What is good daily med that only treats anxiety and depression?

Walking 1 hour a day has salvaged countless days for me. It has has figuratively speaking, consistently turned dismal rainy days into brilliant sunny ones. No side effects! Makes sleep, and naps, wonderful and heightens my appetite but I don't eat as much if I didn't walk. It is a miracle medicine.

To @mcgrathcreative2

Does taking all of these meds knock you out? I am contemplating going back on Effexor. I tried to do this in September but was reintroduced at too high a level. I was at fault — not the doctor. So, I was then switched to Celexa and finally Lexapro. Lexapro was also prescribed at too high a level for a first time user. This med did permanent damage to me. I had no information on Lexapro but common sense says I should have requested the smallest dosage to start. When your heart and brain are working overtime, you don’t think about dosage. All you want is relief. Here I am again, no medication and no PNP for the next 5 weeks or so.

To @mcgrathcreative2

Does taking all of these meds knock you out? I am contemplating going back on Effexor. I tried to do this in September but was reintroduced at too high a level. I was at fault — not the doctor. So, I was then switched to Celexa and finally Lexapro. Lexapro was also prescribed at too high a level for a first time user. This med did permanent damage to me. I had no information on Lexapro but common sense says I should have requested the smallest dosage to start. When your heart and brain are working overtime, you don’t think about dosage. All you want is relief. Here I am again, no medication and no PNP for the next 5 weeks or so.

No, the meds I take do not knock me out. I don’t know how old you are but I’ve been on the trial and error methodology for 41 years. The meds I listed are really helping my depression. We’re still actively working on the headaches and chronic insomnia. The meds I take at night are the Gabapentin, Hydroxyzine, Memantine and now either Ativan or Ramelteon. So far the Ramelteon has not worked at all but I’ve only tried it for 2 nights, I’m going to keep trying it but I’ve been using the Ativan as a backup otherwise I wouldn’t sleep at all. Why can’t you see your doctor or PNP for another 5 weeks? Especially when trying new drugs. I’m working very closely with my PNP and am seeing her every 2 weeks to try to get my sleep under control as it affects both my depression, anxiety, and headaches. Maybe reach out to your PNP and see if you can’t get in sooner. I hope you trust your psychiatrist and PNP. It’s unusual that your psychiatrist does talk therapy but I have had psychiatrists who have done this in the past, it’s just unusual. I have a regular psychologist that does talk therapy with me every week. Good luck to you. I know how hard the search for relief is. All I can tell you is to keep on trying, there’s not much else you can do. I’m here for you if you have any more questions. I’ve been the Effexor route but that was a long time ago. At the time I was on it, it seemed to help some but not as well as the regiment I’m currently on.

To @mcgrathcreative2

I was desperate for sleep last night. My heart palpitations prevent me from sleeping and the insomnia has been going on for 5 months. No one believes me when I tell them I can’t sleep. I took an Ativan at 5am as I put it off as long as possible in the hopes that I might get an hour’s sleep. It was totally useless. Terrible palpitations which cause my blood pressure to rise. The PNP is out of the country on vacation for 5 weeks. The other PNP prescribed meds for me that were inappropriate for my medical conditions. I guess she didn’t familiarize herself with my list of medical conditions and prescriptions I already take.

OMG. That is horrible. I know all too well how lack of sleep can ruin everything else you are trying to work on. I actually get completely confused and disoriented when I can’t sleep for 3 or more days. It’s a horrible vicsious cycle. There’s got to be someone else you can reach out to, that’s my only suggestion. Even your primary care physician or try an online provider. Good luck to you. I’ve been trying the Ramelteon with no results but I do have Ativan as a backup although it only works at 1 mg if I take it with my Gabapentin and Hydroxyzine. It’s extremely frustrating. I had to fire my last psychiatrist because I couldn’t get in for a follow up appointment for 3 months. And I go to a University hospital that is normally excellent however their psychiatry department sucks because I have to see a new psychiatrist every year. The last one who is very young, gave me a strange diagnosis that didn’t even make any sense. I’ve been seeing psychiatrists for at least 30 years, in and out of hospitals, until I found a great one in Colorado Springs who finally retired and I’ve been in search of another good one with no luck. I finally got into see one who wanted to put me back on Seroquel for sleep after I told him I had developed Tardive Dyskinesia from it. He said that was highly unlikely and I knew then that he was inept. So it really depends on your provider. Sound like you need a new one. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. If you don’t, no one will. Good luck.

To @mcgrathcreative2

I went to Honor Health in Scottsdale and saw a primary care physician who prescribed Effexor which I had taken for about thirty years prior to weaning myself off of it. I realized I made a big mistake and requested a new prescription for the Effexor. I was told to return in a month for followup. When I went to make the appointment, I was told I couldn’t get an appointment for 6 months and then I would have to see a new primary care doc as they ‘rotate’ new doctors. Another doctor prescribed Seroquel and I refused to take it after reading the insert. I also have had doctors ignore my complaints about the medications. I should always listen to my instincts as some of my side effects are permanent.