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08-03-2008, 01:40 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 351
| |  How Many Medications Do You Take?
I am wondering how many medications everyone takes for PTSD. (I'm mostly interested in the number of meds, not so much in which specific ones you're on.) In the past, I have been on up six or seven at one time--(that includes medication anxiety, depression, panic, as well as stomach issues and headaches relating to the PTSD). I'm currently trying to reduce my meds because I just have an issue with being on so many, but I don't know if reduction is such a good idea either. Please do not include medications you are taking for reasons other than PTSD.
nic
P.S. I'm not too good with computers, so if I don't set up this poll correctly, could someone please help? Thanks.
Answers:
none
1-2
3-4
4-5
more than 5 |
08-03-2008, 06:52 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northern California
Posts: 300
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I take four for the mental aspect. I only take pain meds. prn and not very often. So I didn't count the physical ones. |
09-03-2008, 11:44 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 668
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one specifically for depression, 3 for pain control, one for reflux prevention. It depends on whether you believe that the pain and reflux are PTSD-related or -caused. |
09-03-2008, 01:36 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Midwest, USA
Posts: 449
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I was pressured into taking meds for depression for a few weeks, then decided to go off them. I'm so glad I didn't sink any more money into them as a study just came out that says SSRI's don't work any better than a sugar pill except in the most severe cases.
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045
The other stuff I was doing in my life was more effective than the SSRI's |
12-03-2008, 01:56 AM
|  | Moderator Chat PTSD Forum | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Carolina, USA
Posts: 604
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Upstream,
That's an interesting study. I wouldn't put all of my eggs in one basket though, so to speak.
A few weeks is not enough for any anti-depressant to be effective. Also, I've tried 4 anti-depressants so far and several different combinations of them and I haven't had much luck...but I press on because the stories about those people whose lives have changed dramatically because of SSRI's gives me some sense of hope that eventually, my doctors will find the right combination for me.
The entire thing is a process and not an easy one. What works for some does not work for others.
Best,
Rachel |
12-03-2008, 09:18 AM
| | | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Midwest, USA
Posts: 449
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There are more than one study on SSRI's out there that have me concerned. Also it is not my first experience with them... definitely not one basket for me.
The studies I like are the ones that show how much more effective exercise is over pills.
To each their own... |
13-03-2008, 12:50 AM
| | | | Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 261
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I voted 1-2 at present.
There was a time that I was taking 5 different antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti anxiety, and sleeping medications. I finally got myself off of everything except one antidepressant and sleeping aid.
When I was on all the meds before, there were frequent times when I would feel completely numb-when I KNEW that I SHOULD be feeling something!
They neutralized me way too much. |
19-03-2008, 05:31 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,297
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I'm on two anti-depressants, one anti-anxiety, Motrin for headaches, and as of last week, Lamictal for mood stabilizing, depression and irritability. I haven't found the combination to be numbing or anything that negative so far. I've actually seen improvement in myself and so has my psychologist. I also love exercise for its good affects, but it only works for me if I could do it all day long, which I can't :) |
21-03-2008, 12:46 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 245
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I take birth control mainly for pain control and mood stabilization. It has worked better than any of the SSRI's I've tried which have either done nothing for depression or made me more depressed, and one even earned me a trip to urgent care for a skyrocketing blood pressure and tachycardia!
I had one doctor prescribe Abilify but I never got it filled because for one, it was $400 WITH insurance and two, the pharmacist red flagged it because she thought it was too serious of a medication for me. |
21-03-2008, 10:25 AM
| | | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 78
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I wasn't sure if I should vote on this one. I was only recently diagnosed and have yet to see the psychiatrist or hear any treatment recommendations. | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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