Wellness

[Krimpette]

@Reba055:  I agree about benzos.  I keep a small amount of generic valium around.  A 30-count bottle of 10 mg tablets lasts me more than a year.  I've only ever taken it when I've needed to take the edge off, so to speak.  I've always cut the 10 mg tabs in 1/2 or even 1/4 sometimes.  Just that small dose almost instantly makes me feel less anxious about whatever the situation that was causing me such angst.  I even asked the NP if she'd rather me take the small doses on a more regular basis, but she said absolutely not.  Hence, the buspar.  But so far, I seem to be helped by the buspar, so in my case, maybe she's right.

[Moonchilde]

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@Reba055 wrote:

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@Moonchilde wrote:

I was prescribed both Zoloft and Buspar at different times for (hopefully) more or less short-term situational depression, not clinical depression. I know they are also prescribed for anxiety, but IMO I wish doctors would stop almost automatically prescribing anti-depressants for anxiety reactions, just because they're considered "safe" in the non-addictive sense.  They often times just don't work, or are inappropriate over-treatment, for anxiety NOT necessarily caused by depression - which I have also had.

I stopped both medications after 2-3 weeks due to side effects - GI, sleep disturbance/nightmares, and just an overall "weird" feeling, as someone said, and not a good feeling. 

I was working in a busy, high pressure job and had to be on my toes at all times, so could not handle feeling "not in control" of myself.

Zoloft also gave me dysarthria - when I opened my mouth to speak, although I knew what I wanted to say, gibberish came out. I took it for three week and it took *two months* for that to go away.

I decided I'd rather be depressed, or anxious, or both, than have those side effects. And neither drug, BTW, made me feel better emotionally.

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@Moonchilde Antidepressants don't have that great a success rate honestly, though they are lifesavers for some. I agree, they need to quit throwing an antidepressant at everything. 

The best med for anxiety is a benzo. It just is. Works, works fast, and has few side effects in low doses. But we know how that goes....

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Exactly, @Reba055! Try to get a Rx for Valium any more, from anyone. Some users, and the AMA and FDA, ruined the use of a perfectly good drug because of its *potential* for misuse. So now that there is the *potential* to misuse codeine, people who just honestly need pain medication for valid reasons will start being denied it.

[Azcowgirl]

Years ago, I tried a low dose of it, and I felt terrible...I was afraid to even drive as it felt as though I was having an out of body experience . Havnt tried anything else since.

[catwhisperer]

I don't handle stress well, and I'm always stressed about something. The thought of taking meds with all their side effects scares me to death, so I would rather just continue living with my stress anxiety.  I'm sorry to hear that so many of you have had so many problems with the meds. Not very encouraging.

[Hearts4Me]

I have extreme OCD and anxiety issues.  I started on Zoloft 3 weeks ago.  Started on 25mg and will move up to 100mg this week.  OCD requires much higher dosages of SSRI's rather than what is prescribed for depression (which I think I also have due to hating the empty nest).

Anyway, I haven't really noticed anything too terrible yet with the side effects.  I expect I will as I keep moving up the dosage.

For many years I refused to take anything for the OCD, but it's just so extreme that it's ruining my life with my family.  (I don't like germs...and that obviously is putting it mildly).

[catwhisperer]

@Hearts4Me...I'm sorry you have such severe symptoms. I truly hope the medication helps you.

[Hearts4Me]

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@catwhisperer wrote:

@Hearts4Me...I'm sorry you have such severe symptoms. I truly hope the medication helps you.

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Oh, wow, thanks!  Sadly many people do not realize how life altering anxiety (or any mental health issue) can be.  Very worrisome for all.

[Moonchilde]

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@Azcowgirl wrote:

Years ago, I tried a low dose of it, and I felt terrible...I was afraid to even drive as it felt as though I was having an out of body experience . Havnt tried anything else since.

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That's a very accurate description, @Azcowgirl!

[Moonchilde]

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@catwhisperer wrote:

I don't handle stress well, and I'm always stressed about something. The thought of taking meds with all their side effects scares me to death, so I would rather just continue living with my stress anxiety.  I'm sorry to hear that so many of you have had so many problems with the meds. Not very encouraging.

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The sad thing is, the benzodiazepines don't have a long list of side effects and they are short-acting, i.e for 1-4 hrs, so they would be much better for many than the anti-depressants with many more side effects.

[morganjen]

Zoloft was the first SSRI I was on. I gained a lot of weight on it after awhile.