Should I Take Medication?

[JRF]

I suffer from intrusive thoughts. These thoughts all relate to a traumatic experience involving severe and prolonged verbal abuse. The trauma occurred three years ago and the flashbacks began last year, after being triggered by my coming into contact with the abuser.

Over the past twelve months, I've tried numerous drugs to kill the flashbacks, which consist of a mental replaying of the abuser's voice. These have included Zoloft, Seroquel, Geodon, and Zyprexa. None of them (aside of the Zyprexa, and that partial at best) worked in silencing the noise in my head.

A respected psychiatrist told me I should stop taking all medication and simply engage in talk-therapy. However, I am going back to school in about three weeks (I'm a college student) and want to make sure my mind is clear enough to remain focused on my studies.

So the question is, should I or should I not take meds, and if so, what medication?

Thanks,

JRF

[veiled]

No one here is qualified to tell you one way or another and especially since know one knows anything about you, your reactions to medications, history... And certainly no one should advise any exact med.

Really, if your doctor advises not to then don't. They would have a good reason for saying that since the norm is to push pills when not needed from my experience. Of course you can always find plenty of doctors willing to dope you to the point you don't even know what the hell is going on around you too. Sure it helps symptoms that way but your sure as hell won't be absorbing any of your classes.

Have you looked into CBT? Cognitive Behavior Therapy can really help and has been shown to.

[JRF]

Hi Veiled,

Thanks for the quick reply. I know that most posters aren't qualified to make a firm decision on which medication is right for me. But I also know that most posters are better at giving straight answers than the medical community since they've experienced the symptoms first-hand. I was just hoping to get feedback on which medications have worked best for other people dealing with PTSD, particularly intrusive thoughts or 'voices' from the past.

JRF

[becvan]

Hi JR, welcome to the forum.

Unless your in therapy to deal with your trauma, medication will only work so far and in some people not at all. That said, do a search on the forum. There is a forum dedicated to medications in the Information Section. Also in Chat PTSD there are numerous threads but you have to look for them. One medication will work for one person, and not at all for the next. Some people can not take any medication, some take many. It's very very individual. The one thing that is common with all of us.. is that medication is just a band aid. Most of us take it to help us through the rough therapy (facing our trauma head on.) However, none of us can get better by just taking medication.

bec

[She Cat]

Welcome to the forum.

[nie]

Welcome to the forum JRF. I can only speak to myself, not your need. I take medication to help me deal with the therapy I am going through. It doesn't make the PTSD go away, but helps me cope while going through the hard path I am currently traveling in therapy.

[tankertoy]

welcome to the forum...... from my experience i found that the meds do help to a point but i have been put on so many that i have opted to quit taking them becuase i really cant function in my day to day with them.... i am getting ready to go into a ptsd program for 21 days to be evaluated and hopefully find a happy medium and get them regulated but what works for one may not work for another so i would recommend seeing about going into a program so they can evaluate you and really find what works best for you... it is alot of trail and error
carlos

[JRF]

Thanks, everyone.

Here's a brief history of my medication usage.


1. Risperdal. Tried it for three days then quit. Agitation, one of the side effects, was so high I had to go to the ER.

2. Geodon. Gave it one week then quit. Made me tired and dizzy.

3. Seroquel. Gave it a month, then quit. Although it really helped me sleep, it did absolutely nothing beyond that. So I thought I might as easily take Tylenol PM and forego the risks of diabetes/cataracts.

4. Zyprexa. Gave it three weeks. It worked better than the previous drugs, but I gained fifteen pounds on it in less than a month. So, I decided to call it quits.


As I mentioned in my opening post, my main symptoms are intrusive thoughts/flashbacks. They are so bad at times I find myself sleeping late into the day to avoid them. I have been off all medications for exactly three weeks.

If I do get back on meds, it would be a choice between Anafranil (which I haven't yet tried) or Zyprexa. Anyone have any experience with Anafranil?

[oksofineimnutz]

Speaking from MY OWN personal experience....I was taking Zyprexa a couple of years ago....for just about 4 months. Admittedly I was already a *tad* overweight...but im a real shorty....standing only 5'3....I was shocked to find out I had gained almost 75 lbs. and at that point in my lifetime, it effected me greatly as it had me topping out at a whopping 256 pounds!!! (and altho my total before weight was high for my height...it was stable give or take 5 lbs or so for well into the three year mark) but wait!!! it gets even better......apparently it did some kind of damage to my liver. my doctor took me off the medication, but ahhhhh, the effects linger on, now i have to have my levels tested continuously to keep track of. not to mention there was some kind of lawsuit out there against this certain drug and its adverse effects. just putting this out there because i saw the name of medication and TO THIS DAY my doctor has not perscribed that medication to another patient of hers. good luck with finding what works for you.....and many blessed great test scores in your upcoming schooling venture!!

[JRF]

Oksofineimnutz,

Do you recall what dosage of Zyprexa you were taking? How many milligrams?

Thanks,

JRF

[oksofineimnutz]

All i can remember is it was a minimal dosage from the start and she never upped it the almost 4 mos i was on it.. and it was a twice a day dosage. i know that isnt much help, sorry.

[JRF]

Oksofineimnutz,


Are you sure you were taking Zyprexa? There are a few other meds that sound similar. Zyprexa is only taken once a day, usually at night without regard to meals.

If, though, you are sure you were taking Zyprexa, do any of these dosages sound familiar? 5mg; 10mg; 15mg; 20mg?


Thanks,

JRF

[just tina]

That's always a tough one, JRF, especially when you're starting something new in your life. I've found that different drugs have different effects on different people, can have different effects on me at different times, and are different when combined with other drugs. Also, they can have side-effects that aren't listed.

Sometimes something will work great. Starting medication might mean trying several medications. It's a course all by itself. I think the most important thing is to stay in touch with someone who knows you, and your therapist, until you KNOW how the medication effects you. (If you choose medication.)

[oksofineimnutz]

Yes, I am sure it was Zyprexa. Of THAT there is NO doubt. I only wish i could remember the dosage. I tried calling my doctor to see if she could look it up for me, but well, shes on vacation until the new year, and the rest of the office with all the other docs there are just too swamped to look it up. *completly understandable too* sorry i couldnt help more on this. Good Luck.

[JRF]

Oksofineimnutz,

If you're ever able to find out your old dosage and post it in this thread, I'd appreciate it.

Meanwhile, I've decided to stay off meds for now. I'm going to go back to school (one week from now), start classes, see how I do, and then possibly see a psychiatrist if things don't go well.

JRF