NationStates Jolt Archive

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

Not to my knowledge.

The Internet is my drug of choice.

I self medicate with coffee and orgasms.

I self medicate with coffee and orgasms.

At the same time? Surely that's dangerous :eek:

Tea, coffee, Palestrina, Whitacre, Rachmaninov, Squarepusher, many others.

blood thinners

At the same time? Surely that's dangerous :eek:

Neesika likes coffee more than most people.

At the same time? Surely that's dangerous :eek:

Hot Coffee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Coffee_minigame_controversy) ;)

Hot Coffee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Coffee_minigame_controversy) ;)

Yes (http://threepanelsoul.com/view.php?date=2007-03-30) thank you.

To answer the question yes, I'm on some generic anti-depressant or another. Though the voice keeps telling me I don't need it.

Hm, should have voted "yes, previously" instead of "no, but maybe I should".

I was taking ladose(the european label of prozac) for social anxiety. Didn't see much of an improvement. I take lexotanil, when necessary.

But, ultimately I think psychotherapy is the only real and permanent treatment of the underlying causes, especially for the disorders you mentioned. The drugs only fight the effects, and admittedly they are helpful but not much of a use by themselves.

What's you got bro?

Yes (http://threepanelsoul.com/view.php?date=2007-03-30) thank you.

To answer the question yes, I'm on some generic anti-depressant or another.

Is it true it makes you feel 'numb' or that your 'going through the motions' for lack of better terms?

I'm not on anything anti-depressant, but I do occassionally have to take medication for allergies and sinus infection. Not so much up here at school as back home, because up north I am less allergic to things than down south.

Lamictal 200mg i qd for bipolar type II.

Is it true it makes you feel 'numb' or that your 'going through the motions' for lack of better terms?

No. Actually it makes me more aggressive and shorter tempered. Less fantasies about killing myself and more about gutting my co-worker with a dull paring knife.

fortunately for me my medication is available on tap at a discount across the road from where i work. i can also get it for free from work while i'm there.

fortunately for me my medication is available on tap at a discount across the road from where i work. i can also get it for free from work while i'm there.

Kehehehehehehe.

You must post more when you're medicated.

No. Actually it makes me more aggressive and shorter tempered. Less fantasies about killing myself and more about gutting my co-worker with a dull paring knife.

Whoa, so do you have to take medicine to counter act the agression?

Whoa, so do you have to take medicine to counter act the aggression?

I wonder if they have that.

Whoa, so do you have to take medicine to counter act the agression?

No. That would be pointless, the rage is completely under control, until I snap and quit. It takes quite a lot to make me violent.

Whoa, so do you have to take medicine to counter act the agression?

Yeah, but that makes him sleepy, so he has to take something for the sleepiness and so on:p

Yes, I'm currently on 3 medications for depression. No, you do not feel "numb". Though you may find yourself doing things out of character from time to time (several times I felt the need to clean my room for no reason), you are still basically yourself and if you do feel "numb" or "not totally in control" then something is wrong with your medications. For me they have reduced suicidal and harmful thoughts to zero, and my mood is much more stable.

Yes, I'm currently on 3 medications for depression. No, you do not feel "numb". Though you may find yourself doing things out of character from time to time (several times I felt the need to clean my room for no reason), you are still basically yourself and if you do feel "numb" or "not totally in control" then something is wrong with your medications. For me they have reduced suicidal and harmful thoughts to zero, and my mood is much more stable.

See for me the suicidal/harmful thoughts have been reduced, but not eliminated.

I used to be. When I took it, it was a massive help to me. It didn't take away my emotions, but it reduced the frequency and intensity of the negative ones. If you have a lack of emotion from an antidepressant, you should probably find another one, because they aren't all the same.

I self medicate with coffee and orgasms.

Same, but with Coca-Cola.

Caffiene. LOTS and LOTS of caffiene. I don't think I want to see my liver...

Caffiene. LOTS and LOTS of caffiene. I don't think I want to see my liver...

Is there any sane person that wants to see their own liver?:p

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

On the meds I feel more like myself that without the meds. But then again, it's taken me and my doctor almost 5 years to find the right combination and dosage that really works for me. :)

But, ultimately I think psychotherapy is the only real and permanent treatment of the underlying causes, especially for the disorders you mentioned. The drugs only fight the effects, and admittedly they are helpful but not much of a use by themselves.

Ha! I wish!

Bipolar especially is caused by an imbalance in the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used for depression to regulate the amount of serotonin, and the "leveling" ones that suppress manias or hypomanias are related to epilepsy meds (often they're used for both), so unless you're suggesting psychotherapy can also cure epilepsy, keep your grubby mitts off my meds. :p

That said, therapy is a good thing, supporting the meds, but for the disorders here neither works without the other as well as they work together.

Lamictal 200mg i qd for bipolar type II.

Bipolar type 2 as well, Lamictal 200mg, Sitalopram 20-40mg and Seroquel 100-200mg. I get to vary the dosage of the two drugs depending on my current mood and life situation, to give some leeway for adjustments.

See for me the suicidal/harmful thoughts have been reduced, but not eliminated.

Heh, even "normal" people think about suicidal/harmful things, so even a reduction is a good thing. The point is to make you less likely to try a suicide after a crappy day at work or school, not take you to Happybunnyland where you wouldn't ever even think of nasty things. :D :p

Bipolar type 2 as well, Lamictal 200mg, Sitalopram 20-40mg and Seroquel 100-200mg. I get to vary the dosage of the two drugs depending on my current mood and life situation, to give some leeway for adjustments.



Heh, even "normal" people think about suicidal/harmful things, so even a reduction is a good thing. The point is to make you less likely to try a suicide after a crappy day at work or school, not take you to Happybunnyland where you wouldn't ever even think of nasty things. :D :p

But I like bunnies...

But I like bunnies...

Then you need something stronger than mood stabilizers. :p

I'm supposed to be taking effexor right now to treat depression, but it hasn't been working well so I haven't taken it in a while. In fact I'm supposed to be calling my Doctor today to set up an appointment for a change in medication.

When I was on it, it didn't change my personality or anything at all. It didn't do anything, to my knowledge. However I did get "brainzaps" a couple times...

Not for depression or anxiety, for REALLY bad skin. And I mean REALLY bad.

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

I was on anti-depressants for 3 years. I wasn't feeling like myself in the first place because I was depressed! :p They take awhile to work, but they did help me. On the third year, I was back to my normal self and weaned myself off them.
It's not like me to be a misery guts so that really was 'out of character' for me to be depressed. (But my 13 year marriage had ended when I was dumped for a younger woman - so you can see what triggered that) I'm talking black, black thoughts (sometimes suicidal or hateful towards others for no reason) and moods. It was hell and I never want to be there again. Yes, the meds work as long as you don't drink on them, because you will defeat the purpose.

For ADD.

Caffiene and nicotine, OTC sinus, and OTC painkiller. Nothing else. I may be crazy, but at least I am naturally so.

Bipolar type 2 as well, Lamictal 200mg, Sitalopram 20-40mg and Seroquel 100-200mg. I get to vary the dosage of the two drugs depending on my current mood and life situation, to give some leeway for adjustments.
My mom is bipolar type 2, she is on Lamictal and seroquel also but her dosage of seroquel is much much higher......she's on 1200mg of it. She sleeps constantly. I think she's on too much but her doctor said any less and she can't sleep at night. I don't think that much is safe.

As far as the OP, I'm on Buspar for PTSD and OCD and I take Lorazepam as needed. I'm also on about 20 other drugs for other health issues, but I get the feeling you are mostly asking about psychiatric drugs. I don't feel numb on them, I feel like less of a person off of them though. I often do things that don't make sense or are harmful to me when I am not on my meds.

150mg of zoloft for depression, 20mg adderall for ADD, and anti-seizure medication.

Of the three, the adderall is the most "expendable", but I'm really much better with it. The zoloft and keppra (anti-seizure), though, are indispensable.

I've been on zoloft for about 9 years at varying doses. I'll probably take it for the rest of my life for chemical depression, and that's okay with me. Some people don't feel like "themselves" when they're on mood altering drugs, but for me, I'm only "myself" once the imbalance in my seratonin has been dealt with.

No. That would be pointless, the rage is completely under control, until I snap and quit. It takes quite a lot to make me violent.

something like this?http://img.zoints.com/smilies/78.gif


*runs*

Fuck no.

I never have, and never will need medication like that (mentioned in the OP).

Yeah. I'm on, well, everything related to pain, spasm, etc. My doctor's a good guy, insofar as he's legally allowed to be. He let me try some antidepressants for pain one time, but they were useless. Useless for pain, that is - no clue whether they work for insanity.

I just downed my last 875 mg of amoxicillin for a sinus infection. Cheap generic drugs from Target and Wal-Mart are kick ass.

i'm on meds
and I feel fine on them.:rolleyes:

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

Yes, fluvoxamine for depression. No, it doesn't work, and yes, I feel exactly the same.

:rolleyes:

Is it true it makes you feel 'numb' or that your 'going through the motions' for lack of better terms?

Come to think of it, yes.

I used to be.

Paxil, for social anxiety.

Klonopin, for insomnia.

I'm not currently medicated, but I spent a fair amount of time taking Valium. It was erroneously prescribed to treat the "inappropriate/frequent displays of anger" when I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It didn't stop me from getting angry, but I no longer had the energy to act on it. I was effectively sedated into submission, and frankly, I hated it. When the medication would wear off, I would simply have more pent-up aggression than I cared to handle.

I'd consider being medicated again, if it were the proper treatment, rather than just something to make things easier on the people around me while having me still feel just the same. Perhaps a mood stabilizer would be appropriate this time around.

I'd consider being medicated again, if it were the proper treatment, rather than just something to make things easier on the people around me while having me still feel just the same. Perhaps a mood stabilizer would be appropriate this time around.

That sounds more reasonable. I mean, valium is pretty kickass, but you'd have to be popping them like candy to keep up the mellow.

Hm, should have voted "yes, previously" instead of "no, but maybe I should".

I was taking ladose(the european label of prozac) for social anxiety. Didn't see much of an improvement. I take lexotanil, when necessary.

But, ultimately I think psychotherapy is the only real and permanent treatment of the underlying causes, especially for the disorders you mentioned. The drugs only fight the effects, and admittedly they are helpful but not much of a use by themselves.

What's you got bro?

I found Prozac was quite helpful.

And, while I agree that physcotherapy is useful treatment, I wouldn't say it's the "only real treatment". Not all disorders stem from issues that can be treated that way.

Is it true it makes you feel 'numb' or that your 'going through the motions' for lack of better terms?

I think that's a stereotype of what happens. Sure, some medications can make you feel that way, but if it does, it's the wrong medication.

No. Actually it makes me more aggressive and shorter tempered. Less fantasies about killing myself and more about gutting my co-worker with a dull paring knife.

Hmmm, yeah, that's always fun. A combination of 2 tricyclics and ritalin did that to me.

Yes, I'm currently on 3 medications for depression. No, you do not feel "numb". Though you may find yourself doing things out of character from time to time (several times I felt the need to clean my room for no reason), you are still basically yourself and if you do feel "numb" or "not totally in control" then something is wrong with your medications. For me they have reduced suicidal and harmful thoughts to zero, and my mood is much more stable.

That's good that your mood is more stable. I haven't found anything that really works for me.

On the meds I feel more like myself that without the meds. But then again, it's taken me and my doctor almost 5 years to find the right combination and dosage that really works for me. :)

I hate how you have to experiment.

Ha! I wish!

Bipolar especially is caused by an imbalance in the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used for depression to regulate the amount of serotonin, and the "leveling" ones that suppress manias or hypomanias are related to epilepsy meds (often they're used for both), so unless you're suggesting psychotherapy can also cure epilepsy, keep your grubby mitts off my meds. :p

That said, therapy is a good thing, supporting the meds, but for the disorders here neither works without the other as well as they work together.

*nods*

I was on vaplroic acid for a while, but it didn't really work.

My mom is bipolar type 2, she is on Lamictal and seroquel also but her dosage of seroquel is much much higher......she's on 1200mg of it. She sleeps constantly. I think she's on too much but her doctor said any less and she can't sleep at night. I don't think that much is safe.

As far as the OP, I'm on Buspar for PTSD and OCD and I take Lorazepam as needed. I'm also on about 20 other drugs for other health issues, but I get the feeling you are mostly asking about psychiatric drugs. I don't feel numb on them, I feel like less of a person off of them though. I often do things that don't make sense or are harmful to me when I am not on my meds.

Does it work for the OCD?

150mg of zoloft for depression, 20mg adderall for ADD, and anti-seizure medication.

Of the three, the adderall is the most "expendable", but I'm really much better with it. The zoloft and keppra (anti-seizure), though, are indispensable.

I've been on zoloft for about 9 years at varying doses. I'll probably take it for the rest of my life for chemical depression, and that's okay with me. Some people don't feel like "themselves" when they're on mood altering drugs, but for me, I'm only "myself" once the imbalance in my seratonin has been dealt with.

I found Zoloft was really bad for me.

& Yeah, exactly. I don't feel like myself when I'm depressed or anxious, so I feel more like myself medicated (if the medication works).

Yes, fluvoxamine for depression. No, it doesn't work, and yes, I feel exactly the same.


I know someone who was on flovoxamine for mild OCD, but I don't think it's a particularly strong drug.

I'm not currently medicated, but I spent a fair amount of time taking Valium. It was erroneously prescribed to treat the "inappropriate/frequent displays of anger" when I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It didn't stop me from getting angry, but I no longer had the energy to act on it. I was effectively sedated into submission, and frankly, I hated it. When the medication would wear off, I would simply have more pent-up aggression than I cared to handle.

I'd consider being medicated again, if it were the proper treatment, rather than just something to make things easier on the people around me while having me still feel just the same. Perhaps a mood stabilizer would be appropriate this time around.

BPD is such a badly defined and poorly treated disorder. My most recent psychiatrist disagreed about it's existance - there are several other disorders that can make a person present that way. I mean, technically, I fit the DSM IV critera, but yeah. Sorry, I'm not trying to rant or make your illness seem unimportant, I've just always been confused about it.

I was on Ritalin, Zyprexa, and BuSpar, until about 4 years ago for GAD/SAD like symptoms stemming from my Asperger's syndrome and they proved extremely effective in managing my stress.

I went off them, without getting a replacement, and the effects wore off slowly enough that I learned how to manage my stress, and am now usually stress free, though, interestingly, the brain zaps and desire for carbs continued until a few months ago.

I was on Ritalin, Zyprexa, and BuSpar, until about 4 years ago for GAD/SAD like symptoms stemming from my Asperger's syndrome and they proved extremely effective in managing my stress.

I went off them, without getting a replacement, and the effects wore off slowly enough that I learned how to manage my stress, and am now usually stress free, though, interestingly, the brain zaps and desire for carbs continued until a few months ago.

What's a brain zap? Someone else mentioned them, is it literally like you feel a shock in your brain?

What's a brain zap? Someone else mentioned them, is it literally like you feel a shock in your brain?

The best way I can describe it is I feel a shock in my brain and then my whole body shudders.

The best way I can describe it is I feel a shock in my brain and then my whole body shudders.

Maybe Wiki can take a stab at it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_zaps


*pets Wiki* Good internet...thingy...

Yup, I am. I'm rapid-cylcing bipolar NOS or cyclothymia (my depression is really intense, but my manias are mostly just me staying up late laughing way too much and trolling AmericanIdol.com), and I've got anxiety issues. I'm on Divalproex, Prozac, and Welbutrin on a daily basis. I've also got amnitryptilene to help me sleep, but I never take it, and clonazepam for anxiety, but I'm saving it up in case I need to die. It's hard to say how well the meds are working. I was starting to stabilize really well in March, and then my boyfriend and I broke up and I was rejected from the program I applied to at school, so I went kind of postal and got really bad again. I started self-harming for the first time in years. I may be stablizing again, though. I'm way too tired of switching medications, so I'm just letting things sit right now, and doing cognitive behavioural therapy to control my negative thoughts. I've externalized my depression as a pet tiger named Jonas.

EDIT-Forgot about my side effects. Terrible. I get acid reflux, hand tremors, and these nerve spasm things that make it hard to sleep. Occasionally I'll get really bad nightmares, too.

the brain zapsUgh, I hated them, though they did serve as a reminder that I needed to take my medication.

SSRI: Citalopram currently. 40mg a day iirc.

its fine. evens my emotions out and helps me go less 'down' while making it easier to get back to being ok afterwards. depression is still there, and i've been on it for about 2 years now, if not more (the doctor said 9 months is usual, bah). i still feel like myself. in fact, for me, the only bad side effect is if i forget to take it for a few days, my mood drops so badly i end up getting depressed/suicidal/super-angry over nothing, at the drop of a hat. i suppose i've become rather dependent on it, or perhaps the depression is still there and the meds just mask it.

also seems to have helped with anxiety issues, but that may just be an issue of time and getting away from bad places/people

I used to be.

Paxil, for social anxiety.

Klonopin, for insomnia.

SA? Oh, come here you:fluffle: Feeling all better now?:D

How did you deal with it? You're ok now?

I found Prozac was quite helpful.

And, while I agree that physcotherapy is useful treatment, I wouldn't say it's the "only real treatment". Not all disorders stem from issues that can be treated that way.


Well, yes if the specific disorder is caused by chemical imbalances(like say, schizophrenia), drugs are possibly the only treatment. But for most anxiety/depression cases the problem is rather cognitive than biochemical.
So in that cases, the pharmaceutical treatment works only temporary.

Tea, coffee, Palestrina, Whitacre, Rachmaninov, Squarepusher, many others.
Pharmaceutical medication, not invigorating hot beverages and musical preferences. Mind you, your tastes are not lacking according to my humble (really!) opinion.

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

Don't need anything for depression et al but I am on medication for Atherosclerosis, raised cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes II, arthritis and prostate cancer.
:(

Looks like you need to consume a rather hefty cocktail of medication daily. I wish you strength.

Don't need anything for depression et al but I am on medication for Atherosclerosis, raised cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes II, arthritis and prostate cancer.
:(

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

Hang in there Fnarr:(




Just as I suspected, Prozac has only a Placebo effect. The same goes for all SSRIs.
Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/26/mentalhealth.medicalresearch)

I'm on an anti-depressant but it's for my headache, not depression. It started... sometime in late February, I think. Wow, it's been a long time with a headache...

Fortunately no p-meds.

Unfortunately a corticosteroid/long-acting beta2 agonist twice daily, a mast cell stabilizer twice daily, and a short-acting β2-agonist as needed.

SA? Oh, come here you:fluffle: Feeling all better now?:D

How did you deal with it? You're ok now?

Yup, social anxiety. But I'm all better now. It happened when I was 19-20.

How did I deal with it? LOL! This will sound cliché and all but you deal with SA one day at a time.

I was told I would have to use antidepressants for the rest of my life. I wasn't about to let that happen. So, as soon as I finished the first 3 months, I decided that I had to face the condition and make myself deal with people. It was horrible at first, but it becomes less hard with each passing day.

Now, I don't have a problem with large crowds (although they do irritate me) and I can talk to an audience without a problem.

Does it work for the OCD?
Not particularly. It helps with keeping some of my anxiety away and my OCD is often a self medication for being overly anxious, so if I can NOT have panic attacks then sometimes I can control the compulsions, but it's not often. I've had to figure out which compulsions were most harmful and try to avoid those. They are all harmful in the sense they rip my life away from me, but some of them are "less bad" than others as far as time, energy and space.

Yup, social anxiety. But I'm all better now. It happened when I was 19-20.

How did I deal with it? LOL! This will sound cliché and all but you deal with SA one day at a time.

I was told I would have to use antidepressants for the rest of my life. I wasn't about to let that happen. So, as soon as I finished the first 3 months, I decided that I had to face the condition and make myself deal with people. It was horrible at first, but it becomes less hard with each passing day.

Now, I don't have a problem with large crowds (although they do irritate me) and I can talk to an audience without a problem.

I'm glad! That gives me courage:)
Wish me luck

I'm glad! That gives me courage:)
Wish me luck

You suffer from SA?

Then I do wish you luck, follow your doctor's orders, don't get dependant on the anti-depressants and you'll feel better, little by little, very soon.;)

You suffer from SA?

Then I do wish you luck, follow your doctor's orders, don't get dependant on the anti-depressants and you'll feel better, little by little, very soon.;)

Thought it was obvious:p I also posted at some previous point. Don't have a doctor, don't take anti-depressants but I do follow some audio therapy from Dr. Richards if you've heard of him. Althought, I neglected the therapy lately but I will get back to it asap. Thanx:)

Thought it was obvious:p I also posted at some previous point. Don't have a doctor, don't take anti-depressants but I do follow some audio therapy from Dr. Richards if you've heard of him. Althought, I neglected the therapy lately but I will get back to it asap. Thanx:)

Hehehe, yeah:p

Whatever works for you, just as long as you beat SA.;)

Lamictal 200mg i qd for bipolar type II.

You know, I have no problem with the effects of Lamictal, but I always hated taking the actual pills. That stupid shield shape is absurdly hard to swallow.

As for me, I've been on nearly every antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic on the market over the years; unfortunately, I'm one of those "lucky" people who seems to get far more of the nasty side effects than the actual intended effects from most psychoactive drugs. At the moment, I'm taking Trileptal and Paxil, which is the best combination I've found yet, even if it has caused me to gain rather more weight than I'd ideally like.

More specially for depression/bipolar/anxiety and related conditions? Does it work? Do you feel like "yourself" on it?

Yes. Yes. No, thank God.

Well, yes if the specific disorder is caused by chemical imbalances(like say, schizophrenia), drugs are possibly the only treatment. But for most anxiety/depression cases the problem is rather cognitive than biochemical.
So in that cases, the pharmaceutical treatment works only temporary.

Well, no, not "most". Unless you can provide a source, of course, but in my experience and to my knowledge anxiety and depression are often a combination of both, which is why both medication and phsycological treatment is required. But, yes, in many cases, once psychological issues are deal with, people no longer require medication.

Not particularly. It helps with keeping some of my anxiety away and my OCD is often a self medication for being overly anxious, so if I can NOT have panic attacks then sometimes I can control the compulsions, but it's not often. I've had to figure out which compulsions were most harmful and try to avoid those. They are all harmful in the sense they rip my life away from me, but some of them are "less bad" than others as far as time, energy and space.

Oh. It's that you've been able to control it. Sorry, just interested because someone very dear to ma has really bad OCD. Have you found anything else that has helped both the anxiety AND the OCD significantly?

As for me, I've been on nearly every antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic on the market over the years; unfortunately, I'm one of those "lucky" people who seems to get far more of the nasty side effects than the actual intended effects from most psychoactive drugs.*snip*.

I'm exactly the same.

Can I ask, what do you have?

Oh. It's that you've been able to control it. Sorry, just interested because someone very dear to ma has really bad OCD. Have you found anything else that has helped both the anxiety AND the OCD significantly?

As far as the thoughts/anxieties that make it hard to resist compulsions Anafranil worked really well for me for years and years, but after I had my second child, I went back on it and it didn't work anymore.