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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
I have had PTSD for a long time now, it was not diagnosed originally, but I had agoraphobia and that was a symptom of my PTSD that I was being treated for. I was on Geodon, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Clonzepam for 10 yrs and was once again a functioning member of society. I lost my job of 8 yrs in the end of April 2010. I didn't have medical insurance and I stopped taking all medication except Clonzepam on an as needed basis. Now because of mild depression I have started on the generic Wellbutrin again 150 mg XL once day. I also have Dermatillamania which I just figured out that there is an actual name for it and that it is an actual illness caused from OCD. I have recently started taking Inositol for it, I think it may be helping but not sure yet. I have an appt with my Dr on the 25th, I want to ask her to help me with my PTSD and yet she is a family physician so not sure how much she knows about it. I have read that none of the meds that I was on actually helps PTSD and that Wellbutrin definitely has no effect on it. I had read that only prozac and zoloft I think are two that will help with it. Has anyone had any good experiences with taking any medication for PTSD or should I just figure I will have it for the rest of my life and try to get SSD? I am now on unemployment, but my PTSD is really keeping me from finding a job, and I don't want to apply for SSD until my EDD runs out in case they say well if you can't work you can't get EDD and then not be able to get SSD either. I'm really scared that I will never get better. My PTSD has been there since childhood and has gotten even worse with things that have happened as an adult. I don't like to share the abuse, domestic violence, death threats w/weapons, and more:( so I don't talk about it to anyone. Can't afford a psychiatrist. Don't know what to do?
Posted by Laney on January 12, 2012, at 11:51:22
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
LLee,
I was just reading up on the last add-on on Scott's med cocktail, Prazosin, and a lot of PSTD sufferer's are finally finding relief with it.
Just wanted to share this because it's also cheap as far as I can tell.
Laney
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 11:53:25
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by Laney on January 12, 2012, at 11:51:22
Thanks I will check into that thread...
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2012, at 12:01:11
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 11:53:25
Also wellbutrin is activating and does cause anxiety in many who take it. Since Ptsd and Ocd are in the same spectrum and anxiety is a factor I would discuss a more sedating ad. Just a thought. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on January 15, 2012, at 18:21:36
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
Antidepressants are the most highly studies medications in the treatment of PTSD. Therapy remains the mainstay of treating the disorder. IF you have OCD as well, antidepressants are the starting point for treating that-if it gets bad, you start looking into treatment with antipsychotics and glutamate antagonists.
One drug you may want to ask your doctor about is called Prazosin, which has been studied a lot for the treatment of PTSD.
Eric
Posted by creepy on January 16, 2012, at 1:23:04
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
Ive also been out of work and needed to pay for psych meds. Only thing I can suggest is to pay for one appointment with a pdoc and get them to write you a script for an old SSRI or TCA (clomipramine?). zoloft out of pocket is something like 80USD for 100mgx60.
I have PTSD from childhood abuse, and the only things that have touched the symptoms are high dose lexapro, zoloft and topamax. Prozac made me rage and gave me anxiety. But everyone responds to these drugs differently, so its probably not much help.
the drugs you were taking with the exception of the benzo can -all- cause anxiety if youre unlucky. Especially wellbutrin. I did better on desipramine when I needed an NRI.
Posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 6:16:34
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by creepy on January 16, 2012, at 1:23:04
Topamax has been shown to be useful in PTSD. Perhaps you can try combining it with prazosin. Of the antipsychotics, I don't know which ones to suggest. I would recommend, however, staying away from Geodon, as this drug often produces anxiety and insomnia. It is also the least-studied of these drugs.
- Scott
Posted by creepy on January 16, 2012, at 21:51:50
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 6:16:34
I agree about topamax, its good stuff for PTSD.
Might help with the OCD in that it works on anxiety. I havent looked for studies about topamax and OCD. Not so sure about the depression.
Interestingly, it did some good things to my CFS symptoms for awhile. I think it does some low-level stuff with metabolism, blood sugar and carbohydrate cravings.
Posted by Zyprexa on January 18, 2012, at 22:38:17
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
I have PTSD. I take Zyprexa, which has been most usefull at getting me out of the house and back to work, for the past 13 years. I also started taking perphenazine 4 years ago which seems to help me take less zyprexa and is also very helpfull. I take zoloft for depression and found it to be the best of ADs that I have taken. I tried, that didn't help: Prozac, Abilify, Geodon, Remeron, effexor xl, risperdal, depakote. I also took: celexa which helped for a while, but I could not stomack it with out zyprexa. I still take wellbutrin sr for energy, anti-smoking, AD, and found the generic better, I've taken it for 9 years now. I was a bit tough to handle in the beginning, made me anxious and dizzy. But that all went away.
Top of my list is zyprexa, the generic is just as good, but not a whole lot cheaper. Perphenazine is a lot cheaper and probably the most effective for price. Its $200 for 2x 16mg for 90 days. 10mg olanzapine(zyprexa) is $900 for 90 days.
zyprexa seems to help alot with the pain from PTSD and the anger, also social withdraw. Somthing about the sedating APs seem to help most.
Posted by Zyprexa on January 18, 2012, at 22:41:13
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:35:36
I should have mentioned that I take cogentin for TD(movement disorder caused by APs). not sure which med is responsible but it started while on abilify.
This is the end of the thread.
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