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can paxil, lorazapam and buspar cause major personality changes?
by cacy, Sep 14, 2001 12:00AM
My husband started taking 30mg of paxil, buspar and 1 mg of lorazapam 3 times a day in October. Since then life has been
insane. He says he isn't addicted, but continues to take all of these drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist with only 3 month checks. We have separated and he denies anything is wrong. After all of the research I have done, this is scary..Why isn't anyone informed of the dangers of these drugs?? What is the possibility of stopping these...He says he is perfectly normal and everyone says he isn't. What can be done...He is a drastically different person than before and I seem to be the only one very concerned...He also drinks 2-3 drinks a night and says I am over reacting to the change of personality.
What is the logical step trying to convince him it is addictive.
What can be done to get his psychiatrist to stop this?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
CACY
insane. He says he isn't addicted, but continues to take all of these drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist with only 3 month checks. We have separated and he denies anything is wrong. After all of the research I have done, this is scary..Why isn't anyone informed of the dangers of these drugs?? What is the possibility of stopping these...He says he is perfectly normal and everyone says he isn't. What can be done...He is a drastically different person than before and I seem to be the only one very concerned...He also drinks 2-3 drinks a night and says I am over reacting to the change of personality.
What is the logical step trying to convince him it is addictive.
What can be done to get his psychiatrist to stop this?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
CACY
Can you be more specific about the personality changes that you have observed? That would help me try to respond. I work in a Psych clinic.
From the meds that you listed, my guess is that he was diagnosed with an Anxiety disorder. The only medication of the three that you listed (Paxil, Lorazepam, and Busbar) that is addictive is the Lorazepam. It is otherwise known as ativan. It is a benzodiazepam and definately can create physical and psychological addiction. The Paxil and Busbar are well know meds that treat both anxiety and depression, and tend to stabilize people, not make them worse, but..everyone's system is different. Your husband should not be drinking on these meds. Alcohol will pretty much stop the Paxil from working, and can be very dangerous in combination with the lorazepam.
Paxil can also make some people who have bipolar disorder have a manic episode. Is this part of what is going on with him?
Please give us a bit more information, and maybe I can be more specific. The Psychiatrist should be informed of any dangerous behavior.
good luck!
WW
The fact that you posted, that you keep coming back to us, is a good sign. I know the despair that you feel, the inability to moderate the med use..most of us here know exactly what you are going through.
The important thing is that you posted, you reached out, and I want you to know that we are here for you no matter what.
I remember when I first started posting here, I honestly did not think I was going to be able to stop using. At first I didn't think I could stop due to the pain. But part of me also knew I just plain ol' didn't want to stop. Then, when I began to want to stop, I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to deal with the withdrawals. I went back and forth with myself around this for a long, long time. Hell, even before my back pain was bad, I knew I was badly addicted and should stop, but had no desire to or intention of it, though I tried a few times and couldn't. I just stayed stuck in that cycle. For years. Very nearly lost my marriage, and withdrew from all my friends...I'm just starting to reconnect with friends that I had all but abandoned to the lure of that little white pill.
So Katie, please don't beat yourself up too badly. You are still trying. You are reaching out. Just never give up hope, as Wiz would say "never give up reaching toward the light" no matter how dark things seem now. And please, never think of yourself as a bad person for having this problem. There is always hope, and I think we get a little closer to recovery and learn a little more each time we use.
love,
WW
Thomas....make me laugh.
That said, katie r, look under the "5 HTP" thread below. Try my detox recipe, then, do what I do: my doc gives me 90 vics for the month. I indulge like only I can do and burn through them in a tre wonderful 2-3 days. Then I wait the rest of the month for my 90-vic treat. It might not sound good to you now, but this way, I don't go through withdrawal, and when I use, it's like the first time, everytime. You'll function much better, avoid withdrawal, and be able to maintain a real life in between. Of course, if some vics come around a little ahead of time, I'm not one to refuse pharmaceutical hospitality ... but, truly, if you get through withdrawal and then blaze through your supply in a few glorious days each month, you won't develop a tolerance or feel the way you do now. In between rx's, do the L-Tyrosine I recommmend in my withdrawal recipe. It will set you up in fine style ... king of all opiates siging off.
Thomas
The short answer to your question is, obviously, "yes."
Thomas
Currently there are some class action lawsuits springing up against the pharmaceutical company that makes Paxil. I can't think of the name of it right, now, but I am checking into this as I have a 23 year old son addicted to Paxil. The drug company deliberately concealed the addictive nature and other problems with this drug. My son started taking it a little over a year ago after becoming depressed following the end of a relationship. He was seen in an emergency room, the psych doc on call prescribed it and my son's regular family practice doc continued it. He was seen by a psychologist only once and never by a psychiatrist other than the ER guy on call. I have been after him to get some help, but he doesn't listen to me. The Paxil changed his personality remarkably. He was always a quiet, kind of shy kid, very creative and smart. He is still smart I guess but he is very outgoing now, which for him has been good in some ways but the few times he has tried to go off it he has experienced horrible symptoms, dizziness, nausea, extreme mood swings. He is seeing a different MD now with a plan to taper him off but I am really afraid for him. Ultimately the use of this drug is his responsibility, but obviously he and many others who have had it prescribed have not had the whole story prior to getting on it or they might not have.
When someone asks for advice from a specific person here, they will get it, warts and all. J.B.