Many people on site who suffer anxiety enter the site to discus medication concerns.
Most query the length of time it takes these drugs,to work or the contrindications of the medications when they either take the drugs for the first time OR over an extended period. There are problems however discussing these problems as many people may not have many problems or will suffer very severe contraindications.
We are all different and what is a fantastic medication to one will be a real problem to others. Your GP or Specialist is in partnership with their Patient so they need to be informed when something is not right with their scripted drug.
Many on this site are not Medical Professionals and therefore will discuss various types of drugs and how they altered their lives, good or bad. It would be wrong for any here to acually give yes or no answers to AD medications.
With Anxiety and some types of depression the patient can actually feel different contraindications that may not be caused by the drug and this can muddy the waters as far as AD medications is concerned. This can be seen on a sheet of paper in the box of the drug as it shows a long long list of problems the Patient may suffer while taking the drug, some of these contraindications are rare although many are current and can be quiet serious.
We take, informed decisions before we take the drug, that is the patients decision wanting to recover with the drug, the Doctors decision is to make sure the Patient understands the problems and understand what could go wrong in the first instance and further problems the person could have in the future. It is up to the patient to be honest and truthful with their GP if something is not going well. It is the patients informed choices, and GP decisions that helps the patient get onto the very best medication. and also the Patient to keep the Doctor informed.
Generally we can be taking these drugs for a long time and when we feel we can stop the drug, you take advise from the GP as the medication can cause withdrawal problems as they slowly reduce the dose, this again is part of informed choices, your GP will assist and make sure you understand how they will withdraw the AD from your system. It can be quite unpleasent and withdrawal could take longer than it took when you were introduced to the medication.
When it comes to Anxiety this period of time can become cluttered by the anxiety itself and can mask the problems associated with the medication.
You need to use the patient, doctor relationship here and follow any advice give, It is back to Patient Doctor reationship that will eventually, hopefully get off the medication involved.
Many of the contraindications are very much the same as the patient had in the first place, That becomes the clever bit where Specialists may be able to tell if the Anxiety etc is caused by drug or still present condition you had in the past
We can give you support and undrstanding here although we do not know what other medications you take or what health conditions you have. All of these problems are just two of the things your GP takes into consideration, it is back to that partnership all patients have with their GP
Here we can explain how our conditions were treated and the problems we have while taking these strong medications. All comes to push comes to shove and only you and your GP knows what is good for you and how you will react while taking these very strong drugs.
We are always here to help and give support, however we are not here to prescribe or suggest what medication will suit you, your GP does that and He will most probably bend to Specialists and CPN decisions.
We can of course recomment the use of coping techniques for your Depression or Anxiety,
In one phrase we are here to help and support and get through some very nasty conditions that can ruin lives.
Hopefully we can make a difference
Keep a hold
BOB