Short term medication?

[Limeslime]

Hi guys.
I’m going through a hard time with my HA, symptoms, tests and hospital appointments. I’m not coping, and considering going back on medication which has worked well for me in the past.
However, I feel I’ll only need them for 3 months to get me through the period of time until I either get a diagnosis or discharged.
Has anyone been on short term anxiety meds? Is that even an option? In the past but has taken me 6 months+ to wean off them, so unsure if this is the right thing for me or not.

Has anyone used anything for only a few months and had success?

[nomorepanic]

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

[Catkins]

I had post-natal depression after having my son. I was put on a low dose of antidepressants for about 6 months and then tapered off them. So I was probably on them for maybe 8 months total? I would talk to your GP and see what they say, as far as I remember they usually recommend being on them for 6 months to get the best effect. That could be old guidance though.

[Catkins]

I will mention though that they are more effectively used when accompanied by counselling/CBT/mindfulness etc.

[Darksky]

I had post-natal depression after having my son. I was put on a low dose of antidepressants for about 6 months and then tapered off them. So I was probably on them for maybe 8 months total? I would talk to your GP and see what they say, as far as I remember they usually recommend being on them for 6 months to get the best effect. That could be old guidance though.

Still the same guidance as far as I’m aware Catkins.

my son was on sertraline for a while and the doctor kept him on them for 6 months. Any less he said and the anxiety would bounce straight back.

[panic_down_under]

I feel I’ll only need them for 3 months to get me through the period of time until I either get a diagnosis or discharged.
Has anyone been on short term anxiety meds? Is that even an option? In the past but has taken me 6 months+ to wean off them, so unsure if this is the right thing for me or not.
Has anyone used anything for only a few months and had success?

Depends on the type of anxiety med. Drugs like the benzodiazepines and pregabalin, or sedating antihistamines which moderate the symptoms without affecting the underlying physical brain changes which manifest as anxiety (also depression) can be effective in the short term. However, antidepressants which do tackle the physical cause should ideally be taken for longer periods as they can take 3 months just to become fully effective. Most guidelines recommend they be taken for about 12 months the first time and 18 months if there is a relapse. Imo, there are strong arguments for remaining on them permanently if the disorder reasserts itself for a third time. If available the cognitive, behavioural (CBT, REBT, etc), or mindfulness therapies are a good alternative as they have the same positive effects on the brain as ADs.

[Limeslime]

Thank you so much for all the responses guys.
I’ve booked an appointment with my GP for next Thursday to discuss this.
This will be my 3rd rodeo with ADs.
Sertraline was no good for me, but fluoxetine was amazing!
I still have an unopened box in the cabinet which I am tempted to crack open. I’ve been off them for about a year, so I hope they work as well the second time around.
I feel like I need quick results so maybe this isn’t the right approach though.

[NoraB]

This will be my 3rd rodeo with ADs.

How many rodeos have you done with therapy?

Meds will help with the physical symptoms but they won't teach you how to challenge your thoughts...

[panic_down_under]

This will be my 3rd rodeo with ADs.
Sertraline was no good for me, but fluoxetine was amazing!
I still have an unopened box in the cabinet which I am tempted to crack open. I’ve been off them for about a year, so I hope they work as well the second time around.
I feel like I need quick results so maybe this isn’t the right approach though.

There is evidence ADs become less effective each time they are stopped and restarted which is why I suggested remaining on them permanently after a third occurrence of a disorder. They may also take longer to kick-in which can be a particular problem with fluoxetine as due to its very long half-life it tends to take longer to do so anyway.

You may need to take a two pronged approach of one of the short-term meds I mentioned earlier - although preferably not a benzodiazepine as they inhibit the mechanism by which ADs work - until fluoxetine kicks-in, however, whether your GP will go along with this approach is another matter.

[Ponder]

We are all different with different responses to the same medications regardless of another's well intended claims. Please be careful about taking online advice when it comes to medications. To be sure it helps to think out loud, get validation and be acknowledged. These online aspects are great, but in matters of medications it is far safer to follow up in person with the appropriate specialists.

In this light I can make no recommendations whatsoever as I am not qualified but I can share my experience as someone that suffers most side effects of medications and with a mindset similar in the way you opened up with this thread.

I used to do the antidepressants and antipsychotics for long periods. My chemical make up being what is is (also affected my my DXs / cross over symptoms/reactions/morbidity) has been one where medications as typically prescribed by psychiatrists and GPs have in the end lead to more disabling conditions and often heightening existing ones in the attempt to alleviate other ones. Again we are all different cases which is why I again suggest you be very careful about any online advice.

For me and said experience, I have wound up just using PRN (very short term *daily* effect) as needed with regularly psychotherapy and accepting that it's OK not be on an even keel. That said, It would be nice if I was not so affected by medications but I do seem to have a predisposition re the complexity of multiple diagnoses and broken anatomy. These thing as well as age, sex, stresses and so on all to often not account for when people hand out their well meaning suggestions.

Just keep trialing things out with your current mindset. Even the specialists don't often get it right. More so when they get feedback and dealing with patient that are capable of making their own decisions.

I'm sure you'll find something more helpful than not if you can continue with your current mindset. Is not easy with so many haphazard dispensers and tethered patients this day and age.

Good luck.