![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oldschool305 on November 6, 2007, at 2:03:09
Hi everybody! I haven't posted on here in years but I am back =O Here is a quick background... I use to be a drug abuser and overdosed from cocaine in 2001. Since then, I've battled with panic attacks/anxiety/depression/etccccc. This overdose really brought out my mental problems that were probably always there but were not yet unleashed!
i can't even drink a beer without feeling like death the entire next 3 days.
So I have been on Lexapro for 4 years now, only 5mg because if I take more than 5mg I can't get out of bed! Although it has helped tremendously, I am far from fine. I have lost over 20 jobs over the past 6 years. Yup, OVER 20! I've had GREAT jobs, but one day I feel great... next day I feel like dying. Feel great again for a day, then feel so depressed and anxious and can't leave my bed and quit all my jobs.
I think it's time to change the Lexapro. I just saw a TV commercial for Cymbalta and was wondering if that stuff is any good? I HATE SSRI's, Paxil was horrendous. I didn't sleep for a week, throwing up, anxiety to the max. Zoloft, same results. Prozac, same results. Lexapro makes me fat and tired but it's tolerable. It actally helps me sleep (the only time i feel good is when i am sleeping, i love sleeping). i guess that's part of my depression.
I REALLY NEED TO GET A JOB! I am broke, about to lose my home and i have nowhere to go. I need to start working again but I can't. I quit within two weeks because I feel so crappy all the time. I am now 27 years old and really starting to hate life because I know it's going to be hell until the end. Damn that drug overdose, if I could turn back the clock. Everyday is a struggle, everyday is a 50/50 chance of feeling good.
I just want to feel good when i wake up everyday, is that possible? to actually wake up and not feel like i am going to DIE, so i can hold a job? Can Cymbalta help me? Any other anti-depressants that work better than Lexapro???
Thanks guys for any advice you can give to me. I really appreciate it.
Posted by War-Face on November 6, 2007, at 10:48:58
In reply to Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/help, posted by oldschool305 on November 6, 2007, at 2:03:09
Sorry about your current state. I too hate the SSRI's. The only one I can tolerate is Prozac. I had a great experience on Prozac but after it pooped out, it was like prolonged torture because withdrawal was so tough.
If Lexapro has that tiring/dysfunctional effect for you (as it does for me), I wonder if your problems aren't more dopamine/norepinephrine centered?
If you haven't tried Wellbutrin, you can consider giving that a good 4-6 week trial. I was first prescribed it in 1999 after months of MDD where I couldn't even get up out of bed until 1 PM. It gave me drive, focus, and normalized sleep until it pretty much stopped working well after around 10 months. I kept on taking it though and I was able to function for another year until it really stopped working and then I was forced to switch.
Given the seriousness of your state right now, I wonder if Parnate or Emsam also couldn't be an option? Have you ever tried any MAOIs?
BTW, congrats on your success with remaining off coke!
I'm sure others will be able to provide more suggestions.
Posted by Phillipa on November 6, 2007, at 11:45:06
In reply to Re: Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/he, posted by War-Face on November 6, 2007, at 10:48:58
Do you have insurance? Personal question but it would determine a lot of meds that would be available to you per cost and the docs to prescribe them. Cymbalata could help. Will you doc prescribe it for you? And congrats from me too on being sober. As far as waking up feeling great everyday I feel this may be a bit unrealistic as everyone has a bad day now and again. But I know what you mean. Phillipa and welcome back.
Posted by bleauberry on November 7, 2007, at 18:46:16
In reply to Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/help, posted by oldschool305 on November 6, 2007, at 2:03:09
The drinking beer and feeling like death for 3 days thing is a pretty strong clue to take a close look at. It also ties in real well with how you feel ok one day and lousy the next. Something is going on besides what you think. It sounds very much like a food intolerance, allergy, or hidden bacterial/fungal infection. The symptoms you describe are commonly described by people, like me, who are gluten intolerant. The feeling is eerily similar to depression and often mistaken as depression. The toxins that candida or other bad micro organisms spill into your blood are very toxic and similar to the hangover effects of alcohol, and they just happen to gobble up alcohol as food. Actually their toxins are the exact same chemical that your body metabolizes from alcohol that creats the hangover.
I don't know. It does not sound like an antidepressant problem to me. There is something else going on. Just because you feel it in your mood, it is way to common to assume the problem is in your brain. Sounds to me like something outside the brain is impacting your brain, but it isn't the brain itself that has a problem. Just my opinion, but I think you need to take the binoculars off of the meds and instead put a microscope on food intolerances and hidden infections.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on November 8, 2007, at 22:49:32
In reply to Re: Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/help, posted by bleauberry on November 7, 2007, at 18:46:16
When Lexapro stops working it does so with a vengence
i am wondering if the meds worsen your reaction to beergood luck
Posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 6:41:36
In reply to Re: Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/he, posted by elanor roosevelt on November 8, 2007, at 22:49:32
Thanks everyone... I think once I quit drinking, I should be okay. I am a binge drinker and last night the paramedics came to my house. I was going through bad withdrawals. I was blacking out, shaking, throwing up, and really thought I was dying. it was so scary, my blood pressure was 158/99, blood sugar was 52. i feel better today but i know that if i quit drinking, maybe i have a shot at life. im 27 years old and my health is so screwed up because of drinking since the age of 13. its like i am having allergic reactions to the alcohol. they are not typical hangovers, they are very physical where i have heart palpitations, breathing problems, severe weakness and it's so scary. alcoholism runs in my family, i'm irish, i grew up around constant partying, im a musician, my friends all party... it's going to be so hard. i don't know what to do but i do know what i am not ready to die and if i keep up at this route, i will be gone before im 30. paramedics last night said i could go into a hypoglycemic coma because my blood sugar was so low. i refused to be taken to detox because i was scared to go to the hospital, and i am really embarassed. im quitting cold turkey, and i really hope that i can do it this time around. thanks so much for the replies. ill keep you all posted on my condition and drinking. once the alcohol is out of my system, ill start taking the lexapro again... until i can get to the doctor. i want to try cymbalta.
Posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 6:42:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro/CYMBALTA/quit all my jobs/HATE LIFE/he, posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 6:41:36
Thanks everyone... I think once I quit drinking, I should be okay. I am a binge drinker and last night the paramedics came to my house. I was going through bad withdrawals. I was blacking out, shaking, throwing up, and really thought I was dying. it was so scary, my blood pressure was 158/99, blood sugar was 52. i feel better today but i know that if i quit drinking, maybe i have a shot at life. im 27 years old and my health is so screwed up because of drinking since the age of 13. its like i am having allergic reactions to the alcohol. they are not typical hangovers, they are very physical where i have heart palpitations, breathing problems, severe weakness and it's so scary. alcoholism runs in my family, i'm irish, i grew up around constant partying, im a musician, my friends all party... it's going to be so hard. i don't know what to do but i do know what i am not ready to die and if i keep up at this route, i will be gone before im 30. paramedics last night said i could go into a hypoglycemic coma because my blood sugar was so low. i refused to be taken to detox because i was scared to go to the hospital, and i am really embarassed. im quitting cold turkey, and i really hope that i can do it this time around. thanks so much for the replies. ill keep you all posted on my condition and drinking. once the alcohol is out of my system, ill start taking the lexapro again... until i can get to the doctor. i want to try cymbalta.
Posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2007, at 20:00:27
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =(, posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 6:42:37
Have you heard of campral a med to help anxiety and alchohol withdrawal many here have had excellent results and no longer drink. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 23:05:54
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =( » oldschool305, posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2007, at 20:00:27
> Have you heard of campral a med to help anxiety and alchohol withdrawal many here have had excellent results and no longer drink. Good luck. Phillipa
Thanks Phillipa! I read about that somewhere else on this forum and I am going to ask my doc for this stuff. Years ago, my doc wanted to put me on a med that stops the alcohol cravings, but i declined because deep down i knew that i would not stop drinking, and he said i would throw up if i drank with it. well, i am ready to quit and willing to get the necessary treatment. thanks =)
Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2007, at 19:08:26
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =( » Phillipa, posted by oldschool305 on November 9, 2007, at 23:05:54
That must have been antebuse. Campral is not like that at all from what the feedback from others have said . May want to check withdrawal board may be some posts on it there or start one here or the archives. Glad you're ready to get well. Phillipa
Posted by KayeBaby on November 11, 2007, at 0:34:48
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =( » oldschool305, posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2007, at 19:08:26
I would avoid Cymbalta if I were you due to it's effects on the liver. Not the best AD if you do or have drank heavily.
Be kind and give that liver a break. There are many others to choose from. I highly reccomend EMSAM.
I have taken Cymbalta and it was tough on my body and the withdrawel, while not comparable to what you are going through, caused me months of suffering.
Just looking out for you.
Take Care,
Kaye
Posted by oldschool305 on November 11, 2007, at 12:18:37
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =(, posted by KayeBaby on November 11, 2007, at 0:34:48
thanks, i knew nothing about Cymbalta and considering that I am extremely med sensitive, I don't ever want to go through the side effect hell like I did with Paxil, Zoloft, etc..
I think that now that I am done with the drinking, maybe the Lexapro will actually work?! I was taking Lexapro like 4 nights a week, drinking the others, hungover, etc. I started Restoril last night to help me sleep and it was GREAT! It got me kind of buzzed though which is scary, I don't want to get addicted. But I slept so nice for once.
Anyways, thanks everyone. I am so thankful for this babble board. I first found this site in 2001, right after my drug overdose and it did wonders for me.
Posted by cactus on November 11, 2007, at 17:05:41
In reply to Re: Paramedics had to come out last night =(, posted by oldschool305 on November 11, 2007, at 12:18:37
oldschool I can so relate to what you are going through. I wish I had stopped drinking at 27 instead of 37. Alcoholism runs right through my family and I am the first to stop. I have been sober for over 6 months now and it is hard work. I never took any anti alcohol meds but it can't hurt to give them a go if you want to. I also went to AA for a couple of months and the first few sessions are extremely tough but get what you need out of them. I actually stopped going after 2 months because they gave the the sh*ts, I just drifted away. They gave me some excellent coping skills and it works miracles for some people. But don't let them bully you. A short course of valium at this stage would probably be a good idea too, to help with the tremors but yes it is addictive so be careful. There is also some great web sites for alcohol and mental illness http://www.soberrecovery.com/ is fantastic and you can google "step chat" too which is AA orientated. Good luck, stay strong and most importantly stay safe. I wish you all the best on your journey. Peace, Cactus
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.