1. < Depression & Anxiety

Why don’t anxiety meds work for me?

Posted by dorothy1914 @dorothy1914, Feb 13 5:13pm

In Sept. 2024 out of nowhere I developed extreme anxiety. Went to primary care doctor and was prescribed Effexor (which I had successfully taken previously). This time it didn’t provide any help. Dr. then prescribed Lexapro (which didn’t help) and then Celexa (which didn’t help). By this time, I lost 45 pounds by not being able to eat and constant diarrhea. Dr. then told me to find another practitioner as there was nothing more she could do for me. Since then I have seen 4 PNP and none of their prescribed meds have helped. What do I do?

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dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 6:35am
In reply to @jlp826 "Hang in there Dorothy, we are all with you, sending you positive thoughts ❤️" + (show)
@jlp826

Hang in there Dorothy, we are all with you, sending you positive thoughts ❤️

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@jlp826
Thank you. I am at the point of giving up. The side effects are too much and my body is very fragile from months of bombardment.

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dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 6:43am
In reply to @jlp826 "Hang in there Dorothy, we are all with you, sending you positive thoughts ❤️" + (show)
@jlp826

Hang in there Dorothy, we are all with you, sending you positive thoughts ❤️

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@jlp826
I think my message got lost. I am suffering too much. I am reaching out to a provider to see if he can devise a long taper program for me. Thank you for your encouragement.

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1 reply
jlp826 | @jlp826 | Mar 4 7:10am
In reply to @dorothy1914 "@jlp826 I think my message got lost. I am suffering too much. I am reaching out..." + (show)
@dorothy1914

@jlp826
I think my message got lost. I am suffering too much. I am reaching out to a provider to see if he can devise a long taper program for me. Thank you for your encouragement.

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Please do not give up. You are stronger than you know.

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1 reply
dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 8:05am
In reply to @jlp826 "Please do not give up. You are stronger than you know." + (show)
@jlp826

Please do not give up. You are stronger than you know.

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@jlp826
I can’t sleep or eat. I desperately need a long taper program. I can’t find anyone to help me. I went on the Benzo Buddies site and asked for help. Who else can I contact?

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Mar 4 10:56am
In reply to @rick98 "I completely agree and have the same difficulty. It's really hard trying to cope each day..." + (show)
@rick98

I completely agree and have the same difficulty. It's really hard trying to cope each day with the symptoms. If I could go back of course with what I know now I would never have taken the Benzodiazepines but it's too late for me and many others. I've been using Clonezepam incorrectly for many years and it is rendering me in a state of constant insomnia. I split 1mg in .5mg and take it exactly at the same time 12 hours apart 10am and 10pm. I don't feel it does much other than keep me from losing my mind in-between doses. It's quite sad. I've always been very active and interested in so many things but I got hit with a severe depression with anxiety and progressive insomnia since last December. I probably already mentioned this to you. I repeat myself often sorry. My mental functions are not good in this condition. I find it extremely difficult to go and do anything so I generally get up late get something to eat and go back and sit in my bed watching podcasts that distract my mind. I do my daily hygiene. I just feel subdued and in the grips of this condition which I feel is related to the long-term benzodiazepine use in my case and I agree the pharmaceutical industry, the government FDA and medical science and medical schools training doctors, etc. have betrayed us whether knowingly or not and have ruined the lives of countless people like us who suffer terribly. Always praying 🙏

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I find it hard to believe that clonazepam has destroyed your life. You don’t mention taking any SSRI’s. Yes it is hard to stop taking clonazepam but if you incorporate that with some other medications for anxiety and depression you could definitely improve the quality of your life.
Anxiety and depression are genetic and run in families. Clonazepam is not a stand alone drug to best treat depression and anxiety but combined with other antidepressants it can be very effective.
I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Mar 4 11:10am

Shame on that Doctor. There are many drugs like Zoloft that are well tolerated by many people but you might need other complimentary drugs to go along with your primary antidepressant.
I have been on Zoloft along with Wellbutrin and Buspar for over twenty years and this along with 1mg of Clonazepam in the morning and 1mg in the evening has worked well for me.
I tried other antidepressants but always came back to this combination. At the age of 73 and soon to be 74 I feel no need to change.
It sounds like your life has been like endlessly riding a roller coaster. Maybe it is time to find the right Doctor and get off that roller coaster. Any drug you take has side effects. Most go away but if they don’t try another SSRI.
Best of luck to you.

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dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 12:48pm
In reply to @rick98 "Yes Claudia, I understand and I easily work myself into a state of unbearable anxiety and..." + (show)
@rick98

Yes Claudia,
I understand and I easily work myself into a state of unbearable anxiety and panic. I agree to stay out of ERs if possible because they will probably put you in a worse position. I try to find the most comfortable places in my apartment daily because of what I am experiencing with severe depression, anxiety and insomnia. I will eat something nutritious for nutrients the body needs everyday; I try to stay hydrated with juice cut with water. I try to keep sugar to a very minimum. I find different relaxation podcasts, sleep frequency music even if I don't sleep at all and try daily minute by minute to keep myself from getting panicky, easier said than done. I hope you can get through each day the best you can and make it to the mental health center on Monday to see if they can help you some way.
Always in my prayers🙏

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@rick98
I never made it to the therapist on Monday as I was too panicky. I now can’t see him until March 10. I don’t know if my heart will hold out. I emailed him about a long taper but he said he doesn’t know if that will be appropriate until we meet in person.
Claudia

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1 reply
dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 5:16pm
In reply to @dorothy1914 "@rick98 Hello Rick, how are you doing? I have an appointment on Monday with a PA..." + (show)
@dorothy1914

@rick98

Hello Rick, how are you doing? I have an appointment on Monday with a PA as I can’t continue on without some kind of medication. I have seen him before but have no idea what he will suggest as his previous prescriptions did not work out.
Claudia

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@rick98

Just got back from a visit to a new PNP. I was told he could do a long taper. Instead of the long taper he just wanted to put me on klonopin. I said I would have to think about it and I left. I don’t know what to do.
Claudia

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1 reply
dorothy1914 | @dorothy1914 | Mar 4 5:26pm

@ellerchim
Hello, had an appointment with a new PNP. I was told by the front desk reception that he could do a long taper. I don’t think he knew what that was and only wanted to prescribe klonopin 2 times a day for me.

Then, the PA that I have/had an appointment with on March 10 as a backup for the long taper, just left me an email stating he does not feel comfortable prescribing Ativan for me and I should find another provider. What now?

Claudia

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1 reply
ellerchim | @ellerchim | Mar 4 6:56pm

I believe I told you to contact Dr Josef and or go back to the Benzo site and ask the many people on there if they know of any doctor in Arizona that would help you or anyone on that site. There is a reason thousands of people have been helped on these benzo sites. Rosalind Jones who runs the benzo site might help. Her husband who is now retired is also the one who helped me. The chances of you finding anyone locally are slim to none.You need to go out of your comfort zone and expand your search. When you are really desperate as I was you need to at least communicate with these people I recommended. Dr Josef would be first. I wish you the best .

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