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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Buffet on October 17, 2000, at 18:13:45
I am taking 1.5mg Xanax (alprazolam) in the morning, and 50mg Elavil (amitriptyline) at night. I have depression, anxiety, mood swings, and concentration problems. I have also tried prozac, effexor, wellbutrin, prozac+ritalin, zoloft, paxil, prozac+depakote, and ativan.
Xanax has helped my anxiety but makes my memory even worse, not to mention lowered libito and, uhh, 'performance'. I'm a newly wed so I don't enjoy this side effect. The other problem I'm having with Xanax is getting off the stuff. It is a bitch to get off of, and I have failed in my attempts so far. My doctor tried switching me to BuSpar, which absolutely was the worst thing I have ever taken - immediate sleepiness, major depression, zero energy, etc. BuSpar felt like the complete opposite of an SSRI. Anyone else have this reaction? Anyway, my doc has given up and is refering me to a psychiatrist. I guess I have a bunch of questions here.
1. Buspar is a joke. What else is there?
2. Is klonapin a better alternative to Xanax?
3. I have never tried celexa, how does it compare to prozac and zoloft, and is it an SSRI?
4. Anyone have good results with celexa/klonapin combo.and two more completely meaningless Q's,
5. Ever wonder why BuSpar tabs look EXACTLY like 2mg Xanax tabs? I hate drug companies some times... and why is a 1 month prescription average $175+ a month??!!
6. Are there any docs out there that will prescribe me a valium/dexedrine/celexa/percocet/viagra combo? This should cover most of the mental problems I'm experiencing shouldn't it? : )
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2000, at 20:21:00
In reply to Alternatives to benzos?, posted by Buffet on October 17, 2000, at 18:13:45
Buffet,
See my responses inline.
> I am taking 1.5mg Xanax (alprazolam) in the morning, and 50mg Elavil (amitriptyline) at night. I have depression, anxiety, mood swings, and concentration problems. I have also tried prozac, effexor, wellbutrin, prozac+ritalin, zoloft, paxil, prozac+depakote, and ativan.
I also take approximately 1.5 mg. of Xanax per day (.5 x 3). I'm down from 3 mg. per day thanks to Neurontin. For some reason Neurontin works on anxiety for me -- sometimes even better than the Xanax. I've heard it doesn't work for everyone, but I thank my lucky stars that this drug works for me. Among your list, I've tried Prozac, Effexor XR, I have a prescription for Ritalin (which I have decided not to fill), and Zoloft.
> Xanax has helped my anxiety but makes my memory even worse, not to mention lowered libito and, uhh, 'performance'. I'm a newly wed so I don't enjoy this side effect. The other problem I'm having with Xanax is getting off the stuff. It is a bitch to get off of, and I have failed in my attempts so far. My doctor tried switching me to BuSpar, which absolutely was the worst thing I have ever taken - immediate sleepiness, major depression, zero energy, etc. BuSpar felt like the complete opposite of an SSRI. Anyone else have this reaction? Anyway, my doc has given up and is refering me to a psychiatrist. I guess I have a bunch of questions here.You may want to try Klonopin, which was a libido boost for me. It's also a benzo like Xanax, so expect to be on it for the long haul. BuSpar is not an SSRI, and it did nothing for me except made me angry. I think it's time you see a psychiatrist.
> 1. Buspar is a joke. What else is there?Neurontin?
> 2. Is klonapin a better alternative to Xanax?
Depends on your body chemistry. You won't know until you try it.
> 3. I have never tried celexa, how does it compare to prozac and zoloft, and is it an SSRI?
My understanding is that it is an SSRI. Everyone is different ... I liked Celexa. It may affect your libido, however. You won't know until you try it.
> 4. Anyone have good results with celexa/klonapin combo.
That might be a good combo since Klonopin can cause depression in a small percentage of people who take it. The Celexa would probably counteract that, should that side effect occur in you.
> and two more completely meaningless Q's,
> 5. Ever wonder why BuSpar tabs look EXACTLY like 2mg Xanax tabs? I hate drug companies some times... and why is a 1 month prescription average $175+ a month??!!Never noticed ... I didn't take BuSpar long enough to remember.
> 6. Are there any docs out there that will prescribe me a valium/dexedrine/celexa/percocet/viagra combo? This should cover most of the mental problems I'm experiencing shouldn't it? : )
You won't know until you find one. :)
Snowie
Posted by Buffet on October 19, 2000, at 0:56:25
In reply to Re: Alternatives to benzos? » Buffet, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2000, at 20:21:00
> I also take approximately 1.5 mg. of Xanax per day (.5 x 3). I'm down from 3 mg. per day thanks to Neurontin. For some reason Neurontin works on anxiety for me -- sometimes even better than the Xanax. I've heard it doesn't work for everyone, but I thank my lucky stars that this drug works for me. Among your list, I've tried Prozac, Effexor XR, I have a prescription for Ritalin (which I have decided not to fill), and Zoloft.
> You may want to try Klonopin, which was a libido boost for me. It's also a benzo like Xanax, so expect to be on it for the long haul. BuSpar is not an SSRI, and it did nothing for me except made me angry. I think it's time you see a psychiatrist.
>I have read a few posts about neurontin, and have looked up some info on the internet. I am very interested in giving neurontin a try. However, I don't want to go into a new doc and give him the idea that I know better and this is what I want prescribed. Then again, I guess it won't hurt to ask.. Also, isn't its use as an antianxiety/AD drug 'off label'? Meaning, if prescribed, will my insurance cover it? Does yours or are you paying out of pocket? Also, what dose are you taking - 100, 300, 400, +++? I've heard of 1000mg + for it to work. Is it similar in action or class to depakote?
I'm also considering the klonopin because of the almost immediate withdrawal symptoms of xanax. If I forget to take it in the morning and go to work, I'm a frazzled mess by noon. Or, if the doc forgets to call the prescription in on time - oh hell...cold turkey two days in a row is a nightmare.
Thanks for the input.
Posted by Snowie on October 19, 2000, at 7:19:14
In reply to Re: Alternatives to benzos?, posted by Buffet on October 19, 2000, at 0:56:25
Buffet,
See my replies after yours.
> > I also take approximately 1.5 mg. of Xanax per day (.5 x 3). I'm down from 3 mg. per day thanks to Neurontin. For some reason Neurontin works on anxiety for me -- sometimes even better than the Xanax. I've heard it doesn't work for everyone, but I thank my lucky stars that this drug works for me. Among your list, I've tried Prozac, Effexor XR, I have a prescription for Ritalin (which I have decided not to fill), and Zoloft.
> > You may want to try Klonopin, which was a libido boost for me. It's also a benzo like Xanax, so expect to be on it for the long haul. BuSpar is not an SSRI, and it did nothing for me except made me angry. I think it's time you see a psychiatrist.
> I have read a few posts about neurontin, and have looked up some info on the internet. I am very interested in giving neurontin a try. However, I don't want to go into a new doc and give him the idea that I know better and this is what I want prescribed. Then again, I guess it won't hurt to ask.. Also, isn't its use as an antianxiety/AD drug 'off label'? Meaning, if prescribed, will my insurance cover it? Does yours or are you paying out of pocket? Also, what dose are you taking - 100, 300, 400, +++? I've heard of 1000mg + for it to work. Is it similar in action or class to depakote?I take Neurontin for anxiety. A pdoc had suggested it a while back and I poo-pooed his idea. After that recommendation, I tried a sample pack just to see if I liked it, and it worked almost immediately. I've heard of Depakote (my sister takes it or used to take it), but I don't know much about it. My understanding is that Neurontin is marketed as an anti-convulsant, but so was Klonopin for a long time, and it also helps with panic disorder, GAD, and social anxiety. Presently, I take 300 mg. (100 mg. x 3) of Neurontin per day, but I want to increase it. It's one of those little quirks -- for some reason it works for me but who really knows why? That's the reason why I always steal a quote, "Prescribing psychotropic drugs is an art, not an absolute." As long as my pdoc prescribes it, my insurance has to take it. Since there is no generic, I just pay $15. I don't have a problem asking for a medication. I usually tell my pdoc(s) that if something works, so much the better. If it doesn't, I certainly won't continue taking it. By the way, Serzone can also be used in place of a benzo.
> I'm also considering the klonopin because of the almost immediate withdrawal symptoms of xanax. If I forget to take it in the morning and go to work, I'm a frazzled mess by noon. Or, if the doc forgets to call the prescription in on time - oh hell...cold turkey two days in a row is a nightmare.
Xanax has that effect on most people; consequently, I've rarely forgotten to take it! It had that effect on me when I first started taking it, but it doesn't do that quite as much anymore. I have tried Klonopin twice. For my body, the generic clonazepam wasn't nearly as effective as the Roche Klonopin, but some people can't distinguish between the difference, so why pay the difference? If you decide to try it, try them both.
> Thanks for the input.No problem ... stick around.
Snowie
Posted by Cindy W on October 19, 2000, at 9:14:59
In reply to Alternatives to benzos?, posted by Buffet on October 17, 2000, at 18:13:45
> I am taking 1.5mg Xanax (alprazolam) in the morning, and 50mg Elavil (amitriptyline) at night. I have depression, anxiety, mood swings, and concentration problems. I have also tried prozac, effexor, wellbutrin, prozac+ritalin, zoloft, paxil, prozac+depakote, and ativan.
>
> Xanax has helped my anxiety but makes my memory even worse, not to mention lowered libito and, uhh, 'performance'. I'm a newly wed so I don't enjoy this side effect. The other problem I'm having with Xanax is getting off the stuff. It is a bitch to get off of, and I have failed in my attempts so far. My doctor tried switching me to BuSpar, which absolutely was the worst thing I have ever taken - immediate sleepiness, major depression, zero energy, etc. BuSpar felt like the complete opposite of an SSRI. Anyone else have this reaction? Anyway, my doc has given up and is refering me to a psychiatrist. I guess I have a bunch of questions here.
>
> 1. Buspar is a joke. What else is there?
> 2. Is klonapin a better alternative to Xanax?
> 3. I have never tried celexa, how does it compare to prozac and zoloft, and is it an SSRI?
> 4. Anyone have good results with celexa/klonapin combo.
>
> and two more completely meaningless Q's,
>
> 5. Ever wonder why BuSpar tabs look EXACTLY like 2mg Xanax tabs? I hate drug companies some times... and why is a 1 month prescription average $175+ a month??!!
>
> 6. Are there any docs out there that will prescribe me a valium/dexedrine/celexa/percocet/viagra combo? This should cover most of the mental problems I'm experiencing shouldn't it? : )Buffet, Serzone helped me with anxiety. Also, Seroquel seems to have anti-anxiety effects.
Posted by rogdog on October 19, 2000, at 13:18:58
In reply to Alternatives to benzos?, posted by Buffet on October 17, 2000, at 18:13:45
hey buffet, I too am on about 1.5 milligrams of xanax a day. It works good for the anxiety, but my memory and cognitive performance have taken a beating. I cant remember things I did 5 minutes ago. I also have mood swings, I havent had any luck with ssris and like you mentioned buspar SUCKS! it made me suicidal and more depressed than I have ever been. I am considering a trial run with zyprexa. have you ever tried a neuroleptic for your anxiety? good luck, and if find any thing that works as good as xanax does without the side effects then please post it will you? thanks,god bless
Rogdog
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