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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 8:52:09
To make a long story short.I originally took the SSRI Paxil and Klonopin for over 7 years.That combination worked perfectly for my "then" mild depression, moderate anxiety and slight ocd.Then they slowly stopped working.----When the medications originally "slowly" stopped working the first symptoms were restlessness/anxiety, mood was fine.About a year later got clinical depression.----I tried alot of other medications with my psychiatrist,and they either did not work,worked a little etc.--The ONLY medication I take now is xanax 1 mg. 3 times daily.It raises my mood slightly and relaxes me.-My main symptoms are depression and anxiety which are both worse than before I started medications.Physically(as far as I know) I am healthy and I'm a 42 year old male.Any suggestions,views etc.?
Posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:08:05
In reply to Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 8:52:09
Forgot to mention. Now ssris actually make me feel worse or no different than when I do not use them.Something that worked so well turned on me.Also I find taking xanax under the tongue is more effective,not only does it work faster but is more effective than if I just took swallowed it as a regular pill.--I also tend to feel better at night.----I've been off antidepressants for about 2 months.Unlike many other people stories I read,my situation was initially very easy to treat,then turned resistant,years later.
Posted by SLS on May 2, 2009, at 9:18:07
In reply to Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 8:52:09
> To make a long story short.I originally took the SSRI Paxil and Klonopin for over 7 years.That combination worked perfectly for my "then" mild depression, moderate anxiety and slight ocd.Then they slowly stopped working.----When the medications originally "slowly" stopped working the first symptoms were restlessness/anxiety, mood was fine.About a year later got clinical depression.----I tried alot of other medications with my psychiatrist,and they either did not work,worked a little etc.--The ONLY medication I take now is xanax 1 mg. 3 times daily.It raises my mood slightly and relaxes me.-My main symptoms are depression and anxiety which are both worse than before I started medications.Physically(as far as I know) I am healthy and I'm a 42 year old male.Any suggestions,views etc.?
There are two benzodiazepines that have antidepressant properties, both of which are triazolobenzodiazepines. One is Xanax. The other is used as an antidepressant. It is known as adinazolam (Deracyn). I don't know in what countries it is currently sold. I tried adinazolam. It is the cleanest benzodiazepine I have ever taken. I didn't even know I was on it. Unfortunately, it didn't help with my bipolar depression.
- Scott
Posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:21:51
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:08:05
One last point,when medications were working fine.I would occasinally smoke marijuana and loved it.Then marijuana stopped working as well,it made me agitated.I have not smoked it for some time.--Also when I occasionally have a drink or 2 of alcohol I no longer get the nice relaxing feeling I used to get.Moderate alcohol(whiskey,beer) "was" nice and relaxing even before taking medications.Not anymore.Even coffee now has a different effect. Something has really changed.
Posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:24:22
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ? » odon, posted by SLS on May 2, 2009, at 9:18:07
Thanks for your answer Scott,I'm wondering if I could be slightly bi-polar now.My psychiatrist said no since I never really had a manic state.
Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2009, at 12:00:32
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:24:22
Odon you sound a lot like me in many ways. xanax is a mild mood enhancer so it alone worked very well for many years at 2mg a day divided. Then when thyroid turned to hasimotos I needed an ad according to that pdoc so l0mg of paxil three months with that lopressor 25mg and drank my beer and was fine. Returned to work for two years. Then thyroid climbed high and that was it. I guesss the older we get the more problems. Physically people do so I guess mental also. But now my benzos just hold off withdrawal and lowering doses as why take something that just makes me tired? Just added bioidentical hormones. Another option. Phillipa
Posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 14:32:39
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 9:24:22
what other drugs have you tried? i think it is an adrenergic path that is responsible for the AD effect
-d/r
Posted by SLS on May 3, 2009, at 16:03:10
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 14:32:39
> what other drugs have you tried? i think it is an adrenergic path that is responsible for the AD effect
Me too.
- Scott
Posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 23:06:31
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by SLS on May 3, 2009, at 16:03:10
actually i think it has a synergistic effect wiht something else. i'm too lazy but someone should find that paper if interested in taking alprazolam as an AD.
-d/r
Posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 13:50:32
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 14:32:39
What is an adrenergic path?And what medications would be good for that?Since the ssris stopped working I've tried a number of medications.Cymbalta was terrible for me it gave me unwanted thoughts so I quicky stopped taking it.I tried imipramine but looking back I did not take it long enough or at a high enough dose.I tolerated it fine though.Zyprexa was somewhat helpful.Lithium did nothing.--The once great Prozac and Paxil are now almost like taking sugar pills .--Also I don't know if this is related but I used to perspire(sweat) a little more than most people.Now I do not sweat that much at all.
Posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 13:58:37
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 13:50:32
By the way when I took the lithium it was at the same time I was taking Paxil.Then I tried Zypexa(no lithium) to augment the Paxil.
Posted by softheprairie on May 5, 2009, at 7:37:05
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 4, 2009, at 13:50:32
> What is an adrenergic path?And what medications would be good for that?Since the ssris stopped working I've tried a number of medications.Cymbalta was terrible for me it gave me unwanted thoughts so I quicky stopped taking it.I tried imipramine but looking back I did not take it long enough or at a high enough dose.I tolerated it fine though.Zyprexa was somewhat helpful.Lithium did nothing.--The once great Prozac and Paxil are now almost like taking sugar pills .--Also I don't know if this is related but I used to perspire(sweat) a little more than most people.Now I do not sweat that much at all.
I've been pretty pleased with desipramine (now at 300 mg/day) (plus other meds). The only known neurotransmitter it acts on is norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline, I think, right?) _and_ it causes me to sweat profusely at the forehead.
Posted by rvanson on May 9, 2009, at 7:24:15
In reply to Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by odon on May 2, 2009, at 8:52:09
> To make a long story short.I originally took the SSRI Paxil and Klonopin for over 7 years.That combination worked perfectly for my "then" mild depression, moderate anxiety and slight ocd.Then they slowly stopped working.----When the medications originally "slowly" stopped working the first symptoms were restlessness/anxiety, mood was fine.About a year later got clinical depression.----I tried alot of other medications with my psychiatrist,and they either did not work,worked a little etc.--The ONLY medication I take now is xanax 1 mg. 3 times daily.It raises my mood slightly and relaxes me.-My main symptoms are depression and anxiety which are both worse than before I started medications.Physically(as far as I know) I am healthy and I'm a 42 year old male.Any suggestions,views etc.?
Yeah, I have to share a thought. After 26 years of more or less using Xanax, it has become near impossible to be precribed it by the new breed of MD who think they know it all. BTW, I was origanally presecribed Xanax back in the day by the same kind of know-it-alls Pdocs who handed out Xanax like candy.
Dont get me wrong.
Xanax does work and it works for more people more often then most Psych meds I have witnessed with fewer SE's, but now that the UK benzophobia has crossed the "Pond" to the US, you need to use the word "panic attacks" when speaking to your doctor about your illness or you may well not be on Alprazolam (Xanax) much longer.
We are all "addicted" or "dependant", now that Xanax is sold on the streets to "get high", or at least according to some doctors.
Oh, and the fact that it's dirt cheap with an Rx has NOTHING to do with this, while the new breed of Pdocs write you out a new Rx for something nice and expensive, like Zyprexa or Seroquel which are high dollar items and put a few more vactions and nice-to-have items in their pockets.
Funny about that "addicted" thing too.
I *never* get high on X-X; I just get some decent sleep and can function at my work without all the nervousness that limited my behavior _BEFORE_ Xanax ever hit the market in 1982.
Oh well, we can't let a few people who work for a living be less anxious, when we have junkies on the streets "getting high on Xanax". Supposedly.
According to _who_, exactly?
They must be taking lots and lots of the stuff too, because if I really wanted to "get down with it", it would not be with the medication, Xanax.
Posted by rvanson on May 9, 2009, at 7:41:00
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ?, posted by desolationrower on May 3, 2009, at 23:06:31
> actually i think it has a synergistic effect wiht something else. i'm too lazy but someone should find that paper if interested in taking alprazolam as an AD.
>
> -d/rXanax, when it hit the markets in 1982, was marketed as a benzodiazepine with an anti-depressant "Punch". For once the drug companies were truthful, at least in my case, as it was my first successful triumph over anxiety
Xanax has allowed me to cope with a post adolescent severe depression/anxiety syndrome for well past half my life span now, and maintain a working level position in life that would otherwise not be possible.
I can and will throw any Pdoc to the dirt that wishes to point fingers at me, as some kind of an addict, just for wanting to cut the nervousness out of my life.
If I am an addict then so are millions of people who depend on all types medications to stay alive, which is what I am left with, in this illness that I did nothing to bring about by my own volition.
I attended all four years of my high-school never having even smoked a "joint" (Marijuana) or anything else, unlike my fellow classmates.
Here is my high salute to anyone who doesn't like what I just posted:
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/'_'/' '/'__'7,
/'/ / / /" /_\
('( ' /' ')
\ /
'\' _.7'
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Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2009, at 20:09:51
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ? » desolationrower, posted by rvanson on May 9, 2009, at 7:41:00
I totally agree with you never got high at all on xanax. Just functional. Ad's made me so loopy couldn't function and was so relieved to stop them. Now just maintain the tiny 50mg of luvox. Phillipa
Posted by rvanson on May 10, 2009, at 4:55:19
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ? » rvanson, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2009, at 20:09:51
> I totally agree with you never got high at all on xanax. Just functional. Ad's made me so loopy couldn't function and was so relieved to stop them. Now just maintain the tiny 50mg of luvox. Phillipa
Exactly. When Xanaz was first out, some pdoc Rxed it at 4-6 mg. I was stable on 2Mg, but even when on higher doses it does nothing but cuase tiredness/sleepiness, not a high at all.
Does the Luvox help your depression/anxiety issues by itself?
I tried Luvox but it had no effect on anxiety for me, but also no bad side-effects either, unlike Paxil which had no benefits and lots of S/E's.
Posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2009, at 21:00:27
In reply to Re: Why is xanax the only drug that raises my mood ? » Phillipa, posted by rvanson on May 10, 2009, at 4:55:19
About the same for me. Always a combo of benzos and the luvox and paxil although worked sick for three months first. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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