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remeron and benzo tapering

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Posted 5/20/2006 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi , I'm new here,,never have posted on a depression forum before.

I have suffered from depression/anxiety for many yrs of my life. I was put on antidepressants, a benzo and sleeping pill 22 yrs ago!! I knew so little in those days about what had happened to me when i had a breakdown and i trusted doctors knew better than me! Tryclics to my knowledge made things WORSE and in the mean time I became addicted /dependant on benzo's and sleeping pills though not once did a doctor mention that this could happen to me or that I would have a problem withdrawing from them!  I have tried many times to come off of a/d's but got depressed again eventually and went back on them. Once the SSRI's came on the scene I did find paxil helped me some. Then my doctor added wellbutrin,,plus my usual clonazepam/klonopin and immovane. I felt like I'd been reborn into the human race . I felt so well that I decided I had matured past the need of medication . I found a forum called "benzo island" which talked about benzo addiction and how to taper off of them very slowly. I have been doing the "heather ashton" taper since Dec 2005 . I got pretty low on the benzo's  and off the paxil and then,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hmmmmmm ran into a snag and go depressed and anxious again. It was so very hard for both my doctor and myself to understand if this was due to the tapering off of meds and withdrawal or whether a new or pre existing disorder was rearing its ugly head.  Unfortunately I felt I could not go on without trying to correct this situation so I am now just starting up on Remeron and also have been taking gabepentin/neurontin to aid with the anxiety so that I can continue to try to get off the benzo's.

I know this is a long,,lol,,complicated post  but I am just trying to give bit of my history and ask anyhow if they have ever experienced anything similar to what I have been through.

I really believe that if I'd not been sent to a doctor and put on these darn meds in the first place that I MAY have recovered on my own,,,,,,

but,,,,,,,, I am where i am now and have to figure out what is my next best move so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I am wondering also , what other's experiences with Remeron have been  and also if there are any here who have been on benzo's long term.

Thanks

Kara

Posted 5/23/2006 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback Atedog. I was feeling so poorly after starting the remeron that i was thinking of not taking it anymore,,but today i had a pretty good day so i think it was caused not by the remeron , but rather by my most recent benzo cut. It makes me sort of dopey drugged too, but i have been told that initially one is tired from the seratonin . Once one get's to the optimum dose, the Norepherine kicks in and gives u back your energy . As far as the weight gain goes,,don't worry,just watch your diet and don't eat the carbs u might find yourself craving. It is not so much the drug that causes weight gain , but the increase in appetite. If u don't gain weight in the first few wks u won't I was told. So far no weight gain here.

thanks again
Kara
Posted 5/23/2006 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on Remeron & haven't gained weight..............
Posted 5/23/2006 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Good snowy. Have you found it to be helpful as an a/d or were u given it for anxiety or insomnia. I am hoping it "might ' address all three issues. Do u know how long it took before u felt it was working? I heard that it is supposed to be one of the quicker one's to start taking effect,,,sure hope this is true.

kara
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