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[Tc]

Jules I hope you get on o.k at docs. Tell them exactly how you feel.
You have started a couple different things at the same time so it's hard to tell what's causing what. The body does take time to adjust but that doesnt help you right now. I was in the same position. My doc seems to think getting hormones right will help but I would say dont give up on the ads just yet. Let us know how you get on at docs.

Nanny. My first bout of anxiety depression was pretty young with a  eating disorder and then I was o.k for years until I got glandular fever and subsequent ME at 25. I was given ads then for ME. My body seemed to go through a change after ME. Though. My immune system has never been the same since and if I get run down it flares up.

Xxxx

[Jules53]

Thanks Tc. I'm going to stick with the AD a bit longer and not use the Utrogestan until I see the doctor on Monday. That way, I should be a key to tell if the AD is working and whether the Utrogestan is giving me problems.

Thanks for your support. Hope you are feeling OK? x

[Tc]

How are you racjen? Xxxx

[racjen]

Well I think I've made it through the worst of the start-up period - now on Day 18 and no longer getting the really bad anxiety it was causing to begin with. Still finding it's disrupting my sleep though. So now just waiting in the hope that I'll see some improvement over the next few weeks. Thanks for asking x

[Jules53]

So pleased to hear you are starting to improve Racjen!

My anxiety has calmed down the last few days too. 😁After seeing the doctor yesterday I am staying on the 10mg of Prozac and on the Evorel 50 and Utrogestan, as fingers crossed, it seems to be calming things down🤞x

[racjen]

Sometimes I think that all ADs actually do is make you feel so incredibly awful to start with, that when you get through the first two weeks and feel pretty much like you did before you started taking them, you think you feel much better!

[Jules53]

I think you have hit the nail on the head there racjen! I hope you are continuing to feel better though x

[Lumpy]

Hi Racjen,

I have not posted before but follow lots of anxiety threads with great interest. I too have crippling anxiety & depression and have tried many meds including Sertraline, Mertrazepine, Quetiapine all for about 8 weeks with no relief and actually made me worse. I was then put on Lorazepam 2mg (valium equivalent 20mg) in December and only on for 6 weeks but since January have been trying to taper off with one failed attempt and reinstated in April - currently down to 0.25mg (valium 2.5mg). I also started escitroplam 2 weeks ago and going up very slowly with the dose only up to 5mg so far.

I am also on John Studds regime of 4 pumps of oestrogel and 100 ultrogen 7 days of the month. Been on for 2 months and not really felt anything.

I have come to a conclusion recently that our bodys want and need a long time to heal and reach homeostasis.

I wonder whether all the chopping and changing on meds does more harm than good. I do think that benzodiazepines are a drug that need a major overhaul in terms of how often and easily they are prescribed. They do not cure anything but just plaster over symptoms and I even believe people, unlike me, who take them as and when and don't become addicted still suffer withdrawals and end up with increased anxiety without realising it is the drug causing it.

I have decided what my body needs is consistency over a long period of time. However, I do think getting of the Lorazepam has to be my first goal - I am taking my time but moving forward all the time. Tolerance can set in quickly and I know a lot of people only start to feel better once they have come off rather than holding at a dose. I am taking this slowly at 0.1mg per month and even slower if I need to. I know I don't have long to go.

Once done, I plan to stick to everything else for at least 6 months - not changing anything. Hormones the same, escitroplam the same (even if I don't feel great benefit). Only then will I start to consider slowly coming off or changing anything and very slowly and one thing at a time.

Our brains and bodys want to heal and find the new equilibrium - it just takes our brains a long time to heal and adjust. We are all too impatient. I just want to wake up and be better!!!

I'm not offering advice just another view point. The waiting game is so incredibly hard when all just want to feel better. Hang on in there and I wish you all the best.


I really feel for you and understand the awful time you are having. I have had to give up work and lots of days need my parents to be with me as the anxiety and depression is too much to deal with. It has been a year I have felt this way and never suffered anything like this before.

[racjen]

Hi Lumpy, totally agree with you about benzos - they're a great short term solution but SO easy to get hooked on and then you've got that added layer of difficulty to deal with. I've been on diazepam for over a year and I've developed such a tolerance I don't think it makes any difference at all now, but I have to take it to avoid withdrawal symptoms. And until I get on a more even keel moodwise I don't feel able to cope with withdrawal.

[CLKD]

2mg how often Lumpy?  That is a maintenance dose usually given as a pre-med or to ease those who have taken a higher dose for much longer, in order to wean off.  I can't remember the dose I take to ease anxiety, 1mg I think ........ as necessary.  Sept. was the last time I needed it, phew.  I had spikes last week due to an event I had to attend but I didn't need to take it.   It crossed my mind to take one pill in order to stave off any anxiety but decided that if necessary, then I would ........

[Jules53]

Hi Lumpy

Sorry to hear you are suffering too. I totally agree with you about giving our body time to heal by sticking to a regime and not chopping and, which is what I have done recently.

I  have suffered from anxiety for 10 years since I started perimenopause.  I tried different types of HRT which didn't work and finally ended up on an AD, Venlafaxine, which worked well for the hot flushes and anxiety, but after 18 months I was feeling better, so came off and my symptoms quickly came back.  I finally settled on Femseven Conti patches which worked well but they stopped making them so I had to stop suddenly, which made my symptoms come back 10 times worse! So I went back on Venlafaxine but it didn't work this time. I was changed over to 20mg of Fluoxetine, which makes anxiety worse before it gets better. I could only stand it for 5 weeks so the doctor lowered it to 10mg 3 weeks ago. The doctor gave me a low dose of Diazepam to take alongside it (2mg) and I did take small amounts most days (varying from 0.25 - 4mg of Diazepam). I took it on and off for 10-11 weeks but quickly realised that it wasn't really working for me anyway. I stopped taking the low amounts about 10 days ago and have decided not to take it anymore.

I started Evorel 50 patches and takeUtrogestan 100 vaginally every night and things are starting to calm down - in fact I feel spaced out now and not really anxious.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that you are right about being consistent for the body so I'm staying with the 10mg of Fluoxetine, Evorel 50 patches and Utrogestan for the forseeable future.   I really hope things settle down for you soon.

Jules x

[Lumpy]

Hi, Thank you for your kind words.

CLKD - I take 0.2mg Lorazepam a day (equivalent to 2mg Valium). I know it's low and i'm nearing the end of my taper. Am holding here while I go up on the escitroplam slowly to 10mg.

Hang on in there everyone.

[CLKD]

Doesn't it feel like hanging on at times  - I take 5mg Escitalopram in the morning and 10mg at night.  As well as a beta-blocka and emergency as-necessary anti-anxiety tablet.  I have used 'rescue remedy' with success too.

[CLKD]

Wading through treacle at times