I moved and discovered a new and better psychiatrist!
I moved out of state and was so nervous about finding a new psychiatrist. I researched online at the nearby teaching hospital’s website and found someone who specializes in anxiety and depression. Imagine my joy to discover that not only is he a kind and caring man, but he is SMARTER than my old doctor. This is proof that it pays to make changes every now and then. I had been with my other doctor for 6 years. I guess it was time for a new look at my situation.
He has not made any huge changes as of now, as I am doing well. I am taking 90 mg of celexa (generic) and 2700 mg of neurontin (also generic). My current issue which has been rather ongoing is sleep. I can fall asleep MOST of the time but can’t stay asleep for enough hours. When I met this doctor I was taking 50 mg of trazodone. I had tried rozerem and had no success with the last doctor. This doctor says this is still an excellent option to try and that it takes a long time for it to work. He said it works on your body clock and that you should try not to sleep too late on any days…that keeping similar hours every day is helpful. He said not to stop taking the trazodone yet. The old doctor said to wean off the trazodone while starting the rozerem and that was done too quickly so that I could not get to sleep at all. So I had given up on the rozerem. Now I am trying it again. I’ll let you know if I have any success. So far, about once or twice a week I sleep through until daylight.
I had been told to take the celexa in 3 doses a day and the neurontin in 2 doses a day. The new doctor said to take all the celexa in the morning (it could keep you up at night!) and all the neurontin at night (it could help you sleep). He also told me to pay attention to good “sleep hygiene” which involves no TV or reading in bed because the light stimulates your brain making it harder to fall asleep. So finish these activities in another room. I have a hard time with this because I get too tired too early to stay up watching TV or reading. Then when I get to bed it is still too early to go to sleep so I have to watch TV or read. I am working on this.
Tags: worry, anti-anxiety medication, generalized anxiety disorder, neurontin, psychotherapy, paxil, GAD, CBT, rozerem, sleep deprivation
- Posted in : generalized anxiety disorder
- Author : freebird
Comments»
I just started taking Zoloft about 4 weeks ago. I was prescribed 0.5 Xanax to take 2 times a day to get me through until the Zoloft kicks in. I also was having trouble sleeping, so my psychiatrist gave me Lunesta, which works great for me. However, I am not sure how well the Zoloft is working. I try to go the whole day without taking a Xanax to see if the Zoloft alone will control my anxiety syptoms, but haven’t had any luck yet. I can go until about 1:00pm and then the symptoms are back and I end up taking a Xanax. I am afraid of getting addicted to the Xanax (as I have read they can be addicting). Any advice you have I would appreciate. I enjoy reading your blogs!
Michelle,
By now the psychiatrist should probably be increasing your dose of Zoloft. I also take neurontin along with the celexa. The neurontin is great at calming down my brain. You might want to ask the doctor about this. I would not worry about the xanax, as long as you are willing to wean off it eventually. If you have been taking xanax 2 times a day for a month, I think trying to do w/o it is not a good idea. When the doctor feels it is the right time, it wld be good to gradually reduce the dose, like a half for one of the pills for a few weeks, then a half both times a day for a few weeks then eliminate one of the 2 pills and so on. Be sure you have a doctor that is smart and at the same time hearing you and your symptoms. If not, switch!!
Good luck. Stay in touch.