Medications?

[considerthis]

Hi,

 

I know no one here is qualified to give medical advice and I'm not asking for it. I'm simply wondering if anyone has gone on meds following a break-up and how that worked out for you and what worked for you.

 

When I went through the break-up of a 5 year relationship, I refused to drink for at least 6 months and refused to go on any anti-anxiety/anti-depressants, even though they were suggested by a couple health professionals. I was determined to go through the pain and not take any short cuts. Took two years to get over that relationship, and I did learn and change a lot.

 

Fast forward til now, I've just been dumped after a 3 month relationship, and I don't want to go through the same hell. Plus this time I have a job that requires me to be functional.

 

My problem is mostly anxiety but of course I'm sad as well, low energy, the usual.

 

Just looking for your experience. I have tried clonazepam on an as-needed basis during exams once, but maybe I need something slow release during the day? Not sure. Any comments on anti-anxiety vs. anti-depressants? I am more skeptical of the latter, as their mode of functioning does not seem to be well understood.

 

Thanks.

[Elle1975]

Hi,

 

I know no one here is qualified to give medical advice and I'm not asking for it. I'm simply wondering if anyone has gone on meds following a break-up and how that worked out for you and what worked for you.

 

When I went through the break-up of a 5 year relationship, I refused to drink for at least 6 months and refused to go on any anti-anxiety/anti-depressants, even though they were suggested by a couple health professionals. I was determined to go through the pain and not take any short cuts. Took two years to get over that relationship, and I did learn and change a lot.

 

Fast forward til now, I've just been dumped after a 3 month relationship, and I don't want to go through the same hell. Plus this time I have a job that requires me to be functional.

 

My problem is mostly anxiety but of course I'm sad as well, low energy, the usual.

 

Just looking for your experience. I have tried clonazepam on an as-needed basis during exams once, but maybe I need something slow release during the day? Not sure. Any comments on anti-anxiety vs. anti-depressants? I am more skeptical of the latter, as their mode of functioning does not seem to be well understood.

 

Thanks.

 

I had a severe depression years ago, postpartum, after a miscarriage. It was BAD, and on top of the grief I was already going through; no sleep, no concentration, crying all the time, wanting to drive my car in incoming traffic, etc...My doctor then put me on citalopram. It helps you take some distance, feelings aren't so raw anymore, and you can finally function again.

 

That's my own experience. No weight gain, just my ability to think straight again and process my grief, which was such a relief.

 

Talk about it to your doctor. Keep in mind that medication alone is not enough. It doesn't treat the cause, just the symptoms. Seek therapy. And btw, therapy alone could be enough, rather than try sucking it up on your own - which I know is hard.

 

Also to keep in mind, the same medication doesn't work the same for everybody. If I had to take something again, that'd be it.

[Hope Shimmers]

I would stay away from clonazepam and benzodiazepines in general (this is the drug class).

 

Actually the mechanism of action of many antidepressants is fairly well understood - many of them work by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. They work on anxiety too.

 

If I had not taken an antidepressant after the breakup of my relationship, I would not be here breathing now. The same is true when I had postpartum depression. It is a chemical imbalance - and yes, it can be and often is triggered by a traumatic life event.

[STM206]

I've been on anti depressants before for anxiety. Personally it's the last resort I'll ever take. It made me feel numb, gain weight and getting off of them was pure hell.

 

There's many other methods to try in my opinion. Therapy, natural supplements, etc.

[Scorpio Chick]

Since the powers that be in this world just refuse to disperse morphine into the public drinking water, we will have to suffice it with "anti" depressants. After dealing with some pretty heavy stuff that happened to me several years back, I reluctantly asked for an antidepressant. They prescribed the highest dose of Zoloft. I noticed a difference after two weeks. I didn't necessarily feel 'depressed' anymore, but I didn't like how I felt. I felt like an emotional zombie. I love to write, and the Zoloft was affecting me in such a way that I felt almost nothing. Things that would normally make me cry, I couldn't even muster one tear. Just didn't feel it. I felt weird. Had other side effects I didn't like. Fast forward several years. I'm on Lexapro. Very helpful. It helps my thinking so so much. It's amazing.

 

The truth is, what I would prefer is a lobotomy. I'd prefer to just completely have amnesia about the things that cause me 'depression' but that's not going to happen. So in the meantime, I do need to function, make a living, etc.., so that is why I've gotten on 'medications'. The Lexapro helps a lot with anxiety too. I'd ask about it if I were you.

[sugarlove]

i"m diagnosed with PTSD and am taking LExapro for my anxiety. And it helped so much! I am on my 4th day now and prior to that, I was unable to control my desperate attempt at trying to salvage my relationship. But today, I felt heaps better, I don't remember my ex as much nor am I teary.

 

It's good to know that the sky is clearer and that it's his loss now for losing me.

[carhill]

I went through a divorce and EOL care for a psychotic person at the same time and experimented a bit

 

TBH, my best results were either slowing/relaxing my heart muscle with atenolol or using buspar PRN for particularly 'crazy' periods. There was a period were I was halving the 2.5mg Zyprexa and taking those twice a day but that was more a 'gotta get through another day without pulling the trigger' than functioning in a meaningful and productive way.

 

One thing I will mention is sleep. I found a natural sleep aid, melatonin, to help greatly in promoting healthy REM sleep and could go off of it after a couple of weeks once my body took over and/or stress was regulated better through meds and/or cognitive (counseling) means. I don't know if sleep is an issue with you but sleep deprivation can be a killer, psychologically as well as physically.

 

If you haven't been to your regular doc recently, no harm in a visit and a baseline physical. See where everything is at. It's possible that there's an organic issue at work that could be rectified, outside of targeted brain meds. One step at a time

[erklat]

I also have a Fevarin for my depression and Helex to relieve my

anxiety.

 

Since I started with Helex again I coped much easier with the pain of the

breakup that I almost don't feel anything at all any longer.

 

But I also met someone else that beats my ex on so many levels.

I wish she is more easily available.

[guest572]

I was so skeptical about trying medication but it quite possibly saved my life. I felt so low and suicidal and the anti depressant medication completely wiped out those bad feelings and thoughts. I became very happy and confident and everything started looking up. Almost forgot all about the ex.

 

The reason i am so confident that the medication was successful is that i stopped taking them and within a few days or a week i started getting upset again. Wow i miss him so much again and cry for the first time in over a month.

 

The reasons i stopped taking them:

 

Thought i didnt need them anymore

They killed my sex drive - yes, so does depression. But i need the libido back now i am moving on

Increased appetite and cravings

Acne problems

Negative emotions have their place, i want to feel again.

 

But i am glad i took them because:

 

They didn't take long to kick in - a week

They helped me get through the worst of it, i feel like i can deal with it now

I didn't get headaches or nausea which are common side effects

[Els]

There is a lot of overlap between current anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, with the primary ones being SSRIs and tricyclics. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine, not really indicated for long-term usage for anxiety any more (though some people still get improperly prescribed it as such).

 

Personally, I think if you want to work on it without drugs, more power to you, but if you're considering going on clonazepam again you would be better off just taking the long-term AA/ADs as prescribed. I was on benzodiazepines off and on for a long time before I finally caved and accepted a long-term dothiepin (tricyclic anti-depressant/anti-anxiety) prescription. It worked much better and had fewer side effects.

 

However, the caveat is that AA/AD meds only really work if you're having chemical imbalance leading to depression/anxiety. They don't automatically make you happy or content. You can give them a shot but you'd still need to mentally cope with the breakup.

 

All the best.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Elswyth

[H245]

I've been on Xanax and Ambien that my doctor gave me. Xanax is low dosage I can take during the day when I have mini anxiety attacks from my breakup. The ambien is to help me sleep since my mind is racing non-stop thinking about the breakup. It helps take the edge off, but I still need to cope with the loss.

[seminoles84]

I myself have always been skeptical of medicating but I think I might have to give it a shot.

 

Does it make you less motivated to workout? I currently workout 6 days a week and very healthy.

[lime87]

I think that without the fluoxetine I'm currently taking for various mental health difficulties I would have lapsed into an even worse state after my break up - if you have existing mental health issues or sink into clinical depression as a result of life events (a serious break up being one of the most stressful life events) medication could be a boost for you but it's not a complete solution.

 

It won't solve your problems and feelings after a break up - talking therapies will help there. But for chemical imbalances in the brain triggered for whatever reason, yes I've found them to be very helpful, particularly now when I know I would be at an extremely low ebb. It's dulled me somewhat.

 

Something to remember - it might take time to find the right medication and a side effect is often feeling worse before you feel better.

 

I had recently changed medication for another reason to fluoxetine when I was broken up with and my emotions were even more of a mess while my body coped with both an emotional "trauma" and the new drugs in my system. I was so anxious and suicidal, trying to leave the house in the middle of the night and had panic attacks at least five times a night (my ex knew this was a result of both these things but I imagine I didn't come off well here..). Once I had settled down fluoxetine worked for me but it's exacerbated my insomnia and my appetite is significantly reduced. Exercise helped me though, if anything I am more jittery and needing to use energy so I'm exercising a bit more.

[flitzanu]

one thing to consider, quite simply, is if you have no desire to do standard things that you normally enjoy...then you are depressed. don't listen to the stigma of medication being stupid, if you think it will help, try it. if you don't like it, then (follow weaning procedure) and stop taking them.

[erklat]

one thing to consider, quite simply, is if you have no desire to do standard things that you normally enjoy...then you are depressed. don't listen to the stigma of medication being stupid, if you think it will help, try it. if you don't like it, then (follow weaning procedure) and stop taking them.

 

Yeah, many people who know nag me all the time to stop.

 

Truth be told, I did soooo much that I now I can't pinpoint what helped the most.

and I do not wish to slide back.

[guest572]

A lot of people will tell you that medication means you are lazy and have no willpower to fight. I tried everything else. People who dismiss your need for medication and tell you to go join a Zumba class instead, and seek therapy.. Are ignorant.

 

Yes it could be seen as an "easy way out" but for many it is the only way.

[erklat]

I stopped smoking after a pack and a half red Marlboro daily for 7 years, just about a year ago.

 

Few are entitled to talk me from above regarding willpower.

[seminoles84]

Funny, swingers is my all time favorite movie. Almost made my name on here doubledown. Been my favorite movie for 10 years... Never thought I'd be in Mikey's shoes.

[seminoles84]

My bad that last post was meant for KMs thread. Doh!