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16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 778

Hello , meds . Here we go . Well i have nothing against them . I have used anti-Ds on and off for years now . Mostly due to post natal depression and a haunting childhood past .

I dont like taking them long term for some reason . I always seem to back to them as well . I went on Citapram earlier this year and those who remember i had an awful reaction too . Which made it so hard for me to take my new meds , it took me a couple of months to have the guts to take them .

My point is that if i need them then i take them , i know its not forever and it does help .

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 313

Hi Diva

I too was AGAINST meds when my journey started when I was 19. I am now 34...ok I'll be 35 in a few weeks.. YIKES!! lol... But after the birth of my daughter almost 10 years ago I became desperate as my anxiety was out of control, I was suffering with what I now know was agoraphobia and I was having terrible obsessions (OCD). For 3 years I lived like this pretending all was ok... Medication changed and I think saved my life to some degree.

I take Paxil.(paroxetine) an SSRI. It has been a godsend. You are right without the CBT stuff it is not nearly as effective. I had the education though and I had done therapy... it did not matter. My seratonin levels were too low..and synthetic replacement was the only way for ME.

It took about 3 months to completely kick in and become effective. There were terrible side effects initially but they subsided. I have been as low as 5 mg as day and as high as 20 mg per day depending on the year and circumstances. Ie. the birth of my second baby. These doses are apparently not even considered medicinal doses BUT for me they work. I'm petite..always been sensitive to meds so I think it is VERY personal and varies greatly person to person what doses work for whom and why as Miki mentioned.

I know it's not a cure but I believe I'll probably be on them for the rest of my life... I will NOT allow the anxiety in to control me anymore. OCD never really goes away either and it's not any more pleasant..lol..

I have an amazing doctor who monitors everything. I know my lifestyle greatly affects how my meds are working. For example I've been sick for the last 7 days... ugh.. terribly and the meds just don't seem to be working... My body is focused only on getting better so I feel a bit "edgier" than usual. I've learned this though and know I can up my dose when it's like this.

For me taking meds was all about giving up control. I couldn't believe I needed something other than myself to get better...

You need to do what is right for you Diva but I truly believe QUALITY of life is far greater than the stigma attached to taking meds. Whether you're on them forever or a short time, it doesn't matter. If you need to take them, that's why their there.

If only there weren't so many to choose from and so many ups and downs at the beginnings. For me I was fortunate. Paxil was my first SSRI and it has worked for me.. Thankfully.

That's my 2 bits... or a lot of bits actually.

Take care Diva.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2101

Thanks guys for all your advice and sharing your opinions! Lots to think about thanks!

I do intend to speak to my pharmacist about this. I also want to speak to my doctor about this. I have questions I figure only they can answer for me. But generally speaking I am pretty knowledgeable on the subject because of my studies lol. I just wonder how good or bad this is for me. I generaly see it as good and under control but I feel as if I might be kidding myself. I do involve my husband in this as he monitors my medication intake. I let him know every single little dose I take so he can offer me his perspective.

I will still check with pharmacist and doctor though.

Thanks again guys!

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 466

This is a real sensitive issue for me. I was very against medication at first, then with understanding I began realizing the potential, as well as the downsides (though honestly I started out of pure desperation to get over my anxiety, willing to try anything kinda deal).

I took Lexapro like Miki for a few months, though not really on a set schedule. I tried to, but there would be days I would forget (ironically those are the days I felt the best). But I must admit, it did help stabilize me enough to come here and go to a counselor. I think knowing the benefits as well as downsides helps you understand what works for you. I have a slight history with drugs in general, so I already expected the crash and burn of quitting cold turkey, and the dangers of dependency. Knowing this, and knowing you're human and can make mistakes, my personal advice would be to find someone you trust. You're mental health pro, loved ones, friend, whatever outside opinion you can get and are willing to trust, ask them to help monitor you.

For those that don't know that would like to know, there are basically 2 kinds of medication you can take. One, benzodiazepines, typically calms you within 10-20 minutes. It is highly addictive for this reason, though for those who can control it, extremely beneficial with exposure therapy. It gives you an insight that you wouldn't get otherwise, and if that insight helps then keep going, otherwise if it just solves the situation temporarily, then stop.

The other is SSRI, which basically changes your overall mood. It is not instantaneous, can take up to 2 months to begin working, but works well for the general feeling of anxiety. This is what I took, and for the 2-3 months I took them, helped my personal situation exponentially, but what works for you may be different from me. The key is willingness to try, and having someone monitor you that can keep you on track. Your mental health pro would know best.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 477

Hey all,

I used to take Lexapro (SSRI) for one year and a half. It did well to me but physically, I couldn't tell the difference. I think it helped me psychologically because I told myself I should get better since I'm taking meds. There were still many times that I had panic attacks but I guess not much anxiety. Eventually I weened off it myself and had serious withdrawal symptoms that I relapsed 10 times worse. (I don't want to scare anyone, but just giving my honest experience.) I was surprised that the withdrawal symptoms were more obvious then when I was actually taking the drug. I haven't taken any meds after that.. and the second time around was worse too... (To think about that, I feel pretty good about that!)

I carry Xanax with me at all times. I haven't taken them yet either but when I'm really panicky or anxious I tell myself that I can always take it when I want to.. and that makes me feel better. I don't think medications are bad.. but you just have to be aware of yourself when you take them. I've read books about how medication dosages are so generalized that it's not even suited for an individual.. your race, sex, age, weight, and other meds all matters on how they affect you with meds.

I think it's good that you just take bits and pieces of it when you really really need it, Diva. It seems like you have them under your control. Maybe you can even test yourself with them, like this time, I'm going to wait until I become really really reaaaally panicky or after I've tried all the CBT tasks. Good luck with that!!! I have this "journal" thing that I just write facts about myself about the whole day. I write my mood, what I ate, how much exercise I got, my physical symptoms, the weather, etc... everyone should try it out.. and maybe we can figure out around which months or weather we are more anxious than not.

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 187

Medication is a complicated issue for me as well. My Doctor initially prescribed me benzodiazepines. But only a small number of low dose tablets. Then she prescribed Stressam which is a non-addictive anxiolitic. But this did nothing for me. Typical isn't it? If something works it has dozens of side effects and if it has no side effects it is ineffective.

Now she has prescribed antidepressants for me but just like you my therapist feels that they don't deal with the issues. So I am just as confused as you. Should I take them or not? Once you start antidepressants you have to be on them for between 6 months and a year. So I am reluctant to begin them. My wife is on antidepressants but they don't really help. She cries less but otherwise they don't solve any problems. She just began the depression CBT course so hopefully it will help her as well.

If I can give some advise. If you are responsible with the benzodiazepines then use them. I think that they become a problem when you feel anxiety if you are separated from them. If they help to stop a long panic attack or help to alleviate some GAD then they are a force for good. But If you feel you can't leave home or do XYZ because you don't have access to them then you are becoming dependent on them (psychologically).

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1288

Diva, Great to hear that you'll be talking to your Doc's about this. In regards to taking perscription meds, it's entirely up to you. What you feel comfortable with, and what makes you feel best. You can do more reseach, talk to people about alternative methods? Members, what's your opinion? Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2101

Not sure where I want to go with this thread, really. I guess I am questioning myself about my use of medication. I have to say I am not against medication per say. I am not against meds at all when they help. Thing is I am allergic to SSRI's. SSRI's are antidepressants often given to people with anxiety as they realy help for it. I cannot take it. They are often the choice for long term pharmaceutical treatment of anxiety. Since I am allergic to those (and all sort of other medication from aspirin to some antiiotics...) it is hard for psychiatrists to find proper medicinal treatments for me.

Anyway, my therapist always says pills don't teach skills. I get what he means. Meds often help but you still need to do the CBT and do the work to get better! So even if I don't have many pharmaceutical options I stil do the work and do well.

Thing is I have had a prescription for benzodiazepines. The are anxiety meds. I take them PRN (as needed). Problem is they are higly addictive. Also your body build tolerance to them so you have to take more and more often.... I know this. In my classes I have written paepers on this and how this type of medication is often abused and misused. So how hypocritical do I feel? I try not to take too many and take very small doses. I actually haven't finished a one month prescription I got filled 8 months ago lol. But still. I keep wondering if I should just give up the prescription all together.

I once did. Problem is then I had a major panic attack which melded into another then another... I was having trouble and I had nothing to help me so I ended up freaking out for so long I relapsed....That is when I first came here.

So part of me feels like I should keep the prescription since it helps and since I am careful and part of me thinks I am using the meds as a crutch and that I am using the fact that I am reasonnable as a cop out for not stopping them.

Sorry for the long post I needed to think things out. I am tired lately and do not think as clearly. If any of you have an opinion on this please let me know what you think. I always love a good sounding board. And as I have been struggling with this question for several months now I think I could use one lol!

P.S: I do intend to speak to my doctor and pharmacist about this!

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