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What do you take for anxiety and depression?

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Posted 9/15/2011 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new here. I have severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. Have had it all my life. Nothing is working for me since the Lorazepam pooped out on me about a year ago (I was on it for about 6 years, along with an ssri). The Loraz. was a lifesaver all those years. Never felt so "normal" in all my life. I am now on an ssri but not doing well at all with the anxiety. I was just wondering what you all take that is helping you. I know we are all different, but I feel my doc is running out of ideas. Thank you in advance.

Wanted to add that I knew the Lorazepam (Ativan) was addictive, but it was the only med coupled with an ssri that gave me relief and made me feel normal. I only took 1/2 mg. for about 2 years, then had to move to 1 mg. for a couple of years, then 2 mg, then eventually 3 mg, which was not even working anymore. I didn't want to go higher and my doctor wouldn't allow me to anyway. Are there any other meds for anxiety that work as well? Mine is really severe. I wish an ssri alone would relieve my symptoms but none I've tried have, and I've been on many different ones.

Post Edited (onedaycloser7) : 9/14/2011 11:37:49 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2011 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there and welcome, I used to take a ssri along with half a valium each day..a lot of people find that taking just the ssri doesn't help with the anxiety I'm not sure why....I don't take anything but Valium anymore I had to stop the ssri due to a health issue..

Have you tried some relaxation techniques?maybe some meditation, progressive relaxation? I find this helps with my anxiety, also keeping my mind busy helps as well...I am currently doing cbt with a therapist to help with my anxiety disorder..

I also take some b vitamins to help with stress, hope I've helped a bit, good luck, keep posting and you will get great help and support..best wishes shannon
Posted 9/15/2011 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to HW good to meet you. Sorry to hear your GAD is causing you problems, I also have GAD so know how you feel. For me medication only really helps calm the symptoms so I choose to do some CBT which is a talk therapy which helps you identify the triggers of your anxiety and then gives you techniques to help control the anxiety to a more manageable level.

With regards to medication there is a lot out there and the best people to speak with are psychiatrists. I have been on a lot od different meds over the years and if you take a look at my signature you will see what ones I am on at the moment which have worked well for me.

I am just about to start reducing the number of medication I take over the course of the next year as I just want to get down to taking the Lexapro only. I am glad you found this forum keep posting and you will find the support you need take care of yourself.

Hibee
Posted 9/15/2011 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to both of you for your replies. I have done CBT for years but it doesn't seem to help. Have worked with various therapists. My GAD and depression seems to be caused by major hormonal imbalance, and I've tried many approaches (including bio-identical hormone therapy) to try to correct the imbalance to no avail... but I also have a chronic illness which interferes with a lot of things. I have to find a med to help me at this point, as the mental symptoms are primarily hormonally based. I'll keep looking. :)

Post Edited (onedaycloser7) : 9/15/2011 6:58:08 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2011 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and I am sorry to read you are having a tough time.  I know exactly how you feel as I have been on way to many of the meds over the past 29 years.  I managed on one med for years but about 6 years ago it just pooped out.  So for the past 6 years I have been on at least 12 different meds until my Pdoc decided I was most likely medication resistant..........so I still take some medication but no more of the really potent drugs.  I have been in therapy for the past 4 years and worked very hard on learning to accept that I am a person with anxiety and depression.

Acceptance is a huge key to learning to live with anxiety and major depressive disorder.  I will never give up on myself.  I am worthy of happiness.  So are you !

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/15/2011 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
I take xanax, pristiq and abilify. The abilify is a mood stabilizer for me. It is also an anti psychotic and bipolar med. But it makes the ad work better. I have been doing good on the pristiq. have been taking xanax for many years.

I hope that you find what works for you. Keep trying. It is hard sometimes to find the right meds. But there are so many of them to try out. Your doc should know which way to go next.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/16/2011 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Kitt, I wish you could get more relief, but I'm so inspired by your amazing attitude! :)

I'm going to keep trying meds in hopes that something will help. A big problem for me is that I'm very sensitive to meds and too often have side effects I can't handle, often on the meds that are actually helping me otherwise! Frustrating but I know I must press on. Karen, I'm so glad you've found something that is helping you. I had some hopes for Abilify, but unfortunately had side effects I couldn't deal with. Cymbalta helped me feel better in just 3 days but also caused unbearable side effects (could not urinate). So... I'll keep trying. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to me.

So nice to meet you all. :)
Posted 9/17/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I really do hope that you find what works for you. Life isn't perfect by any means but I seem to be able to handle it better. And I think that is the key to it all. How we handle things. When we are depressed or anxious, it is very difficult to cope with things. And look at things in a positive way. Have you tried effexor? I took it for many years. Had to take a high dose though. That is why I switched to pristiq. I only take one pill a day as apposed to five capsules at various times of the day.

Keep us posted on how things go for you.

Take care, have a nice weekend.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/18/2011 9:09 AM (GMT 0)
getting by,
Yes, you're so right that when we're depressed/anxious, and majorly, it's hard to do anything. Yes, tried Effexor for a long time, different dosages, did nothing for me. Also tried Pristiq but caused severe side effects. Years ago in addition to my antidepressant I was put on Risperdal (which is kinda like Abilify but older) and that seemed to help my anxiety but for whatever reason I was taken off that and put on Lorazepam, which as I said made me feel more normal for many years until it pooped out. I may revisit Risperdal, though I've read it causes major weight gain and I really don't want that. My doctor may also lower the med I'm on now (the antidepressant) to where the side effects are gone and then add Cymbalta just on Monday and then Thursday, to hopefully get it into my system (because it really helped me in just a matter of days but caused me severe urinary problems) and hopefully get the benefits without side effects. I'm hoping that works. Something has to. I really can't go on living this way. I see my doctor this week.

Thanks so much to all of you for taking time to reply to me. God bless you. I'll keep you posted if you'd like.
Posted 9/18/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Please do keep us posted. The abilify works good for me but is expensive, though I looked up and the company will give you free meds for awhile. You got to look it up on the internet. It is a bummer when something works and then the side effects come along and mess you up. That happened to me often. I hope that the cymbalta doesn't cause you any problems. You are brave to try it again. I did that with wellbutrin, but it still made me nervous and caused insomnia at a high dose. But I tried it a couple of times. Same with effexor. I really like the pristiq. So far, so good. If it poops out, I will probably go back to a low dose of effexor. But by then there will probably be something new again.

I hope you are enjoying the day. It is nice here 70 degrees. Perfect. I am going to walk my dog with a friend's dog and see if they get along. I sure do hope that they do. My dog is a german shepherd and needs a dog about the same size to play with.

Have a great day!!!

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/18/2011 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Meds did not work for me. I manage through diet, lifestyle, attitude changes. I also drink nourishing herbal teas daily (not capsules you get off the shelf at the health food store, very dangerous). Everyone has to find what works for them! Don;t give up or give in to it. You are stronger than what is wrong with you right now.

Green Blessings!

Gem
Posted 9/19/2011 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Onedaycloser7,

My Panic/Anxiety Disorder has begun to run my life. I have been struggling with daily attacks & breathing absolutely does not work. I'm on Visteril for anxiety. It can take like 45-minutes-1-hour before calming me down. Then lately I will be okay for an hour & get another one. I wake up in the middle of the night having one. I hate that I cannot control them. I'm limited to what my Psych Dr. will prescribe for me. Nothing that is addicting (like valium, ativan, xanax, etc.) so its so frustrating to not be able to try any of them.

I wish you all the best. Keep posting as it helps us as well.
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee

Bipolar 2, Borderline, Panic/Attack Disorder, Ptsd
Gabapentin, Buspar, Visteril, Trazadone...
Posted 9/19/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with Gem. I tried a bunch of different meds and all they did was mess with my personality (and my libido!). Now I control my anxiety mostly with yoga, a healthy diet and some vitamin supplements. I definitely recommend Yoga, which helps like meditation but doesn't require so much stillness and concentration. I avoid really heavy meals that make me feel guilty and suck my energy away. My favorite supplement is called Tranquilene, which has b vitamins and a bunch of ingredients that help build up Serotonin and Gaba in the brain.

I'm much more into natural ways of dealing with things, but it was a long and expensive journey to get to that point. And obviously meds can be right for some people, especially those with very severe symptoms.
Posted 9/19/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Susan, forgive me if I have asked you this before...I have to make sure though, that the link that you have posted is not something that you are directly affiliated with in terms of income for you. In other words, if you were to have a vested interest in this site, I would have to ask you to remove it.

If however, this is just a place where you yourself purchase your suppliment, then I believe it can stay,

Please let me know, so I know whether to leave or remove the link from your post.

Thanks:)
Scaredy Cat
Posted 9/20/2011 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
I prefer natural anytime I can do it. I respond for my depression really well by all natural means here's a list of what I do

1) Pet therapy .... if u think no one loves you, a pet usually gives unconditional love
2) Counceling
3) Walks in Nature (I seem to relax in nature)
4) I express my thoughts in writing, poems that dont rhyme. I believe they are called free lance poems.
5) Yell and scream and complain and vent on here (um love ya skitt :-p )
Posted 9/20/2011 9:49 AM (GMT 0)
I am now taking Effexor 225mg once a day and clonazopam(sp) .75mg 2x a day. I was taking lorazapam 1mg 3x a day, but my psych doctor felt the clonazapam is longer lasting and it seems to work pretty well. I also take seroquel 300mg at night to sleep. I go through the VA since I also have PTSD from the gulf war. My civilian psych had me on cymbalta 60mg once a day and it didn't seem to work as well as the effexor. I haven't notice any side effects from this combination yet and have been taking it about 8 months now.

i also am in counceling through the VA also. Tried civilian counceling, but he didn't believe in PTSD and ignored anything that happened while I was in the military.

Take care,
Bill
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