i have suffered anxiety an depression most of my life.being a man years ago i suffered in silence it was not the think to feel weak.when i got to 30 i new i needed help, so went to the docs this is 30 years ago when ativan was the drug of choise by many docs i was sensible with it a kept to the rules an found it helpful.then the time came when a lady doc told me i really needed anA.D so after lots of failed test runs prozac gave me back my life. it worked for a few years . then pooped.back to the ativan still sensible.after one bad bout of anxiety an dep, the doc ask if i would see a phyk at the hospital . i reluctantly agreed an this is were it goes wrong. i live in england your phys are free but you get what you get tha first guy was ok apart from canceling a lot of appointments the day before i was do to go.well he left the hospital an me i limbo no meds an no appointment.still i had my ativan lots of it.my next appointment with a new doc was 10 weeks. i freaked an hit the ativan an brandy hard to stay on the planet 10mg of ativan aday.went to see new hospital doc.stopped all my ativan in one go an put me on 125mg velafaxine. bad move by a crap doc .two days later overdosed i was in hell. put me in mental hospital gave me 225ven an just 8mg valium a day. i spent 8 hours every day on the shower floor letting the water let me no i was alive i got out after a week. an collapsted at home my gp came put me back on 8mg ativan levelled out in aweek. i am now down to 4mg of ativan an stable at that for a time my new problem is my new antidepressant has failed an i have to detox to start again i was on 120 cymbalta.let me tell you in mental hospital the cig breaks the guys an ladies smoked heroin an drank vodka from water bottles it was a zoo now im waiting to go back to try a new a.d WISH ME LUCK this time the out patients. manic666
Q: i need to no if something will work i have had the worst nightmare period
Hi Manic666: I am not a physician, but have worked with many people with your symtoms. It sounds like you are Bipolar and should take meds for that, not for just anxiety and depression. You might want to go to the website Bipolar Connect to find out about current treatments and concerns. Some of the meds for Bipolar are Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, and Abilify. Ativan is a benzodiazepine and highly addictive.
Dr. Diana Walcutt
*Dr. Walcutt is a Psychologist, not a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists prescribe medications. Psychologists study them, but the majority of Psychologists are not authorized to prescribe meds or give you specific advice about them. Dr. Walcutt's answers are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental disorder. Any information given in a post about medication is for educational purposes only, and primarily to aid you in having an informed discussion with your own Psychiatrist/Physician
Dear manic666,
Iam so sorry for your suffering. I think the expert is right, I have a bipolar 14 year old son, most of wht you are describing is what he is going through. www.bipolarconnection.com had some very good information and I think if you read through what is written by the experts and commuinity members have to say you just might be able to explore this possibility. My son is also diagnosed with panick attacks and PTSD. Nightmares are a big part of what he goes through everynight, he is currently on Serequel and Zoloft.vlbhopes you check out that site Good Luck, and take care of yourself, eat good healthy food, excersie if you can a walk before bed time. Try not to wach news shows or distressing things before bedtime. The Serequel has reduced his nightmares and is helping him sleep.
MANIC 666 HERE, thanks for the info on bipola but the doc explored this put me on lithium for 6 weeks,no go still the same, had nuro tests, an prozac cured the problem for two years before it pooped out.i dont have manic periods.my main problem anxiety. if i have nightmares its medecation induced.the hospital nightmare was down to incompetence by unskilled doctors. even the man in the street noes not to stop a 10 a day ativan habit dead, you wean the person of slowly up to two years my gp said if the4mg stays stable he will leave it a while.the venlafacine gave me unbelievable side effects so came of, why the shrink put me on cymbalta is a mistery as they are very simular drugs.he started me on 60mg i thought that was high when i complained it made the anxiety worse he put it up to 120 mg.these two doctors started hospital togetherthe one who stopped my ativan has been fired an the cosultant who put me on cymbalta has been moved.so when i finilly get called back i will have a new doc. i did thd the bipola tests on your score sheets an got a no on pipola
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
