Body craving more?

[kittikat]

I have been on Diaz 12mg day for the past 4 months. I have been doing really well, but recently, say the past 3 weeks I have had quite a few blips and started to feel terribly anxious again. I have also been crying a lot (not like me). So...looking for answers I ask my doc. He says it's normal to have up and down days (but I had come on in leaps & bounds since Christmas, even went back to work mid January) so, now I am wondering...is my body craving more Diaz as I have become used to the dose I am currently on? Or is it just ups and downs as my doc said.

If anyone has any thoughts on this please share, I can't go back to where I was 4 months ago
Thank you.

[haz]

Sorry to hear you're not feeling so good at the moment. :-(

Are you on any other meds?

I think it's probably ups and downs.

I'm on 11mg of diazepam at the moment with no plans to reduce in the immediate future.

Take care.

Haz.

[kittikat]

Thank you Haz. I take BB's but they are for blood pressure. I have tried various SSRI's but they have given me such bad side effects so its just the Diaz I'm on.

I suppose I'm just looking for answers that don't exist as I don't want to believe I am having these blips, but I guess that's just what they are. But I did hear you could become more dependent on diaz the longer you are on it. I'm probably just tearful out of frustration

I hope things aren't too bad for you at the moment I appreciate your thoughts alot.

Kitti

[haz]

Well, your body does develop a tolerance to diazepam, so you may not get the same effect as you did when you first started taking it, then again many people are on the same dose for years and remain stable?

I'm sure it's just a blip.

Take care.

Haz.x

[dan1234]

Hi,

Have you considered pregabalin? Apparently in trials it has been shown to be as effective as benzos. Maybe worth a shot. Personally I would start feeling uncomfortable being on such a dose, for such a long time.

[kittikat]

Thanks Dan, I have looked into this drug before and read some interesting stuff about it. I don't know that it's widely prescribed in the UK, something to do with cost?

Do you have any personal experience with this drug? If so, I would be interested to hear your story I think it's used alot in the USA. Perhaps I will mention it to my doc on Monday. I'm keeping a note of all my 'bad' days as my fear is that I have started to develop a tolerance to the dose I am on and deff don't want to increase!

[cathycrumble]

I have just started taking sertraline today 50mg. I couldnt take prozac or cit the side effects were horendous.

I asked my gp today if I could have diazipam just incase the SE on these could be bad, but she wouldnt give me them I have had them when I was taking the pozac only the odd 2mg. But this gp today said that antidepressents are used to help your mood where as diazipam can lower your mood, and also become addictive. They are good in the short term as a quick fix to help relax you.

Have another word with you gp and see if there is other meds you can take to help you relax.

Good luck Cathy xx

[dan1234]

Thanks Dan, I have looked into this drug before and read some interesting stuff about it. I don't know that it's widely prescribed in the UK, something to do with cost?

Do you have any personal experience with this drug? If so, I would be interested to hear your story I think it's used alot in the USA. Perhaps I will mention it to my doc on Monday. I'm keeping a note of all my 'bad' days as my fear is that I have started to develop a tolerance to the dose I am on and deff don't want to increase!

I have only just been prescribed pregabalin today. Saw a private consultant pyschatrist with over 25 years experience and he raves about it. As he put it pregabalin is one of the best drugs for anxiety in his experience, only downside for the NHS is cost. Apparently the majority of patients tolerate it, and see big positive changes. My GP refused to prescribe it, so you may have a battle on your hands. It is something worth considering though.

On the diazepam front, I'm surprised your GP is willing to prescribe it for so long. The BNF recommends it for only 3-4 weeks. Personally I would ask to see a psychiatrist for a medication review. Diazepam is a horrible drug to get off. I take diazepam when the anxiety is really bad, but wouldn't take it every day.

The above is just my opinion and I hope it hasn't offended you!

BTW pregabalin is licensed for GAD. The guidelines say if you cant manage SSRIs or SNRIs it should be prescribed. I have tried the SSRI prozac, citalopram and amitriptyline and the consultant was happy to jump to pregabalin. Don't forget specialists want the best for you. Our problems are there specialities and they are likely to prescribe in our best interests and ignore NICE guidelines if appropriate.

---------- Post added at 21:01 ---------- Previous post was at 20:58 ----------

I have just started taking sertraline today 50mg. I couldnt take prozac or cit the side effects were horendous.

I asked my gp today if I could have diazipam just incase the SE on these could be bad, but she wouldnt give me them I have had them when I was taking the pozac only the odd 2mg. But this gp today said that antidepressents are used to help your mood where as diazipam can lower your mood, and also become addictive. They are good in the short term as a quick fix to help relax you.

Have another word with you gp and see if there is other meds you can take to help you relax.

Good luck Cathy xx

Most GPs are very reluctant to prescribe diazepam. Although the BNF says it can be used for 3-4 weeks for anxiety. Cab you not suggest she only prescribes you 7 or so 2mg ones? I had a battle getting diazepam prescribed by my GP. I had 21 prescribed since september. I asked the psychiatrist for some and to my surprise he prescribed me 30 in one go

[kittikat]

I have only just been prescribed pregabalin today. Saw a private consultant pyschatrist with over 25 years experience and he raves about it. As he put it pregabalin is one of the best drugs for anxiety in his experience, only downside for the NHS is cost. Apparently the majority of patients tolerate it, and see big positive changes. My GP refused to prescribe it, so you may have a battle on your hands. It is something worth considering though.

On the diazepam front, I'm surprised your GP is willing to prescribe it for so long. The BNF recommends it for only 3-4 weeks. Personally I would ask to see a psychiatrist for a medication review. Diazepam is a horrible drug to get off. I take diazepam when the anxiety is really bad, but wouldn't take it every day.

The above is just my opinion and I hope it hasn't offended you!

Not at all...I really value your input!! I asked my GP if he thinks I need to be referred to a pyschiatrist back in December when I was having a really bad time with my anx/panic/agoraphobia and he said I didn't. He did refer me to clinical psychologist for CBT but I won't hold my breath, theres a really long waiting list...funding issues again lol. So my question is this- how do I get a referral if my GP thinks I don't need a shrink! Did you have problems being referred? What are your specific problems (if it's not rude to be so nosey ) and did you find it beneficial?

Thanks again for your comments and thoughts xx

[dan1234]

Not at all...I really value your input!! I asked my GP if he thinks I need to be referred to a pyschiatrist back in December when I was having a really bad time with my anx/panic/agoraphobia and he said I didn't. He did refer me to clinical psychologist for CBT but I won't hold my breath, theres a really long waiting list...funding issues again lol. So my question is this- how do I get a referral if my GP thinks I don't need a shrink! Did you have problems being referred? What are your specific problems (if it's not rude to be so nosey ) and did you find it beneficial?

Thanks again for your comments and thoughts xx

I had no problem being referred. My GP even offered. I had an initial assessment with a trainee psychiatrist who agreed I needed to be seen by a consultant. Yet again a long wait.... My anxiety went through the roof. I decided to go private, and its the best thing I have done. I saw a caring and sympathetic pyschiatrist who diagnosed me, and devised a care plan. I was involved in every part of it. We discussed my difficulties for about 90 minutes, far longer than my GP's 10 minute appointment. Suffer from anxiety, and have tried SSRI's like prozac, citalopram. Luckily the pyschiatrist isn't keen on anti depressants and through his experience recommends pregabalin. I had to pay for the first prescription, but he has sent a letter to my GP so it should be prescribed on the NHS.

Experts aren't cheap, and your health is worth a lot. Personally I would want to see a specialist. He told me quite a few things the GP told me was ********, I got violent and aggressive after trying prozac, and the GP blamed the withdrawal of citalopram which in his words is ******** because the half life of citalopram is short. He explained it all but I cant remember. In his opinion antidepressants are over used in anxiety disorders because they are cheap. Same as IAPT where undertrained staff offer CBT. A pschyologst is far better qualified than a wellness practitioner.

Forgot to mention my shrink saw me without a referral. Your GP cannot refuse, insist on a referral. It's your health and so your decision not your GP's.

Lastly the BNF said this on diazepam. Benzodiazepines are indicated for the short-term relief (two to four weeks only) of anxiety that is severe, disabling, or causing the patient unacceptable distress, occurring alone or in association with insomnia or short-term psychosomatic, organic, or psychotic illness.

A shrink may be willing to prescribe diazepam for such a length of time, but I would be uneasy with a GP.

Sorry I'm writing an essay, but I think therapy or CBT is a good idea alongside meds.