Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Boba Fat on June 9, 2003, at 20:55:11
I am beginning to develop a problem taking Opites, benzos and sedating antihistamines as these drugs are the only things that really lift my anxiety and inhibitions. I am getting a little worried now about overuse and possible addiction problems. Is there anything prescription wise that I can take to take my mind off these drugs and that can offer similar mood brightening and anxyiolitic properties. I do not want to talk to my doctor just yet about this issue as it is far from being a major problem just yet and I do not want it to go on my permanant medical records.
Posted by Caleb462 on June 9, 2003, at 21:09:18
In reply to Opiates and benzo's, posted by Boba Fat on June 9, 2003, at 20:55:11
Have you asked your doctor about Klonopin? It is a benzo, but you can stay on it long-term without developing tolerance to the anti-anxiety effects. Klonopin is a great drug for many people. Of course, if there's a good chance you would abuse it - stay away.
Are you on an anti-depressant/anxiotylic right now? Getting a good response from an AD would certainly help, as you would no longer "need" these drugs as much.
Oh, and as far as sedating anti-histamines go... there's really no harm in using these. Vistaril, chemical name hydroxyzine, has been shown effective for *some* people in treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder long-term. Hydroxyzine is a sedating anti-histamine. Doctors have no qualms about prescribing it either, since it is not a benzo and lacks "abuse potential". It isn't the greatest anxiotylic in the world, but if you find that anti-histamines give you relief, you might wanna ask your doctor about it.
Have you tried tricyclic anti-depressants? Most tricyclics are anti-histaminic, and have additional anti-anxiety effects as well (alpha-1 antagonism, serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibition).
Posted by Boba Fat on June 9, 2003, at 21:26:03
In reply to Re: Opiates and benzo's, posted by Caleb462 on June 9, 2003, at 21:09:18
Hi caleb thanks for the advice. I have been on all the SSRI's and TCA wise I have tried clomipramine and dothiepin. None of them have helped so I don't use them any more. Besides I am on a restricted e-number diet so a lot of these drugs are no good for me (dothiepin is chock full of colours, preservatives and wheat starch). I actually use Klonopin, I didn't realise there were less chance of tolerance with this drug compared to others besides I try to force myself not to take it every day. The codeine, klonopin and Nytol (the same as US benadryl) I use contains none of the bad additives which is why I take them. I want to try a new AD but I have to be careful because a lot of my problems are caused by artificial additives, preservatives and binding ingredients. I don't know what I could take. I like the thought of taking wellbutrin but it is rarely used as an AD in the UK. If I could get it I would combine it with occasional antihistamine and Klonopin use. I am also looking forward to the arrival of Duloxetine and Pregabalin (assuming I can take them). Does anybody know when these drugs might be actually available?
I find myself taking codeine, klonopin and or Nytol most days and frankly I am a little worried but conventional AD treatment is yet to work for me.
Posted by Caleb462 on June 10, 2003, at 0:21:39
In reply to Re: Opiates and benzo's, duloxetine and pregabalin, posted by Boba Fat on June 9, 2003, at 21:26:03
> Hi caleb thanks for the advice. I have been on all the SSRI's and TCA wise I have tried clomipramine and dothiepin. None of them have helped so I don't use them any more. Besides I am on a restricted e-number diet so a lot of these drugs are no good for me (dothiepin is chock full of colours, preservatives and wheat starch). I actually use Klonopin, I didn't realise there were less chance of tolerance with this drug compared to others besides I try to force myself not to take it every day.
There is nothing wrong with taking Klonopin everyday. You WILL become physically dependant, that's inevitable - and if one day you decide to come off, you will have to withdrawl slowly and cautiously. Tolerance will develop to the sedating effects of Klonopin, however, most people find that the relief from anxiety stays the same, even after years of use. The same could be said for all benzos, but Klonopin has the advantage of a longer half-life, making it a smoother drug and less prone to be abused (as opposed to say, Xanax). If you trust your self to find the right dose, and keep it there, using Klonopin everday is a fine strategy. Of course, your doctor has to approve of this as well.
>The codeine, klonopin and Nytol (the same as US benadryl) I use contains none of the bad additives which is why I take them.
I see.. well again, taking an anti-histamine everyday should pose no problem. And I've already discussed Klonopin. Codeine, of course, could cause some problems. I know how it is with opiates/opiods... I love em. But I've mostly stopped using them, due to lack of availability for one, but also because I know it is just a downward spiral of tolerance, addiction, withdrawl, etc.
>I want to try a new AD but I have to be careful because a lot of my problems are caused by artificial additives, preservatives and binding ingredients. I don't know what I could take. I like the thought of taking wellbutrin but it is rarely used as an AD in the UK. If I could get it I would combine it with occasional antihistamine and Klonopin use.
That sounds like a fine plan to me!
>I am also looking forward to the arrival of Duloxetine and Pregabalin (assuming I can take them). Does anybody know when these drugs might be actually available?Nope, sorry.
> I find myself taking codeine, klonopin and or Nytol most days and frankly I am a little worried but conventional AD treatment is yet to work for me.
You might also wanna consider supplementing some vitamins/minerals, etc. Magnesium can be sedating at times, and is good for sleep - I haven't found it terribly effective for anxiety, but many others have. The B vitamins are considered good for depression/anxiety issues. And omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil might help as well. Niacinamide binds to the same receptors that benzodiazepines do, you might wanna give it a try. There's a ton of threads on this board about vitamin/mineral/herb supplementation, just do a search and you'll find em, well some of em atleast - the recent ones may not show up.
Posted by samplemethod on June 10, 2003, at 5:10:07
In reply to Re: Opiates and benzo's, duloxetine and pregabalin, posted by Caleb462 on June 10, 2003, at 0:21:39
Hi,
Does anyone know of any vits/minerals etc, that act like an antihistamine?
I wonder if anti histamines work well for me....anyone suggest an antihistamine (preferably generic name, not brand name) that is weak, as in a good starter ..... I just wanna try one out and see how it goes? ANd how I feel
Cheers
sampleM
> > Hi caleb thanks for the advice. I have been on all the SSRI's and TCA wise I have tried clomipramine and dothiepin. None of them have helped so I don't use them any more. Besides I am on a restricted e-number diet so a lot of these drugs are no good for me (dothiepin is chock full of colours, preservatives and wheat starch). I actually use Klonopin, I didn't realise there were less chance of tolerance with this drug compared to others besides I try to force myself not to take it every day.
>
> There is nothing wrong with taking Klonopin everyday. You WILL become physically dependant, that's inevitable - and if one day you decide to come off, you will have to withdrawl slowly and cautiously. Tolerance will develop to the sedating effects of Klonopin, however, most people find that the relief from anxiety stays the same, even after years of use. The same could be said for all benzos, but Klonopin has the advantage of a longer half-life, making it a smoother drug and less prone to be abused (as opposed to say, Xanax). If you trust your self to find the right dose, and keep it there, using Klonopin everday is a fine strategy. Of course, your doctor has to approve of this as well.
>
> >The codeine, klonopin and Nytol (the same as US benadryl) I use contains none of the bad additives which is why I take them.
>
> I see.. well again, taking an anti-histamine everyday should pose no problem. And I've already discussed Klonopin. Codeine, of course, could cause some problems. I know how it is with opiates/opiods... I love em. But I've mostly stopped using them, due to lack of availability for one, but also because I know it is just a downward spiral of tolerance, addiction, withdrawl, etc.
>
> >I want to try a new AD but I have to be careful because a lot of my problems are caused by artificial additives, preservatives and binding ingredients. I don't know what I could take. I like the thought of taking wellbutrin but it is rarely used as an AD in the UK. If I could get it I would combine it with occasional antihistamine and Klonopin use.
>
>
> That sounds like a fine plan to me!
>
>
> >I am also looking forward to the arrival of Duloxetine and Pregabalin (assuming I can take them). Does anybody know when these drugs might be actually available?
>
> Nope, sorry.
>
> > I find myself taking codeine, klonopin and or Nytol most days and frankly I am a little worried but conventional AD treatment is yet to work for me.
>
> You might also wanna consider supplementing some vitamins/minerals, etc. Magnesium can be sedating at times, and is good for sleep - I haven't found it terribly effective for anxiety, but many others have. The B vitamins are considered good for depression/anxiety issues. And omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil might help as well. Niacinamide binds to the same receptors that benzodiazepines do, you might wanna give it a try. There's a ton of threads on this board about vitamin/mineral/herb supplementation, just do a search and you'll find em, well some of em atleast - the recent ones may not show up.
>
Posted by paxvox on June 10, 2003, at 17:46:46
In reply to Opiates and benzo's, posted by Boba Fat on June 9, 2003, at 20:55:11
You would REALLY need to say how much of what you are taking for me to give you an answer of any substance. I have used opiates/opioids as antidepressants "off-lable", as well as, and in combination with benzos and antihistamines, so I think I know what you are talking about. I firmly believe that mainstream medicine will never embrace the antidepressant capacity of the fruit of the papaver somniferum (POPPY) plant. My advice, and it is JUST THAT, MY advice, is that if YOU think it is a problem, then it probably IS a problem. Some people, like myself, can gradually reduce the med level to prevent nasty withdrawal problems. Others don't have the ability to do that on their own. For those folks, I would recommend that they NEVER mess with addictive substances. If your problem is dealing with URGES to use, then that can be dealt with with several AD meds that reduce cravings. I have found that both SSRI AD meds as well as Wellbutrin can be VERY helpful in reducing cravings (no accident that WB and Zyban are the exact same drug). For myself, I will go on and off those meds from time to time, when available. But I know that it could never be a long-term solution for me.
PAX
Posted by Caleb462 on June 10, 2003, at 22:13:53
In reply to Re: Opiates and benzo's, ANTI-histamine?, posted by samplemethod on June 10, 2003, at 5:10:07
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know of any vits/minerals etc, that act like an antihistamine?I don't know of any.
> I wonder if anti histamines work well for me....anyone suggest an antihistamine (preferably generic name, not brand name) that is weak, as in a good starter ..... I just wanna try one out and see how it goes? ANd how I feel
>
> Cheers
>
> sampleMGeneric diphenhydramine. Brand names - Benadryl, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM.
25-50 mg.
Posted by Boba Fat on June 11, 2003, at 9:28:22
In reply to Re: Opiates and benzo's, posted by paxvox on June 10, 2003, at 17:46:46
I think I thought it was more of a problem when I posted than I do now. I try not to use benzo's, codeine and nytol everyday and usually most days I don't. Its just recently with my sleeping problems I have been taking a lot of the stuff on a night - which to me is a bit of a waste as I prefer to use it for socialising (SA) and don't like the thought of a tolerance building.
I will try some magnesium for sleep and consider wellbutrin as an AD, I think.
This is the end of the thread.
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