![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 14:04:53
After many months of not drinking, I am in the depths of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Tonight I'll have a few beers. I know alcohol works, although there are cumulative side-effects, but I've given everything else a good try and they don't work. How else can I reclaim some quality of life?
Posted by utopizen on January 30, 2003, at 14:21:47
In reply to the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 14:04:53
> After many months of not drinking, I am in the depths of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Tonight I'll have a few beers. I know alcohol works, although there are cumulative side-effects, but I've given everything else a good try and they don't work. How else can I reclaim some quality of life?
Benzos are approved for alcohol withdrawl. Have you tried those?
Also, Zofran will kill your cravings. Have you tried that????
Otherwise, you haven't tried "all" the medications. For goodness sake, take a low-dose of Ablify if you have to for anxiety. I'm doing that, and I never, ever drank alone before. I hope you do well, and support your efforts. But to support you is to tell you, never cop-out. Coming to this board, clearly you demonstrate that you know better.
Posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 14:36:30
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by utopizen on January 30, 2003, at 14:21:47
Benzo's? I said I've tried everything. That is except ECT and suicide. I'm not about to try suicide though. Craving for alcohol isn't a problem. I don't know Zofran. Is that like Naltrexone? What's Abilify? And are you saying that someone having suicidal thoughts isn't motiviated enough to qualify for this board?
Posted by utopizen on January 30, 2003, at 15:22:39
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 14:36:30
> Benzo's? I said I've tried everything. That is except ECT and suicide. I'm not about to try suicide though. Craving for alcohol isn't a problem. I don't know Zofran. Is that like Naltrexone? What's Abilify? And are you saying that someone having suicidal thoughts isn't motiviated enough to qualify for this board?
>What are you referring to? I was giving you suggestions! As in, helping you with advice.
If you went to have Cognitive Behavorial Therapy, they would nag you far worse than my rants about what med to try. I hope you are trying with CBT.
Moreover, you should try talking with your doc about a low-dose of Ablify. A top psychopharmacologist yesterday told me it's okay, and low-doses don't pose the sorts of risks I was afraid of getting (tardive dyskensia, etc.) This will help anxiety, but I know nothing of depression.
Have you, um, tried smoking green things? I mean, I've tried a dozen different meds for a year and a half, but given the fact that there's hundreds of psychotropics out there, I realize the word "all" and "dozen" are not the same.
This isn't meant to be a dis, it's meant to support you-- perhaps CBT will help you understand, perhaps when you thought you were being given trouble, you were being given a good thing. For example, my doc told me the postive aspects about anxiety...
Posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 15:37:11
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by utopizen on January 30, 2003, at 15:22:39
Thanks. What class of drug is Abilify
Posted by jumpy on January 30, 2003, at 16:02:41
In reply to the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 14:04:53
> After many months of not drinking, I am in the depths of depression, anxiety and fatigue. Tonight I'll have a few beers. I know alcohol works, although there are cumulative side-effects, but I've given everything else a good try and they don't work. How else can I reclaim some quality of life?
Hey Fred,
Sorry your going through such a rough time. May I ask a couple of questions ....
What happened when you took Nardil and Marplan?
What happened when you augmented a TCA with lithium?Those meds are often helpful for many "treatment resistant patients" .... It would be interesting to see what happened in your case.
Jumpy
Posted by jumpy on January 30, 2003, at 16:06:54
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 15:37:11
All that being said .... I might go have a beer tonight too! Sam Adams is great! Jumpy
Posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 16:37:33
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best » FredPotter, posted by jumpy on January 30, 2003, at 16:02:41
Jumpy thanks for your reply. I took Marplan years ago and it didn't help and gave bad side-effects (weight gain and anorgasmia). I've been on Nortriptyline and Lithium for 6 months and no improvement has occurred. I have a kind Dr and he lets me take Xanax prn. That helps slightly. I was led to believe my problems were all caused by alcohol. I thought then they weren't. Now I know they're not. So it's a 6-pack of Speight's Gold tonight
Posted by utopizen on January 30, 2003, at 17:03:29
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 16:37:33
>> Now I know they're not. So it's a 6-pack of Speight's Gold tonight
>>I'm in college, and we always make jokes about people who drink by themselves (we don't know anyone, but now and then we use sarcasm on people we know don't drink alone).
Anyway, I always wondered why older folks drink alone. I don't seem to feel any kind of effect outside of the socializing aspect of it...
Posted by jumpy on January 30, 2003, at 17:05:25
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 16:37:33
> Jumpy thanks for your reply. I took Marplan years ago and it didn't help and gave bad side-effects (weight gain and anorgasmia). I've been on Nortriptyline and Lithium for 6 months and no improvement has occurred. I have a kind Dr and he lets me take Xanax prn. That helps slightly. I was led to believe my problems were all caused by alcohol. I thought then they weren't. Now I know they're not. So it's a 6-pack of Speight's Gold tonight
Hey Fred,
Well, I like you have been on every med as well. Only nardil and lithium/imipramine worked for me. I have had ECT too .... that worked well. If you want to email me about ECT and a doctor I know of that could potentially help you .... feel free at Jumpy1236@aol.com. Otherwise, enjoy the Speight's Gold (never heard of that beer before?)
Jumpy
Posted by djmmm on January 30, 2003, at 17:09:16
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 16:37:33
Have you tried a TCA augmented with a low dose of a MAOI? or a MAOI and Klonopin...
You say you take xanax prn...you would probably benefit froma longer acting benzo like klonopin or valium, which are much easier on your brain.
..ask your doc about Ultram (tramadol)
Look into ALL the GABA drugs (Neurontin, Topamax, Zonegran, tegretol, lamictal, dilantin, etc)
Posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 17:14:49
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best, posted by djmmm on January 30, 2003, at 17:09:16
Thanks for the tips. I haven't tried ANY GABA drugs apart from alcohol and benzos. I was told Neurontin was too expensive in New Zealand to even consider. Is Ultram one of these opioids (like morphine without the fun)?
Posted by Caleb462 on January 30, 2003, at 23:17:25
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best » djmmm, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 17:14:49
> Is Ultram one of these opioids (like morphine without the fun)?
You got it.
Man I could really go for some morphine right about now... and some hydrocodone, a little oxycodone, with a hint of meperidine, a touch of hydromorphone and a splash of codeine on the side.
Yum.
Posted by djmmm on January 31, 2003, at 8:08:58
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best » djmmm, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 17:14:49
> Thanks for the tips. I haven't tried ANY GABA drugs apart from alcohol and benzos. I was told Neurontin was too expensive in New Zealand to even consider. Is Ultram one of these opioids (like morphine without the fun)?
Neurontin is VERY expensive in the states, too. I think when I took it, it was something like $350.00
Ultram is an opioid, but it also has serotonin and norepinephrine activity.
Posted by HIBA on February 2, 2003, at 3:48:17
In reply to Re: the oldest anxiolytic and still the best » djmmm, posted by FredPotter on January 30, 2003, at 17:14:49
I could notice something in your earlier thread that you got slightly better on Xanax. So what is the problem with going with Xanax ? Both alprazolam and adinazolam have unique antidepressant properties, and I am sure you will benefit from them. Xanax monotherapy should be given a trial. The dose required should be a little higher, which a benzophobic doctor will never prescribe, so try to find a sensible psychiatrist. Alcohol is never going to be an option, rather it will only add to the complication later on.
Good luck, and take care
HIBA
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.