also seem young, if you were older you may have a better chance at getting xanax rx'd... you may at some point find xanax beneficial as part of a treatment plan that may include klonopin and some anti depressant. But avoid it all costs because it sounds like it will cause you more harm than anything at this point, it almost killed me, seriously. Xanax is like the crack of benzos, at least for me.

 

[StaySedated]

clonazepam is actually one of the strongest anxiety killing benzos around(likely stronger than xanax). xanax will just make you sleepy and won't last as long.

benzos are not good long term, and sadly theres not a lot of long term anxiety treatments. SSRI's work on some people, but take time and may not work on everybody. seroquel will turn you into a sedated zombie. its the only drug powerful enough to put me out on meth comedowns, and i don't think it would be a good option unless you are bipolar or schizophrenic.

i guess the best thing is to try to work with the meds(i know it can be hard, trust me) and work at overcoming anxiety. exercise, meditation, find support from friends and family or a support group.

also, tell youself that all of your anxiety is in your head and that you are strong enough to beat it. convince yourself that you can rise above your problems. this may sound to easy, but it worked for me and i was pretty bad at some points.

good luck and stay strong.

 

[Lord]

clonazepam is actually one of the strongest anxiety killing benzos around(likely stronger than xanax). xanax will just make you sleepy and won't last as long.

benzos are not good long term, and sadly theres not a lot of long term anxiety treatments. SSRI's work on some people, but take time and may not work on everybody. seroquel will turn you into a sedated zombie. its the only drug powerful enough to put me out on meth comedowns, and i don't think it would be a good option unless you are bipolar or schizophrenic.

i guess the best thing is to try to work with the meds(i know it can be hard, trust me) and work at overcoming anxiety. exercise, meditation, find support from friends and family or a support group.

also, tell youself that all of your anxiety is in your head and that you are strong enough to beat it. convince yourself that you can rise above your problems. this may sound to easy, but it worked for me and i was pretty bad at some points.

good luck and stay strong.

This seems like pretty good advice, especially for this forum.

I was put on 0.5mg of risperidone twice daily for a few months when I was eight years old and it didn't wreck my mind but when I think back to that period, I think I got slight brain damage (tests later confirmed I was still in excellent mental shape, no longer) and paradoxically (though I'm very unsure of this), it gave me more anxiety, especially at bedtime. I felt less creative and sharp after that period. I'm not sure if it's because of the group homes and shit, or the medication (also low-dose prozac for another few months). Well, the government's plan didn't help me, in fact those four years indoors really damaged me and ruined my mom as well (she was forced), and I was recovering relatively well until the drugs.
I was never naturally paranoid and rarely anxious. I was socially advanced, I could get along and predict what people would say.

And about the anxiety being in my head, I was unable to ignore the paranoia, hallucinations, and anxiety until one or two months ago. After months of drug use, the illusions can switch from trippy to realistic. I knew the voices were in my head, and even though I usually knew there was noone behind closed doors, objects were not really alive, no real demon behind reality, and noone watching me, it didn't stop me from being terrified and unable to function. Also, the anxiety was constant and I couldn't ignore negative thoughts, they were just shoved into my face and there were no positive things to think about. I attribute the symptoms to marijuana and zopiclone more than anything else, but I don't exclude bad 'trips' from the list of possible causes.
There was a strong correlation between my drug use and the mental problems.

Believe me when I say, exercise is vital to my survival at this point. If I even just went outside for a few minutes a day, my skin would probably look a lot better than it does now. I'm not always sure whether my skin is really that bad or I'm just having benadryl-esque distortions. Apparently it's both.

5-HTP was helpful in relieving my depression, and it's completely legal, but it's not very powerful. Additionally, while it relieved some symptoms, it made others a lot worse when I combined it with marijuana, though I just kept taking the two together.

I haven't used a drug in two days (save 100mg of 5-HTP), and the weening worked well despite my relapse or whatever. Withdrawal symptoms are milder than I expected, but the mood swings can be insane from time to time and I feel like I'll never be that happy again. At this point it's quit or die, so i think the correct option is obvious. Then again I don't think any drug is good for the average person.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Bnzodiazepines aren't the solution for anxiety. Eventually their effects will dry away and make matters worse. If you have a drug abuse history no doctor will prescribe you Xanax, I'm surprised that he even gave you Klonopin, as surely he knows that it is addictive. Xanax is an even worse option anyway because you have to continue taking it every four hours without having almost immediate rebound anxiety without taking your next dose. Hopefully the Lexapro will start working for you and if not you can always try another SSRI without relying on a benzo.

Going to outpatient group therapy may be useful. I did it once and it really helped me out. Listening to other peoples problems helps you know that you aren't alone and you can get all your garbage out with help from the others going through the same things. Check and see if your insurance covers something like this. Ask your doctor if he knows of any outpatient group therapies around. I'm sure that there are. One on one therapy isn't as effective in my opinion but medication + therapy is always better than just relying on meds.

On a second note, ask about Lyrica as a replacement for the Klonopin if its not working. You may be very surprised from the outcome.