![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
I have been on Zoloft (yuck) and Effexor XR (scared me) and now the Dr. gave me Lexapro... which has been in my purse for a week. I don't want to take it!! I can't function on the two drugs I have tried... and from the posts I've read here they all seem to be the same.
On drugs: I am scared to drive because my reaction time is nill; I can't feel physical sensations enough to want to have sex; I don't exercise at all because my limbs feel like lead; I can't remember details enough to do my job effectively; I am terrified of gaining weight.
Am I alone in this? All of the side effects for all of these SSRI drugs seem the same to me. What makes each one different from the next? Why do I have to go down the list and try them all when they all do the same thing? I don't understand.
When the Dr. gave me the script, I sat there with him and cried. I told him I didn't want any more drugs. I just want to be content with my life and drug free. So then he gave me another script for Xanax and stressed I should only take it when I have anxiety attacks -- like right at that moment!
Is there any medication out there that fixes the depression and panic attacks without making me feel like I'm stoned all the time???
I just can't function like that!
Posted by nicole1011 on November 13, 2002, at 23:05:17
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
paxil is ok if you don't mind sweating (side effect)
Posted by McPac on November 13, 2002, at 23:31:33
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
For drug free alternatives, try this site!
Posted by LyndaK on November 14, 2002, at 0:05:25
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
In answer to your question, I have held on to my career through all the mucking around in the trials and tribulations of different medications. It's been difficult. There have been a fair number of sick days taken because I just couldn't get myself together emotionally that day. Some drugs had side-effects that were creating as much dysfunction as the depression, but when the depression got so bad I felt like killing myself, the drugs kept me alive ... and kicking and still trying. I'm FINALLY on a drug that I tolerate well (Remeron) -- the sedating side-effects were horrible at first but resolved with time. I am fortunate to have a supportive supervisor who I was able to be upfront and honest with. She was much more able to work with me when she knew what was really going on. I realize not everyone is in that kind of a work situation.
I guess the decision of whether to go the medication route depends on how bad the condition is. If you need to be on medication, use your vacation/sick time to your advantage when getting used to a new drug. I understand the issue with driving -- gave me a real empathy experience with senior citizens. Just take it easy and stick to the slow lanes for a while.
I don't know much about alternatives to medication. There are others on this board who do.
Best of luck to you.
Lynda
Posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 8:07:56
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
> I have been on Zoloft (yuck) and Effexor XR (scared me) and now the Dr. gave me Lexapro... which has been in my purse for a week. I don't want to take it!! I can't function on the two drugs I have tried... and from the posts I've read here they all seem to be the same.
>
> On drugs: I am scared to drive because my reaction time is nill; I can't feel physical sensations enough to want to have sex; I don't exercise at all because my limbs feel like lead; I can't remember details enough to do my job effectively; I am terrified of gaining weight.
>
> Am I alone in this? All of the side effects for all of these SSRI drugs seem the same to me. What makes each one different from the next? Why do I have to go down the list and try them all when they all do the same thing? I don't understand.
>
> When the Dr. gave me the script, I sat there with him and cried. I told him I didn't want any more drugs. I just want to be content with my life and drug free. So then he gave me another script for Xanax and stressed I should only take it when I have anxiety attacks -- like right at that moment!
>
> Is there any medication out there that fixes the depression and panic attacks without making me feel like I'm stoned all the time???
>
> I just can't function like that!
==============================================What is his official diagnosis? Are you confident in it? Many react well/bad to one catagory of medications and need to try other catagories.
Do you find very much relief of both of your symptoms if you take the xanax?
Alan
Posted by babs on November 14, 2002, at 8:33:16
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds?? » kelranji, posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 8:07:56
Kelranji- Don't lose hope! If you do need to be on medication, it's amazing what the difference is between drugs even within the same class. I, for example, can take celexa successfully but not Prozac or Lexapro. Both of them make me sick as a dog, but the celexa doesn't and all three are SSRI's. It may take time but eventually you'll find the right drug or cocktail and while things might never be perfect, they'll be much, much better. I've been fortuinate that I have been able to have a successful career despite my struggles with depression. I've taken days off with med changes and used all my sick time most of the time, but I've been able to do it. Hang in there and I really hope you feel better. Maybe the Lexapro will do the trick!
Posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 9:14:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds?? » kelranji, posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 8:07:56
> ==============================================
>
> What is his official diagnosis? Are you confident in it? Many react well/bad to one catagory of medications and need to try other catagories.
>
> Do you find very much relief of both of your symptoms if you take the xanax?
>
> Alan
>
>Alan-
My doc thinks I am predisposed to depression since my father committed suicide when I was very young (3 yrs) and I have gone through a tough time the past 10 years.
I am not confident in his diagnosis. I don't feel depressed all the time. I initially went to him because I started feeling like I was having a heart attack at work. All of a sudden I'd be at my computer and I couldn't breathe, my face got red and hot and my arm went numb. He did a complete physical and I am healthy as a horse.
He wrote it off as panic attacks. He added the depression diagnosis after I told him about my family history and went into my past ten years of tough divorce, family deaths, etc... naturally I started to cry right then and there and BAM! Out flew the scripts for SSRI's. I have not taken the Xanax yet because I am scared.
In my own opinion, I believe that I have ADD. I think the panic attacks are caused by my fear of losing my job due to my inability to complete tasks. The depression meds made it worse. I'd sit at work and be so tired and unmotivated that I'd surf the web all day long and not get a single thing done. I was already behind in my work, now I was buried in it.
My son has ADD and his pediatrician gave him Adderall right away on the first visit. He is now on the honor roll and I am blown away by the quick turn around of his focusing skills.
I brought that up to my Dr. and suggested the possibility that I had ADD as well. All of my life I have been told that I am not working up to my full potential. Many years ago, I dropped out of High School because I was unable to complete the homework and was failing every subject. I went to the community college and aced the equivalency test granting me a full diploma (not GED). I have been let go from many jobs over the years because of my lack of productivity. I have thousands of dollars in non-sufficient funds fees each year because I don't balance my checkbook. Am I just lazy? Or is this Adult ADD?
I told all of this to my Dr. and he frowned upon perscribing ADD medication to me because it is addictive and highly abused, although he did mention that ADD does cause depression.
Sorry about the book I'm writing here... but that's my story. I just want to feel relaxed and confident and happy about every aspect of my life. Is that depression? I guess in the back of my head there are sometimes suicidal thoughts, but when I look at my children and think about what my father did to me... I could never do it.
I just want to be a better, more productive, functioning member of society. I think I would be a much happier person if I could get off my bum and just get the job done without distraction, procrastination or avoidance. It's just really hard for me. And the depression medications make it impossible for me.
That's all...
Posted by Brandymac26 on November 14, 2002, at 9:14:05
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
> I have been on Zoloft (yuck) and Effexor XR (scared me) and now the Dr. gave me Lexapro... which has been in my purse for a week. I don't want to take it!! I can't function on the two drugs I have tried... and from the posts I've read here they all seem to be the same.
>
> On drugs: I am scared to drive because my reaction time is nill; I can't feel physical sensations enough to want to have sex; I don't exercise at all because my limbs feel like lead; I can't remember details enough to do my job effectively; I am terrified of gaining weight.
>
> Am I alone in this? All of the side effects for all of these SSRI drugs seem the same to me. What makes each one different from the next? Why do I have to go down the list and try them all when they all do the same thing? I don't understand.
>
> When the Dr. gave me the script, I sat there with him and cried. I told him I didn't want any more drugs. I just want to be content with my life and drug free. So then he gave me another script for Xanax and stressed I should only take it when I have anxiety attacks -- like right at that moment!
>
> Is there any medication out there that fixes the depression and panic attacks without making me feel like I'm stoned all the time???
>
> I just can't function like that!I was on celexa and effexor xr for over a year, and they made me feel exactly like you described, and worse. I have switched to lexapro (been on it for 2 weeks) and feel GREAT! No side effects, except the first week I did feel a little out of it, but now I feeel great. My depression is GONE, and my anxiety and panic attacks are gone too.
To give you an example of how bad my panic attacks and anxiety was before lexapro-I couldnt leave my house for months b/c I was scared of having panic attacks! Now, after only 2 weeks on lexapro, I'm going anywhere I want, and I feel GREAT!! Give the lexapro a shot. I was on celexa and effexor too, and had terrible side effects from them, plus the didnt help me at all. Actually, they made me worse b/c I felt so out of it all the time. On lexapro I havent had any of the problems I did on celexa/effexor, and it really is helping me.
I will say that at least for the first week(if you take lexapro for anxiety as well as depression), take a xanax with the lexapro b/c the lexapro gives me a lot of energy which I wasnt used to, so my body kind of misinterpreted the energy for an increase in anxiety for the first week. But now, I feel wonderful, and I NEVER have to take xanax anymore! Also, you may want to take it before bed b/c in the beginning it can make you a little tired, but that side effect has worn off. Now, I'm full of energy! Good luck to you!
Brandy
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 14, 2002, at 10:18:38
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
I don't feel like I could have a career *without* meds. I'm a programmer, so social interaction isn't a big deal, but concentration is. Without medicine, on bad days, I'm just floating way off in some other world and can't focus on the work I need to do. Meds keep me grounded enough to follow the logic of my coding. I feel like I've become a lot more productive since beginning meds. It took a while to find the right ones (Effexor didn't help things. Paxil made them worse), but it was worth the effort.
Posted by samenewme on November 14, 2002, at 10:25:36
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds?? » Alan, posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 9:14:01
It really sounds as if you're NOT confident in your diagnosis, and not comfortable with your doctor. Is it possible for you to get a second opinion? It *is* possible for me to function and concentrate on the right antidepressant, but it does sound as if you're not sure depression is really your problem.
Sometimes you need to be pretty assertive to get the care you need, and sometimes the first doctor you go to is not right for you.
> > ==============================================
> >
> > What is his official diagnosis? Are you confident in it? Many react well/bad to one catagory of medications and need to try other catagories.
> >
> > Do you find very much relief of both of your symptoms if you take the xanax?
> >
> > Alan
> >
> >
>
> Alan-
>
> My doc thinks I am predisposed to depression since my father committed suicide when I was very young (3 yrs) and I have gone through a tough time the past 10 years.
>
> I am not confident in his diagnosis. I don't feel depressed all the time. I initially went to him because I started feeling like I was having a heart attack at work. All of a sudden I'd be at my computer and I couldn't breathe, my face got red and hot and my arm went numb. He did a complete physical and I am healthy as a horse.
>
> He wrote it off as panic attacks. He added the depression diagnosis after I told him about my family history and went into my past ten years of tough divorce, family deaths, etc... naturally I started to cry right then and there and BAM! Out flew the scripts for SSRI's. I have not taken the Xanax yet because I am scared.
>
> In my own opinion, I believe that I have ADD. I think the panic attacks are caused by my fear of losing my job due to my inability to complete tasks. The depression meds made it worse. I'd sit at work and be so tired and unmotivated that I'd surf the web all day long and not get a single thing done. I was already behind in my work, now I was buried in it.
>
> My son has ADD and his pediatrician gave him Adderall right away on the first visit. He is now on the honor roll and I am blown away by the quick turn around of his focusing skills.
>
> I brought that up to my Dr. and suggested the possibility that I had ADD as well. All of my life I have been told that I am not working up to my full potential. Many years ago, I dropped out of High School because I was unable to complete the homework and was failing every subject. I went to the community college and aced the equivalency test granting me a full diploma (not GED). I have been let go from many jobs over the years because of my lack of productivity. I have thousands of dollars in non-sufficient funds fees each year because I don't balance my checkbook. Am I just lazy? Or is this Adult ADD?
>
> I told all of this to my Dr. and he frowned upon perscribing ADD medication to me because it is addictive and highly abused, although he did mention that ADD does cause depression.
>
> Sorry about the book I'm writing here... but that's my story. I just want to feel relaxed and confident and happy about every aspect of my life. Is that depression? I guess in the back of my head there are sometimes suicidal thoughts, but when I look at my children and think about what my father did to me... I could never do it.
>
> I just want to be a better, more productive, functioning member of society. I think I would be a much happier person if I could get off my bum and just get the job done without distraction, procrastination or avoidance. It's just really hard for me. And the depression medications make it impossible for me.
>
> That's all...
>
>
>
Posted by babs on November 14, 2002, at 11:15:01
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by samenewme on November 14, 2002, at 10:25:36
I would agree. Look for a second opinion. I have ADD in addition to depresssion and OCD and I know that SSRI's tend to make my ADD worse. It was very mild on imipramine (a tryciclic antidepressant) but I find that on the Celexa I need adderall to help me focus. If you are not confident in your diagnosis and really think you might have ADD, try to see another pdoc you feel comfortable with. Good luck. Let us know what happens.
Posted by oracle on November 14, 2002, at 11:21:36
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
I started meds in college and have been on them
ever since, 20 years. I have had a carrer, actually 2 ! (I have ADD) The current one, network admin, I taught myself.I could not have done this without meds.
Posted by wharfrat on November 14, 2002, at 11:46:33
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
> I have been on Zoloft (yuck) and Effexor XR (scared me) and now the Dr. gave me Lexapro... which has been in my purse for a week. I don't want to take it!! I can't function on the two drugs I have tried... and from the posts I've read here they all seem to be the same.
>
> On drugs: I am scared to drive because my reaction time is nill; I can't feel physical sensations enough to want to have sex; I don't exercise at all because my limbs feel like lead; I can't remember details enough to do my job effectively; I am terrified of gaining weight.
>
> Am I alone in this? All of the side effects for all of these SSRI drugs seem the same to me. What makes each one different from the next? Why do I have to go down the list and try them all when they all do the same thing? I don't understand.
>
> When the Dr. gave me the script, I sat there with him and cried. I told him I didn't want any more drugs. I just want to be content with my life and drug free. So then he gave me another script for Xanax and stressed I should only take it when I have anxiety attacks -- like right at that moment!
>
> Is there any medication out there that fixes the depression and panic attacks without making me feel like I'm stoned all the time???
>
> I just can't function like that!Try the lexapro, maybe it'll be the one for you. it's definitely the one for me.
Wharf
Posted by Ritch on November 14, 2002, at 12:09:06
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
> I have been on Zoloft (yuck) and Effexor XR (scared me) and now the Dr. gave me Lexapro... which has been in my purse for a week. I don't want to take it!! I can't function on the two drugs I have tried... and from the posts I've read here they all seem to be the same.
>
> On drugs: I am scared to drive because my reaction time is nill; I can't feel physical sensations enough to want to have sex; I don't exercise at all because my limbs feel like lead; I can't remember details enough to do my job effectively; I am terrified of gaining weight.
>
> Am I alone in this? All of the side effects for all of these SSRI drugs seem the same to me. What makes each one different from the next? Why do I have to go down the list and try them all when they all do the same thing? I don't understand.
>
> When the Dr. gave me the script, I sat there with him and cried. I told him I didn't want any more drugs. I just want to be content with my life and drug free. So then he gave me another script for Xanax and stressed I should only take it when I have anxiety attacks -- like right at that moment!
>
> Is there any medication out there that fixes the depression and panic attacks without making me feel like I'm stoned all the time???
>
> I just can't function like that!You might ask your doctor about trying Klonopin instead of Xanax. Xanax/Valium/Ativan all made me feel kind of drunk. The Klonopin may make you a little tired, but shouldn't make you feel "stoned". Also, it has a longer half-life and you won't be as likely to get "rebound" panic attacks during the day when it wears off. A mild dose of Neurontin during the daytime might be another option to consider (100mg 3x daily i.e.). Also, the standard doses of SSRI's can be very irritating and agitating for many people, you might ask about liquid Celexa (i.e.), and see if you can take a lot less and not feel so zombified.
Posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 15:29:06
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds?? » Alan, posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 9:14:01
> > ==============================================
> >
> > What is his official diagnosis? Are you confident in it? Many react well/bad to one catagory of medications and need to try other catagories.
> >
> > Do you find very much relief of both of your symptoms if you take the xanax?
> >
> > Alan
> >
> >
>
> Alan-
>
> My doc thinks I am predisposed to depression since my father committed suicide when I was very young (3 yrs) and I have gone through a tough time the past 10 years.
>
> I am not confident in his diagnosis. I don't feel depressed all the time. I initially went to him because I started feeling like I was having a heart attack at work. All of a sudden I'd be at my computer and I couldn't breathe, my face got red and hot and my arm went numb. He did a complete physical and I am healthy as a horse.
>
> He wrote it off as panic attacks. He added the depression diagnosis after I told him about my family history and went into my past ten years of tough divorce, family deaths, etc... naturally I started to cry right then and there and BAM! Out flew the scripts for SSRI's. I have not taken the Xanax yet because I am scared.
>
> In my own opinion, I believe that I have ADD. I think the panic attacks are caused by my fear of losing my job due to my inability to complete tasks. The depression meds made it worse. I'd sit at work and be so tired and unmotivated that I'd surf the web all day long and not get a single thing done. I was already behind in my work, now I was buried in it.
>
> My son has ADD and his pediatrician gave him Adderall right away on the first visit. He is now on the honor roll and I am blown away by the quick turn around of his focusing skills.
>
> I brought that up to my Dr. and suggested the possibility that I had ADD as well. All of my life I have been told that I am not working up to my full potential. Many years ago, I dropped out of High School because I was unable to complete the homework and was failing every subject. I went to the community college and aced the equivalency test granting me a full diploma (not GED). I have been let go from many jobs over the years because of my lack of productivity. I have thousands of dollars in non-sufficient funds fees each year because I don't balance my checkbook. Am I just lazy? Or is this Adult ADD?
>
> I told all of this to my Dr. and he frowned upon perscribing ADD medication to me because it is addictive and highly abused, although he did mention that ADD does cause depression.
>
> Sorry about the book I'm writing here... but that's my story. I just want to feel relaxed and confident and happy about every aspect of my life. Is that depression? I guess in the back of my head there are sometimes suicidal thoughts, but when I look at my children and think about what my father did to me... I could never do it.
>
> I just want to be a better, more productive, functioning member of society. I think I would be a much happier person if I could get off my bum and just get the job done without distraction, procrastination or avoidance. It's just really hard for me. And the depression medications make it impossible for me.
>
> That's all...
>
>
>
===========================================
Since you are not responding well to the class of AD's then if you believe ADD is a problem, what is the problem with taking the Adderal or similar....or at lest trying it? "Addictive"? You must mean medically dependent...there is a difference.The other thing is that the hyperarousal over a period of time can cause one to feel depressed...one frequently drives the other. Do you feel that the anxiety is driving the depression or the other way around?
That is why it might be a good idea to at least try the xanax alone or similar benzodiazapine to see if one of them can releive the anxiety which you originally presented with. The after awhile if the depression lifts, there can be a more accurate diagnosis of some kind of anxiety disorder....which can cause problems with focus and attention span if anxiety is distracting you.
If "addiction" is you or your doctor's concern, please read the link in my following post - a very important concept in understading 1)if you have a competent doctor - any physician that does not make the distinction mentioned in the article is not fit to treat you 2)it will allay any fears of becoming a supposed "drug addict"!
Best,
Alan
Posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 15:30:42
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/weekly/aa031997.htm
Alan
Posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 23:33:49
In reply to Re: Does anyone hold a career while on meds?? » kelranji, posted by Alan on November 14, 2002, at 15:29:06
> Since you are not responding well to the class of AD's then if you believe ADD is a problem, what is the problem with taking the Adderal or similar....or at lest trying it? "Addictive"? You must mean medically dependent...there is a difference.It's not what "I" think addictive means. It's what my Dr. told me. He will not perscibe the Adderall or any other ADD med, period. If it were up to me to try it, I would. But then what? He is sure my symptoms point to depression and not ADD. Probably because I cry when I talk to him. I am not comfortable discussing my family history with strangers face to face (it's OK here, since I remain anonymous and am not speaking -- writing is much easier for me).
>
> The other thing is that the hyperarousal over a period of time can cause one to feel depressed...one frequently drives the other. Do you feel that the anxiety is driving the depression or the other way around?
Excellent point, although I am not sure what you mean by "hyperarousal" exactly. I truly believe the anxiety is driving the depression. In every aspect of my life -- career, kids, personal realtionship, self-deliberation. I don't feel depressed until my percieved inadequacies build up and haunt me. Then the anxiety starts. After the anxiety subsides, the depression starts and I feel completely worthless.I just want to be perfect and I'm not. I know everyone feels this to a certain extent, but it is controlling my life. If I can't do my best, then why do at all? I think, "I'll just sit here and be a vegetable until I really get in trouble and am forced to move". Then comes the panic.... "I'll lose my job; My utlities will be cut-off; I won't have any food in the house; I'm going to be evicted". What a vicious cycle! And I'm expected to hold a career and a functional family life?? HA! I was not raised this way. My family will look down on me. I must work harder....
>
> That is why it might be a good idea to at least try the xanax alone or similar benzodiazapine to see if one of them can releive the anxiety which you originally presented with. The after awhile if the depression lifts, there can be a more accurate diagnosis of some kind of anxiety disorder....which can cause problems with focus and attention span if anxiety is distracting you.I haven't even filled the script for the Xanax yet b/c I was scared, but what you mention makes perfect sense. I will fill it tomorrow and try it alone. If it works, my Dr. already told me he is reluctant to refill the script for it b/c of abuse. I'll keep you posted.
>
> If "addiction" is you or your doctor's concern, please read the link in my following post - a very important concept in understading 1)if you have a competent doctor - any physician that does not make the distinction mentioned in the article is not fit to treat you 2)it will allay any fears of becoming a supposed "drug addict"!I checked out your link, thanks! The Dr. I am seeing is a Family Practitioner. He did refer me to a pdoc closer to my work. I just don't know what to say when calling to make the appt. Do I mention my self-diagnosis of ADD? Do I bring up the Adderall suggestion? He will probably think I am out for drugs and that I don't really have a problem.
Do I give him my family history and have him assume (once again) that I have genetically inherited depression from my father, only to have another SSRI prescribed? I just know I'll get all tounge tied and start to cry. That will make the whole ordeal worse and make him confident that I am depressed.
Maybe I should just start the Lexapro the FP gave me? I just don't want to feel that feeling agin! Numb, drugged, sleepy, out of it. I can't do it, I just can't.
Thank you again, Alan, for your thorough advice and for your kindness... you have no idea of what your caring means to me.
~Jenn
Posted by Alan on November 15, 2002, at 0:45:02
In reply to Re: ADD Med advice and LINK. » Alan, posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 23:33:49
I was a crying mess too from frustration of not being able to handle the overwhelming effects of anxiety. After every med being pushed on me by the commercially driven SSRI's I finally had enough and fired 2 docs before finding a third doc that when asked what was next for me, simply asked, "what what makes you feel better?" That is all I needed to hear after 8 years of taking every drug known to man. I just had simple anxiety disorder and needed bzd monotherapy, that's all.
You need a doctor that will listen to what YOU tell them, not what their idea of what medication fits you. Many times docs are puzzled and blame the patient as if they are wrong for their reactions. Remember YOU are the boss, the doc is the employee. Don't wory about a doc that's afraid about "potentialitiy" of drug abuse. The vast majority of the panic population stay with the same dose or even decrease over time. They do not abuse their medications.
This is the boogey man that big pharmecticals have instilled in their pdocs for the last 10 -12 years to push the AD's at the expense of offering the patient bzds on equal foooting with the equally dependenence inducing AD's. The World Health Organisation's report on the drugs with the highest complaint from withdrawal were all AD's and the bzds by far trailed up the rear.
Get a doctor that specialises in anxiety disorders in your area and ask up front if they consider bzds and AD's on at LEAST equal footing in their clinical practice.
If they don't, run, don't walk to the next in line of recommendations.
I've been through this BS with Pdocs and their pushing of AD's at the expense of other meds on an equal footing until I finally found the right person thank God. YOU can do it too. They aren't God's after all, and many are just too lazy or overburdenened with caseloads to find out for themselves how snookered they are by pharm reps and the like.
Please, second and third opinions are common practice everyday in medicine. Why should it be any different in the area of psychotropic drugs - the very drugs that are known the least about and are highly idiosyncratic in people's response to them
The key is proper diagnosis, treatment, and followthrogh. Any doc worth their salt knows this and the ones that have your best interest at heart as an INDIVIDUAL will show you the respect that you deserve.
Best to you,
Alan
Posted by viridis on November 15, 2002, at 2:58:53
In reply to Re: ADD Med advice and LINK. » Alan, posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 23:33:49
Hi Kelranji,
I agree completely with Alan. Many doctors don't seem to have a clue about how to treat mental problems like serious anxiety, depression, or ADD, and blindly prescribe antidepressants (especially SSRIs) for just about anything. I spent years on the antidepressant merry-go-round, never getting better and experiencing severe side effects that several doctors (including both GPs and psychiatrists) either dismissed as "imaginary", "exaggerated", etc. or simply said were unavoidable aspects of the treatment. Antidepressants can be great for some people, but others react very badly.
The only real relief I got was with Xanax, which my former GP would occasionally prescribe very short-term for insomnia. Of course, he (and my current GP) refuse to prescribe Xanax or other benzodiazepines long-term, because they claim they're "addictive".This misguided view has been discussed by Alan, Hiba, me, and many others at great length recently on this board. Not to sound like a broken record, but addiction involves continued use and/or escalation of use of a substance, despite its causing harm to the user. If benzos (or stimulants in the case of ADD) effectively treat the condition and you aren't abusing them (e.g., using them recreationally), then you're not addicted, any more than a diabetic is "addicted" to insulin.
Benzos can cause medical dependency, which means that discontinuation may be difficult, and may require a gradual decrease in the dose over time. This also occurs with antidepressants (especially SSRIs), and recent evidence suggests that it may be more common and severe for SSRIs and related drugs than for benzos. However, when this occurs with antidepressants, drug companies and many doctors like to use the more innocuous-sounding term "discontinuation syndrome", reserving the (mis)use of the term "addiction" for benzos and stimulants (which, perhaps not coincidentally, are off-patent and so are available as inexpensive generics).
Really, your best chance of getting well is to find a doctor (ideally, a psychiatrist) who doesn't have these biases and listens to what his or her patients say. I finally found a psychiatrist with these characteristics -- just by luck. He immediately diagnosed me with a serious anxiety disorder and prescribed Klonopin and Xanax (both benzos). This had a tremendous stabilizing effect, and as I've discussed here many times before, I still use the Klonopin daily at the same low dose that I started with. After over a year it provides the same benefits at 1 mg/day, with no side effects. He cautiously experimented with low-dose SSRIs, and quickly concluded that these were not appropriate drugs for me, even with benzos (after several other doctors had insisted that antidepressants alone were the solution to everything). I suspected for years that I had ADD, and had been diagnosed as such by two therapists previously. He picked up on this too, and prescribed Adderall. It's had a great calming/focusing effect and, like the Klonopin, still works well at a very low dose after nearly a year. He was very careful in prescribing these meds and monitors my use closely, but he and I agree that the improvement has been tremendous, and justifies long-term use of Klonopin, Adderall, and occasional Xanax (lifetime if necessary).
Your condition, reactions to antidepressants, and experiences with doctors sound very much like mine. It's incredibly frustrating, but you just have to find a competent doctor -- this makes all the difference. Again, you're most likely (in my opinion) to be successful with a psychiatrist, but even then, you may have to see several to find one who really understands your situation and isn't afraid to prescribe the appropriate meds.
By the way, I have managed to hold down a pretty successful career as a researcher, but until I got stabilized less than two years ago, it was an incredible struggle. I nearly gave up many times. I lost large parts of every year to severe depression, was anxious the majority of the time with frequent clusters of panic attacks, often couldn't sleep for days at a time, and sometimes couldn't even leave the house. In addition, organization was a huge problem, and the mess/chaos that resulted from ADD just heightened the anxiety and resulting depression. Somehow, I managed to get through and achieve quite a bit in the few months of each year during which I felt motivated and somewhat stable, but life was exhausting. Things aren't perfect now, but at least I can deal with stress fairly rationally, am generally enthusiastic about what I'm doing, and most of all, I don't have to worry constantly about when the next set of panic attacks, major depressive episode, etc. will hit.
With the right doctor, you can get better, and I wish you the best of luck in finding that doctor as soon as possible.
Posted by sjb on November 15, 2002, at 8:18:18
In reply to Does anyone hold a career while on meds??, posted by kelranji on November 13, 2002, at 22:27:52
I here you, boy do I here you. I just stopped Lexapro after initially liking it for the first 6 weeks. It really pooped on me, however, and going up to 20mg per day, only made me sleep more. I'm sick of meds but afraid, too, that my brain is really screwed up now from everything I've tried. I wish I never began down this road and feel helpless. My PDoc said that Lexapro was the last thing to try. I feel like there is no help out there and I'm all alone.
Posted by samenewme on November 15, 2002, at 8:20:27
In reply to Re: ADD Med advice and LINK. » Alan, posted by kelranji on November 14, 2002, at 23:33:49
How about if you make the appointment to be evalutated, say you think you have ADD, and leave it at that at that point? The receptionist making your appointment doesn't need your life story.
Then take some time to sit down and write down what's going on with you: your feelings, symptoms, responses to the drugs you've been given, everything. You can take time to edit it and make it like you want it. Then just hand it to the doctor. You'll be able to get your major points across without worrying that you'll get tongue-tied and leave out something critical.
It may take one or two tries, but you'll find a doctor who "clicks" with you. Hang in there! You deserve good, competent medical care.
> I checked out your link, thanks! The Dr. I am seeing is a Family Practitioner. He did refer me to a pdoc closer to my work. I just don't know what to say when calling to make the appt. Do I mention my self-diagnosis of ADD? Do I bring up the Adderall suggestion? He will probably think I am out for drugs and that I don't really have a problem.
>
> Do I give him my family history and have him assume (once again) that I have genetically inherited depression from my father, only to have another SSRI prescribed? I just know I'll get all tounge tied and start to cry. That will make the whole ordeal worse and make him confident that I am depressed.
>
> Maybe I should just start the Lexapro the FP gave me? I just don't want to feel that feeling agin! Numb, drugged, sleepy, out of it. I can't do it, I just can't.
>
> Thank you again, Alan, for your thorough advice and for your kindness... you have no idea of what your caring means to me.
>
> ~Jenn
>
Posted by Alan on November 15, 2002, at 9:01:58
In reply to Re: ADD Med advice and LINK., posted by samenewme on November 15, 2002, at 8:20:27
This is the end of the thread.
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