Why don’t anxiety meds work for me?

To @jschwing
I had terrible palpitations all night and starting again this morning. I wound up taking 1/4 Ativan three times during the night as each piece barely lasts an hour. I thought I was having a heart attack and I was going to go to the ER but they won’t help and as soon as they look up my previous visits (I have gone at least 4 times before out of desperation) they just tell me to leave as they don’t treat mental health disorders. Even though I only took the Effexor for 6 days, everything I have read on the forums says you still have to taper off. I have a telephone appointment at 12 noon today with the nurse practitioner to find out how to do this. I was taking the lowest dose which is 37.5. I guess I’ll have to cut the tablets in half. I also have some of the extended release capsules but I don’t think I can count the little beads as my hands are too shaky.
Claudia

@jschwing
I don’t know if the reply I just sent will reach you. Sometimes replying can be confusing.
Claudia

Gabapentin, duloxetine, amitriptyline, prednisone, and a myriad of others prescribed to me for pain, anxiety and depression did very little. At that time, I was abusing alcohol and facing life in a wheelchair, walker or cane. Pain and discomfort are my constant companion now. I no longer use any drug except Atorvastatin for cholesterol. I now walk up to 30 thousand steps a day unassisted. Average is now 10 thousand but 20 is done a few times a week. May 6th is my last appointment to becoming a non-directed kidney donor at Mayo. Since I became disabled in October of 2020, I've been able to face many challenges. None of them fun, but all of them rewarding. Dialectical Behavior Therapy utilizes a tool known as Radical Acceptance. This has helped me to face frustration I formerly used drugs and alcohol to hide behind. Psychotropic drugs are not for everyone. If they are not working for you, they may not be what you need. Facing dependency of drugs to calm you, may be resulting in anxiety. Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapy are worth a try. I've found resistance among those that depend on drugs as much as the resistance of those that used 12 step programs to quit using drugs prescribed to them by doctors. It cost you nothing to do research. A good primary care physician should be able to provide resources for you. I wish you luck.

Hi Claudia:

Yes. I would agree regarding the tapering. I have had to taper all medications even if taking them only a short period of time. Maybe The Nurse practitioner could prescribe a longer acting Benzo medication instead of Ativan. I know that personally, the anxiety is so bad that the Benzo is the only thing that allows me to semi function.

It sounds that you and I have a high level of activation related to Anxiety.

You hang in there and I will do the same. Let me know what they come back with today on your call.

John

@jschwing
I just spoke with the nurse practitioner. He wants to prescribe a 24 hour extended release beta blocker called propranolol. The problem is, I already take one called Bystolic. He feels that with proper monitoring every day, and making sure that blood pressure and pulse numbers are stable, I should be ok. I just finished sending a message to my cardiologist. I don’t think he will approve as even without starting this new med my pulse is already lower than the threshold he is suggesting. This leaves me basically nowhere. Thank you for responding to my messages. It means a lot to me to know that there are people like you who care. Do you know which benzo is longer acting than the Ativan?
Claudia

@trooperdogg1960
Thank you for your message. My primary care physician dropped me as I wasn’t responding to the medications she prescribed. I am still looking for a new provider.

Dr Monica Chaung of honor health is amazing. I am a certified Peer Support Specialist in recovery and behavioral health. I am not a counselor. I cannot make recommendations on how to treat your diagnosis. I can only share what worked for me. Psychotropic drugs was absolutely the wrong approach for MYSELF. Neuroplasticity and physical exercises worked for me. The absolute best results I've seen in the recovery of mental health issues involved NO drugs. The same goes for dependence issues and recovery programs. Psychological counseling from a specialist that promoted independence from Psychotropic drugs and focused on giving me the tools to work on myself helped immensely.

@trooperdogg1960
Which location is she at?

9250 n. 3rd street. #4010. She is a very kind and understanding doctor.

Thanks but I need someone at the North Scottsdale location as I have a problem with transportation. I did see a new primary doctor at Scottsdale Road location who was highly recommended but she and her medical assistant humiliated me by making fun of my anxiety issues. Not very professional.