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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jefff on September 27, 2002, at 8:53:44
Hi All (newbie here),
Ive been taking paxil (20 mg) for depression, severe social anxiety, blah, blah, blah, for two and a half years... it sucks, doesnt do a thing positive for me, so Im down to 10mg daily since Ive been trying to wean myself off it.
I want to ask my SOB, quack of a shrink if he'll prescribe me some Valium (and I cant trust him to advise me on what to take).
Will it help with extreme anxiety? I feel extreme anxiety and anger over the smallest issues and I just need something to "tranqualize" me for a while.
But I dont want something I have to take everyday.... Could valium be taken just when needed... like maybe every couple or three days? And can it be taken with the Paxil?
I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need to be get myself into an "Anna Nicole" type stupor before I explode.
thanks,Jeff
Posted by lilsis on September 27, 2002, at 9:13:07
In reply to Valium? Will it help me?, posted by jefff on September 27, 2002, at 8:53:44
hahahaha i don`t know if it will help but i just wanted to say that i laughed my fukin ass off to the anna nicole stuper comment
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2002, at 19:45:38
In reply to Re: Valium? Will it help me?, posted by lilsis on September 27, 2002, at 9:13:07
> hahahaha i don`t know if it will help but i just wanted to say that i laughed my ... ass off to the anna nicole stuper comment
I'm glad you had a good laugh, but please be sensitive to the feelings of others here and don't use language that could offend them:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
Thanks,
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.
Posted by viridis on September 28, 2002, at 13:16:55
In reply to Valium? Will it help me?, posted by jefff on September 27, 2002, at 8:53:44
Valium is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that includes other well-known medications such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc. Valium is still used a fair bit, although it got a bad reputation in the 70s-80s for being overprescribed and sometimes abused. It seems that the others I mentioned are more popular these days, although Xanax especially also has a reputation with some doctors as being "addictive" (which it may be for a small proportion of patients, but not generally those who need it most). Benzos have been proven safe and effective for short and long-term use in numerous studies and have been around for decades.
These drugs really can calm you down, and are often prescribed "PRN" i.e., on an as-needed basis. As far as I know (but I'd check this with your doctor) they're perfectly safe to take with most ADs such as Paxil.
I take Klonopin (clonazepam) daily and it helps tremendously with anxiety and panic; I also take Xanax occasionally when I'm expecially stressed. I've never had a problem with either and have never needed to increase my dose, although it did take a couple of weeks to get over mild side effects of Klonopin such as sleepiness, clumsiness, and slight short-term memory loss. I have tried Valium, and it put me in a "stupor" (maybe not Anna Nicole level though!). So, some benzos are better than others for different individuals.
It sounds like you have a pretty bad rapport with your pdoc -- have you considered trying another one? It's really important that you feel comfortable with your doctor and can discuss options. You need someone who's willing to try different things and listen to what you say.
By the way, asking for Xanax or Valium is most likely to raise a red flag with a pdoc who's uncomfortable with benzos. Klonopin (clonazepam) can work extremely well (it does for me) and is generally perceived as less likely to be abused, partly because of its long half-life. So, if you bring up the benzo issue, I'd start by asking about this one.
By the way, your goal shouldn't be "stupor", just feeling normal without the extreme anxiety and mood swings. Maybe benzos are appropriate for you, or maybe some other treatment would be better. But you need a good pdoc who understands the situation and doesn't just push SSRIs if they don't work for you. It may take some effort to find one, but the result will be well worth it.
Posted by Jefff on September 28, 2002, at 15:30:29
In reply to Re: Valium? Will it help me?, posted by viridis on September 28, 2002, at 13:16:55
First I just wanted to say thank you very much for responding to my questions. It was definitely helpful. Ive spent this whole day reading the archives (and have come across/read some of your posts too) and I really am starting to believe Klonopin is what I need for my severe anxiety. Yes, I do indeed have a horrible doctor (honestly, its not me, its him) and Ive had nothing but terrible experiences with them. I may have been a bit snippy with Dr. Bob (which IIl also address in a note to Arthur Gibson) but as I said Im ready to explode due to mental problems and Im very, very fed up with Dr's .
Why? Heres my whole story if you (or anyone) is interested:
After paying the $5 "donation" charge I recently wrote the the following letter to "Ask the Dr" (at http://www.medhelp.org/forums/MentalHealth/wwwboard.html) only to receive a pathetic (IMO) response from the Dr. (which will follow my letter)I wrote:
" Im 33 years old and I have suffered from depression and other mental problems for my entire life. From the time I could formulate thoughts I can remember nothing but being extremely depressed, feeling severe guilt, and the ever present severe anxiety and worry over what people were thinking of/ mocking/ridiculing me (and its all so much more complicated than that, but Im trying to be brief). My entire life has been destroyed and wasted due to my mental issues.
In 1995 I had to go on SSI, after supporting myself for three years as a gay escort, and since then I have literally been self imprisoned in the house I live in. I live in my (only) friend/ ex (only ever) lovers house, who Ive lived with for the past twelve years. I have no other friends, no family, no sex/intimacy, no car, no money... nothing. Ive gone from a 150lb guy with a 29 inch waste to a 250 lb repulsive, deformed creature with a 42 inch waste within the paste 6 years. I survive on $650/month from SSI... all of which I give to my friend and in return he allows me to live in his house, he buys my food and my pot (addiction), and basically acts as my parent. I literally only leave the house once a month, and only because I absolutely have to in order to go to the pharmacy, and then once every two months to see my shrink (my psychiatric Pez despencer)..
Yes, I have tried so many times to get help. Most recently I spent four and a half (wasted) years seeing my last therapist until she decided in 12/99 to leave the "guidance center" I was seeing her at in order to open up her own practice (which I didnt have the money or car to get to). I chose not to see another therapist as I dont trust any of them at this crap place I go to (they all seem/ look like they just rolled out of junior college yesterday) and I didnt see where I was going to get by rehashing my entire history and problems over and over and over again for another 4 1/2 years to another person.
I do currently see the psychiatrist at that guidance center who has prescribed me paxil (20mg) since 12/99, but it does nothing for me and the truth is I dont trust this idiot either. He laughed when I told him I wanted to kill myself, he patronizes me every time I see him ("Oh, you still workin on the house?" meanwhile I only mentioned my house renovation project to him ONE time that was about six or seven years ago and have since told him numerous times that its been finished), he gave me the paxil only because I saw the TV commercial and asked if I could have it, not because he actually put any thought whatsoever into it. Please believe me, he is in another world when I speak to him and I simply cannot trust him to conclude what I should be putting into my brain. The only reason I continue to see him is because Im afraid that Ill be thrown off of SSI if they find out that Im no longer under a doctors care.
With no money, no insurance (besides medicaid), no car, no family, no friends (the one I live with is too occupied by his crystal meth drug habit and sex habits to help me), no help and all of my mental issues I dont know how or if Im ever going to get out of this life. I really dont want to die, I desperately just want to know what its like to live and feel happiness, but I honestly see no hope in sight for me. Yes I have a plan and I really believe that I will kill myself someday when I can longer stand to live like this. I literally have no life or existence or purpose. I cant find the energy or motivation to even get out of the chair in front of the computer. All I do is sit alone all day and all night, until I wake up to start it all over again. I cant take it but I cant help myself.
Is there any advice you can give? How can I get help?
Thanks, Jeff"And Dr. Roger L. Gould's wonderful two cents (which cost $5) was this:
"You have hit bottom. Now it is to time to climb up. I am not sure where you can reach out since you seem so isolated and since you can't find good affordable psychotherapy. so it sounds like you are going to have to do it alone. You are going to have to decide to stop waiting for a helping hand.
You should start with your body..What you can do is lose weight and start exercising...even at home. Next, find a job and get out into the world. See a career couselor or go to a publically sponsored job training center. Get out of the house even if you have to crawl out. That's a start."...So hopefully you can see why I am bitter.
thanks for listening,
Jeff
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 29, 2002, at 1:49:35
In reply to Re: please be civil » lilsis, posted by Dr. Bob on September 27, 2002, at 19:45:38
> PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration...
Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7627.html
Bob
Posted by Arthur Gibson on September 29, 2002, at 1:58:35
In reply to Valium? Will it help me?, posted by jefff on September 27, 2002, at 8:53:44
I apologise Jeff
Valium will get you nowhere. It will make your depression worse. If you have severe anxiety it will help, but it will cloud your thinking as well.
The best advice to you is what you have already been given:
"You have hit bottom. Now it is to time to climb up. I am not sure where you can reach out since you seem so isolated and since you can't find good affordable psychotherapy. so it sounds like you are going to have to do it alone. You are going to have to decide to stop waiting for a helping hand.
You should start with your body..What you can do is lose weight and start exercising...even at home. Next, find a job and get out into the world. See a career couselor or go to a publically sponsored job training center. Get out of the house even if you have to crawl out. That's a start."But you are reluctant to give it a try. OK it will be hard, but have a go.
The PAXIL may be making you worse. SSRIs can do this. Keep switching meds until you find one that works. Try REMERON next.
Good luck! Keep writing to us.
Posted by Arthur Gibson on September 29, 2002, at 13:51:10
In reply to I apologise..., posted by Arthur Gibson on September 29, 2002, at 1:58:35
This thread is getting very confusing because bits of it keep getting deleted. Mostly my bits.
My apology above is because I told Jeff to go and kill himself because he was rude to Dr. Bob, which was not exactly charitable of me and was meant as a joke, although it was in very poor taste and I now regret and withdraw the remark.
However I cannot apologise for something that has been deleted, so I have filled in the gaps with this post.
Does that make sense?
Will this get deleted?
I think not.
Good luck Jeff!
Posted by Dinah on September 29, 2002, at 17:48:15
In reply to The thing I apologised for has been deleted!, posted by Arthur Gibson on September 29, 2002, at 13:51:10
It hasn't been deleted. Dr. Bob just consolidated a lot of posts and moved them to admin. Here's the link.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7627.html
It's in his post above. I think after an administrative action, further discussion of the administrative action is supposed to take place at admin. (And my post might be deleted, because I'm discussing posts about admin posts on the meds board :) )
Posted by Jefff on September 30, 2002, at 11:02:37
In reply to The thing I apologised for has been deleted!, posted by Arthur Gibson on September 29, 2002, at 13:51:10
For the apology and advise (I understood what you meant before all re-directing).
Jeff
This is the end of the thread.
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