Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 253842

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I need some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by think2much on August 25, 2003, at 10:14:08

Hi,
I suffer from depression and severe anxiety and I have been prescribed ADs, and I feel so scared of them, but I think it's because I don't know what they actually do, and if I did, maybe I'd feel less frightened...
I have been prescribed trazodone, at my own request, after a bad experience with citalopram put me off SSRIs. However, I get very scared taking my tablet because I fear that it could change my personality. I get scared that the tablet might actually make me flip out. Last night I was in a terrible state of anxiety, walking around outside trying to calm down until 3am. It felt worse than usual because I was scared the trazodone was causing it all, and that I'd lost self control.
What does the trazodone do? I understand it isn't fully understood why it works, which adds to my anxiety.
Can any of you give me your two cents?
My anxiety is getting worse and worse and I get terrified that I will end up in hospital, half the time thinking it will be because of ADs, the other half thinking it's because I've stopped them :-?
Thank you for any insight!!!!

 

Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge » think2much

Posted by Francesco on August 25, 2003, at 12:10:41

In reply to I need some pharmacological AD knowledge, posted by think2much on August 25, 2003, at 10:14:08

Hi, you are afraid that meds could change your personality but maybe a change of personality is what you're looking for, isn't it ? ;-) Woudn't you like to be less depressed and less anxious ? If these disturbs diminuish your personality will as a consequence inevitably change ... but there's nothing to be scared about, you will be able to stop your meds if you don't like your new personality. I don't know anything about Trazodone but I can say that anxiety is very easy to be treated with benzodiazapines ... they will help you in an hour or less even if their effect will last only for some hours (4 or more). So why don't you ask for them to your doc for your crisis' moments ? Don't be afraid of meds, if you're so depressed and so on you have nothing to loose and a lot to gain. Good luck

 

Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by think2much on August 25, 2003, at 15:46:34

In reply to Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge » think2much, posted by Francesco on August 25, 2003, at 12:10:41

Hi Francesco,
Thanks for your post. I have previously used valium over a few months some years ago, but it eventually stopped working, and I stopped it. My anxiety went into remission a few months later, and I thought I was done with it for good, no such luck though. I have a prescription for 10 valium to use in emergencies, but I get scared to use them in case a worse emergency arises, or that I become dependent on them to solve the problem, and the doc won't give me any more. I do not have an addictive personality, and was not addicted to them before, but I find anxiety really difficult to handle.
I guess I'm scared that taking ADs *may* make me even more depressed, as that can be a side effect of any of them, and the way I'm feeling already, well that thought just terrifies me.

 

Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by Francesco on August 25, 2003, at 18:31:33

In reply to Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge » think2much, posted by Francesco on August 25, 2003, at 12:10:41

Antidepressants are the best way to control anxiety over the long period. The anti-anxiety effect for some of them occurs since the first days of the treatment (while you have to wait at least a couple of weeks for the antidepressant one). If I were in you I won't focus on the eventual side-effects like -worsening depression- because the're are so many side-effects reported that the only way to know which (if any) will affect you is wait. I can't understand the reason of those (weird) restrictions for the Valium, above all if you're not an addictive personality. Is your doc a p-doc ? Benziodazepines are usually associated with antidepressants (even if as I said before I don't know anything about Trazodone ... but I must have read somewhere that it's quite sedating in itself). Anyway, don't worry about the possibility to get more depressed with antidepressants: as you can see from the name it's not the way they usually work ! Sometimes (quite often) they work even if you don't expect them to work ... Let us know

 

Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by Questionmark on August 25, 2003, at 23:54:44

In reply to I need some pharmacological AD knowledge, posted by think2much on August 25, 2003, at 10:14:08

Sorry, must make quick right now. 1 thing you should know is that trazadone is rarely used for depression or anxiety on its own-- usu. in combination.
i believe it's a mild/moderate reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, as well as a 5-HT2 antagonist. i can't remember if it has other properties as well. Good luck.

> Hi,
> I suffer from depression and severe anxiety and I have been prescribed ADs, and I feel so scared of them, but I think it's because I don't know what they actually do, and if I did, maybe I'd feel less frightened...
> I have been prescribed trazodone, at my own request, after a bad experience with citalopram put me off SSRIs. However, I get very scared taking my tablet because I fear that it could change my personality. I get scared that the tablet might actually make me flip out. Last night I was in a terrible state of anxiety, walking around outside trying to calm down until 3am. It felt worse than usual because I was scared the trazodone was causing it all, and that I'd lost self control.
> What does the trazodone do? I understand it isn't fully understood why it works, which adds to my anxiety.
> Can any of you give me your two cents?
> My anxiety is getting worse and worse and I get terrified that I will end up in hospital, half the time thinking it will be because of ADs, the other half thinking it's because I've stopped them :-?
> Thank you for any insight!!!!

 

Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by think2much on August 26, 2003, at 10:07:50

In reply to Re: I need some pharmacological AD knowledge, posted by Francesco on August 25, 2003, at 18:31:33

I'm just being seen by my GP (in the UK). I'm reluctant to see the psychiatrist in my health practise as last time he, and this is no joke, shouted at me that valium are addictive and that I must never be prescribed them again. I had not been abusing them, and didn't even want to carry on taking them, so why I got that reaction, I don't know. He then prescribed me lofepramine, and forced me to dispense the prescription that very minute, and did not discuss the med with me. I didn't take them, and didn't see him again. Thankfully I went into remission from my anxiety complaints for about two years, but now it has been back with a vengeance for a year, and the depression is hitting hard.
I don't know if I should try to see a psychiatrist privately, though it is bound to cost a fortune, and I'm not working at the moment due to the anxiety. Hmm.
You are right, the trazodone is very sedating. It feels as though gravity has doubled when I take the amount I have been prescribed.
Thanks for discussing this with me, makes me feel better to be talking to someone who knows what I'm talking about.

 

Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge(questionmark

Posted by think2much on August 26, 2003, at 10:11:24

In reply to Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge, posted by Questionmark on August 25, 2003, at 23:54:44

Interesting, what would the trazodone usually be prescribed alongside? Basically, my doc just looked through her formulary book of drugs, and suggested trazodone, but she does not know a lot about anxiety disorders.

 

Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge(questionmark » think2much

Posted by Francesco on August 27, 2003, at 7:02:43

In reply to Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge(questionmark, posted by think2much on August 26, 2003, at 10:11:24

Of course benzodiazepines are addictive. This can mean a lot of things. Psychological addiction ("I have to take it because I'm anxious"), physical addiction ("I have to take it because if I don't take it I feel sick"), tolerance ("once one benzo was sufficient, now I need two"), withdrawal syntomps ("I took benzos for a year, now I stopped them and I feel horrible"). But I think that benzos, compared with antidepressant, are relatively safe. I have not particular problems with anxiety but my psychiatrist told me I can take 4 benzos per day if I need them ... Anyway the problem is not if they are addictive or if they aren't but the trade-off (fors and against). If you're so anxious I think there's no reason not to take benzos. Anyway the main issue is another. If I were in you I wouldn't go to the general phyisician because as you said he doesn't know anything about meds. Maybe you should invest your money and going to a private psychiatric. But if you can't afford it and you have to suggest meds to your doc you could try to make a research on this site ... my personal suggestion is Laroxyl, is a TCA (tryciclic), and has good anti-anxiety properties. Look also for posts about trazodone and see what happens ... good luck and let us know.

 

Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge

Posted by Questionmark on August 27, 2003, at 16:57:12

In reply to Re: some pharmacological AD knowledge(questionmark, posted by think2much on August 26, 2003, at 10:11:24

> Interesting, what would the trazodone usually be prescribed alongside? Basically, my doc just looked through her formulary book of drugs, and suggested trazodone, but she does not know a lot about anxiety disorders.

As far as i know, it's generally prescribed for insomnia or to help with the anorgasmia of SSRIs.


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