Is it trial and error to find the right Anti-Depressant for me?

[RonOntario]

How does your Doctor select the compatible / right Anti-Depressant  for me ? There,s well over 200 different anti-depressants available throughout North America . For the past 15 years  they,ve all been perscribed to stop or deminish anxiety attacks , sleep disorders , short or term depression to mood disorders . TRUST ME, the anti-depresent that works for me may not work for the next person .At best, your Doctor will only quess what anti-depressant to perscribe , If he-she perscribes you a A.D. thats not compatible ? Welcome To A Hell  within your mind and body. These drugs do NOT take 8-10 days of use to get into your system , at best they alter your mind within the first 24 hours, the first tablet you take you,ll feel better 99.9% of the time, take table # 2  and # 3  8hr. to 12hr. apart , If you feel your coming apart - as in sliding off the page spun - you,ll call your Doctor (if your able to ) .. Doc Feel Good is going to tell you to GIVE IT TIME , break your tablets in half and keep on taking that drug. .It only gets worse , although it only takes a few hours to hit your system at first tablet, once you,ve taken 3 or 4 of those =2 days worth, If you stop the intake ? That -any Anti-Depressant made- chemical will stay in your mind and body for 10 full days and play with your head Big Time , for next 3 days then taper off during the next 7. No doubt you,ll go back to the Doctor before your body n mind are of clear of those chemicals -your desperate for relief. No Doubt your Doctor will change your ANTI-Depressant using no guidelines-they don,t exist-  . Within a few hours you,ve taken this newly perscribed drug while drug #1 is still in your system . The interaction between the 2 drugs may put you in a Rubber Room or into the Emerg. department . I KNOW, it happened to me  for the better part of 2 years while my Doctor played Russian Roulette with little pills . I was convinced I was INSANE -Cat Scans to MRI,s blood tests the entire 9 yards  resulted in No Problem .I couldn,t drive alone -be alone -go outdoors beyond my deck, all I ever did was pace the house every day -Going out with girlfriend driving , I insisted on taking all the back roads to avoid Stop Lights - Traffic , My only safety zone was sitting in the parking lot of the emergencey department of the hospital  close to fast help in case I had a heart attack , passout , or just trip-out into a mad man yelling and screaming or becoming violent . My girlfriend and 2 of my best friends had to carry me into the Emerg and Doctors office on a near dailey basis , they had to speak on my behalf . couldn,t sleep , wouldn,t eat  I went from 212 lbs. -not fat- to 139lbs . , I peeked on night around 2 a,m , in a trace like state I got the keys to my car and drove to the cottage . Like a robot I took my  gun out of the dresser--filled the clip -made a noose out of wire-tied it off to beam  -grabbed a chair & some big garbage-bags -got up on that chair ,& put 3 garbage bags over my head-chest -pulled that 9mm out of my waist band and stuck it my mouth on full automatic---All I could think of were my 3 dogs -and never seeing them again-who would love them like I do? What a gutless pr I,d be - it took an hour but I got off the chair -bags off me -out to the deck and sprayed the sky.  . The next day I went to the Doctor , he gave a script for Clonazpam 2-  2mg 3 times a day , Within 1 hr. I felt good ---4hr. later and 2 more , I FELT GREAT >my Old self , NO ANXIETY ATTACKS in over 10 years.  ZOLOFT etc. cost over $200.00 a month ---Clonazepam Cost $18.00 a month , Pharmasuictal Rep,s - Drug Stores -promote the high price drugs-kick backs from Drug Company,s have been common practice since Valium hit the market in 1958. , Nothing has changed , except the millions $ have turned into BILLIONS .   Doctors are NO LONGER THE GODS -Unquestionable Beings they once were , Its ALL ABOUT THE MONEY !    ***@****   RonOntario

[lynn57]

How many mgs of clonazepam did the doctor start you out on.  It seems he started you on a pretty high dose.  Have you built any tolerance?

[nursegirl6572]

One more thing to add.  You seem to think that $ is the reasoning behind WHY a doctor chooses a certain medication?  You could not be more wrong!  Also, people assume that doctors are somehow these money hungry monsters.  If you add up ALL the years of schooling, the COST of med school, plus all the very LONG hours a physcian works...I think you'd be surprised at their true income.  If they DO make good money, they surely earn it.  Sure, there are lousy doctors out there...but that's true of any profession.

The majority of docs I've worked with over the years work their hind end off, sacrifice time with their families and are people just like the rest of us...most of them hard working, dedicated and caring people.  I actually give them a lot of credit.  I'm not sure I could do it.

I just really don't care for the hammering of an entire profession based on one bad experience.  It's not fair.  

[nursegirl6572]

Wow...I'm not sure where to begin, and while I'm sorry you have had a horrid experience, your is uinque to you...not everyone goes through what you did, as a matter of fact, a lot of people have tremedous success with these kinds of meds and consider them a life saver.

Sounds to me like the primary symptoms you had were more typical of panic attacks rather than a result of the medication.  These medications DO take time to build up in the system...and while that is true, some people do not tolerate certain kinds of meds, which may have been the case for you.  If your doc advised you to take a smaller dose and hang in there initially....that is NORMAL.  MANY of us had a rough time assimilating to these meds as they can have some pretty uncomfy side effects.  Doctors KNOW this and will try to help you by encouraging you to give the med a chance.  Truth is, most of the side effects subside pretty quickly.  If everyone stopped taking ANY med at the first side effect...we would never know about the effectiveness of any drug!  It's unfortunately a necessary evil.

Also, to say that there are no guidelines and to insinuate that the docs simply pick a med out of a basket haphazardly couldn't be farther from the truth!!  Cerain AD's are indicated for panic disorder, while others are better suited for treating OCD, some are optimal if a patient has concurrent depressive symptoms.  A doctor also will take into consideration many factors when suggesting a med...some would include...age, gender, any past medical history, any other meds, any substance abuse, weight, etc etc etc.  

While I can appreciate that you've had a rough time...you're making a lot of incorrect assumptions and accusations about how these meds are prescribed and what they do.  I wish not ONE person had a bad experience with these meds, but everyone is different, and while YOU may have had a horrific time, many many other people have these meds to thank for getting their lives back.  I would question what other kinds of help you got to deal with your anxiety?  Did you try any therapy?  How did that go?  Any other method you tried to help with the symptoms?

Anyone deciding to try these meds need to keep in mind...to never assume anything based on what you've heard or read about these meds..allow yourself to have your own individual experience.  AND, remember that your doctor has reasons behind the decisions he/she comes to (presumably with your input)...if you ever want to know WHAT those reasons are....ask them!  They'll tell you the reasoning behind their choices. Never have a "blind faith" in your doctor and remember to always be your own #1 advocate for your healthcare.  Educate yourself but remember that there is also a reason that doctors have 8-12 years schooling to do what they do.  Despite what it may seem...it's not a guessing game.

[worrywart73]

Wow that was really interesting. I must say im on zoloft but dont feel its workin all th way my dr has offered clonazepam to me recently but im scared to try it?? If u dont mind me askin r u still on it and does it still work ?? Also r there bad side effects cuz i take xanax and it is good but dont last but then again i dont want ta feel groggy or not in control cuz i have three kids plus it scares me ??