Don't know if you know, but some drug and (obviously) brand names are different in each country when the actual drug itself is the same.

I was prescibed Escitalopram (with berevement counselling) 2 or 3 months before ptsd began.

A week after 'my trauma' it was changed to Venlafaxine (Exfexor XL) 150mg od which was a lot better. For the first two weeks i was also prescribed Lorazapam, which helped at work by taking the edge of anxiety and fear. However ruined my concentration and immediate short term memory. I also felt exhausted - ?combination of medication and trying to cope.


I continued with venlafaxine 150mg od until may 05 then increased to 225mg daily in divided doses for 2 months. I thought at the time they took the edge off things but now ?their benefit as things got worse before they got better.
I was also self-harming, mainly cutting, after my trauma as a way to cope.


Anxiety was a problem so i was prescribed Olanzapine 2.5mg tds. It's an anti-psychotic but worked really well for anxiety. My little 'to feel normal' pill. I loved it, too much, and got psychologically dependant on it, even now i feel happier carrying a few around with me, just in case i need them and won't 'give in' my supply.
I took it, as prescribed, 2.5mg tds for 2mths, then 1 mth prn-usually 1-2 doses a day. I was then advised by psychiatrist to stop taking it.
I told this to my Gp - he said he would give me one last supply of it, to take when you think you need it. He gave me three months supply unstead of the usual 1 mth!
So i continued to take it for another 2 and a half months 0-2 doses at 2.5-5mg during the day but always took 2.5mg to sleep at night. Was this technically self-medicated?
I developed diabetes mellitus in sept 05 as a result of my Olanzapine use.

I was precribed in June 05 diazapam 2mg at night to help with sleep but self medicated 2-16mg, as inital dose didn't work. I would also combine this with Olanzapine 2.5-5mg 2-3 times a week.

I was diagnosed with ptsd end May/early June 05 - no medication change.

The person who caused my trauma had to appear to court on several occasions and sentancing was delayed 4-5 times. With each appearance (i didn't go) and subsequent delay my mental health deteriorated, to the point of being actively suicidal therefore admitted to hospital june 05. My self- harm was on a daily basis by this point. So the anti-depression meds didn't work.

In Hospital my medication was changed from Venlafaxine to Mirtazapine 30mg nocte. I was still having problems sleeping so was prescribed Zopiclone 7.5mg nocte also. I improved so came out of hospital 2 weeks later July 05.

My self harm improved, i was still getting thoughts but learnt not to re-act to them every time. My suicidal thoughts happened a few times, but remained just thoughts. In dec 05 they both were getting out of control again so Mirtazapine was increased to 45mg nocte.

Currently i am prescribed and take mirtazapine 45mg nocte,od Zopiclone 7.5mg nocte od prn up to three times a week, (but usually only take it 2-3 times fortnightly)

Ultimately, i am happy to take this because the increased dose of Mirtazapine controls suicidal and self harm thoughts for me, and enables me to sleep better.
On the depression, anxiety, and other ptsd symptoms i don't think it does anything to improve or hinder.

The head consultant where i have therapy describes mirtazapine as a 'life jacket' keeping a person afloat while therapy helps the waters receed so a person can touch the floor and walk to the shallow end and out the water completly.