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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattw84 on September 15, 2004, at 23:04:47
I have been dx'd as having been depressed for the last six years. Tried numerous AD's (Efxr, Lex, Zlft, etc..) and currently am taking wellbutrin XL to no benefit as far as depression is concerned. (Tho it has proven a gr8 smoking cessation aid!) Also take adderall for adhd (Inattentive only)...
Recently I have had somewhat of an extreme mental lability, or in plain - instability; always feeling as though I am 'on the virge' of insanity. Having phoned my pdoc 2 weeks past in a panic, she prescribed me 8 xanax , which were a great relief to my duress. However I feared that the xanax was 'too' powerful of a drug for my use, having recently taken my aunt to rehab numerous times I am no stranger to the outcome of addiction. The next appointment I had with her I walked in the room bubbly having had a great week, I believe thanks to the xanax. We proceeded to discuss the more negative aspects of my life and my mood quickly spiraled downward, and I became quite despairing yet again... some pdoc eh??! She suggested adding a new SSRI or benzo to my daily regimen, I am very much over trying another SSRI or SNRI again thanks to negative experiences with the like thus far. And expressed that, as well as my concern with the addiction and abuse potential of the benzos. So I decided I would mill it over and come to a decision at our next appointment on the 23rd... Well, I left in a bad mood and hadn't been able to shake it for the life of me. I finally gave in yesterday and called and requested her help. Her return call was asking me to begin paxil treatment, despite the lengthy conversation we had had 4 days prior about my not wanting to try the ssri's any more!! ($240 conversation... I'd hope I would remember what was said if someone paid me this much for 30 minutes of my time!) None-the-less I complied and said sure... why not... not but 5 minutes after I got off the phone I realized what I had done! Just what I swore I wouldn't do again!!! I called back immediately and left a message saying that I would much rather go with xanax for the interim between now and the next appointment. She agreed with that, and faxed over a rx for 12 more. I took 1 yesterday evening and had a far easier day. And two troughout the day today, and my symptoms of depression, social phobia, and generalized whirling thoughts have all disappeared!! So my question to you all is this: Does this mean that I have found my 'cure,' or that I am only responding to the xanax for some unrelated reason. I mean -- Can this relief really last? If I continue to take the Xanax will I continue to be happy and worry free?? Or is this just the reaction all first time benzo users get?
I really appreciate all the help you all have given, I wish I had as much to return to this forum as all have offered to me! Thanks again everyone, you all are a awesome!!!
MattAnd Alesta - I have read all of your posts, and I wish I had some words of wisdom or hope to offer you, but in my recent state I haven't had much ability to think about others. My apologies and prayers go out to you -- I really hope your situation improves, I have hit rock bottom many a time before; and let me tell from experience... Things will get better! So hang in there!
Posted by mcp on September 15, 2004, at 23:11:37
In reply to Anxiety = Depression? New Xanax'r - Rlf only Tmp?, posted by mattw84 on September 15, 2004, at 23:04:47
My problems with anxiety and depression really only got bad when they took me off the benzo and put me on all the other garbage. I never developed tolerance to it or abused it. If it works, take it and be happy. My personal opinion is that the benzos, while difficult to come off of, are much safer and have far less side effects than SSRIs and APs and such. Hell, they are all hard to come off of. If it works I don't see what is stopping you. Good luck
> I have been dx'd as having been depressed for the last six years. Tried numerous AD's (Efxr, Lex, Zlft, etc..) and currently am taking wellbutrin XL to no benefit as far as depression is concerned. (Tho it has proven a gr8 smoking cessation aid!) Also take adderall for adhd (Inattentive only)...
>
> Recently I have had somewhat of an extreme mental lability, or in plain - instability; always feeling as though I am 'on the virge' of insanity. Having phoned my pdoc 2 weeks past in a panic, she prescribed me 8 xanax , which were a great relief to my duress. However I feared that the xanax was 'too' powerful of a drug for my use, having recently taken my aunt to rehab numerous times I am no stranger to the outcome of addiction. The next appointment I had with her I walked in the room bubbly having had a great week, I believe thanks to the xanax. We proceeded to discuss the more negative aspects of my life and my mood quickly spiraled downward, and I became quite despairing yet again... some pdoc eh??! She suggested adding a new SSRI or benzo to my daily regimen, I am very much over trying another SSRI or SNRI again thanks to negative experiences with the like thus far. And expressed that, as well as my concern with the addiction and abuse potential of the benzos. So I decided I would mill it over and come to a decision at our next appointment on the 23rd... Well, I left in a bad mood and hadn't been able to shake it for the life of me. I finally gave in yesterday and called and requested her help. Her return call was asking me to begin paxil treatment, despite the lengthy conversation we had had 4 days prior about my not wanting to try the ssri's any more!! ($240 conversation... I'd hope I would remember what was said if someone paid me this much for 30 minutes of my time!) None-the-less I complied and said sure... why not... not but 5 minutes after I got off the phone I realized what I had done! Just what I swore I wouldn't do again!!! I called back immediately and left a message saying that I would much rather go with xanax for the interim between now and the next appointment. She agreed with that, and faxed over a rx for 12 more. I took 1 yesterday evening and had a far easier day. And two troughout the day today, and my symptoms of depression, social phobia, and generalized whirling thoughts have all disappeared!! So my question to you all is this: Does this mean that I have found my 'cure,' or that I am only responding to the xanax for some unrelated reason. I mean -- Can this relief really last? If I continue to take the Xanax will I continue to be happy and worry free?? Or is this just the reaction all first time benzo users get?
>
> I really appreciate all the help you all have given, I wish I had as much to return to this forum as all have offered to me! Thanks again everyone, you all are a awesome!!!
>
>
> Matt
>
> And Alesta - I have read all of your posts, and I wish I had some words of wisdom or hope to offer you, but in my recent state I haven't had much ability to think about others. My apologies and prayers go out to you -- I really hope your situation improves, I have hit rock bottom many a time before; and let me tell from experience... Things will get better! So hang in there!
Posted by Glydin on September 16, 2004, at 8:18:12
In reply to Anxiety = Depression? New Xanax'r - Rlf only Tmp?, posted by mattw84 on September 15, 2004, at 23:04:47
Long term use of benzo's ALONE is possible and workable as a good treatment in some cases. I don't really believe in "cures", I do believe in good treatment. Physical dependence most certainly happens with benzo's, that is different from addiction. Careful monitoring is required in the beginning stages of benzo use. A number of persons with anxiety disorders are able to find a maintance dosing and remain at that dose for YEARS. Some individuals cannot use benzo's due to the addiction and abuse potential but some do very well without these dificulties being a factor. I have successfully used a benzo alone for the better part of three years. My depressive feelings come when my anxiety is not controlled. It took a while for me to figure it was not the other way around.
Posted by justjustine on September 16, 2004, at 21:28:40
In reply to Re: Anxiety = Depression? New Xanax'r - Rlf only Tmp?, posted by Glydin on September 16, 2004, at 8:18:12
i just dumped a new doctor who immediately tried to force me off xanax and onto klonopin. she told me i "had to" get off the xanax or my depression couldn't be treated. i never understood her rationale, because basically xanax works for me. it lets me relax, which in turn reduces my stress and makes pretty much *everything* better, including my depression. getting off xanax can be nasty, yes - but i bet it couldn't be worse than the month+ i spent withdrawing from effexor!
you are the best judge of what works for you! right now, i'm stuck tapering off klonopin and being very regulated about the small amount of xanax i have left. i am waiting for the county to assign me a new doctor - i hope i don't have to fight with them again!
i'm looking for a job, i can't make all the changes she was demanding of me - as long as xanax works for me, i'm going to take it, at least situationally.
This is the end of the thread.
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