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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
I just finished a 2nd trial of buspirone. Wow, now I know why I quit the first trial. This stuff really sucks. 3 hours after taking 5mg and my blood pressure is way up. I don't know how this stuff ever got approved. I feel more anxious.
Its almost 2016 and they still can't invent something for anxiety that actually works as well as benzos.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 7, 2015, at 9:39:33
In reply to GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
I know and not with the drug war benzos as being blamed for Dementia, and Alzheimers. P
Posted by europerep on September 7, 2015, at 15:49:55
In reply to GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
Have you tried opipramol?
Posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 17:47:18
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck » linkadge, posted by europerep on September 7, 2015, at 15:49:55
I'm fairly sure that one isn't available in Canada.
Linkadge
Posted by Chris O on September 8, 2015, at 6:05:12
In reply to GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
I'm right there with you, Linkage. Everything I've taken for my chronic GAD pretty much sucks big time, Buspirone included. Hey, but it's generic and cheap and someone is making a gazillion dollars. That's all that matters.
Chris
Posted by europerep on September 8, 2015, at 14:38:14
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 17:47:18
Of course, but I'm pretty sure you could get ahold of it, probably even legally...
Posted by linkadge on September 8, 2015, at 15:55:16
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck » linkadge, posted by europerep on September 8, 2015, at 14:38:14
Hmm. I'll look into that.
I'm not 100% sure what is wrong with me (still even 15 years after a first diagnosis). I have lots of anxiety and occasional mood instability.
In terms of medications for GAD, you're essentially limited to antidepressants and benzodiazapines. Buspirone made my anxiety worse, if anything (especially insomnia and cardiac related anxiety).
I've just come to the conclusion that most GAD treatments are pretty much useless for me.
Mirtazapine and cyproheptadine have some effect.
Linkadge
Posted by europerep on September 8, 2015, at 16:33:30
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 8, 2015, at 15:55:16
Hmmm yeah, treating anxiety seems to be tough. Have you tried benzos, or do you not want to take them at all?
Here's an abstract of a study of opipramol vs. alprazolam in GAD: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11199949
Opipramol is a regular prescription drug over here, despite the name sounding like a narcotic. I think they named it that because at the time sigma-receptors were considered opioid receptors or something like that.
Anyhow, over here you can have meds imported from other countries, and I know that in the US you can too, so I would think that Canada has some way to do that as well...
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:45:35
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 8, 2015, at 15:55:16
hmmmm...lyrica, neurontin. Supplements of all sorts, if you're into that sort of thing. Surmontil. Amoxapine.
That's all I can think of man. I wish you well.
Posted by Horse on September 9, 2015, at 16:14:15
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by europerep on September 8, 2015, at 16:33:30
Lyrica deals with my gad. Not sure you'd tolerate the cognitive side effects.
Works better for me than Xanax, etc.
Posted by SLS on September 9, 2015, at 18:13:31
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:45:35
Nardil and Paxil are the bombs as far as efficacy is concerned when treating GAD. Effexor is pretty good, too. You already know the negative aspects of each of these drugs. I will say this, though. Nardil and Paxil can work well for a long time unless they are discontinued and restarted. If you find either drug effective, try to persuade yourself to stay on it indefinitely. I would say that Paxil tends to poop-out more often than Nardil, but you might get 5 - 10 years of remission out of it. By that time, there might be more options available. Hopefully, your previous drug exposures to SRIs have not reduced your chances of responding to Paxil. If so, I think Nardil would make sense as a second-line treatment.
Perhaps some self-directed CBT psychotherapy would help moderate your anxiety and depression, even though by itself, it would not produce remission. Anxiety can promote depression. Depression can promote anxiety. They often reinforce one another and the cycle can be hard to break. It sounds like this is what is happening with you. Any GAD present might be serving to exacerbate a melancholic depression.
I don't know what else to say except, good luck. You deserve it.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on September 9, 2015, at 19:19:57
In reply to GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
Nardil and Paxil are the bombs as far as efficacy is concerned when treating GAD. Effexor is pretty good, too. You already know the negative aspects of each of these drugs. I will say this, though. Nardil and Paxil can work well for a long time unless they are discontinued and restarted. If you find either drug effective, try to persuade yourself to stay on it indefinitely. I would say that Paxil tends to poop-out more often than Nardil, but you might get 5 - 10 years of remission out of it. By that time, there might be more options available. Hopefully, your previous drug exposures to SRIs have not reduced your chances of responding to Paxil. If so, I think Nardil would make sense as a second-line treatment.
Perhaps some self-directed CBT psychotherapy would help moderate your anxiety and depression, even though by itself, it would not produce remission. Anxiety can promote depression. Depression can promote anxiety. They often reinforce one another and the cycle can be hard to break. It sounds like this is what is happening with you. Any GAD present might be serving to exacerbate a melancholic depression.
I don't know what else to say except, good luck. You deserve it.
- Scott
Posted by Meltingpot on September 11, 2015, at 11:03:04
In reply to Re: GAD treatments that don't suck » linkadge, posted by Chris O on September 8, 2015, at 6:05:12
For me anyway.
Posted by Zyprexa on September 15, 2015, at 4:44:37
In reply to Zyprexa (nm), posted by Meltingpot on September 11, 2015, at 11:03:04
Was that directed at me?
Posted by phidippus on September 19, 2015, at 11:35:21
In reply to GAD treatments that don't suck, posted by linkadge on September 7, 2015, at 9:32:06
There's Gabitril...
Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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