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How many use anxiety medication long term?

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Posted 3/2/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi folks.

Going to get some blood drawn today.. find out in a few days if that delicous radiation did the trick, for the short term at least.

My Rad Onc had given me a script for Lorazepam right before I started radiation, help my nerves, so I could sleep.

I'm still adjusting the the fact i've got pca, it's fairy aggressive, had surgery and radiation.. Sometimes i'm ok, others, good luck sleeping.

"Monkey Mind" is what I hear my contition could be called.. a zillion concerns. As we all have here, no doubt.

Anyway, my script is almost gone, and I was wondering what the longer term model is to deal with this anxiety? I exercise now much more than before - and that helps some.

But do any/some/most of you take meds to releive the stress on an ongoing basis?

Thanks in advance and my thoughts are with you all..

Bob on Cape Cod.

Posted 3/2/2011 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
May I suggest trying Valarian, or Kava Kava instead of the perscriptions. Or maybe find a Yoga class either way much more healthy for you than the meds for anxiety and less habit forming.

and good luck on the new numbers now post SRT!
Posted 3/2/2011 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Bob -- i take 20 mg of celexa.  my doctor prescribed it to help with hot flashes from the lupron but it has also helped me tremendously with anxiety.  i also take 10 mg of ambien at night for sleep, and it has helped alot too.

both drugs, however, are very addictive even tho i take them as prescribed.

lorazepam sounds like it's in the benzo family.  if so be very careful because i can tell you as a recovering addict that the benzos are one of the worst families of drugs to kick.  i had an acquaintance very recently hang herself (she's dead) after relapsing on benzos and painkillers.

i'm not trying to be a downer or play doctor but if you have long term issues there may be better solutions.  excercise also helps me alot.  take care.

ed

 

Posted 3/3/2011 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
90 proof Gin works pretty good...
Posted 3/3/2011 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on Ambien 10 almost 11 years ago when I went through my first radiation rounds, in that time, I was off of it for a bout a six month streatch with no problems. It's the only way I can stay asleep, and my doctors feel the sleep is more important with what is going on then worrying about the meds. I agree, and its so cheap now that its generic. I pay less than 4 dollars a month.

I have also been on the generic of tranzene 7.5 mg for about half that time, it works as an anti-anxiety med and general relaxer, I take that about an hour before the Ambien, as the Ambien will knock me out cold every time.

6 hours sleep anight is a long night for me, I often don't even get that, with the meds.

We have to do what we have to do in that department. Good luck

David
Posted 3/3/2011 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Bob,
Not uncommon for us to need a bit of help in that department. My Uro offered an antidepressant when I got my diagnoses, I didn't take her up on it as I'd been down that road before and didn't like the side effects. I did however take a perscription for Trazodone for occasional sleep help and anxiety. Very useful for getting a good nights rest between blood draw and results. My last refill was in April of last year and I used the last one last month.
Posted 3/3/2011 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Bob,

I see nothing wrong with using the drugs for a short time, or even stopping and starting them. I just wanted to mention this in case you might prefer to forgo them:

I have had quite a struggle with insomnia and was prescribed 10 mg. of Elavil, but after reading about it could never bring myself to take it. Three weeks ago I started drinking a cup of Valerian tea about one and one half hours before bed. I have slept through the night every night since. I didn't think anything that benign could help so much!

I noticed the box also mentions that it can be used anytime during the day to calm anxiety, but haven't tried it for that yet. Just wanted to throw that out there in case it helps!

This is probably temporary for you, but I know how hard it is to deal with day in and day out.

Juliet
Posted 3/4/2011 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I don't use much medication.

I have ambien but rarely use it (maybe 1 pill every 2 months).

I have used ambien to get a deeper more healing sleep. That helps when I am not feeling well (eg: having some back pain).

Mel

Posted 3/4/2011 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I try to exercise more now to improve energy and stay active. My anti-depre ssant of choice is a glass of good red wine and a hug from my wife upon returning home from work. My sleep aid is melatonin. I find that 5mg at about 9:30 has me in bed by 10:00. I usually awaken at 5:00.

Recently, however the Eligard induced hot flashes have switched from day to night. The last few weeks I am up at least 6 times a night either removing covers due to heat or covering up when I then get cold. Anyone else with that experience with some advice?
Posted 3/4/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)

BobCape said...

But do any/some/most of you take meds to releive the stress on an ongoing basis?

Bob on Cape Cod.

Bob,

The best thing you can do to relieve stress is to start an aerobic program where you get at least 150 minutes per week of good cardio type exercise. This is the type that will bring you heart rate up to about 220 minus your current age and keep it there for fifteen minutes to an hours. Numerous studies have shown that this amount of exercise is needed for health, indeed that our bodies are hard wired for it. Depending on your present condition you may be able to start at this level, or even exceed it, or it may require some build up. I personally like to get the aerobic training in the great outdoors, but all decent gyms have a variety of aerobic trainers. I personally use the stationary cycling machine a lot because I also like to cycle outdoors abut there are numerous others so people can find something they like to do.

Another thing I would recommend is that you take up some type of activity that will keep you busy and keep your mind off prostate cancer, to the extent possible. Many of us with aggressive forms of PCa spend a lot of our time obsessing about it in one way or the other, and I don't believe that is good for us.

But above all try to start an aerobic training program. It will help you with stress, but also in many other ways.

Sancarlos
Posted 3/4/2011 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
BobCape,
The lorazepam works great if you're facing a scary med test or procedure in a day or two but as others here have already mentioned, it's very addictive. Tread carefully there and use it only as-needed, very short term. I've friends and family members who have had some issues with it.

Anti-anxiety meds like lexapro, however, prescribed for clinical depression (correct your serotonin levels), are less addictive, but you need to be weaned off that group carefully. They should have an end date too, and not become a life long med unless totally necessary. They will not be an as-needed drug, but must be taken daily to maintain a level in your system. Just about everyone on them long term I know of (I think I lost count at 15 friends) gains weight, btw. I don't think they're good if ed is an issue, either, but perhaps others can chime in on that. You probably know all this already.

The valerian tea and exercise works pretty good for me, and NEIrish will take an ambien, or a temazapam the same # of times as compiler, i.e. rarely.
Good luck.
Posted 3/4/2011 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I'd really like to thank each and all for some very thoughtful replies! I'll take as many as I can get.

I guess i've been looking at is as though being addicted to a mildly altering drug is about the last of my problems.

As in, do I want to STILL be doing that drug 25 years from now... since I worry that I may end up counting my years via single digits.
Posted 3/4/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
JNF -- i keep my bedroom as cold as a meat locker.  i have a fan over the bed that's turned on full blast year-round and i also have an air conditioner in one of the bedroom windows.  tho i only have been having hot flashes the last 90 days or so i have been super intolerant to the heat since starting HT a year ago.  luckily my wife gets hot at night too so this works out well for both of us.

cold room and ambien works for me.  i take the ambien every night and i must say that i sleep pretty well usually.

ed

 

Posted 3/4/2011 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Bob -- the celexa has worked wonders for me and i'm on a pretty light dose.  of course there is a downside to any drug but i was mess before.   

ed

Posted 3/4/2011 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on Celexa and have been for some time. It takes several weeks to feel the benefit. I'm a new, happy man since taking it. I also excercise and get outdoors as much as possible. I was reluctant to take it, but it sure beats worrying all the time.
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