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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
I was diagnosed with anxiety (GAD) and then depression. I have taken 30+ drugs over the past 10 years, and then tried Seroquel last summer. It had a "blunting" effect, sort of like being shot with an elephant dart, really hit the anxiety very well. It wasn't a perfect med, but worked better than anything else I have taken.
I have had this cough for about three years, and last month I started dwelling on it. When I did that, I got such an intense anxiety that even the Seroquel (up to 300-400mg doses) just could not calm me down. When I get like that, I become so overwhelmed with anxiety that I forget what I was concerned about initially.
This has really been a setback. I do what I can to barely just get by every day. When I am up, my body is in one place and my mind another. People tell me I am "distant." I am worrying about worry.
I am scheduled to see my pdoc next Friday. He is supposed to be one of the best around. Last time when I saw him, the Seroquel was working well, and he told me even though he didn't understand why it was working, he advised me to stay on it because it was. What do you think he will try this time?
Do you really think there are any meds out there that can change your thoughts? Make you think differently? Or do they calm you down to the point where you can train yourself for changed thinking? Thanks everyone for feedback.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:40:47
In reply to What do you think they will try next?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
nm
Posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2006, at 14:02:00
In reply to What do you think they will try next?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
I know I'm not an expert but I'm going through the same thing. My benzos I'm now tolerant of and even the thought of walking out the door is scarey to me. Added 25mg of seroquel. But it doesn't help during the day. Hoping the fact that my thyroid became hyper from hypo may be the cause. Med adjustment of synthroid and my pdoc changed me to low dose prozac which is making me more anxious. It's a viscious cycle. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on December 15, 2006, at 14:06:43
In reply to What do you think they will try next?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
> I was diagnosed with anxiety (GAD) and then depression. I have taken 30+ drugs over the past 10 years, and then tried Seroquel last summer. It had a "blunting" effect, sort of like being shot with an elephant dart, really hit the anxiety very well. It wasn't a perfect med, but worked better than anything else I have taken.
>
> I have had this cough for about three years, and last month I started dwelling on it. When I did that, I got such an intense anxiety that even the Seroquel (up to 300-400mg doses) just could not calm me down. When I get like that, I become so overwhelmed with anxiety that I forget what I was concerned about initially.That sounds quite familiar to a somatoform disorder -- the cough and the anxiety over it, unless you have been diagnosed with tests for a certain medical condition. Seroquel would still be one medication that could be used there -- Valium would be another, possibly an AED.
>
> This has really been a setback. I do what I can to barely just get by every day. When I am up, my body is in one place and my mind another. People tell me I am "distant." I am worrying about worry.That puts it succinctly -- a loop about a disorder. Probably Luvox would help there.
> I am scheduled to see my pdoc next Friday. He is supposed to be one of the best around. Last time when I saw him, the Seroquel was working well, and he told me even though he didn't understand why it was working, he advised me to stay on it because it was. What do you think he will try this time?
If a drug is working well and you're tolerating it enough, why rock the boat, is what I think he was saying.. ?
> Do you really think there are any meds out there that can change your thoughts? Make you think differently? Or do they calm you down to the point where you can train yourself for changed thinking? Thanks everyone for feedback.
Short of conspiracy CIA truth serums, not really -- medication can change your mood, but you have to change the way you see life, yourself. It has to come from within -- nobody can force you to change unless you were brainwashed.
Its a process that may and should probably require beyond medication -- therapy of some sort of another, whether it be "inside therapy" or CBT, or a combination of both.-- tidings
Jay
Posted by blueberry1 on December 15, 2006, at 15:40:56
In reply to What do you think they will try next?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
I don't know which meds you've been on and how you reacted to them, so it is not possible to come up with any clues or ideas. All I can say generally speaking is that sometimes all this stuff is bipolar related and that treating it as depression or anxiety is frustrating. When an antipsychotic fails to calm things down, that just kind of hints that other stuff besides dopamine is going nuts, and that something needs to tame it down. Like depakote or lithium maybe. I don't know, maybe you've already tried them. Sorry I couldn't be more help yet.
Posted by med_empowered on December 15, 2006, at 19:31:46
In reply to Re: What do you think they will try next? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by blueberry1 on December 15, 2006, at 15:40:56
if neuroleptics help and you like them, maybe you should build on that. Back in the day--50s-70s--there were meds out that were combo tranquilizers; one part was an antipsychotic, another part was a different sedative (usually a barbiturate). For example, one was Amytal+Stelazine. It helped with severe anxiety...maybe something like Klonopin+Seroquel would help? Then again...ditching the neuroleptic might be better in the long run. Something like a benzo plus a mood stabilizer might work, or maybe even benzo plus buspar.
Posted by madeline on December 16, 2006, at 5:44:01
In reply to What do you think they will try next?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 15, 2006, at 13:39:55
Did you ever figure out why you are coughing?
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 16, 2006, at 11:31:52
In reply to Re: What do you think they will try next? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by madeline on December 16, 2006, at 5:44:01
Not really, But the cough has gone away, at least for now. Thanks for asking.
Posted by madeline on December 16, 2006, at 12:59:59
In reply to Re: What do you think they will try next? » madeline, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 16, 2006, at 11:31:52
It was likely just post nasal drip or something, however, I think you are right to try and find something to stop this cycle of anxiety.
Maybe a short course of benzos to allow things to normalize a bit?
Posted by Phillipa on December 16, 2006, at 18:28:47
In reply to Re: What do you think they will try next? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by madeline on December 16, 2006, at 12:59:59
Maddie so you like benzos better than seroquel. Just wondering. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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