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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Drugs For Stress
        
(Message started by: unsolved1 on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 8:10pm)

Title: Drugs For Stress
Post by unsolved1 on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 8:10pm

This maybe a stupid question but .....

Just wondering how many people take something for anxiety & stress ?? [smiley=huh.gif]

Do they help ?

Unsolved

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 8:20pm

on 12/22/04 at 20:10:52, unsolved1 wrote:

Just wondering how many people take something for anxiety & stress ?? [smiley=huh.gif]

Doc writes me script for pamelor (nortriptilene) as a preventative, it could be for something like that, but I don't take them.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by E-Double on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 8:23pm

The occasional Xanax or Valium........

Sometimes helps when getting too worked up and need to calm down when dealing with the demon

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Dec 22^nd, 2004, 8:25pm

I remember that Eric (E-Double) was taking something like Xanax. Said it mostly helped come down from freaking out after a Kip9 in the middle of the day.

On occasion, I take a 2mg Valium, but mostly if I wake in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

Mostly, I think they help with the worrying about having a CH, not with the CH itself.

Kris

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Mr. Happy on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 3:25am

If there's one thing in this world I crave, it's stress reduction. In spades. Have run the tranq gamut over the years; found you just can't beat the good old fashioned American standby:

http://mushys.com/pix/valium.jpeg

And that's how Blue Meanie got his name,
RJ

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by karma on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 6:17am

The occassional xanax when getting slammed. It helps to get through the hits otherwise unmedicated.
Haven't taken valium since I used to borrow them from my mother. Xanax is way better. Just relaxed not doped feeling.

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Melissa on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 8:41am

I was on Xanax for my anxiety (and anxiety attacks). Although it works great for it, it was a BITCH to get off of (I had the short acting stuff for my anxiety attacks, AND I was taking the sustained release every day, up to 1mg). If you can find another means of dealing with your anxiety (i.e. exercise, meditation, B12, etc.), I'd say don't go on it, unless you are prepared for the withdrawls of going off it. JMHO

take care,
:)mel

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by eddie on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 9:19am

hey, unsolved
how are you i take xanax and yes they do help far as
stress but not with any kind of HA. i dont abuse what
i use. i think you should try some and see. hope you
feel well for the holidays my friend.
eddie

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by becky8 on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 9:28am

Question to all of you that replyed, I am chronic and on verapamil/lithium combo and the lithium doesn't slow me down but I do feel even keeled by it. If you add something else will you be a zombie?

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by floridian on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 9:33am

on 12/23/04 at 08:41:30, Melissa wrote:

I agree with Mel. Xanax is good for anxiety and panic disorders, which I have. But using it more than occasionally can lead to dependence, and withdrawl from xanax involves lots of anxiety. Exercise is good - walking, yoga, lifting weights, basketball, whatever. Stress reduction (meditation, self-hypnosis, restructuring your life, taking occasional breaks) are all good.

Anxiety is part of who I am, but for me, the panic attacks are generally from something going wrong in my body. About a year ago, I did a low-carb diet and that shut off the panic attacks. I gradually upped my carbs and moved back towards a more 'normal' diet, but occassionally I feel edgy like a panic attack is trying to break through, and I cut back on the carbs for a day or two.

A few herbal alternatives for anxiety include skullcap (scutellaria), passionflower, and jujube seeds. These contain substances that are similar to valium or xanax (they hit the GABA nerve receptors), but they don't cause drowsiness or memory loss, and they 'seem' to be non-habit forming in preliminary tests. Also, St. Johns wort has benzo-like properties - one theory now is that it helps mild to moderate depression by blocking stress and anxiety.

Quote:

Phytomedicine. 2003 Nov;10(8):640-9.

Phytochemical and biological analysis of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.): a medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties.

Awad R, Arnason JT, Trudeau V, Bergeron C, Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Merali Z.

The phytochemistry and biological activity of Scutellaria lateriflora L. (American skullcap) which has been traditionally used as a sedative and to treat various nervous disorders such as anxiety was studied. In vivo animal behaviour trials were performed to test anxiolytic effects in rats orally administered S. laterifolia extracts. Significant increases in the number of entries into the center of an "open-field arena"; number of unprotected head dips, number of entries and the length of time spent on the open arms of the Elevated Plus-Maze were found. The identification and quantification of the flavonoid, baicalin in a 50% EtOH extract (40 mg/g) and its aglycone baicalein in a 95% EtOH extract (33 mg/g), as well as the amino acids GABA in H2O and EtOH extracts (approximately 1.6 mg/g) and glutamine in a H2O extract (31 mg/g), was performed using HPLC. These compounds may play a role in anxiolytic activity since baicalin and baicalein are known to bind to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and since GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Quote:

Addict Biol. 2003 Dec;8(4):379-86.

Drug/substance reversal effects of a novel tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety (BZF) isolated from Passiflora incarnata Linn.--a brief perspective.

Dhawan K.

The present work is a mini-review of the author's original work on the plant Passiflora incarnata Linn., which is used in several parts of the world as a traditional medicine for the management of anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and morphine addiction. A tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety (BZF) has been isolated from the bioactive methanol extract of this plant, which has been proposed in the author's earlier work to be responsible for the biological activities of this plant. The BZF moiety has exhibited significantly encouraging results in the reversal of tolerance and dependence of several addiction-prone psychotropic drugs, including morphine, nicotine, ethanol, diazepam and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, during earlier pharmacological studies conducted by the author. In addition to this, the BZF moiety has exhibited aphrodisiac, libido-enhancing and virility-enhancing properties in 2-year-old male rats. When administered concomitantly with nicotine, ethanol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for 30 days in male rats, the BZF also prevented the drug-induced decline in sexuality in male rats. Because the BZF moiety isolated from P. incarnata is a tri-substituted derivative of alpha-naphthoflavone (7,8-benzoflavone), a well-known aromatase-enzyme inhibitor, the mode of action of BZF has been postulated to be a neurosteroidal mechanism vide in which the BZF moiety prevents the metabolic degradation of testosterone and upregulates blood - testosterone levels in the body. As several flavonoids (e.g. chrysin, apigenin) and other phytoconstituents also possess aromatase-inhibiting properties, and the IC50 value of such phytomoieties is the main factor determining their biochemical efficacy, by altering their chemical structures to attain a desirable IC50 value new insights in medical therapeutics can be attained, keeping in view the menace of drug abuse worldwide.

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by lionsound on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 9:58am

There are other drugs for anxiety and stress besides xanax and valium.
They are great but there are oher options too...tons of SSRI's(selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors...like prozac, effexor, zoloft) and a few TCA's(Tricyclic anit-depresants ....like nortriptilene) and even Gabitril. If you see a good shrink, or consult one, they are more familiar with the nuances of each drug that a primary doc may not be. And they can better help you pick one for your specific needs.

And actually, a good neuro should know because these are often cross off- label precsribed for neuro things .....like HA's.(and the other way around too)

I know all this becasue I've been on quite a few and having said all that I'm on none of those at the moment. Managing my anxiety, and panic attacks, with skills I practice when I meditate.

Be well,
lionsound

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by eddie on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 10:46am

effexor hell no,
dont use it, this stuff here had me so screwed up
dreams horible stuff couldnt sleep at all it had the
oppisite effect. i was so wound up it was like doing
hard drugs speed or somthing. i have used paxil also
another hell no. just me i dont know. paxil was givin
to me yrs ago not as bad as effexor. effexor is the
worst thing i have ever put in my body. my wife can
testify to the horror i went thru and her. it made me
so mean.also nite sweats, no sex drive no eating
so much more bad stuff. its making me sweat just
thinking about it. BAD DRUG

http://www.erowid.org/cgi-bin/search/htsearch.php?config=htdig&restrict=www.erowid.org&exclude=&words=effexor&method=and

read some of the addictive qualities of this

eddie

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by eyes_afire on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:34am

Ugh, when I hear of Paxil, it scares the shit out of me. I developed a severe physical dependence to it. Tried to get off it 2 times and I couldn't. Finally did it, but suffered severely (projectile vomiting, a month of electric zaps in head, a month of vertigo) and became violent (woke up from sleep pulling my fist out of a broken window). It is not a common reaction to Paxil, but has happened to many people. Be careful with that shit.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by IndianaJohn on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 12:22pm

I asked my GP for something for stress and he told me to get counseling. That S.O.B.

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Jimmy_B on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 1:57pm

I've had a few Medical Professionals tell me that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (S.S.R.I.'s) are the equivalent of Pharmacologic Brain Surgery.

I would stay away from them.

Jimmy

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Melissa on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 4:25pm

Ya know, I can't help it but think that because our brains are fucked up the way it is, where we are suseptible to addictions, that if there is a drug that can cause dependency, we're probably GOING to become dependent. :-/

I really dunno, but I have struggled (actually it's easier to be OFF them than ON them) to stay completely off prescription drugs that affect my emotions for quite some time now. I definately hope to keep it that way.

Good luck to you Michael!

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:18pm

on 12/23/04 at 16:25:23, Melissa wrote:

Story of my life Mel, that's why I definitely stay away now. ;)

Kevin M

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by JDH on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 11:49pm

There's always the natural way to deal with stress 8)

http://tinyurl.com/634c8

Jim

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by unsolved1 on Dec 24^th, 2004, 1:28am

Damn, I bet that's stinky ;;D

Unsolved

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Sophie on Dec 24^th, 2004, 2:33am

Kevin-m----
Nice little Christmas tree---you should put it on your cards.
As far as stress goes, I've been on 5 mgs of valium as needed ----forever---even before CH started. Never could adjust to antidepressants----when I was on Topamax, I saw it is used for bi-polar--thought maybe I could solve 2 problems. I'm not bi-polar, but do deal with depression and mood swings----anyway couldn't deal with the Topamax any better than antidepressants.
I tend to buy into what Melissa says "our brains are fucked up." But we are okay. Sophie ;)

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 24^th, 2004, 8:32am

on 12/24/04 at 02:33:16, Sophie wrote:

Kevin-m----
Nice little Christmas tree---you should put it on your cards.

I tend to buy into what Melissa says "our brains are fucked up."

Sophie,

I'm the one with the fucked up brain, not the tree, but was that way loooong before CH. ;)

Kevin M

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by toolong on Dec 24^th, 2004, 8:55am

A valium once in a while at work seems to help and a Xanax at bed time with my meletonin seems to keep me from waking up with the deamon.As for the bud..it takes me over the top if I'm having any shawdows.And I've tried every anti-depressant with no luck.One thing I've learned here is there is no real cure just the strength to live on and pray for a PF day. ;;DDavid

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Bethany1 on Dec 24^th, 2004, 9:35am

I have tried taking xanax---maybe its just me, but it brought me right back into a cycle. Im so scared to take ANYTHING. Its supposed to be for anxiety but it had the complete reverse affect on me. I have taken Nortriptoline (sp) too and that I had NO reaction whatsoever. I agree w/most of the people to try and reduce stress/anxiety by exercise, yoga (the ol natural way) only because relying so much on all the drugs we take can really take a toll on your body.
Unsolved-good to see ya back. Wishing ya pfdan's

Beth

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by Sophie on Dec 24^th, 2004, 3:29pm

;)Sounds like we all tend to have stress and depression to some degree----and antidepressants haven't been much help. To me that shows a common link to CH folks.
Catch 22 for sure-----I had the stress way before the CH.
Natural is best if you can do it------sometimes you just need a little help from your friends. Valuim, buds, whatever works.
I never did like water or excersize-------Sophie :) 8)

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by jillybean on Dec 25^th, 2004, 11:52pm

It is very stressful dealing with all the garbage that comes with the ch territory.

If it helps you, no harm. Sometimes diet and exercise aren't enough. If it doesn't... why bother.

Clonaphen is milder and less addictive than Xanax and Valium. Especially if you take it "on demand" vs daily.

Not a dr, of course. But I have lots of experience with both anxiety and major depression disorder.

Jill

Title: Re: Drugs For Stress
Post by travia20 on Nov 5^th, 2007, 1:21am

I’m taking adrafinil (http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s33694-s-ADRAFINIL.aspx) since 5 months……it id helpful to control stress. are you using any drug.