I am confused --- re: meds

[pmhoran]

I have read post after post here where people are saying they pop this pill or that pill and it helps them feel better.

I have quite a few anxiety & phobia diagnoses and the docs have found no medications that have helped me ... despite trying a constellation of medications over the past decade or so.   BUT ... when I am trying a new medication its always "take one a day" or two or three a day or whatever.

So why do people who have found something that helps them insist on deciding "they know best" and only (from the sounds of it) take the medications when "they feel like it"?????

Dang it !!!   If I found something that worked to help me you can be danged sure I would be taking it EXACTLY as prescribed.   For the rest of my life if I had to.

Sorry ... but I guess its become a "pet peeve" of mine.   

Peter

[twodogs]

Hi pmhoran :)

Well, maybe I can explain this (I'll try anyway). I tend to take Xanax on an "as-needed" basis to control my panic attacks rather than "3 times a day" like it say's on the bottle. The reason for this is because, like alcohol, a person can develop a tolerance to Benzos and then subsequent doses don't have as much of an effect. Benzos (like Xanax) are also addictive and the larger the dosage and the longer you take it, the more difficult it can be to wean yourself off of it or switch to another med. Withdrawl can be pretty tough for some people so I tend to handle ths stuff with kid gloves even though I would LOVE to follow the instructions and take it 3 times a day. I'd be in bliss for sure!...lol. I've also had a few docs tell me to take it on an "as-needed" basis" when the panic attacks get really bad. Right now I'm looking for a non-narcotic drug that I can take on a regular basis and plan to talk to my doctor about this when I go in again.

I feel bad that you are unable to find anything that works for you. Have you tried any kind of therapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy)?. Sometime even meds like Xanax only take the edge off but you can still feel the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Have you asked your doc about upping the dose of whatever you are/were taking?.

[pmhoran]

I guess I have a different philosophy.

I was on Oxycontin & Oxycodone for a few years for severe chronic pain.  I admit I debated with myself for more than a few years before giving in and starting to take the meds.   But by then the pain had increased to beyond a point I could cope with.

So ... I decided I would take what I needed to take so I could deal with the pain.   Last summer ... after being on the pain meds for a number of years ... my pain doc wanted me to try another med which was not narcotic based.   Yes I went through a withdrawal ... but it wasn't as bad as what I was prepared for.   And the antiseizure med I am now on for pain is helping at least as much ... maybe more ... than the narcotic based drugs I was on.

In the future ... I will have no hesitation to take anything I need to to make my time NOW easier to cope with.   And I will worry about any possible addiction problems down the road when I might not need those pills any more.   

I figure I know I am here now ... so I am going to take what I need to take to make my life better ... now.   After all ... I could be gone next year or in ten years or whatever.  Live as best I can today and worry about bridges down the road when I get to them.

All my anxiety & phobia stuff ... after being assessed by umpteen number of specialists ... they've agreed that they are all being caused by a physical ailment/cause.   Yes there are some hormonal changes but no matter what I take or the dosages I take ... the physical cause adapts and screws up the hormones again.   Go figure.   They told me they could give me meds to maybe help "smooth out" the worst days ... but admitted there is nothing they can give me or counselling I can take that will improve the day to day effects.   So they suggested I just learn to cope with it as best I can ... so I do.

Peter

[twodogs]

I know it must be very frustrating for you to only be able to "smooth out" your symptoms and for the most part, just having to learn to live with them. I know when you are really miserable, you just want relief and your not always thinking about things like "will I be able to wean myself off of this med someday?". That's been my attitude at various times. The anxiety would just get so bad that I would have gladly done almost anything to just make it go away. With me, I'll try almost anything once and if it works and does'nt cause any serious side affects, I'll tend to stick with it. I know it's not easy getting through this but you basically have to try and cope using whatever works for you :).

[pmhoran]

Yeah ... guess you hit the nail on the head.

I have 20+ diagnoses (I haven't bothered to count them up lately ;)) that the docs have told me that I "just have to learn to cope with them & live with them".   8 of those diagnoses would/could qualfy me for membership on this site (I think).

So I guess I am definitely in the "mind set" that I will take ANYTHING in any amount as many times a day as they want me to take it ... just so I have one less thing I have to cope with on a day to day basis.

I feel like I am at the end of my rope in what I feel I can cope with.   But I felt the same way when I had 15 diagnoses ... and I am still coping.   Maybe not as well as I might be ... but I am making it through one day to the next.

One thing that happened that has allowed me to cope more effectively with the "mental" symptoms (chronic depression, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, anxiety etc) is after I was assessed by 6 specialists at one of country's (Canada's) pre-eminant psychiatric facilities and they all told me that I wasn't "nuts" and "wasn't going nuts".   I knew within myself I wasn't insane or going insane ... but it was like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders to have these specialists actually confirm it.

Mind you ... they did say that with my sense of humor I would be "certifiable"   hahahaha 

Peter

[tryn2cope]

I suffer from panic and anxiety disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Over Compulsive Disorder and also Agoraphobia. It seems like an hour of the day  doesn't go by without my psychiatrist having me take one pill here or another pill there. It gets very frustrating. And another thing is that my psychiatrist is constantly changing my meds or upping them. She says she is going to keep going until she finds one that works. But I sometimes wonder if she is ever considering her always changing the meds I take or the dosages that she is almost making me feel hopeless. But nothing she ever gives me ever makes me feel like I have hope to getting better. I can't leave my home, even the thought of it makes me panic and sends me into attacks that my husband has had to call an ambulance before. I feel alone. Like there is no longer hope out there.  My goal each day now is actually trying to find someone to talk to that understands what I go through so I won't have to feel so alone anymore. But the biggest thing that bothers me is that I can't go out with my husband or even go outside and play with my step kids that I adore. Because they are so young that they don't understand and that hurts me beyond anything. But I am starting to lose hope of ever not feeling like a prisoner of my own home. I guess, I just have to try to at least grasp the hope of not being a prisoner in my own home, but even that is making me feel like it is never going to happen and that I am going to lose everything and still feel alone. Even though I have a husband. What should I do, any advice from anyone. I do try to do crafts to open up and keep busy.
Let me know if there is someone out there who understands what I am going through. Thanks tryn2cope

[bluefin]

well if such medications dont work for you why dont you try natural and herbal medicines like mindsoothe
MindSoothe is a remedy containing two natural remedies in one and is therefore excellent value for money!

1. Hypericum Perforatum (St John's Wort) has been scientifically shown to relieve the symptoms of depression if used regularly over a period of 3 - 5 weeks.

St John's Wort is often called 'Nature's Prozac' and is widely used as the anti-depressant of choice in many countries like Germany and in other parts of Europe.

There have been many clinical studies which show the effectiveness of St John's Wort in the treatment of depression.

A review published in theBritish Medical Journalquotes up to twenty-three clinical trials which demonstrate that St John's Wort works as well as many prescription anti-depressants, without the major side effects. Millions of people around the world have been helped by treatment with St John's Wort.

Many clients say that it feels like 'the black cloud' has been lifted from their heads and that they have more zest for life!

2. The St John's Wort in MindSoothe is combined with Passiflora - a calming herb that reduces anxiety and soothes frayed nerves.

According to Dr Earl Mindell (The New Herb Bible), Passiflora is one of nature's best tranquilizers. It works quickly and effectively and is an excellent addition to any treatment for anxiety and depression.

MindSoothe has been specially formulated by a Practicing Clinical Psychologist and has been safely and effectively prescribed to real people with real problems for years!

Other remedies for you not involving medications are

1.Talk about your problems and find ways to change your circumstances. Consider therapy with a Licensed Counselor to help you to make the changes that you need.
2. Regular exercise (at least three times a week)
3.Healthy diet (sufficient Vitamin B6 and B12, magnesium, iron, zinc and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids)
4. Eating certain foods will also help to raise serotonin levels. Good examples are oats, turkey, milk, pasta and other carbohydrate-rich foods.
5. Look after yourself and learn to say 'No'.
6.Regular Detox periods (see Detox Drops )are very helpful to clear the system of pollutants and certain metals that are absorbed from the atmosphere and may contribute to the symptoms of depression.