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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 3, 2009, at 19:43:44
sorry, im just a little upset by a comment a doctor made describing my habits as self-destructive after looking over the list of meds i've tried over the past 2 years. i know i feel like i have legitimate reasons for stopping each, but his logic seemed to be that you put up with the negative effects as long as it takes CBT to work, and then you taper off. i argued that if a med gives me brain fog or worsens my concentration/social anxiety, how will that help? its not like CBT takes place in a vacuum. what's more, i was working when i first began trialling meds, so didn't have the luxury to be up with s/e's for weeks on end
here's what i've tried:
Paxil (a week) - first med put on. was not warned at all about s/e's, ended up in zombie-state, sleeping 14 hours a day, so quit
Prozac (insomnia, so doctor tapered me off, saying insomnia doesn't go away)
Moclobemide - stayed on for 6 months and did well, but came off b/c had sexual side-effects and began a relationship. unfortunately, didn't enter CBT
Remeron - 2 weeks, made OCD 10x worse
Luvox (8 weeks) - UNBEARABLE restless leg at all times, could not even sit for longer than half hour. made me more shy.
Lexapro (8 weeks) - felt flatter, more depressed,less talkative
Memantine (4 weeks) - was a godsend at first, but put me in a dementia-like state eventually
Nardil (3 months) - should've stayed on this really but the s/e's were just a lot to contend with. the insomnia never seemed to pass, constantly felt foggy
Parnate (4 weeks) - on now; trying to treat insomnia, but so far, so good. feels really clean in terms of SE's. if i can successfully treat insomnia with a TCA, i will stay on it
that list doesn't feel particularly abnormal in my mind, but i guess maybe my impression has been warped by my time spent here? i know my neuroticism definitely extends to meds themselves, and a fear of SE;s, which i plan on treating when i re-enter CBT.
but i'm just curious because if someone has something like OCD, social anxiety and anergic depression w/ concentration problems, surely they have a right try and find the best med? if an SSRI helps anxiety but worsens isolation as a result, maybe its not worth it?
Posted by Phillipa on October 3, 2009, at 21:40:30
In reply to meds -how do you know when you're being too fussy?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 3, 2009, at 19:43:44
Quite simply I agree. Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on October 3, 2009, at 23:25:51
In reply to meds -how do you know when you're being too fussy?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 3, 2009, at 19:43:44
> sorry, im just a little upset by a comment a doctor made describing my habits as self-destructive after looking over the list of meds i've tried over the past 2 years.
Well -- that is a bit of a harsh way of putting things.
Basically, medicine is a recommendation, its never a promise, its the best judgment of the doctor that's giving it.
And one always has the choice of living with an illness or trying medication to make one's functionality and life better. Sometimes the choice for people to not take medicine in situations because they feel it worsens what quality of life they have remaining, is a valid choice.
As for medication trials... quitting after a week or two, unless you have sudden hypertension, hives, or some horrible side effect from a medication, I believe is quite premature.Especially in psychotropics, the timeline of how things progress is not in weeks (maybe a few signs), but in terms of months, maybe one to three.
After 6 months, though as some of your examples, if it is producing adverse effects still, or is just not working, then I think its a rational choice to make not to continue.
Things aren't perfect and they don't work overnight.
Mainly, I think the thing though is not to focus so much on the medication but on a "recovery" model, things outside of it, therapy, etc.
Now, am I saying that I am always practicing this, no -- its very hard for me at the moment.
But I'm just passing on a bit of wisdom.
-- tidings
Jay
Posted by g_g_g_unit on October 4, 2009, at 0:34:44
In reply to Re: meds -how do you know when you're being too fussy? » g_g_g_unit, posted by yxibow on October 3, 2009, at 23:25:51
> > sorry, im just a little upset by a comment a doctor made describing my habits as self-destructive after looking over the list of meds i've tried over the past 2 years.
>
> Well -- that is a bit of a harsh way of putting things.
>
> Basically, medicine is a recommendation, its never a promise, its the best judgment of the doctor that's giving it.
>
>
> And one always has the choice of living with an illness or trying medication to make one's functionality and life better. Sometimes the choice for people to not take medicine in situations because they feel it worsens what quality of life they have remaining, is a valid choice.
>
>
> As for medication trials... quitting after a week or two, unless you have sudden hypertension, hives, or some horrible side effect from a medication, I believe is quite premature.
>
> Especially in psychotropics, the timeline of how things progress is not in weeks (maybe a few signs), but in terms of months, maybe one to three.
>
> After 6 months, though as some of your examples, if it is producing adverse effects still, or is just not working, then I think its a rational choice to make not to continue.
>
> Things aren't perfect and they don't work overnight.
>
>
>
> Mainly, I think the thing though is not to focus so much on the medication but on a "recovery" model, things outside of it, therapy, etc.
>
> Now, am I saying that I am always practicing this, no -- its very hard for me at the moment.
>
> But I'm just passing on a bit of wisdom.
>
> -- tidings
>
> Jayit's partly my fault for not sticking to CBT, which would have helped guide me through trials. but when i withdrew from moclobemide, for example, i was in a 'better place' anyway.
you are right - sometimes people would prefer to hold on to the quality of life they have left. when i first trialled meds, i had a lot to keep me happy in spite of suffering from anxiety, which is why i wouldn't stick to a drug for very long.
then i kind of reached a point where i had no choice. a psychologist friend said most drug addicts won't commit to rehab until they bottom out; i feel like i'm in a similar place, so despite finding med-taking hard, i can force myself through it. i also know i'll stick to CBT this time.
there's a line between self-destruction and self-preservation. that's partly why this site exists - as a form of education and empowerment. if i was pulling out for *completely* irrational reasons, then fine. but i also think that (free of mania, delusions, etc.) i have an intuition about myself which exceeds any scientific study/doctor's grasp.
Posted by sam K on October 4, 2009, at 9:49:00
In reply to meds -how do you know when you're being too fussy?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 3, 2009, at 19:43:44
havnt you tried klonopin?? that stuff can really help social anxiety. You could add it to one that worsens your social anxiety.
Posted by Sunbath on October 4, 2009, at 16:26:35
In reply to Re: meds -how do you know when you're being too fussy?, posted by g_g_g_unit on October 4, 2009, at 0:34:44
> there's a line between self-destruction and self-preservation. that's partly why this site exists - as a form of education and empowerment. if i was pulling out for *completely* irrational reasons, then fine. but i also think that (free of mania, delusions, etc.) i have an intuition about myself which exceeds any scientific study/doctor's grasp.
That's very well said! You are absolutely right in my opinion! And I think that your doc isn't doing you right and that you'd need a different doc who is taking your own research and your feelings about the drugs more seriously! What do you think?
This is the end of the thread.
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