Anyone taking meds?

I just started taking zoloft and clonazepam, I hope I won't be on them for long.

kthin I hate to hear that you had to stop your Zoloft due to cost. The generic is sertraline and i believe it is one of Walmarts low cost meds. of course you will still need a prescription but that is only once a year.
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"

Oops sorry posted twice how do we delete what we posted??

Hey, let's not get carried away: Anti-Depressants really do help people. Bashing mental health drugs has become a popular trend of late they are used to prevent needless suffering. Some people who go on a rampage of medicinal plants herbs do the trick are not suffering to the degree of those who really need help I have tried so many herbs and plants you could think of not strong enough period don't work!!

Hey, let's not get carried away: Anti-Depressants really do help people. Bashing mental health drugs has become a popular trend of late they are used to prevent needless suffering. Some people who go on a rampage of medicinal plants herbs do the trick are not suffering to the degree of those who really need help I have tried so many herbs and plants you could think of not strong enough period don't work!!

I agree with ba8alou. I just attended a lecture yesterday at a Cleveland Clinic location about stress, eating well and the point was made that the brain does have receptors for the drugs , and for hormones that are stimulated by diet.

UsaPositive, if you have high blood pressure curious why your doctor hasn't placed you on blood pressure pills.... said blood pressure pills also have a calming effect. I would try those first if your doctor thinks its a good idea. Said pills tend to make you feel groggy until your body gets use to them.

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.

Also please remember that all drugs that work on brain chemistry do so because they are substances that the body produces. We have receptors in the brain for them.

Just remember, all of us, there is no Normal. There is average, median, typical, usual and legal. Normal only exists in textbooks. Do what works for you and ignore the heckling relatives.

UsaPositive, I suggest you try antidepressants. If you want to start with a lower dose than what your MD suggests then do so: no MD is infallible. I have been taking Zoloft for 20 years; I have had to be off it for the last 4 years because of no health insurance (I was deemed ineligible for Medicaid because my husband and I "had salaries that were too large") and had a full blown breakdown due to the stress of both parents simultaneously developing dementia and other physical illnesses; husband losing his job of 30 yrs and an RN sister who refused to believe I couldn't just "pull myself together". No one should have to let their health get as bad as mine did; I simply wanted to die and thought of nothing else. Depression and anxiety are REAL. No one who suffers from these disorders revels in them: on the contrary I feel the stigma of being "psycho" from members of my own family. But I know myself and I know I need to take care of myself.

These things work. So do support groups. I do both. I think they will help you too.

Ashlynne, my grandmother suffered from major depressive disorder and was given shock treatments in the 1950s; they were barbaric. My other grandmother had a blood clotting disorder and died from a pulmonary embolism. I have both disorders and thankfully there are pharmaceutical drugs I can take to prevent these disorders from taking over my life. Whenever someone uses the old "in the old days" argument about illness and cures I have to laugh: there was rampant diptheria, measles, polio, whooping cough that were fatal. The "old days" were not all idyllic, natural, beautiful times. How about rickets? Scurvy? TB?

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.

Since my mother moved in 18 months ago I now see a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I hadn't lived with my mother from 1978 until 2012 when she had to move in with me.We never had a close relationship. She is a passive aggressive narcissist and it has not gotten better over time. Also I am an only child and she is an only child so there is no other family. The best thing I did was go to the therapist.The psychiatrist manages my meds,Lexapro 20mg a day and Valium 15 mg a day. Also have been diagnosed by both for PTSD.Living with my mother as a child was like walking on eggshells and if you deviated from the path bombs would explode. My father hid from her in his bedroom and smoked himself to death.I look forward to me weekly visits to my therapist,keeps me sane and helps me realize that my childhood although not as bad as some was not normal.I would utilize any counseling services a caregiver can get. There is an article somewhere on this site from one of the therapists that calculates that 63% of caregivers, not just those taking care of Altzheimer's parents, but just caregivers die before the person they are taking care of. Since Jan.1st of this year I have taken my mother to 14 MD visits for various reasons and one foot surgery. I however, cancelled my mammogram, the colonoscopy my Primary md wanted me to have, also blew of going to the dentist because my mother also had to go so my husband took her just so I could sit in the house in complete silence.If my teeth fall out it would be worth it just to have that temporary peace in the house.

I just clicked the "Helpful Answer" on every comment in this thread… I'm sure there were one or two that were not helpful, but… in the spirit of supporting caregivers taking meds to relieve anxiety, I clicked away, lol.

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.

SSRI are none additive but you must not quit erupt you could end up very sick when we are feeling overwhelmed and very stressed and depressed with anxiety it is best to go one some type of antidepressant and a anxiety med why suffer more without it the way the world is today with such evil and go go daily life stresses I wouldn't be surprised if 90% isn't on antidepressants they usually take about 4 weeks maybe longer depends on the drug and the person the side effects are very minute depends on the way your body chemistry reacts to the antidepressant.

Yes, these are drugs. But "drugging out" suggests something more than drugs/medicines. It sounds like a person is avoiding life and being irresponsible. I believe taking anti-depressants is the responsible thing to do.

You need to think of these medications as an aide to wellness. Pain meds are good for pain, insulin helps diabetes and a caste helps a fracture heal. If your legs crumble there is no shame in using a cane or walker so it should be with mental illness.
maybe we should wear T shirts that say. I take (Proxac) want to have a fight about it"

I was diagnosed as clinically depressed back in 1991. It is genetic on my mom's side. After trying a number of antidepressants, Prozac was the miracle drug for me, 20mg to 40mg depending on level of depression. After dad moved in with us in 2012, my depression returned, even on meds. So I switched to Celexa 20mg which has been great, but the dose has been adjusted to 30mg recently as I went into a really bad funk. When my dad has one of his grand pity parties, I spiral. You know the saying, misery loves company? He actually seems quite happy when he brings me to his level. And so, the doc will adjust the dosage for me. Mover2, thanks for saying don't be ashamed! We are not weak, most of us are stressed to the max. Caregiving is not easy! And you will succumb to pressure by getting sick. I believe the depression comes first, then when you get so bad, you can and will get physically ill. I could write a book on my own experiences, I don't want to go back to that place.

Lexapro for anxiety attacks when dealing with issues around caring for Mom. A miracle drug -I am a new person with a better outlook. No regrets.

Ashlynne I absolutely agree with you. It is the best way to live. It would be wonderful if that was possible for all of us. I grew up like that during WW11 and it remains a dream.
Again agree that the drug companies get incredibly rich on the drugs that they produce but i also know that the medical advances have allowed many people to live better lives. Today was the Boston Marathon. Do you think the people who lost limbs last year should be sitting in wheelchairs or hobbling around on wooden legs. rather than running and dancing on their modern day equivalent

I guess my thought is that, as a society, we've become nations of pill poppers, many of which we don't need but they make the manufacturers incredibly rich and doctors are encouraged to prescribe.

My grandmothers lived to be 85 and 90 and never took a pill in their lives. They never had a pap smear or a mammogram (and I refuse to because if there's "something" bashing it around may cause it to go crazy and kill you - just my humble opinion) but they cooked from scratch and my one grandfather grew all the veggies, salad and had chickens and rabbits for the table - the old way, no chemicals involved..

I believe the chemicals in our food are making us ill as we get older, after years of ingesting them. Although there's masses of perspective on that idea on line which you re free to research, I personally believe it's what we eat that counts to a large degree.

I now live in the country and buy free range eggs locally. The store bought ones have always given me dreadful diarrhea - maybe from the drugs battery chickens are fed? Where I buy my eggs, she is 84, he is 81 and they're fitter than I've ever been. They are of the old school, eat, freeze and can their own produce and poultry. Tells you something maybe? With the way today's society lives on junk food, well ...

Just my humble opinion. Eat junk food, pop pills to keep your sanity or rid yourself of the stress so you might live, it's your choice.

With the SSRIs (Zoloft is one) a lot of us, especially us ladies, will repsond well to small doses. We find low doses work well in PTSD situations for our rehab patients and rarely have to escalate doses the way you might in primary depression. Like Ashlynn, I hope that better diet, plus lots of exercise translates into less risk of dementia from any cause; those are two of the things we can control, whatever genetics we may have.

Ash. Yes, Zoloft is a drug. So is Insulin.

ba8alou do a search on the word `Zoloft` (Google is your friend). Everywhere it`s classed as a drug by professionals.

Zoloft is not "drugging yourself". Zoloft is a systemic antidepressant that regulates your brain chemistry. Ta
king short term benxodiazapams is something else altogether.

UsaPositive. Only one way to find out try it. Give it at least two weeks to have an effect. You mentioned twin infants. Do you have post partum depression? if you are breast feeding check that it is a good idea to take this.

I apologise if anyone took offense to my post. I`m not a holistic medicine nut but I do try to stay away from chemicals if I can for both me and my animals. Here in Canada for a long time there was a tv advert for pills for a heartburn problem. It clearly said the side effects may be incontinence and fainting. Okey dokey, I take this stuff and I pee my pants and fall down ... excuse me, wth!

Personally I think the main problem with society today is fast food - junk joints on every corner - and few cook any more. For the past forever years my mother lived in processed packaged heat and eat meals, far too lazy to cook. She`s now in a NH with Parkinsons, stroke and dementia while neighbours of mine (she 84, he 81) have grown a lot of their own food and kept poultry for years and they`re fitter than I am. You figure it out..

I thank you all so much for all the responses, i need to take care of my twin infants mainly, i'm on no other meds, wonder if 25 mg will even do anything at all....

These are all such good answers because you all shared your experiences. Several years ago when I went to a dental check up the dentist asked me what I was doing? I had no idea what he was talking about, apparently I was grinding down my teeth and I have to wear a night guard now. I was told to take 5mg of Valium at bedtime. I still never sleep thru the night but at least I get to sleep. My Mom can take lorazepam, a very small amount so I give it at bedtime. The point is we have to care for ourselves. Take care everyone! Be good to yourself and follow your gut.

vstefans has explained pretty much everything we need to know about the use of this class of drugs
I have taken Zoloft for many years and finds it just smooths things out and does away with the highs and lows and allows me to face situations calmly. Started at 50mg and went up to 100mg. Offered more but felt adequately managed. I also have Valium available but only take that very ocassionally.
A word of caution though. As we get older it is more difficult for our tired old kidneys and liver to process many of these drugs and they have a culmative effect. Therefoer things like valium are not recommended for those over 70. My prescription is for 2 mg three times daily which is a relatively low dose but if I actually took that much I would be completly loopy and unsafe to drive. The only times I take it is when hubby with bipolar is especially bad or if I haven't slept well for several nights then I will only take one on one night. Get to know your body and research side effects and have good open communication with your Dr or psychiatrst. Read those inserts that come with your prescriptions Unless the side effects are really severe they will usually lessen as your body gets used to the drug. Also be aware of interactions if you take a lot of medicines and any food avoidence advice.
I also need a whole pharmacy of medications to keep my cardiovscular problems under control and many of those do have a strong sedative effect especially when they are started but in that case the results out weigh the risks. Drugs in the betablocker group used to control heart rate are particularily bad and also cause lethargy and weakness but I would prefer not to have a stroke or surgical intervention. My cardiologist keeps them to the minimum but I do tend to fall asleep mid morning especially at the computer. Many also kill the appetite which of course for many can be a good thing. Avoiding alcohol, calffiene and chocolate in excess is also good advice. An ocassional sin is not too bad.
Even if you are young and healthy this is good to be aware of in the loved one you are caring for, especially at the begining of care where there are many drs involved. Sad to say the elderly Medicare patient is not very profitable, can be especially time consuming and often not a reliable reporter or medication adherent..
As the move is more towards the employment of more nurse practitions in general care and less experienced Dr " specialists" it is especially necessary to educate ones self and question things that do not make sense. I especially question the need for a test if nothing is going to be done with the result. Also the need for complicated tests when there is a simple alternative or hands on examination. Just my opinion of course and something I don't press on others if they want to make sure about something. I always try and explain the options and risks and let the patient or caregiver make the choice given the stage of the patient's condition. Questions like when to stop chemotherapy or dialysis are always difficult to answer. Never frighten someone into doing something that will cause unecessary distress and no long term benefit. if some one is desperate to reach a very special milestone like a wedding anniversary or birth of a baby or for even a few days while a son or daughter can get home that is a different matter. One patient married his long time companion so she could recieve his suvivors benefits and willed himself to live the necessary number of months so she could qualify. but again I am off subject so will shut up.I believe and second "you gotta do what you gotta do"

When I saw the question my response was Well Yah, of course, who isn't? I don't ever understand why people don't use the legal tools that can help them through these tough times. For crying out loud, take the help (medical it otherwise) when it's offered.