Hep C Discussion Forum

Shep · Guru

RE: Anxiety & AD meds- double edged sword

hrsetrdr · Guru

Shep wrote:
Hey Tim-- sounds like you have been going through a lot and that you are dealing with it! Glad you are able to get it out there. Post-tx life can be quite overwhelming. I have felt pretty anxious --but was forced to deal with my parents' issues before I could even finish tx, and didn't have time to realize that my own withdrawal from the meds was another source of anxiety. Felt like my skin was crawling, couldn't sleep, depressed, etc. I am stubborn and wouldn't do any anti-d. Then I would get on the forum and hear about what everyone else was going through and realized--I could get through it too. You, Judy, Malcolm--to name a few are the most amazing people I have ever come in contact with. You all tackle the huge obstacles that get in your way and keep going.
I know you will beat the anxiety --you are a lot tougher than it!

Glad you got a break on the wedding!! Came home to a suddenly canceled wedding myself today--lots of tears. It has been a year for tears. It just has to get better. Sending hugs and smiles (through the tears)

Wow Donna, I'm not trying to pry, but I hope that wasn't your wedding. 2013 is going-to be a better year, one to grow smiles in!

kiwi wrote:
i managed to wean myself off citalopram (sp) after treatment, i started only taking half a pill, then half every other day, over a period of weeks. then only if i felt wierd, coz coming off ADs you get, brain zaps and things, so when i felt like that i would go, hmmm, take a half.... till i never felt that wierdness... must admit ive had some emotional issues, but thats life i guess and treatment has left me vulnerable and weak, so thats probably why. im gettin slowly stronger, definately have a great attitude, now im just waitin for the body to catch up a bit...
keep it up...

Kiwi, Citalopram is what my doctor was going to replace the Trazodone with, since it isn't really working well. But, I read up on citalopram and decided that I wasn't going to take that stuff either. Presently I'm planning to ditch the Xanax and the Trazodone, and go back to taking a half of a 3mg cap of Melatonin, which worked good back when I was on tx. I hate getting in too deep with the AD & AA type drugs, just nothing good can come of it.

kiwi · Senior Member

i managed to wean myself off citalopram (sp) after treatment, i started only taking half a pill, then half every other day, over a period of weeks. then only if i felt wierd, coz coming off ADs you get, brain zaps and things, so when i felt like that i would go, hmmm, take a half.... till i never felt that wierdness... must admit ive had some emotional issues, but thats life i guess and treatment has left me vulnerable and weak, so thats probably why. im gettin slowly stronger, definately have a great attitude, now im just waitin for the body to catch up a bit...

keep it up... :)

Shep · Guru

Hey Tim-- sounds like you have been going through a lot and that you are dealing with it! Glad you are able to get it out there. Post-tx life can be quite overwhelming. I have felt pretty anxious --but was forced to deal with my parents' issues before I could even finish tx, and didn't have time to realize that my own withdrawal from the meds was another source of anxiety. Felt like my skin was crawling, couldn't sleep, depressed, etc. I am stubborn and wouldn't do any anti-d. Then I would get on the forum and hear about what everyone else was going through and realized--I could get through it too. You, Judy, Malcolm--to name a few are the most amazing people I have ever come in contact with. You all tackle the huge obstacles that get in your way and keep going.
I know you will beat the anxiety --you are a lot tougher than it!

Glad you got a break on the wedding!! Came home to a suddenly canceled wedding myself today--lots of tears. It has been a year for tears. It just has to get better. Sending hugs and smiles (through the tears)

hrsetrdr · Guru

Judy,

yes, I'm definitely staying away from the SSRIs, nothing but trouble; I hope to eventually toss away the Xanax crutch, but for the short term I'm glad I have it available. The the last couple weeks I've been going to Galaxy Fitness, in Phelan; as you mentioned- exercise is theraputic and I am really enjoying the cardio(eliptical, and treadmill) and doing a circuit of the weight machines.

Judy, I hope that you do find a suitable job, and not have to commute. I spent a total of 11 years commuting driving Cajon Pass when I was assigned in Rancho Cucamonga. I was so glad when I got transferred to Adelanto in '06.

Oh, BTW, my daughter called-she abandoned the idea of doing the wedding in Cabo...thank God!

Mary Jane · Guru

Phil G wrote:
Tim, I was entering 'mandatory' retirement on Jan 31, but I got a reprieve. They offered me a new job, and I took it. My ego loves it when someone finally realizes how important I am (LOL). I now have a shelf life and expiration date. The job ends Sept 2014. So, the retirement mourning and stress has been delayed in lieu of new over-my-head job stress. The grass always seems to be greener over there, but just not here.

High five Phil...you are important... glad they came to their senses...MJ

Mary Jane · Guru

hrsetrdr wrote:
Malcolm,
Thanks for walking through on this issue with me, I completely agree that keeping-it-simple with these meds is highly desirable. I think that if doctors experienced the side effects of the drugs that they prescribe...that they would have a waaay different perspective.
You're right about me having a "full plate" with real resons for anxiety, there's no shortage of potential stressors in my life:
1. retired- it's not as glamerous as some think, leaving the occupation that defined your life for decades comes with a feeling of mourning, almost like that for the loss of a loved one.
2.daughter getting married...abroad- oh boy, being stranded in a foriegn country with the EX(mother of daughter) and her dumb@$$ husbund, that's something to look forward to.
3. numerous 'little' health issues that either have no solution, or require taking meds whose side effects may not be worth the doing.
4. etc...
In >This Thread< Vernon(12Step Guy) speculated about whether these post tx anxieties that some people are experiencing might be a type of PTSD, I think that there may well be some merit to that idea.

Tim you know I pm you on this topic.. just like I said the body hides stress and then viola... again Just breath...MJ

Judy S · Senior Member

Hi Tim! Just like you, I've had some anxiety from tx and even though I stopped tx last Aug, I'm taking Xanax just like you...1/2 of a tablet. One tab = 1mg so I take .5mg. I tried a full tab one time and felt Extremely bizarre; will not go there again.

Effexor is an anti-depressant (SNRI). My dr put me on Paxil (SSRI) and I took myself off of it after 2 weeks when reduction didn't even help. Made me want to jump out of my skin; got no rest at all, made my anxiety 100 times worse. Don't know if you remember, but I explained last July it was because these anti-Ds increase the number of our receptors mopping up the seratonin...over-acting us. I actually just found my post about it here:

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t50409556/horrible-paxil-experience/

For me, exercise is the #1 best way to keep anxiety down. Couldn't do it on tx of course, but now I'm back to it and I go for days at a time with no Xanax. Those are good reasons you have for being anxious; I can understand. I think Malcolm had a good point, too. You and I did stop at about the same time. After my biopsy, my anxiety level came Way down; it truly did. Was great to hear my liver is in better shape than it was 13 years ago. I think what makes us the most anxious is the unknown. So whether for good or bad, I believe it does help to know, so that we're not constantly wondering.

Tim, I stay away from any anti_Ds; I find that anti-anxiety meds like Ativan and Xanax work best; they are completely different. I'm in the same boat with job search; you know I'm out here in the AV with you and the jobs in the medical field are all taken up. I'd hate to commute but looking like I may have no choice; I really don't want to go out of my field. Good luck to you with that, and also the upcoming wedding; hope it goes smoothly. smile

LaBajista · Member

I still take meds for anxiety (Ativan), but I found that DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) is extremely helpful in managing my anxiety and other psych symptoms. It's basically a class that teaches you new methods for dealing with your feelings, and changing how you react to your emotions instead of trying to change the emotions themselves. There are different modules - mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. You practice each new skill and by the end, you have a huge new toolbox of skills you can use instead of reacting how you used to. I'd say if you want to be free from taking anxiety medications, and you have a history of anxiety or other symptoms, DBT could be a useful step in that process. Doubt it would be helpful for sleeping, though.

It was originally developed for people with Borderline Personality Disorder, but many people can benefit from dbt even if they don't have that diagnosis. I don't and it helped me incredibly!

Here's the wikipedia page with more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectical_behavior_therapy

-- Edited by LaBajista on Friday 25th of January 2013 09:42:57 PM

-- Edited by LaBajista on Friday 25th of January 2013 09:49:12 PM

hrsetrdr · Guru

Phil,

I'm glad that you got that reprieve, the benefits go way beyond merely financial. I am searching for either a full or part time job; it's still a poor job market for anyone, but especially for those over 60. Sooner or later I'll find my "niche".

-on the topic of anxiety meds: I got a message back from my doctor, he said that he would replace the Venlafaxine prescription with one for Celexa. After reading about the benefits and the side effects, I've concluded that I won't be filling that prescription, just too many complications that I don't care to deal with.

Here's one from the list of side effects: PSSD; seems like the "cure" can be worse than the disease, being rendered a eunuch is not something I would take on, voluntarily. I already have a few "issues" along those lines, don't need any more "help" in that regard.

Phil G · Senior Member

Tim, I was entering 'mandatory' retirement on Jan 31, but I got a reprieve. They offered me a new job, and I took it. My ego loves it when someone finally realizes how important I am (LOL). I now have a shelf life and expiration date. The job ends Sept 2014. So, the retirement mourning and stress has been delayed in lieu of new over-my-head job stress. The grass always seems to be greener over there, but just not here.

hrsetrdr · Guru

Malcolm,

Thanks for walking through on this issue with me, I completely agree that keeping-it-simple with these meds is highly desirable. I think that if doctors experienced the side effects of the drugs that they prescribe...that they would have a waaay different perspective.

You're right about me having a "full plate" with real resons for anxiety, there's no shortage of potential stressors in my life:

1. retired- it's not as glamerous as some think, leaving the occupation that defined your life for decades comes with a feeling of mourning, almost like that for the loss of a loved one.

2.daughter getting married...abroad- oh boy, being stranded in a foriegn country with the EX(mother of daughter) and her dumb@$$ husbund, that's something to look forward to.

3. numerous 'little' health issues that either have no solution, or require taking meds whose side effects may not be worth the doing.

4. etc...

In >This Thread< Vernon(12Step Guy) speculated about whether these post tx anxieties that some people are experiencing might be a type of PTSD, I think that there may well be some merit to that idea.

onabugeisha · Veteran Member

I took effexor at one time a couple of years into ago. I had some sx. I don't have any sx on Fluoxetine (Prozac). I sleep well but wake up through the night. But always fall back easily.

gatekeep · Senior Member

I hear ya! I was put on xanex, colonaphine, Valium and some sort of sleep med. I had the same symptoms as you. I'm a shift worker also. I know it takes a while to adj to all sleep meds. and others. I doubled up on the xanex and once in a while I take half a sleeping pill.

hrsetrdr · Guru

Ever since halting tx back in August, I've been haunted by some general anxiety, and take Xanax(1/2 minimum dose) which normally(whatever "normal" is) takes care of the situation. I've also been prescribed Trazodone to aid in sleep.

So I see my doctor this past Thursday- we had a good talk, and he gives me a prescription for Venlafaxine (brand name: Effexor or Efexor) as a better, more long term solution than the Xanax. Perhaps I misunderstood the doc,. but I thought there would less side affects...nope.

The very worst side affect is that since I started taking the Venlafaxine my night's sleep has been ruined. I fall asleep OK, but wake maybe 3 hours later, and that's IT, I'm done. After 3 consecutive nights of crappy sleep, I decided to discontinue the Venlafaxine.

I exercize daily, drink tons of water(like when on tx), only have one cup coffee in the morning...what else can I do to break free from taking ANY of these type of meds?

mallani · Guru

Hi Tim,

You really should look for a reason for your anxiety. You still haven't had a VL done since you had to stop Rx. It seems so long ago that I looked it up. As your insurance wouldn't pay for a VL until 24 weeks, that is Jan 24th. I hope you can get it done, to see exactly where you stand. Uncertainty is a recipe for anxiety.

You are now 60 yo. The chances of having liver damage are pretty high. In March 2012 you posted that you had been told you had cirrhosis and made the comment ' I have not had (and am not going to have) any liver biopsies'. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but that is probably the main cause of your anxiety. You do not know your liver status, so do not know whether further Rx is urgent, or whether you can wait for a couple of years for an Interferon-free Rx, or to try to get on a trial now (depending on your VL results). Judy had to stop Rx at a similar time to you. After having a biopsy, she knows she can now afford to wait- however she is a lot younger than you.

You shoudn't need anti-anxiety meds but if you can, stick to something simple like XANAX. Try to avoid the the SNRI's like EFFEXOR.

Tim, I'm only trying to help you break free. I'm not a shrink and may be completely wrong. Good luck mate.

-- Edited by mallani on Monday 21st of January 2013 07:16:51 AM

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