Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 703182

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Meds suddenly not working?

Posted by inthegloaming on November 13, 2006, at 16:10:32

Hi all,

So I've been on 40mgs of Prozac for the past... 4 years. 20mgs for about a year and a half before that. All for anxiety, which stemmed from the death of my mother at age 8. Over the years, my anxiety ran rampant to different degrees until, at 17, I decide that I wasn't going to subject myself to it anymore and went on the meds.

Now, five years later, I'm sitting here, miles from home, finally out on my own with my own job/apartment/kitten, freaking out. Can barely eat--have just stopped crying in the past couple of days, panicking, etc. I think it stems from realizing that I don't have a support system here and feeling intensely lonely. But these meds are suppose to work! I can't do this anymore and I want to renew the pledge I did at 17--this is going to STOP.

But I'd like to know--Does this happen? Can you really build up a tolerance to your meds or have them suddenly cease to work? Is this normal? I don't have a pdoc here yet--insurance reasons which will be resolved by December--so my hands are tied in that respect at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions? Been in my shoes?

Thanks for letting me rant.

--g

 

Re: Meds suddenly not working? » inthegloaming

Posted by yxibow on November 13, 2006, at 17:02:57

In reply to Meds suddenly not working?, posted by inthegloaming on November 13, 2006, at 16:10:32

> Hi all,
>
> So I've been on 40mgs of Prozac for the past... 4 years. 20mgs for about a year and a half before that. All for anxiety, which stemmed from the death of my mother at age 8. Over the years, my anxiety ran rampant to different degrees until, at 17, I decide that I wasn't going to subject myself to it anymore and went on the meds.
>
> Now, five years later, I'm sitting here, miles from home, finally out on my own with my own job/apartment/kitten, freaking out. Can barely eat--have just stopped crying in the past couple of days, panicking, etc. I think it stems from realizing that I don't have a support system here and feeling intensely lonely.


You have probably hit it on the nail. At home you had a support system. Something triggered an outbreak and what you are experiencing is breakthrough anxiety and panic.


But these meds are suppose to work! I can't do this anymore and I want to renew the pledge I did at 17--this is going to STOP.
>
> But I'd like to know--Does this happen? Can you really build up a tolerance to your meds or have them suddenly cease to work? Is this normal?


It doesn't mean they have ceased to "work." They may not be enough for you now or the right choice now because your brain chemistry has shifted while your medication has stayed the same.


I don't have a pdoc here yet--insurance reasons which will be resolved by December--so my hands are tied in that respect at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions? Been in my shoes?


I can't say I have lived away that long, yet, but I have been independent for periods and yes, it eventually builds up for me that the peter pan syndrome lying dormant never gives up. Its a hard thing in life to discover yourself, and give yourself a new identity that is truly your own. It is one of those parts of life that everybody, even those without biological disorders, has experienced.


I hate to say to sit tight until December, but unfortunately I can't advise you to do certain things with certain pharmacies that Dr. Bob doesn't like. There are alternative treatments like Kava but they should never be taken more than like once or twice a week, it is bad on the liver.


But before it spirals out of control, there are self-help books that you can read to try to 1) do relaxation therapy (its not hooey), 2) know what to do when panic sets in -- that's really the most important. If you let the panic get you, it will take you running. Get out, take a walk. Take a long walk. Do something different when they come up. And good luck and when the next month comes around get yourself a good referral for a doctor in your area and you will have already started on your way.

> Thanks for letting me rant.
>
> --g

Not a worry.


-- Jay

 

Re: Meds suddenly not working?yxibow

Posted by inthegloaming on November 13, 2006, at 18:39:43

In reply to Re: Meds suddenly not working? » inthegloaming, posted by yxibow on November 13, 2006, at 17:02:57

> You have probably hit it on the nail. At home >you had a support system. Something triggered an >outbreak and what you are experiencing is >breakthrough anxiety and panic.

Yes. I think you're right. I met someone out here that I put a lot of trust into and broke down on her and it turned out it was a baaaad idea... She has a crazy ex and it triggered stuff in her and I felt super bad about it. We're still friends, which is good, and she's as supportive as she can be, but sometimes she'll say things like "why do you always make things so complicated for yourself?" etc. etc. that don't really help.


> It doesn't mean they have ceased to "work." >They may not be enough for you now or the right >choice now because your brain chemistry has >shifted while your medication has stayed the >same.


Yeah. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Don't know if it was the right choice of pill for me in the first place anyway. Siigh.

> I hate to say to sit tight until December, but unfortunately I can't advise you to do certain things with certain pharmacies that Dr. Bob doesn't like. There are alternative treatments like Kava but they should never be taken more than like once or twice a week, it is bad on the liver.
>

Unfortunately, I can't take anything that would be hard on the liver, as I've got a medical condition that has me taking meds that can damage the liver as well. Don't want to risk it! I have to get liver screens every 3 months--ick.

I did, however, call my MD back home. She recommends Celexa and has phoned me in a scrip. Unfortunately, I can't take it til Friday since I've got a driver's test on Thurs. In the meantime, I took the last of the medication I've been perscribed for flying--Buspar, 10mgs and it's starting to take effect. The clench is gone from my stomach. I can gaze happily at my kitten, asleep in her cat tree. I feel better.

Thanks for your kind words, Jay. They have helped a lot!

Best,

-g

 

Re: Meds suddenly not working?

Posted by blueberry on November 13, 2006, at 19:39:05

In reply to Meds suddenly not working?, posted by inthegloaming on November 13, 2006, at 16:10:32

Every serotonin based med I've ever used has lost its power over time. There is a word for it that I can't remember, but our genetics have a built-in system to restore itself to its original being. In other words, if you increase serotonin and it helps, eventually the body is going to make other adjustments to compensate for all the extra serotonin, and the end result is you are back where you started. It's not that the drug poops out, but rather the body readjusts other things to compensate for the change the drug created.

If the poopout change is rather sudden, it could be a subtle sign of bipolar rather than just unipolar, even if massive swings or true mania have never happened. The sudden poopout could be a major swing down in the bipolar cycle, but has been dampened by the drug. It could be it may have been much worse without the med, or it could be the med itself is guilty party tripping the bipolar switch. This stuff is all too complicated for me. Nobody really knows.

 

Re: Meds suddenly not working?

Posted by elanor roosevelt on November 13, 2006, at 22:45:02

In reply to Re: Meds suddenly not working?, posted by blueberry on November 13, 2006, at 19:39:05

i'm glad to hear you are switching to celexa
at first you might be edgy but an excess energy kind of thing and celexa allows a good sense of future

whatever you do, stay away from effexor -- it doesn't work with people who have fear issues

if your doctor hasn't given you something to take the edge off the first few weeks of celexa there is always bendryl
good luck
celexa was my favorite

 

Re: Meds suddenly not working? » elanor roosevelt

Posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 23:07:29

In reply to Re: Meds suddenly not working?, posted by elanor roosevelt on November 13, 2006, at 22:45:02

Really effexor is bad for fear? Love Phillipa


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