Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 3, 2009, at 19:43:44
sorry, im just a little upset by a comment a doctor made describing my habits as self-destructive after looking over the list of meds i've tried over the past 2 years. i know i feel like i have legitimate reasons for stopping each, but his logic seemed to be that you put up with the negative effects as long as it takes CBT to work, and then you taper off. i argued that if a med gives me brain fog or worsens my concentration/social anxiety, how will that help? its not like CBT takes place in a vacuum. what's more, i was working when i first began trialling meds, so didn't have the luxury to be up with s/e's for weeks on end
here's what i've tried:
Paxil (a week) - first med put on. was not warned at all about s/e's, ended up in zombie-state, sleeping 14 hours a day, so quit
Prozac (insomnia, so doctor tapered me off, saying insomnia doesn't go away)
Moclobemide - stayed on for 6 months and did well, but came off b/c had sexual side-effects and began a relationship. unfortunately, didn't enter CBT
Remeron - 2 weeks, made OCD 10x worse
Luvox (8 weeks) - UNBEARABLE restless leg at all times, could not even sit for longer than half hour. made me more shy.
Lexapro (8 weeks) - felt flatter, more depressed,less talkative
Memantine (4 weeks) - was a godsend at first, but put me in a dementia-like state eventually
Nardil (3 months) - should've stayed on this really but the s/e's were just a lot to contend with. the insomnia never seemed to pass, constantly felt foggy
Parnate (4 weeks) - on now; trying to treat insomnia, but so far, so good. feels really clean in terms of SE's. if i can successfully treat insomnia with a TCA, i will stay on it
that list doesn't feel particularly abnormal in my mind, but i guess maybe my impression has been warped by my time spent here? i know my neuroticism definitely extends to meds themselves, and a fear of SE;s, which i plan on treating when i re-enter CBT.
but i'm just curious because if someone has something like OCD, social anxiety and anergic depression w/ concentration problems, surely they have a right try and find the best med? if an SSRI helps anxiety but worsens isolation as a result, maybe its not worth it?
poster:g_g_g_unit
thread:919605
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091001/msgs/919605.html