Feeling mortal - and scared

[chris]

OCP
I’m sorry that happened to the lady, but what’s worse… I actually believe it. Most people especially in the medical profession would say that I’m nuts for thinking this, but its real.
I took 10 milligrams Prozac and by the second or third week I didn’t realize what was going on, but I began feeling like upset, but really upset. I wanted to sleep at night and wasn’t so energetic as I usually had been. That’s when I first started having panic attacks, but I didn’t know what it was at the time. The dr. actually gave it to me to help me with my learning disability as some people believe my ld is due to abuse. I found out latter Adderall is the only drug for learning issues. Oddly enough, its also used  for depression.  At the time the dr. wasn’t watching me and the lady that was told me to take two pills because the dr. said I could and I needed to let it build up in my system. I actually think I thought of committing suicide and didn’t understand why. I don’t know why, but I never connected the two. I just didn’t think it could happen and no one told me.

[One Confused Puppy]

Chris, bless your heart, I'm so sorry for what you went through! 

I don't think that "Adderol is the only drug for learning disabilities" - I think it is for ADD and it is one of many. JD would be the expert here.  From what I've read, most ADD drugs are stimulants, or "uppers," which somehow actually slow the brain down and allow people with ADD to focus.  Dexedrine worked a miracle with both my son and my stepson for ADD.

A while back I related a story similar to yours - I was going through a really horrible time with depression and a shrink that I go to for Xanax and Ambien wrote me a prescription for something called Lamictal.  It is primarily an anti-seizure medication but apparently has worked wonders for SOME people with depression.  Over the years, I've taken some anti-depressants that worked and then inexplicably stopped working; others that did nothing, and still others that did really bizarre things to my head.  Maybe I'm overly cautious now, but I've learned that if an anti-depressant makes me feel MASSIVELY worse, I quit taking it.  Period.  And I let the doctor know what it did. You have to look out for yourself because sometimes, even the best-trained doctors don't always look out for you.  Trust your instincts!

[ddg]

Funny you should say that tops because I have just finished reading an article in the New Yorker which blows the lid of prescription meds and shrinks.

You basically sumed up a 4 page article in 5 sentences.

[Peace, Love and Pretzels]

Chris, I absolutely agree that PTSD (especially the C type) can make you foggy.  Very foggy.  I dropped from a A tennis player to a D tennis player in less than 2 weeks, couldn't think things through, stared at a computer screen in wonderment when I used to be able to make them do backflips for me, and could barely string 3 words together.  I was limited as to the complexity of problems put before me and what I could think through.  I am still like that to a degree in my dark moments.  My clear moments have me right back to where I was before.  

Clear the fog and I expect that your 'ld' will become a thing of the past.  You sound incredibly capable and must be tbh, to live through what you have.  I am certain there is no 'real' ld there.

[chris]

Chris, bless your heart, I'm so sorry for what you went through! 

I don't think that "Adderol is the only drug for learning disabilities" - I think it is for ADD and it is one of many. JD would be the expert here.  From what I've read, most ADD drugs are stimulants, or "uppers," which somehow actually slow the brain down and allow people with ADD to focus.  Dexedrine worked a miracle with both my son and my stepson for ADD.

A while back I related a story similar to yours - I was going through a really horrible time with depression and a shrink that I go to for Xanax and Ambien wrote me a prescription for something called Lamictal.  It is primarily an anti-seizure medication but apparently has worked wonders for SOME people with depression.  Over the years, I've taken some anti-depressants that worked and then inexplicably stopped working; others that did nothing, and still others that did really bizarre things to my head.  Maybe I'm overly cautious now, but I've learned that if an anti-depressant makes me feel MASSIVELY worse, I quit taking it.  Period.  And I let the doctor know what it did. You have to look out for yourself because sometimes, even the best-trained doctors don't always look out for you.  Trust your instincts!

Your right . I realized it after I hit post. Adderal is one of a bunch of stimulants for ADD. ADD where I am is usually written as learning issues because it effect the ability to concentrate. I don’t know that this was the drug I had heard of or not , but I met a guy many years ago at work that had been the victim of a robbery and was hit in the head with a bare. The incident created learning issues that he took medication for. He said he still couldn’t do math, but everything else was ok. Being young and wanting to curb my learning issue I wanted to try what he had but forgot the name by the time I went to the dr. the dr. prescribed Prozac that I was allergic to. Not fun times.

[Conrad]

Funny you should say that tops because I have just finished reading an article in the New Yorker which blows the lid of prescription meds and shrinks.

You basically sumed up a 4 page article in 5 sentences.

ddg,

It's part of the "quick-fix" element in our society.

Most people go to the "shrink" looking for medication.

A pill for every problem.

Wrong way to go.

JD

[ddg]

yeh, that was pretty much the gist of the article.

I was particularly surprised that shyness is now a disorder and there is a magic, happy pill for it.

Where can I score me some??

[chris]

yeh, that was pretty much the gist of the article.

I was particularly surprised that shyness is now a disorder and there is a magic, happy pill for it.

Where can I score me some??

No way. You’re so lying.

[One Confused Puppy]

JD - I have to take issue with your stand on our culture wanting a "quick fix."

I NEEDED a quick fix because I was on the verge of killing someone (if I could figure out a way to do it so it wouldn't look like suicide - I want my family to get the insurance) or maybe my SD just because she is getting on my nerves.  The rage was just so unlike me and barely containable.  I had to do something and I had to do it FAST.

And fortunately, it seems to have worked.

As a friend of mine, who is also in the pharmaceutical business says, somewhat cynically, "Better living through modern chemistry!"

[Miele]

So very glad you are feeling better.  Ocp. 
So genuinely happy for you.   Keep up those sewing classes.  I may be placing an
order with you soon. 

[Conrad]

JD - I have to take issue with your stand on our culture wanting a "quick fix."

I NEEDED a quick fix because I was on the verge of killing someone (if I could figure out a way to do it so it wouldn't look like suicide - I want my family to get the insurance) or maybe my SD just because she is getting on my nerves.  The rage was just so unlike me and barely containable.  I had to do something and I had to do it FAST.

And fortunately, it seems to have worked.

As a friend of mine, who is also in the pharmaceutical business says, somewhat cynically, "Better living through modern chemistry!"

Tops,

Medicine and mind work go together.

You're a great example of that.

JD

[Peace, Love and Pretzels]

Not sure how it is in US and UK, but here in Canada you get 10 minutes with p-docs.  that is all.  No talking to them - they ask you a couple of questions, write you out a script and off you toddle home.  No mind/med connection here.  Pop a prozac and apparently life will be good.  *shudder*

[feistymiss]

chris, I agree with your dad.  Add too many wildcards in for these 'learned people' and they tend to take the 'it isn't my problem' door if you give them an out.  PTSD is the biggest out EVER.  KISS (keep it simple stupid) is a great mantra to follow when dealing with doctors etc. 

i had to laugh out loud when i read this, im trying to get to know Puppy .. ah i was gonna put Puppy Love, its Controlled Puppy ?!? isnt it, as we share life similarities i believe - howdy .. hi Puppy Love !, i really like that, will carry on reading now

[feistymiss]

chris, I agree with your dad.  Add too many wildcards in for these 'learned people' and they tend to take the 'it isn't my problem' door if you give them an out.  PTSD is the biggest out EVER.  KISS (keep it simple stupid) is a great mantra to follow when dealing with doctors etc. 

i had to laugh out loud when i read this, im trying to get to know Puppy .. ah i was gonna put Puppy Love, its Controlled Puppy ?!? isnt it, as we share life similarities i believe - howdy .. hi Puppy Love !, i really like that, will carry on reading now

ahhhhhh its One Confused Puppy, duh doh, sorry, silly me.  and where Andi mentioned the 10 mins the doc gives you in assessment time, and believing in your own instincts, yep, really endorse that one.  sometimes we can pressure the dr for more time Haha, and ive changed more docs than i care to register, tho i know that "goes against me" in a sense.  but i wont put up with ... and if someone wants to label me, fine, anyway for hijacking this posting with my own input, that was prob totally off the wall, im saying hi too  and hope i can be forgiven !

[chris]

I felt like killing someone once but it was a person that was threatening. Yesterday I did really want to kick the crap out of someone and likely leave him in the hospital. I so didn’t want to do what I had to due by myself. By the time I got there I had it held together, but I amazed myself.  I thought of taking an anxiety pill, but didn’t.