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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 0:38:44
Hi there. It's my first time posting, so I apologize if this is the wrong place. I'm super-sensitive, so please just gently re-direct me if so. Thanks!
I'm wondering if there is a list somewhere of 'new meds' that are available in the US for any or all of the problems in the title. Thank you! Oh, and I just put some info about my psych history incase anyone's curious. Thanks!
__________________________________About me:
I've been on a rollercoaster for about 30 years trying different things for depression, panic, gad, ptsd, chronic insomnia (currently sleep onset although it changes) and nightly gruesome nightmares...and honestly have tried almost everything. Including Xyrem, and Ketamine (but K was for pain and in pill form).
I've been on 2mg Klonopin for 20 years for awful panic attacks. Now I feel generally anxious most of the time and take Ativan for breakthrough panic or sometimes to sleep. Tried to get off the Klonopin but panic attacks were too bad, so docs put me back on.
Effexor 150mg for 4 years. I don't know what it's doing....but I am wondering if it's contributing to nightly nightmares. Awful, ptsd-like nightmares that haunt me during the day. Tried Prazosin but the side effects were too bad. I have no idea if it's even partly the Effexor tho, and the fear of withdrawal hell keeps me on it.
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say this, but, ummm, a certain kind of 'brownie' helps the sleep and nightmares, but often leaves me dazed during the day so I'm trying to ween myself off. It's legal here! I swear!
To make everything more joyful, I have Fibromyalgia and CFIDS, for which I'm on Low Dose Naltrexone. (Really cool; helps the pain quite a bit. But it's a weird med because it blocks the opioid receptors...so there's nothing you can take for breakthrough pain except the aforementioned 'brownies').
Fortunately, a healthy dose of sarcasm and love of puppies make life worth living. ;)
Posted by gadchik on June 27, 2012, at 9:14:59
In reply to New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 0:38:44
Hello, you sound very positive and I hope you can find something that will work better for you. Im not too savvy on new meds,but someone else may post. I have heard that the "brownies" suppress rem sleep,and thus nightmares.I also thought ssris helped with that.I take klonopin too,but am always trying to taper,and see if I can do without.So far,I cannot do without. Good luck,keep hugging pups,it works.I was hiking this morning and picked up a kitten,and it nuzzled into my neck,purring.I felt such a calm come over me!
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 10:29:59
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd??? » karrot, posted by gadchik on June 27, 2012, at 9:14:59
Same here prazosin was what was thinking as seems some do well with it for ptsd type nightmares. I don't know of any new meds. I also for over 35 years have taken a low dose of a benzo for anxiety and panic. Seems though that my attitude or thoughts are what allows for a better day or not and some excercise. Gadchik must be any early riser as just getting up. 3am bedtime. I ride my bike. But I suffer from post excercise backpain due to I guess arthritis. What country are you in? I've heard that lyrica and cymbalta are good for fibromyalgia? Phillipa
Posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 15:13:07
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 10:29:59
Hi. I'm in California - just north of san francisco - and I don't know where 'home' is, but this is most certainly NOT it. I just moved here because this is where my section 8 apt. became available first.
And gadchick, what's weird is that I AM really..well, not 'positive' ...but I went through DBT (a kind of therapy for chronically suicidal folks) and I actually am...well, not happy...but I definitely have more moments of joy. A lot of them actually. And a massive sense of humour. But the last couple of weeks have just been a shitstorm and I can't find joy anywhere in the sh*t this time. :(
And wow, I'm so surprised that there's nothing new, even off-label. I was reading about Memantine? But don't know what it's for. And want to try Tianeptine....but as we know, the FDA is evil in this regard. :)
Thank you for reading and responding! Karrot
Posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 15:25:19
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 10:29:59
>Phillipa, I had to go pretty high on the Prazosin, and my brain felt like it was 'shivering', and there were headaches and just weird spaciness. It was horrible. The lower doses just pooped out.
I agree with the attitudes and thoughts part, and try to drag my wandering mind back over and over to replace the thoughts....but sometimes are harder than others. And right now it is so hard as to be impossible. Of course, if I thinkthat, it really will be impossible. Sigh.
I haven't heard from one person with Fibromyalgia who has been helped by Lyrica or Cymbalta - and I used to run a support group for folks. So, I don't know what's up with that. Thank goodness, the LDN does help pain most of the time - but Fibro is a syndrome with so many other facets, some that of course affect us psychologically. Ugh. Sorry that you have pain too. I'm in a relapse now, and the pain is so excruciating that there's about 1mm bw sanity and lack thereof. Ugh.
And I don't have enough money for a service dog. Wait. I have no money. Yay for disability. *rolling eyes emoticon here*.
Phillipa, if I use some different spelling it's bc I grew up in England. I think I read on one of your posts that the benzo's are as effective, or at least you haven't needed to go up? I've been on 2mg for a long time, but now it just knocks out half the panic attacks. Which I'm very grateful for. I'm just frustrated when someone says that Klonopin is the reason allll these other things are happening, and the next doc says that's bull. Headbang!
Karrot
PS: I have 'brain fog' from the fibro, so I apologize if I repeat things or don't make the most sense. I'm not a moron; my brain is. :)
Same here prazosin was what was thinking as seems some do well with it for ptsd type nightmares. I don't know of any new meds. I also for over 35 years have taken a low dose of a benzo for anxiety and panic. Seems though that my attitude or thoughts are what allows for a better day or not and some excercise. Gadchik must be any early riser as just getting up. 3am bedtime. I ride my bike. But I suffer from post excercise backpain due to I guess arthritis. What country are you in? I've heard that lyrica and cymbalta are good for fibromyalgia? Phillipa
Posted by gadchik on June 27, 2012, at 15:57:07
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 10:29:59
Yes,p,Im an early riser! I like to go to bed 9pm,then read til my eyes close,get up 6 or 7am.Hubby does the same,we follow this schedule religiously,even on vacation.
Posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 20:53:14
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd??? » Phillipa, posted by gadchik on June 27, 2012, at 15:57:07
Bed 3am up at l0am. Hate it but this is what it is. Phillipa
Posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 21:38:45
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd??? » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 27, 2012, at 20:53:14
Somewhere bw midnight and 4am usually. And then anywhere from 2-16 hours of sleep. Oh yeah, gotta love that Fibromyalgia. Most of us start feeling awake at midnight. Literally, my brain starts working well at midnight, and during the day I'm just a moron. Complete circadian rhythm shift. Headbang!
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2012, at 19:03:31
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 21:38:45
I do the same wake up at midnight. Guess my circadian rhythm is messed up as well. P
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on July 2, 2012, at 21:52:12
In reply to Re: New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 15:25:19
hey karrot....im not the best social person, but have you thought about nuerontin or lyrica for the fibro..miygia...they work great seriously... just have to get on the right dose....lyrica has mood boosting effects too...you should really look in to it. But for nightmares....usally the main treatments for those are nueroleptics, their relieving for some anxiety too...maybe having a glass of wine with it too, no im serious even thought docs would say its bad...it would help. Wine calms my nerves at times when I am fried with no anxiety medication to take.
good luck!
rj
Posted by creepy on July 3, 2012, at 8:11:14
In reply to New meds for dep., panic and Nightmares/ptsd???, posted by karrot on June 27, 2012, at 0:38:44
Glad you found a doc willing to try LDN.
I too have chronic fatigue / pain which is currently doing much better with supplements and lots of sleep.
Prazosin and other alpha / beta blockers get used quite a bit for PTSD and nightmares.
If youre in really tough shape you may need to look at AP's.
Trying to come off of benzos can be unpleasant =(
Im not a big fan of the SNRI's either.
This is the end of the thread.
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