and there are some who will never make it

[Guest [vi...]]

like me. i am addicted to 20 mg librium and 30 mg domperidone and 15 mg mirtazapine. domperidone, for me, crosses the blood-brain barrier and i have failed quitting it twice. it works as an antipsychotic for me.

 

i was an alcoholic for 10 years and stopped drinking 6 months ago. i've fallen into depression every month since. but my current episode of depression beats all expectations. i have been depressed for 20 days and with unrelenting depression.

 

i met a psychiatrist today. he wants me to start lamictal and increase my benzio to 30 mg librium. my foot!

 

i will die depressed than take any other psychiatric medicine.

 

please help!

[[xe...]]

i will die depressed than take any other psychiatric medicine.

 

I don't think it's wise to be such an extremist.

 

Many people are able to withdraw from all medications and eventually have a good quality of life.

 

Some people are not, and some people are helped tremendously by some medications.

 

Ultimately it is a personal calculus of risk and reward. Some people elect to take benzos long term and not worry about the consequences. For some, this ends in disaster, but that's not the inevitable result. Other classes of medications have a different risk profile, and there is no shame in feeling like one's life is better on a drug, than not.

 

Based on personal experience I would start with a psychologist who works with a psychiatrist as needed for medication management; psychologists are a lot less likely to see everything through the "drugs are the best treatment" lens.

[[li...]]

You stopped drinking 6 months ago. Withdrawal from GABAergic drugs can last a long time, and I suspect that depression from alcohol W/D is not uncommon. There may be an interaction with the other drugs.

 

An observation/opinion (?), often these things take time. I have no personal experience with alcohol W/D.

[[...]]

i will die depressed than take any other psychiatric medicine.

 

I don't think it's wise to be such an extremist.

 

Many people are able to withdraw from all medications and eventually have a good quality of life.

 

Some people are not, and some people are helped tremendously by some medications.

 

Ultimately it is a personal calculus of risk and reward. Some people elect to take benzos long term and not worry about the consequences. For some, this ends in disaster, but that's not the inevitable result. Other classes of medications have a different risk profile, and there is no shame in feeling like one's life is better on a drug, than not.

 

Based on personal experience I would start with a psychologist who works with a psychiatrist as needed for medication management; psychologists are a lot less likely to see everything through the "drugs are the best treatment" lens.

 

Ooh, excellent post, xerxes!  I agree with every word! 

 

All is certainly not lost, and it would be very wise to have someone in your corner helping you to unscramble your worst fears/depression, draw up a doable/flexible plan of action with you, and get all your ducks in a row before moving forward.  Hopefully, that'll help you feel more clear-headed and optimistic.

 

Good luck.

[Guest [vi...]]

i will die depressed than take any other psychiatric medicine.

 

I don't think it's wise to be such an extremist.

 

Many people are able to withdraw from all medications and eventually have a good quality of life.

 

Some people are not, and some people are helped tremendously by some medications.

 

Ultimately it is a personal calculus of risk and reward. Some people elect to take benzos long term and not worry about the consequences. For some, this ends in disaster, but that's not the inevitable result. Other classes of medications have a different risk profile, and there is no shame in feeling like one's life is better on a drug, than not.

 

Based on personal experience I would start with a psychologist who works with a psychiatrist as needed for medication management; psychologists are a lot less likely to see everything through the "drugs are the best treatment" lens.

 

thank you xerxes. i have to agree with you. most people *are* able to withdraw from all drugs. i met another, more patient, psychiatrist today. she knows all about benzos and agrees it is causing my depression. she also feels lamictal is the preferred route for me at this stage to come out of depression. she wants me to taper the benzo when i am stable. i start lamictal tomorrow.

[[be...]]

You stopped drinking 6 months ago. Withdrawal from GABAergic drugs can last a long time, and I suspect that depression from alcohol W/D is not uncommon. There may be an interaction with the other drugs.

 

An observation/opinion (?), often these things take time. I have no personal experience with alcohol W/D.

 

That's very true. While I did not suffer from depression after my alcohol detox many others did. One reason why so many tend to relapse. It's sad.

[[Bi...]]

like me. i am addicted to 20 mg librium and 30 mg domperidone and 15 mg mirtazapine. domperidone, for me, crosses the blood-brain barrier and i have failed quitting it twice. it works as an antipsychotic for me.

 

i was an alcoholic for 10 years and stopped drinking 6 months ago. i've fallen into depression every month since. but my current episode of depression beats all expectations. i have been depressed for 20 days and with unrelenting depression.

 

i met a psychiatrist today. he wants me to start lamictal and increase my benzio to 30 mg librium. my foot!

 

i will die depressed than take any other psychiatric medicine.

 

please help!

 

It takes a few years of healing from the alcohol. Just keep fighting. 

 

If you have to break down and take something I know a few people that had good luck with Welbutrin since it deals with the dopamine depletion your feeling very well.  Takes about 3 weeks to really kick in.

It's best just to suffer through it but that's easier said then done.

 

[[Na...]]

It takes a few years of healing from the alcohol. Just keep fighting.

 

Very true 

[Guest [vi...]]

navita, birdman and benzogirl,

 

thanks! that it could be alcohol PAWS had never crossed my mind. that it could take a year or more also hadn't struck me. i think it makes sense. i'll keep fighting in the knowledge that it is merely a phase. i have started 50 mg lamotrigine and that, it appears, is bringing me some relief.

[Guest [sa...]]

Start with the Mirtazapine first, then.

[Guest [vi...]]

Start with the Mirtazapine first, then.

 

taper mirt first you mean? why do you say that?

[Guest [sa...]]

Start with the Mirtazapine first, then.

 

taper mirt first you mean? why do you say that?

 

Yes, that.

It's a strong drug with many side-effects and is probably getting in the way of tappering the other drug you wanted to get off.

[Guest [vi...]]

Start with the Mirtazapine first, then.

 

taper mirt first you mean? why do you say that?

 

Yes, that.

It's a strong drug with many side-effects and is probably getting in the way of tappering the other drug you wanted to get off.

 

i agree it has many side effect (metabolic syndrome for one) but i do not want to touch it yet because i fear benzo taper will give me insomnia.