Posted by Catling on June 9, 2014, at 4:35:02
Hi, I haven't been around in a while because my cocktail was stable for a bit but now I'm in need of some ideas.
I have PTSD and the two primary symptoms that I take medication for with that are the depression with suicidal ideation and the anxiety. After trying a bunch of SSRIs and SNRIs my last good doctor put me on parnate (40 mg daily in two doses - although I'm going up to 60 now because the depression has worsened), which I've had moderate response to for my depression. One of the conflicts for me in treating my depression is that it makes my anxiety a lot more noticeable. I have general anxiety and social anxiety. I take lyrica for the general anxiety, 300 mg daily, in 3 doses. I wasn't getting enough effect from the parnate, so about a year ago we added geodon 20mg at bedtime. At first it was amazing. I could feel something other than anxiety and depression! I was getting up at 8 a.m., I was getting a lot accomplished, I felt really functional. But over time that effect has worn off. I can't go up on the geodon because it makes me sleep too much. (60 mgs will make me sleep for 22 hrs. 40 mgs makes me sleep for ~14.)
I've used benzos for the past eleven years, for panic attacks and also because my brain just never shuts up with anxiety and worry. After a few days of short sleep and lying awake for hours trying to get to sleep I will take a pill or two (lowest dose) and get eight to ten hours sleep. It gives me a break and resets my brain. Well, my clinic switched to a "new policy" where they will no longer prescribe benzos at all to anyone. This is a pretty big deal in my world. Also my old doctor moved her practice so I'm dealing with idiots now.
So, I need something to take that will help with the anxiety that the lyrica doesn't alleviate which is primarily the social based anxiety and also obsessive worrying/racing thoughts/anxiety. I'm looking for ideas to take to my next appointment.
Things I've already tried which had no impact on my anxiety:
trazodone
nefazodone
celexa
zoloft
remeron
effexor
cymbalta
vistaril
abilify
seroqueldid help but can no longer get rx for:
xanax
ativan
klonopin
poster:Catling
thread:1066672
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140609/msgs/1066672.html