What meds are you on? If you don't mind

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-1999
What meds are you on? If you don't mind
23
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 9:31am

my asking.

I'm hopefully going to go see a psychiatrist soon - waiting for his call-back - but I'm wondering what meds you have tried and/or are currently on now. What drugs helped you? What drugs didn't help you? What side-effects if any did you experience?

I'm sort of ready to throw my hands up and surrender to meds. I've tried the more traditional form of therapy with a psychologist for the past few years and then last week the panic attacks started up again. I'm convinced it's peri-menopause (and I've checked out the menopause board here) because of the way my body has changed over the past few months. I'm just frustrated and want to reclaim my life back and if meds are the answer (for now) then I'm game.

Any replies will be appreciated.

Bennie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2005
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 9:41am
Hi Bennie. I am currently on Effexor, 187.5mg. I have tried A LOT of different drugs. Effexor works the best for me. It doesn't cause anxiety, fatigue or weight gain the way some others did when I took them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-1999
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 10:11am

Actually, if I have to be on meds for the rest of my life I'm okay with that too. I'm just thinking that maybe a few years till I'm really in menopause and on premorine (sp?) or something like that to level out my hormones. Let's just say I'm open to meds at this point. A few years ago I wasn't but after speaking with a few friends who are on meds I'm not as freaked out at the idea that I might need them.

Oh my, am I finally coming to the realization I might not be perfect? Maybe that's the ticket. :)

Thanks for replying to my question.

Bennie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 10:38am
Like Dharma, I have been on many meds over the years. Right now I'm having a good spell & can cope without any. I know that meds are probably in my future, though, so I keep an open mind about my illness. I have had very good luck with the effexor, anafranil & luvox. I hope you find what's right for you, Bennie. Don't forget all the info on the Antidepressant Medications board: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=iv-bhpaxil&nav=start Good luck & let us know how things go with the pdoc visit. (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



Community Leader
Registered: 10-22-2001
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 2:04pm
My ds and I aren't on any right now.
I think it is a personal choice.
Wouldn't rule them out but my ds prefers not to be on any and our doctor agrees.
We have done cognitive behaviour therapy.
I have a dd who has bi-polar and she has been on different meds for anxiety.
Takes alot of patience but eventually I think you will find what works for YOU.
I try using coping skills.
Breathing techniques, relaxtion and finding out what helps me to calm down.
Usually preparing myself in advance helps although not always. ;)
Trying to maintain a sense of humour.
Realizing that most ppl have no idea how much I am in the panic MODE really helps me immensely.
Knowing it will PASS.
Just giving myself permission to awknowledge I am having ONE.
It is all I can do.
Love and accept myself.
Nightangel
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-1998
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 3:02pm

I'm on Zoloft, and due to the stressful situation I've been under after being laid off my pdoc prescribed Lorezepam - just 20 pills to take as needed.

I'm up to 150 mg Zoloft and it definitely takes the edge of the anxiety and panic but it is definitely not toally gone. And I still feel pretty nauseous, at least in the morning.

I've been off and on the Zoloft the last couple of years. My dh wants me to see his shrink since he did such a great job getting him on the right antidepressant after his old one failed completely. My dh has clinical depression plus a sleep disorder which is a nasty doublewhammy. He may have some chronic fatigue syndrome too.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-1999
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 3:27pm

Thanks to everyone who replied, wouldn't you know it today I went to see my MD and she said she would prescribe Wellbrutrin but when I told two friends they both said 'didn't you have epilepsy when you were younger?' Yep. I have a call in to my old neurologist to see what he thinks.

It's frustrating to think I might not be able to take any of these meds due to the fact that 15-20 years ago I had very mild epilepsy. I've been off the meds for a good 10 years now. In fact I can't remember exactly how long it's been since I had a seizure and been off the meds. I'm glad my friend pointed this out to me but annoyed that now this might not work out after all.

My MD is new to me so I may have forgotten to mention this to her. I called her up and she suggested Effexor (sp?). As I said I have a message to my old Neurologist to get his opinion. If he's okay with this then I'm okay. But, what if he's not okay with the meds? Is there an alternative? I'll of course ask him this question.

Bennie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 7:55pm

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-1999
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 8:43am

Thanks for replying to me. I called what I thought was a psychiatrist yesterday. He did call me back and I found out that all the people I was referred to through the EAP plan were psychologists so none of them could write a prescription for me. Instead he advised me to call my MD,which I did. Wouldn't you know it yesterday I went to see my MD and she said she would prescribe Wellbrutrin but when I told two friends they both said 'didn't you have epilepsy when you were younger?' Yep. So I called my old neurologist to see what he thinks.

It's frustrating to think I might not be able to take any of these meds due to the fact that 15-20 years ago I had very mild epilepsy. I've been off the meds for a good 10 years now. In fact I can't remember exactly how long it's been since I had a seizure and been off the meds. I'm glad my friend pointed this out to me but annoyed that now this might not work out after all.

My MD is new to me so I may have forgotten to mention this to her as this is so in the past. I called her up and she suggested Effexor (sp?). My old neurologist okay'd this so I just popped my first Effexor. It won't take full effect for at least a week, maybe two so keep your fingers crossed this helps with no major side effects. The only new worry I may develop is the old seizure disorder returning but hopefully it stays in my past.

Bennie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 10:43am

I'm glad you got that straightened out with the epilepsy & meds. Wellbutrin does have an increased risk of seizures according to the literature I've read. The effexor was very successful against the panic for me, Bennie. I hope it works

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-1999
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 11:15am

Oh my gosh! I'm feeling some of the side effects of Effexor. I'm shaky and sweating (palms) and this is so not fun. Please tell me this will end soon. I just called my Dr. and she said this is a possible side effect. The prescription is for 75 mg so she's going to call in another prescription for 37.5 for the first week. I need to get through the day at work, drive to the pharmacy and home and just collapse at this point.

Yikes!

I felt better before I took the pill this morning around 8:30. It's 11:15, I hope it wears off a little by the drive home or I will not be in good shape.

Thanks for the suuport,
Bennie

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