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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mcp on August 25, 2004, at 13:23:38
I have now been off the zyprexa and depakote for 7 weeks and the Lexapro for a little over 3 weeks. It was slowly getting better, but the last few days have been hell. I keep having these racing thoughts that my brain has been severely screwed up by these meds or that I will never get better. I also still feel slightly nauseous and dizzy and my short term memory is completely shot. How long do I have to endure this? I see my doc tomorrow and I am terrified at the notion that he may diagnose this as severe depression and return me to the antidepressants. I can't go on that merrygoround again. This all started with just an anxiety problem and I took ativan. They yanked that off cold turkey and then I went to the other drugs. I never felt this bad in my life and I am really scared. Any experience here would help or any advice on how to approach my doc would be appreciated.
Posted by malthus on August 25, 2004, at 14:53:11
In reply to I am at my breaking point, posted by mcp on August 25, 2004, at 13:23:38
Sorry to hear you are feeling so bad.
I realized after going off my meds (serzone and klonipin) that I simply had to be on medication. It was difficult to accept at first because I was doing pretty well without them but then the depression and anxiety came back. I also know about feeling like being on a merry-go-round with the drugs. I've been on lamictal and xyprexa for a while now and feel better but this was after many months of trying many different meds:
lexapro, effexor xr, pamelor, abilify, prozac, remeron, and depakote. I had bad side effects from all of them. None of these was making me feel better so I was on effexor which helped a little so I'm trying to wean off it.I would suggest that you talk to your doc and see if you can try something new.
Hope you feel better soon.
malthus
Posted by tablasco1 on August 25, 2004, at 17:04:33
In reply to I am at my breaking point, posted by mcp on August 25, 2004, at 13:23:38
It may be the Lexapro. Have you been increasing the strength? I had these problems when I was on Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor. Racing throughts about my brain and health, very poor short term memory. I would try something different that is not a SSRI.
Posted by alesta on August 25, 2004, at 17:31:01
In reply to I am at my breaking point, posted by mcp on August 25, 2004, at 13:23:38
hi, there :0),
i'll try my best to help from the info you've given. :) first, if possible, i would find a new doctor. he/she doesn't sound very empathetic. however, if you have to stay with him/her, i think the best thing for you to do right now would be to do your own research, find out what meds *you* think would be best (there's a lot of info on these boards concerning meds for anxiety), and then tell your doc you want that med. insist upon it! don't take no for an answer! i only say this in this case because your doc doesn't seem very knowledgeable (to me) from the info you've given..
my suggestion, if you just have straight anxiety, and since you did well on the ativan, would be low-dose klonopin. i plan to take this med myself for anxiety, and have *thoroughly* researched all the anxiety meds. take just enough to help without feeling drowsy.
if you have any further questions, please let me know.....:)
amy :)
> I have now been off the zyprexa and depakote for 7 weeks and the Lexapro for a little over 3 weeks. It was slowly getting better, but the last few days have been hell. I keep having these racing thoughts that my brain has been severely screwed up by these meds or that I will never get better. I also still feel slightly nauseous and dizzy and my short term memory is completely shot. How long do I have to endure this? I see my doc tomorrow and I am terrified at the notion that he may diagnose this as severe depression and return me to the antidepressants. I can't go on that merrygoround again. This all started with just an anxiety problem and I took ativan. They yanked that off cold turkey and then I went to the other drugs. I never felt this bad in my life and I am really scared. Any experience here would help or any advice on how to approach my doc would be appreciated.
Posted by alesta on August 25, 2004, at 17:56:58
In reply to Re: I am at my breaking point, posted by alesta on August 25, 2004, at 17:31:01
oh, by the way, if you choose to try klonopin, it will take somewhere around a week or so for the initial sedation from klonopin to wear off. after that, you should notice no real sedation, but only a relief from your anxiety. :)
Posted by alesta on August 26, 2004, at 10:42:32
In reply to Re: I am at my breaking point, posted by alesta on August 25, 2004, at 17:56:58
one more thing popped into my head that i forgot to say: you could also try a natural alternative for your anxiety, *l-theanine*, and see how it works for you. just make sure you get the *suntheanine* brand...the other brands are basically junk. :) i think that's everything...:)
amy
Posted by waki on August 29, 2004, at 2:05:58
In reply to Re: I am at my breaking point, posted by alesta on August 26, 2004, at 10:42:32
precious amy, your mind must be ticking away to repost 3 times within a few minutes :)
U made that statement about klonipin and not getting tired after a week.
i was on it for a week and becamse so sedated. and more or less depressed. I then stopped it.
R u saying that if i would have stayed on it, i would not have gotten sleepy anymore and just felt relaxed?
:)
Posted by alesta on August 29, 2004, at 9:42:17
In reply to Re: AMY: I am at my breaking point, posted by waki on August 29, 2004, at 2:05:58
Hi, waki!
You are such a sweetheart..you always brighten my day...and, believe me, I need it right now..:)
Yes, the klonopin sedation will go away after a week or so. Also, dosage is important, so make sure yours wasn’t too high. I have heard that you should take just enough that you don’t feel drowsy (after you’ve acclimated to the med). I would start probably around .5 per dose or lower. (This is all according to very thorough research, as I haven’t yet taken this drug, but I plan to, for sure, if l-theanine doesn’t work out. I think it will be a lifesaver. :))
What dosage were you taking? I'm going to do just a *little* more looking into this dosage issue to make sure .5 is a good starting dose, b/c that might even be a bit too high to start with for some...
Amy :)
> precious amy, your mind must be ticking away to repost 3 times within a few minutes :)
>
> U made that statement about klonipin and not getting tired after a week.
>
> i was on it for a week and becamse so sedated. and more or less depressed. I then stopped it.
>
> R u saying that if i would have stayed on it, i would not have gotten sleepy anymore and just felt relaxed?
>
> :)
Posted by alesta on August 29, 2004, at 11:27:29
In reply to Re: AMY: I am at my breaking point » waki, posted by alesta on August 29, 2004, at 9:42:17
hi, again, waki,
here is some good dosing advice taken from
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/anxiety/anxieties/8meds/BZs.htm"Dosages Recommended by Investigators. Alprazolam is usually started using 0.25 mg (1/4 mg) or 0.5 mg (1/2 mg) two to three times a day. This lower starting dose helps reduce the side effect of sedation (sleepiness) that can come during the first week or so of treatment. If taken after meals, side effects such as drowsiness can diminish, and the therapeutic effects can last longer. Your physician can increase this dosage by adding 0.5 mg to one of the three daily doses up to a maximum of 2 mg three times per day. From that level, you take any additional increases at bedtime or apply them equally during the day. The dosage range is 1 to 10 mg per day. A common recommendation is to take a new dose every four hours during the day. If anxiety symptoms return earlier than four hours, clonazepam is sometimes added to the alprazolam."
i personally prefer the conservative approach, so i'd probably start at .25 mg twice a day, depending...have to wait and see what my prescribing doc says, too...
amy :)
p.s. loved your advice to captain! well done!
Posted by waki on August 29, 2004, at 23:38:47
In reply to continued...--waki, posted by alesta on August 29, 2004, at 11:27:29
Precious Amy,
I could take as little as 0.25 grams and was sedated for a couple days.
I feel energized enough that i don't want to take a chance and ruin my training.
It seems everytime I try a drug that fails, I becomse sedated and quit training and being productive.
I tried to email you on babble mail, but it did not work.
I'm glad you feel better. I feel better when you feel better too.
Posted by alesta on August 30, 2004, at 13:38:48
In reply to Re: continued...--waki, posted by waki on August 29, 2004, at 23:38:47
hi, wak! :)
> I could take as little as 0.25 grams and was sedated for a couple days.
> I feel energized enough that i don't want to take a chance and ruin my training.
> It seems everytime I try a drug that fails, I becomse sedated and quit training and being productive.well, you do need to give it 1-2 weeks for the sedation to wear off, but i totally understand your stance. it sounds like you're doing fine without it. good for you!
> I tried to email you on babble mail, but it did not work.i know, i've had problems with it, too...did you turn on the babblemail feature at reistration?..but i have stopped emailing guys (even if it's "platonic") since i currently have a boyfriend...even if he is abusive...but i'd still love to chat with you here...
> I'm glad you feel better. I feel better when you feel better too.
you are such a sweetie. i love reading your posts! :)
take care :),
amy
Posted by alesta on August 30, 2004, at 14:07:27
In reply to Re: continued...--waki, posted by alesta on August 30, 2004, at 13:38:48
hi, waki,:)
what the heck, i guess emailing isn't that different from posting...you can email me at enchantedmystic0 at aol dot com if you like.
take care, :)
amy
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