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Medications?

NAS49761

Hello Everyone

I would like to know people's experiences of what medications they have tried which have helped for mixed anxiety and depression.

I feel I need something, as does my Mental Health Team but I am hyper-sensitive to all the drugs I've tried and their side effects. At the moment I am struggling through with Lorazepam on an ad hoc basis to get me through really bad days but this loses it's efficacy quite quickly. I had to persued the psychiatrist to prescribe it again and I can understand why they are only looking at this as a very short term help until we can come up with something more long term.

Risperidone has been suggested, but I tried Quetipine once and a tiny dose kept me in bed until midday and made me feel even more depressed. I don't want to take any of the anti-psychotics because of their really shocking side effects. I do not want to add more problems to have to cope with.

It's really sad that I need medication to be able to cope with 'conventional' life with all the socialising and communication that's needed, and that if I was wealthy enough to live the life I need to live to be at peace, I doubt I would need it.

Replies appreciated,

Thanks

  • in reply to NAS51082

    Yes, absolutely, and I did have a period of withdrawal which was worse with the diazepam so I am using as little as possible. It's difficult because I can get withdrawal after one or two does of Lorazepam...thanks for the reply...maybe as you have all said, with the diagnosis things might get easier over time and in the meantime keep on getting through it the way I can. I have had some very good interventions learned from my OT but sometimes I need to add in to that.

  • in reply to Zomted

    Thanks Zomted, I tried 12 mg or it might have been 12.5 if 25 mg is the lowest, that was the dose that kept me in bed for hours and then half of that just me cry all the time. 

    I understand what you say about if knowing what is going on with yourself then maybe that can go some way to help manage, I have been having what feels like flash seconds of revelation which does seem to help some ways and I think it is what you are saying about blaming yourself for everything, thank you

  • in reply to NAS49761

    25mg, think that’s the smallest size pill. Yep, for me ven has some side effects but was better than feeling how I was feeling. This all started before diagnosis for me though. Wandering if now I know what’s going on there might be other ways to manage the depression/anxiety as I’m no longer blaming myself for everything like I was before.

    Lifestyle change: think it depends for me on coming up with a way to earn a living self employed, while living in the middle of nowhere. No ideas yet but am working on it... 

  • Hi I feel all medications have side effects too and to be weary of taking tablets is completely understandable especially benzos I would suggest steering well away from those as in the  long term they can cause terrible addiction and horrible withdrawal if the Dr decides to take you off them. My advice is to not take any medication and stick to being you. As everyone is unique in their own way and discover new things about your own self that you can really succeed with. It's funny antidepressants only work for some and not for all and there's no need to take something that makes you feel worse. Do things that make you happy it might be difficult at first but stick with it  activities like sport even on your own are really good. Then you'll feel better in no time determination is key to be happy life. Push your self and motivation will follow. 

  • in reply to Zomted

    Thanks zomted, what dose of quetapine do you manage? Had venlefaxine too and that was more vicious than the fluoxetine for me. if you do think of a way to make that lifestyle change happen, let me know and probably everyone else on the forum too. 

  • in reply to NAS49761

    Yep, SSRIs andme don’t mix even at low doses. It’s slightly surprising, given that, that the venlefaxine works really! I tend to be really sensitive to drugs of all sorts an£ in fact I’m taking a pretty low dose of venlefaxine (apparently, should t be therapeutic at that dose, but it definatel6 is!). I think I’ve been through pretty much every type of anti D possible to get to this one. Definately not just you.

  • I take venlefaxine and the smallest possible dose of quetiapine an hour before bedtime. It does seem to work in that the venlefaxine is the best antidepressant I’ve tried - it really works for me but it stopped me sleeping, the quetiapine at bedtime stops that being a problem.

    I know what you mean about life. I too feel that if I could live an appropriate (very peaceful, no people!) lifestyle I wouldnt need them. Sigh! I’m trying to think of a way to make that happen without winning the lottery. 

  • in reply to NAS51078

    Thanks for that, I had gabapentin years ago but that was for pain and eventually stopped that too because of side effects. I managed a tiny dose of duloxetine but couldn't get up anywhere near the therapeutic dose for depression, is it just me or do others have this difficulty with medications?

  • I take duloxetine and pregabalin for my depression and anxiety