Questions about meds.

[Shutterbug65]

Hi everyone. I hope you all have a peaceful new week.

My question is about my meds. I’m currently taking Xanax extended release 1 mg. and fluoxetine (Prozac) 30mg per day. I’m just wondering if these dosages are high or about average? I’m just looking for an opinion from others who are on these meds. and whether or not they are working. I suffer from anxiety, especially in the morning and depression. I also have insomnia and take 7.5 mg of Mirtazapine at night to help with sleep. but I always wake up at 5:00 am or earlier with bad anxiety.

[Spooky99]

Hi! That sounds good to me. I’m on a higher dose of cymbalta and Wellbutrin. I take 2mg. Of clonopin daily. It’s been decades now. I have no problem sleeping. I was on Prozac back in the 90’s. It worked for a very long time. I’m not a dr. , but those doses seem good! I hope you feel better!!!

[Entela15 in reply to Spooky99]

I'm also on clonazepam. I need it in the morning badly. Can't function without it.

[Spooky99 in reply to Entela15]

I can’t either! It just makes me feel normal. I know I’m probably addicted to it. In my 20’s I self medicated with alcohol and was agoraphobic. So thank God for clonopin. I hear long term use can cause memory loss 😔. That’s my fear

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Spooky99]

That’s one of my fears, is the long term issues like memory loss.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Spooky99]

First off I’m sorry I didn’t see your message earlier. Thank you for your reply. It’s good to hear from others to get an idea how the medication is working. I know it’s different for everyone, but it’s finding that balance that’s so hard for me. I’m not sure if the medication stops working after awhile.

[Robinbunny]

Hey hun just be careful and follow dosage prescribe. We are in this together😘

[PastelPink20]

Hey! I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but hopefully you can find the answers you need.

I can only speak for Mirtazapine (Remron). I have a higher dosage and take it daily. So, at least for that, your dosage is lower than mine. But you have other medications to consider.

It’s hard to wake up with anxiety or like immense depression. I know I have a really really hard time getting out of bed on those days. Do you have a morning routine or a bedtime routine that you look forward to and relaxes you?

Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!

[Shutterbug65 in reply to PastelPink20]

Thanks. I know the dosage I’m on for Mirtazapine is only to help with sleep. What I’m worried about is that I’ve become reliant on Xanax especially. I know it’s highly addictive and difficult to get off. I often feel foggy throughout my day at work. The Prozac I’m not sure is working or not. I have times especially in the mornings when I’m most anxious and very depressed. My anxiety will ease as my day goes on but the depression and hopelessness about my life and future makes it hard to continue or find hope that things will get better.

I don’t want to ramble on here, I can feel myself starting to do that.

What I seek is basic answers about the meds I’m on and whether it works for others or not. I don’t know.

Thanks again for your reply. And yes I do have a morning routine but it’s hard to stay focused with my anxiety as high as it is.

[PastelPink20 in reply to Shutterbug65]

Feeling foggy is definitely a negative side effect. If you’re feeling too reliant on a medication and its side effects are impeding your daily life, maybe you could mention it to your doctor at your next appointment?

For my anxiety, I take Ativan 1mg “as needed” but I only take one daily. I don’t know if that’s relevant info. I am fortunate to be at a different place and am stable with my prescribed meds finally.

I want to say - it’s great that you’re looking at your medications and trying to evaluate how they’re helping you or aren’t. It’s a good reminder that the meds are there to help... but we have to do the work and heavy lifting still. The meds make it possible but we make it happen, if that makes sense.

It’s okay to ramble!! That’s literally all I do in therapy and sometimes it takes just writing or talking to figure out what’s going on. Are you in therapy or any other regular scheduled appointments for your wellbeing?

I hope your pain eases and you find the answers soon!

[Shutterbug65 in reply to PastelPink20]

Thank you so much for the information. Is Ativan similar to Xanax? And yes it makes sense that we need to put in the work, that there is no magic bullet. I just don’t know how. All I did for my entire life was avoid the things that made me anxious. I had no one to talk to or who would understand how I’m feeling. So I kept it to myself, I bottled it up. And I always had plenty of excuses for not doing things, and this has lead to a life of isolation and loneliness. And with having to social isolate now it makes me feel even worse.

I was seeing a therapist a couple years ago but it cost $50.00 a session every week, that was my co pay. I don’t have good insurance. But I would like to find someone to talk things out with. My phychiatrist only takes care of my meds and I see her once a month.

[Anxiousmermaid57 in reply to Shutterbug65]

How long have you been taking the Xanax? What’s your dosage?

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Anxiousmermaid57]

Hi and thank you. I’ve been on Xanax XR for several years. I’ve read many things that say it’s not for long term use. I’ve mentioned this to my phychiatrist but she said because of my bad anxiety I need to take it. I’m confused and a bit worried that I’m addicted. She said I shouldn’t read into this do much and she would never prescribe it if I didn’t need it

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Anxiousmermaid57]

Oh it 1 mg XR.

[Anxiousmermaid57 in reply to Shutterbug65]

Mine wasn’t an XR but I was prescribed .5 mg twice daily for anxiety and I only used to take it as needed and when isolation hit and it got to me I started having panic attacks regularly so I started taking it everyday for 2 months and I started having withdrawals and stopped sleeping, I was throwing up everyday and became overwhelmed with panic. I know medication affects everyone differently but that was my personal experience with it. I’m glad to be off of it. I do know other people who take it without issue but my therapist who also specializes in substance abuse told me it takes your body 3 days to become addicted to Xanax so if it is something that really concerns you maybe you could look into an antidepressant to help you while weaning off of it. Like I said I do know some people who take it without them experiencing what I did but your psychiatrist works for you not the other way around

[Pugglesworth]

Morning can be especially bad for people suffering from anxiety. The reason for this is varied and can involve having to face another day, seeming to be better the night before and not being able to gather ourselves together before anxiety hits. A bad morning doesn't necessarily mean a bad day.

Dr. Claire Weeks addresses this exact issue in her book 'Hope and Help for your Nerves.'

I have read it many times and still utilize her methodology.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Pugglesworth]

Thanks. I’ve read a few posts here mentioning Dr Weeks and her book. Does she address morning anxiety? And what are some of the things that causes it? I wake up at 4:30 after maybe 6 hours of sleep and my heart rate starts racing, my mind worrying about every problem. And everything in my mind becomes a catastrophe. I just want some peace of mind, even a little.

And like you said the evenings are much better, I suppose the Xanax has a lot to do with it.

[Pugglesworth in reply to Shutterbug65]

As I stated, she does indeed address morning anxiety.

Some of the causes are what I listed above (according to Dr. Weeks).

[Hidden]

That xanax will stop working if you take it daily. I would get the regular ones and only use them for panic attacks.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks but this is what my phychiatrist prescribed and said I need it. It’s the 1 mg extended release so it works all day, but I can tell it’s not working like it used to. I also have .25mg of regular Xanax as well and sometimes I take it with the Mirtazapine at bedtime.

Waking up so early is really effecting me, I find it hard to concentrate. The mornings are awful and I’m in a terrible routine because I expect it every night. I just can’t clear my mind of excessive worry. I think I’m gonna end up having a heart attack.

I’ve been seeing the same phychiatrist for 16 years now, maybe I should change. But I don’t do well with change. Good grief.

[NiBa5]

Hello

I’ve been on Fluoxetine 40mg. I heard 60mg is the usual maximum dose for depression.

I took Mirtazapine 15mg to sleep for several months but I came off it since I now can sleep without it.

I also took Xanax for a short while but I don’t need it anymore.

I know morning is hard. Hope your condition will improve.

[Catt02]

If I could shout from the rooftops, I'd say Benzos are only for short term, panic attacks or no more than about 10 days days in a row. Beyond that, it's a very dangerous situation. I've been off Clonazepam over 6 yrs and still paying a heavy price for it. It's really been a daily nightmare and I can only bury my face in my hands in mental anguish and torment. Nor is my case uncommon.