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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sonny liston on January 14, 2007, at 11:45:14
I have been on Klonopin for about 6 years for GAD, poor sleep, SAD etc. Also have augmented various add's with K. Right now it's 50 mgs of Zoloft for a low grade generally blah type feeling (anhedonia). Not sure what the term is. Also tired of low sex drive.
What are the thoughts and experiences of just using Xanax XR I.L.O of of Zoloft and K? I realize no one can predict outcomes of drug choices but it's worth hearing some thoughts and ideas.
Posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2007, at 12:31:00
In reply to Xanax XR, posted by sonny liston on January 14, 2007, at 11:45:14
So many anti benzo posts recently. I'm confused myself. I hope someone has some great ideas. Love Phillipa
Posted by nolegirl23 on January 14, 2007, at 19:53:19
In reply to Xanax XR, posted by sonny liston on January 14, 2007, at 11:45:14
> I have been on Klonopin for about 6 years for GAD, poor sleep, SAD etc. Also have augmented various add's with K. Right now it's 50 mgs of Zoloft for a low grade generally blah type feeling (anhedonia). Not sure what the term is. Also tired of low sex drive.
>
> What are the thoughts and experiences of just using Xanax XR I.L.O of of Zoloft and K? I realize no one can predict outcomes of drug choices but it's worth hearing some thoughts and ideas.Xanax XR is a lifesaver for me.
I can actually speak when I am before the judge,
(i work in law enforcement and would get paralyzing panic attacks every time I was in court).
I can relax, it helps with that feeling of helplessness and I don't worry so much about unforeseen circumstances that I cannot control.
I take 4 mg's a day of xanax xr, 40 mgs of lexapro, and I'm starting Lamictal (which i'm not sure about yet)...
Posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 1:08:28
In reply to Xanax XR, posted by sonny liston on January 14, 2007, at 11:45:14
> I have been on Klonopin for about 6 years for GAD, poor sleep, SAD etc. Also have augmented various add's with K. Right now it's 50 mgs of Zoloft for a low grade generally blah type feeling (anhedonia). Not sure what the term is. Also tired of low sex drive.
>
> What are the thoughts and experiences of just using Xanax XR I.L.O of of Zoloft and K? I realize no one can predict outcomes of drug choices but it's worth hearing some thoughts and ideas.
If you haven't been on Xanax to begin with, there is no reason to pay a premium for what is mostly a patent extender and possibly a way to keep a constant blood level for those who are normally taking Xanax up to 4x a day.
I still believe that Xanax in any mode is one of those agents best reserved for the nastiest days, a PRN, like Ativan because of its immediacy effects. But, some people respond better to Xanax than any other regularly prescribed benzodiazepine (Klonopin, Valium, etc.).At least it does have somewhere around a 24 hour half life like Valium. In general, longer acting agents are better because they, not always so of course, prolong the possibility of habituation and interdosal withdrawal which can be a problem with regular Xanax, Tranxene, Ativan, etc.
-- Jay
Posted by sonny liston on January 15, 2007, at 9:25:09
In reply to Re: Xanax XR » sonny liston, posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 1:08:28
Hi Jay,
How is going? Could you share a bit about your meds
Are you on Zoloft or Cymbalta? Or am totally off target here.
Thanks,
J
> > I have been on Klonopin for about 6 years for GAD, poor sleep, SAD etc. Also have augmented various add's with K. Right now it's 50 mgs of Zoloft for a low grade generally blah type feeling (anhedonia). Not sure what the term is. Also tired of low sex drive.
> >
> > What are the thoughts and experiences of just using Xanax XR I.L.O of of Zoloft and K? I realize no one can predict outcomes of drug choices but it's worth hearing some thoughts and ideas.
>
>
> If you haven't been on Xanax to begin with, there is no reason to pay a premium for what is mostly a patent extender and possibly a way to keep a constant blood level for those who are normally taking Xanax up to 4x a day.
>
>
> I still believe that Xanax in any mode is one of those agents best reserved for the nastiest days, a PRN, like Ativan because of its immediacy effects. But, some people respond better to Xanax than any other regularly prescribed benzodiazepine (Klonopin, Valium, etc.).
>
> At least it does have somewhere around a 24 hour half life like Valium. In general, longer acting agents are better because they, not always so of course, prolong the possibility of habituation and interdosal withdrawal which can be a problem with regular Xanax, Tranxene, Ativan, etc.
>
> -- Jay
Posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 13:53:53
In reply to Re: yxibow, posted by sonny liston on January 15, 2007, at 9:25:09
> Hi Jay,
>
> How is going? Could you share a bit about your meds
>
> Are you on Zoloft or Cymbalta? Or am totally off target here.I'm on a polypharmacy set of medications, three of which are not solely of a psychiatric nature. Cymbalta, Seroquel, Valium, Neurontin, Ambien (tapering down with Rozerem) and Robaxin. Also PRN Xanax, PRN Akineton and Artane, PRN Clonidine (all of the PRN which I don't regularly take more than once a day or once or twice a week)
I have Somatiform NOS (not otherwise specified) concomitant with MDD (major depressive disorder, secondary to the prior likely but could be solo), five years now, basically my brain can't filter out visuality (headlights, fluorescent, brightness and contrast and patterns, etc) as others would in an instant, and as I would have before this sprung opon me. It is in the spectrum of OC disorders, but is not a psychosis and is not very much in my control.
That is a summary of things, I have written up more about my disorder in several recent postings.
I have taken Zoloft once I think in the past, in college, I don't remember offhand.
How is it going -- well I wish I could have my prior life back and not be trapped inside a life-robbing disorder, but I have made progress, and at least my doctors if not myself believe that more social and outward interaction will both push away at least a portion of the disorder and allow me to cope with however long it may be.
I still have my mind and intellect intact, I am just hampered by distraction which makes day to day life not what it should be, and not where I should be at 31. I should be at a stage where I have a high level position, a life partner, and all of the above but there has been a gap in life.
I am fortunate to be an only child and have parents, albeit a bit older than some others would have at this point, who can care for me. On the other hand, it would have been nice to have a sibling but that wasn't in the picture.
So that's the story from here. I hope that helps -- and I hope you can be helped by your doctor and your medications.
I can sympathize with GAD, I generally fall in the anxiety spectrum (having lifetime OCD and probable tad of GAD), and I probably haven't had a "good nights sleep" since I was 8 or something, I am an insomniac. And I suppose the depressive nature of my disorder and some of the medications probably too unfortunately contribute to somewhat of an anhedonic, blunted sense of life.
As for the low sex drive, for me it comes as much psychologically (I'd prefer my weight to be less as past medicine has contributed to a state I've never been in before, fighting it at the gym), as much as some blockade from the medication. Some years ago I was on Wellbutrin and I can say quite the opposite about sex drive, good heavens that stuff can rev someone up, but we needn't go there. But it was too much eventually in terms of anxiety generating and rather spectacular insomnia, so that was dropped. But sometimes psychiatrists add a small dose of Wellbutrin to those on SSRIs to help with libido. Conversely, those with premature ejaculation, hyperactive libido, etc, are sometimes given a low dose of an SSRI.
ILO I assume means in lieu of -- I don't think that in the long term Xanax will shrink anhedonia. Sure, in the short run any euphoric substance will lift things and make one feel less depressed but in the long run benzodiazepines can contribute to fatigue of their own (not saying that it isn't important for GAD) depending on one's reaction to them -- some people claim Klonopin is depressive, others are sort of neutral on that. I think some sort of antidepressant and /or AED (other than a benzodiazepine) is probably needed for anhedonia.
-- tidings
Posted by sonny liston on January 15, 2007, at 14:23:46
In reply to Re: yxibow » sonny liston, posted by yxibow on January 15, 2007, at 13:53:53
> > Hi Jay,
> >
> > How is going? Could you share a bit about your meds
> >
> > Are you on Zoloft or Cymbalta? Or am totally off target here.
>
> I'm on a polypharmacy set of medications, three of which are not solely of a psychiatric nature. Cymbalta, Seroquel, Valium, Neurontin, Ambien (tapering down with Rozerem) and Robaxin. Also PRN Xanax, PRN Akineton and Artane, PRN Clonidine (all of the PRN which I don't regularly take more than once a day or once or twice a week)
>
> I have Somatiform NOS (not otherwise specified) concomitant with MDD (major depressive disorder, secondary to the prior likely but could be solo), five years now, basically my brain can't filter out visuality (headlights, fluorescent, brightness and contrast and patterns, etc) as others would in an instant, and as I would have before this sprung opon me. It is in the spectrum of OC disorders, but is not a psychosis and is not very much in my control.
>
> That is a summary of things, I have written up more about my disorder in several recent postings.
>
> I have taken Zoloft once I think in the past, in college, I don't remember offhand.
>
> How is it going -- well I wish I could have my prior life back and not be trapped inside a life-robbing disorder, but I have made progress, and at least my doctors if not myself believe that more social and outward interaction will both push away at least a portion of the disorder and allow me to cope with however long it may be.
>
> I still have my mind and intellect intact, I am just hampered by distraction which makes day to day life not what it should be, and not where I should be at 31. I should be at a stage where I have a high level position, a life partner, and all of the above but there has been a gap in life.
>
> I am fortunate to be an only child and have parents, albeit a bit older than some others would have at this point, who can care for me. On the other hand, it would have been nice to have a sibling but that wasn't in the picture.
>
> So that's the story from here. I hope that helps -- and I hope you can be helped by your doctor and your medications.
>
> I can sympathize with GAD, I generally fall in the anxiety spectrum (having lifetime OCD and probable tad of GAD), and I probably haven't had a "good nights sleep" since I was 8 or something, I am an insomniac. And I suppose the depressive nature of my disorder and some of the medications probably too unfortunately contribute to somewhat of an anhedonic, blunted sense of life.
>
>
> As for the low sex drive, for me it comes as much psychologically (I'd prefer my weight to be less as past medicine has contributed to a state I've never been in before, fighting it at the gym), as much as some blockade from the medication. Some years ago I was on Wellbutrin and I can say quite the opposite about sex drive, good heavens that stuff can rev someone up, but we needn't go there. But it was too much eventually in terms of anxiety generating and rather spectacular insomnia, so that was dropped. But sometimes psychiatrists add a small dose of Wellbutrin to those on SSRIs to help with libido. Conversely, those with premature ejaculation, hyperactive libido, etc, are sometimes given a low dose of an SSRI.
>
>
> ILO I assume means in lieu of -- I don't think that in the long term Xanax will shrink anhedonia. Sure, in the short run any euphoric substance will lift things and make one feel less depressed but in the long run benzodiazepines can contribute to fatigue of their own (not saying that it isn't important for GAD) depending on one's reaction to them -- some people claim Klonopin is depressive, others are sort of neutral on that. I think some sort of antidepressant and /or AED (other than a benzodiazepine) is probably needed for anhedonia.
>
>
> -- tidings
Jay thanks for sharing. I know it's not easy sometimes.My Doc prefers K over Xanax that's why I'm on it. She will "RX" it if a new patient comes in and is already on it, but prefers K for anxiety patients who have never tried a benzo.
Like so many I'm maybe looking for something that doesn't exsist. A med to help with anxiety/sleep without causing sedation or stimulation or sexual dysfunction and oh yes some antidepressant properties.
Stay positve and be the best person you can be.
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2007, at 18:28:13
In reply to Re: yxibow, posted by sonny liston on January 15, 2007, at 14:23:46
Just had to add that for approxiamately l0 years of my benzo life were 2mg of xanax and it worked fine for anxiety and I was not depressed. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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