so my stress levels are through the roof, my doctor suspects my high blood pressure is related to my stress and suggests zoloft/sertraline, i agreed to the lowest dose of 25 mg although doctor says most start off with 50, anyway i havent started it yet, just wondering if this could make things better or worse....any input is appreciated
maybe we should wear T shirts that say. I take (Proxac) want to have a fight about it"
I take the anti-anxiety drug Klonopin or (generic name) Clonzepam 0.5mg tablet each night before bed. On nights where I don't feel I need "as much," I'll break tab in half and just take a half. My Rx is slated for 2 tabs per day, I don't take that much, ever, the smaller amount does what I need it to do. Everyone is unique with which med and what dose works for them, I think. And I don't feel any different than I ever did before, except that I don't melt down into crying spells and want to hurt myself or my dad. I never took this type of medication before I was well into caregiving life and I was struggling before I finally gave in and sought medical help. I'm glad I gave it a try. Good luck.
Depression can be genetic; mental illness can be genetic.I find it offensive that your suggestion is to pull oneself up by their holistic bootstraps. Of course we can do many holistic things to help ease the emotional pain and I do these things myself: meditation, daily walks, gardening are a few. But I still need 200 mg of Zoloft to keep me from sinking into a well of helplessness and the feeling that I simply want to die. Being a caregiver for the past 3 years for parents that both suffer from dementia exacerbated my anxiety and depression. I'm not looking for pity and I don't believe anyone who suffers from mental illness looks for pity: they want to feel better, function in a healthy manner and a little empathy from others would be nice. I've learned not to expect much empathy, however: my older sibling is an RN and "doesn't believe" in antidepressants. Funny thing: dad has been on 50 mg of Zoloft for 2 years now, RN sister doesn't know but my oh my, she marvels at how he is no longer combative, belligerent, is able to get out of bed, enjoys reading books again...you cannot begin to know everyone's situation. Please don't judge. Your opinions are valid, but no one is "DRUGGING" themselves so they cannot function: they take pharmaceuticals so they CAN function.
These things work. So do support groups. I do both. I think they will help you too.
Any time I start a new pill, if the pill is a solid I would break it into 4 parts and just take 1/4 of the pill to make sure I can tolerate the fillers [I have issues with fillers in pills... those fillers make the pill large enough to handle and bind together]. After a week, I would try 1/2 of a pill, etc. Of course, my doctor knows I do this.
If I need something to take the edge off once in awhile, I can tolerate a pill called Librium 5mg.
i remember the old days well. I had measles, chickenpox,whooping cough and TB.Started nursing in 1956 and cared for polio patients. Got my first (live) vaccine in 1960. One of my cousins died from diptheria. Apparently I also had rheumatic fever as I now have rheumatic heart disease. No the old days were not so "good"