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[discogirl]

Where did U read that discogirl?   The leaflet in the box is best thrown into the bin ;-) because manufacturers seem to list every possibility that might happen!

Not a problem for me.  I sleep like a log and never want to wake up in the morning  apart from very busy dreams.  Using it as an AD though without which I wouldn't B here.

Which dose discogirl?

Hi clkd

GP gave me 10mg x

[Penguin]

Thanks all

I'm finding this all very interesting. So nice to hear some woman do find support through AD alone. Especially for things like hot flushes and IBS.

I've developed terrible reactive stomach issues to hormonal changes. I'm scared the AD will kick it off too though.

Discogirl I used escit before and if never upset my sleep. In fact I've stayed on 5mg for years. Doesn't seem to help with anything but it certainly doesn't disturb my sleep.

There are unfortunately start up side affects. I'm petrified of them. But needs must. My advice is start low. Do gvgo in with full dose.

Penguin when you moved to fluxetine did you start at full.dose or go up slowly?

P s penguin 6.30am is an early wakening. 

Lol not when you have a dog,  primary school aged children and one with adhd 🤣🙈. I at least get a solid 8 hours now but bear in mind I go to bed super early coz I can't stay awake 😴

So the fluoxetine. I was on 10mg cit, so I tapered from that, started on 10mg fluoxetine for 2 weeks then went up to 20mg and after a further 6 weeks went up to 40mg. I can't emphasise strongly enough how having a toolkit (including diazepam and a beta blocker) enabled me to pretty much sail through any start up effects. The beta blocker for the physical anxiety/ jitters and the diazepam for if I started spiralling with ocd. I have gone two months now not needing to dip into toolkit. I think GPs are remiss in not supporting patients through the start up of drugs like anti depressant. I was told at the start by my psychiatrist that I needed to get up to 40mg for the ocd looping thoughts and he was right, it is different for regular anxiety or depression. I was never able to get to a high enough dose of citalopram as I just didn't have the support from a specialist.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks penguin. Really helpful.

My GP is supportive and has suggested diazepan - but the name alone scares the life out of me.

Betablockers are a no go for my asthma apparently.

So you used betablockers for the physical side affects? And what, they just remove the jittery panic stuff???

Maybe I'll ask about them again. My asthma doesn't trouble me.

[Penguin]

Thanks penguin. Really helpful.

My GP is supportive and has suggested diazepan - but the name alone scares the life out of me.

Betablockers are a no go for my asthma apparently.

So you used betablockers for the physical side affects? And what, they just remove the jittery panic stuff???

Maybe I'll ask about them again. My asthma doesn't trouble me.

Yes, but a much lower dose than standard for both drugs. So 10mg of propanalol gets rid of my physical jitters (I never need more as I'm so sensitive to meds) instead of the usual 40mg and I get prescribed 5mg diazepam but use a pill cutter to halve it and take 2.5mg when needed. I have only ever needed to take 2 x 2.5mg in one day a few times when I've been waiting for health check results, the 2.5mg has always been enough and that is even when I am full on looping. It just slows it all down a bit for me which enables me to break the cycle of checking and overthinking etc. I would go ahead with the referral and at least talk to the psychiatrist and see what they propose, you don't have to go ahead with anything but they will have a lot more expertise than a GP.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks penguin, that's helpful.

I swear she mentioned 0.5mg diazapan  extremely low.

I'll maybe ask about 10mg betablockers or less. See if it's worth a try.

[Penguin]

Thanks penguin, that's helpful.

I swear she mentioned 0.5mg diazapan  extremely low.

I'll maybe ask about 10mg betablockers or less. See if it's worth a try.

The dose of diazepan for anxiety is 2mg up to three times a day. It doesn't come in smaller sizes than 2mg. I doubt 0.5mg (if you could even cut it that small) would do anything at all. Bear in mind tho, they will not give this for you to take on an ongoing basis, only ad hoc for occasional use.

[CLKD]

Yep. that is hardly a working dose discogirl.  What's to lose on a weekend?  Or mayB take 1 30 mins B4 bed so that U can sleep off any effects, though if U are like me you'll wake to see whether it's worked  .  Stick to that rather than propranolol if U have contraindications. 

Similar to Penguin - 5mg valium used the night B4 an event that I am unable to get out of, knowing that I can take another 5mg the next morning = never required!  When I was begging for admission to hospital because I felt unsafe, the Consultant told DH to give me 5mg then plus another 5mg in the early hours if required.  I've taken 10mg 3 times a day which gives me the desired effect of getting rid of anxiety surges.  As it worked I have never required more than necessary!

When my anxiety was bad so that I could hardly move, I would have taken heroin if I thought it would have worked  .  Valium is used as a pre-med .

[Penguin]

Thanks penguin, that's helpful.

I swear she mentioned 0.5mg diazapan  extremely low.

I'll maybe ask about 10mg betablockers or less. See if it's worth a try.

There are various types of beta blocker. Having done a quick search on nhs, propanalol is a non selective one that may exacerbate asthma in some people. However there are a number of others that are known as 'selective beta blockers' which are okay if you have asthma. Ask your doctor to check, but it looks like there are a few options. And defo try a low low dose at first, the higher doses made me feel tired and lousy and I really didn't need a high dose x

[CLKD]

   I took propranolol in the evening to ease early morning anxiety surges.

discogirl if u take 10mg at night you'll be OK.     I found that good effects lasted at least 3 days by which time the causation had gone.   Also knowing that it worked helped a lot.

[CrispyChick]

Great. Thanks for that advice penguin.

So I could try like 5mg?

[discogirl]

  I took propranolol in the evening to ease early morning anxiety surges.

discogirl if u take 10mg at night you'll be OK.     I found that good effects lasted at least 3 days by which time the causation had gone.   Also knowing that it worked helped a lot.

Hi clkd

Apart from propranolol what medication did you take for your anxiety x

[Penguin]

Great. Thanks for that advice penguin.

So I could try like 5mg?

Diazepam? I'd say 2mg and then you can take a second dose if needed. If you get 5mg then I'd cut it in half and try 2.5mg as you should aim for the lowest dose possible that gives you relief. Get a pill cutter from amazon for about a fiver.

[CrispyChick]

Sorry, I meant 5mg betablocker?

[CLKD]

In 1988 I began ADs to ease depression and anxiety.  In the early 1990s my GP prescribed valium/diazapam - initially 10mg 3 times a day then 5mg twice a day followed by 5mg as necessary.  Any smaller dose is a placebo unless withdrawing. 

I stopped valium and was OK for a while, then the GP put me onto 'propranolol;.  80mg 3 times a day for 3 weeks followed by 40mg twice a day for 2 weeks then 20mg for several years; taken at night to ease early morning surges.  I was getting background headaches on waking so when we went into lockdown I stopped as I didn't know whether it was the BB or Covid  .  Lockdown was the best year I have ever had: Boris told us to stay at home so we did ;-)

I now have escitalopram 10mg at night, 5mg at breakfast as well as a go-2 med when anxiety floors me.  Although many believe that valium can be addictive, taken under supervision as well as taking it 'as necessary' works for many.  For me it's about getting the anxiety out of the way!

[Penguin]

Sorry, I meant 5mg betablocker?

Well the standard dose of propanalol is 40mg. But i only take 10mg. They actually prescribe them in 10mg for me. It is the diazepam I cut in half.