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What medications do you take?

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Posted 10/5/2014 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm just curious as to what meds you guys currently take and what works for you. Also what other meds you might have tried in the past that didn't work?

I'm on prozac and have been for over 15 years. I've been on different doses up to 60mg a day which is what I just went up to two nights ago. I also have the lowest dose of xanax you can get to take as needed.

I'd really love to hear what has worked or not for everyone. I realize it is different for everybody but am still just curious.
Posted 10/5/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
I use Sertraline (an SSRI - Zoloft, Lustral, etc) and it works for me. I used it first 5 years ago when my panic/anxiety problems started and used it for six months with dr control. Then years after my problems started again to the level where I started having more panics.

Now I am using it (50 mg, by the way) for two months now and I already feel very much better as in terms of random anxiety. But as in terms of my health anxiety problem, I will see a therapist to get help. Meds don't help changing the pattern of our thoughts.

Sertraline is the first med I used, and I was always quite happy with it so I don't plan to change.
And yes, it has increased anxiety side effect at first 2-3 weeks. But it's worth continuing...
Posted 10/5/2014 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm I actually have never heard of this med. Really glad to hear you are getting good results with it and thanks for sharing!
Posted 10/5/2014 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Buspar (anti anxiety) and xanax (used it daily for a few months and now just when I need it).
Posted 10/5/2014 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I used Prozac 20mg twice in the 90's. Worked great. Tried in again (I'd gone off of it each time after 6 months or so) in 2008 after a 3rd bout of anxiety/depression & it didn't work (I'd been on name brand in the 90's. Tried generic in 2008 & it didn't work hmmm).

Anyway, 2008 went on Cymbalta until Feb 2014. Cymbalta was awesome for me but it pooped out & they switched me to Zoloft which was very bad for me (goes to show how different we all are)!

Now I'm on Pristiq & Lamictal. I doubted this current combination but the past week has been decent so who knows. I see psych on Oct 20 lol.

Antidepressants:

Name brand Prozac- great
Generic Prozac- didn't work
Generic Zoloft- didn't work
Cymbalta- great but pooped out after 6 yrs
Pristiq- still figuring it out, maybe?

Addons: (just tried addons for the first time this year)

Ability- didn't work
Buspar-didn't work
Wellbutrin-didn't work
Lamictal- still figuring it out, maybe?

Xanax .25mg- works!

Sending love!

Lisa
Posted 10/5/2014 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Sertraline is the name of the SSRI substance which is found in medicines for example, Zoloft and Lustral :)
Posted 10/6/2014 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
LEXAPRO(for depression and anxiety )

XANAX -anxiety(panic attacks)

ambien (insomnia)
Posted 10/6/2014 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
Lexapro, 20 mg and xanax as needed. Started with Paxil and I suffered terrible side effects. But many others have success with it.
Posted 10/6/2014 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
lamictal for bi-polar and rispiridone for mood / eupd. nothing for anxiety / panic, just coping skills.
Posted 10/6/2014 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Lexapro 20mg for CDO and Panic disorder
Klonopin when needed
Posted 10/6/2014 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Just Xanax here. Really helps. I take one every morning to get my day going and then more if needed throughout the day. Seeing a CBT doctor as well.
Posted 10/6/2014 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I found that I couldn't tolerate SSRI's, and I've tried pretty much all of them.
I take Clonazepam (lowest dose qid), Wellbutrin (225mg.), Strattera (40mg.). This is a good combination for me. The Strattera actually helps with ADD, anxiety and depression!
Posted 10/6/2014 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
This is really interesting you guys. I'm thinking about seeing a psychiatrist at the mental health center where I've been going but I had horrible experiences with them at that same place years ago.

Back when I first sought treatment for depression/anxiety I saw the drs at this place and was put on a merry go round of medications. I don't know if this was because it was the late 90's and they didn't know what they know now or what? Basically I was put on different things like buspar, paxil, wellbutrin, and others I can't remember. The thing is they would have me take them for about two weeks and then I would come back in to tell them how things were going. Then they would always switch me on to something else. It was a nurse practitioner at a regular old doctor's office who actually suggested the prozac to me. I tried it and it stopped going to the psychiatrist because I felt like they were making me worse. Was it common practice back then to switch up meds so quickly? I know now they always say to give it some time. Back then I was so young I just pretty much blindly did what they suggested which is scary.

My primary care doctor is great and very good to work with but she is very pill happy in my opinion. She's always the first one to try to give me xanax even though she knows my past with drugs. Maybe though that is because she's been my doctor for so long she knows those days are well behind me? Either way she just doesn't have the knowledge that a psychiatrist would so I thought about giving them a try.

The thing is I see that one of them that I saw years ago is still at this place. That scares the crap out of me. I think I'd better just give this increase in prozac a shot and see how that goes for awhile first. What are you guys' opinions on primary care providers vs pyschiatrist?
Posted 10/6/2014 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate to you, billybologna.

I was also put on the "merry go round" of medications years ago, which is why I can say I've tried pretty much all of the SSRI's. I also was switched from med to med after what seemed like just a short time. I don't know why... like you said, it usually takes time for *most* anti-depressants to start working.

I think that if your PCP knows you well, he or she is a good back-up to your Psychiatrist. I try to have my two doctors work together, or at least know what's going on with me. I have my Psych notes sent to my PCP (whether they are read or not, I don't know). Also, I always let my Psychiatrist know what other health issues I'm having, as they affect my mental health.
Simply put, psych medications are a Psychiatrists' area of expertise. I would be more apt to trust the doctor who has the training and experience to handle mental health issues.

All best to you.
Posted 10/6/2014 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Was given propranolol and I tried it for two days but this just increased my anxiety due to the very bad side effects and then they gave me atenolol but the same thing happened due to it being more or less the same drug...don't know where to go after this as it is all I'm being offered.
Posted 10/6/2014 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
bloke- That's the hell of these drugs is that so often the side effects give us even worse anxiety. Or for me just the fear of side effects cause anxiety. Here's hoping my old stand by prozac keeps me going because I hate changing meds.
Posted 10/7/2014 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I am on

Gabapentin 800 mg 3x day
Lamictal 100 mg 1x day
Buspar 30 mg 2x day
Clonazapam as needed 0.5 mg
Chlorpromaz as needed 25 mg


These meds are my lifesavers.
Posted 10/7/2014 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
another buspar fan here. best thing that happened to me. i have a ton of meds but dont take /need them anymore. ativan, xanax, klonipin ambien cr (great stuff) restoril . was on zoloft 50mg for 6 years but had a terriable reaction when i mixed strong antibiotics and switched to prozac. it was too strong. every day was like an acid trip. i now take st jons work occasionally and it works just enough to cope with out other meds. the zoloft worked wonderfully till the antibiotics incident. all you benzo users should try buspar. if it works for you then you wont run the risk of benzo addiction anymore
Posted 10/7/2014 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Is buspar an antidepressant or is it made for anti anxiety?
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