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Avatar universal

need help fast

I currently take 100mg of Lyrica twice a day and half a .5 klonopin twice daily.  My Neuro wants me off the klonopin because she says it is bad in the long run.  It seems to be the only thing that helps.  She wants me to start Lexapro 20mg daily and wean off of klonopin.  I hate Lexapro because the brain fog when I tried it 2 years ago. Two questions:

Is it safe to take all 3 at once (daily)?

Should I try herbal things for anxiety other then Lexapro?

Thanks

DD
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Avatar universal
ggreg,

Thanks alot!  My neuro says that my nerve compression is either sitting at my desk to long, genetics(my dad has PN) and/or muscle innflammation.  I am spent on this ****.  Just want to feel better.

DD
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Avatar universal
DD,
I just realized I told you to take Lyrica, when you are already taking it.  I'm sorry.  Just ignore what I said about it.  My thought process has been a little cloudy lately.  I have a lot of pain from a car crash, so I get confused sometimes.  But the rest of what I said is okay (I hope).
GG
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Avatar universal
DD,
There are medicines for nerve pain, much stronger than what you are taking, for sure.  If you have good health insurance, Lyrica is expensive, but numbs pain, one of your neurologists should be willing to try it out with you.  Codeine type drugs short-term help a lot, too, and they don't cost much, but docs don't like prescribing them.  I'm assuming if you have nerve compression, that the neurologists you've seen believe that with physical therapy, it will resolve on its own, so hopefully you are seeing some rehab people for that.  You could also go to a pain clinic, if there's one in your area, look in the phone book.

I am worried about what you say, that the nerves in your legs are damaged.  If this is the exact case, then whatever caused that needs to be fixed, like if you have some kind of spinal malfunction going on, perhaps an operation is in order, so that it doesn't get any worse.  I think you should indeed go to the Mayo Clinic if you have a major problem with your spine, or you could try going to an orthopedist group, see what they say.

And on the Klonopin, if you want to get off it, go slowly, and when you're finally off, give it a few more weeks, and if you feel the same or better, then stay off it.  The less medication you can live without, the better.  But that little amount you're taking doesn't seem all that tragic, and if it makes you feel better, just cut back for a few days, and then go back to your regular dose, and see if that helps.  Best wishes.
GG
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Avatar universal
ggreg,

Thank you very much.  I just had another appointment with her and she pretty much wiped her hands of me.  Told me to go back to bigger clinic if I want to throw more money at this.  She said according to my latest NCV i have poloneuropathy and nerve compression.  She said nerves in legs are damaged and may take 3-6 months to heal.  I am going to try to wean off the klonopin.  I don't know.  Things are just bad right now.  There are only two neuro clinics close to me and been to both.  I really don't have many options other then Mayo clinic.

DD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
DD,
I'm with you on not taking the Lexapro.  I took it and it near about drove me nuts.  I can understand the doc not wanting you on Klonopin, it's strong and somewhat addicting, but to add another drug in the mix is worse, even if it's to replace the other.  You are much better off on the tranquilizer than you will EVER be on an SSRI.  I am so sick of them passing those out antidepressants to people as a cure-all.  There are some people who are very sick in the head and would otherwise have no life unless they took them.  But you, forget it.

Here's what I suggest.  I know you want to keep your Klonopin.  I'd get away from the doc you have and either go back to the doc who prescribed you the drug to begin with and stick with them, or go to a new one with your meds in place just as they are now, and continue on as usual.  If anyone drags out the SSRI routine again, cut them off and say NO.

The amount of medicines you're taking now see exactly right to me, so stick with what you got for at least a year before you complain about discomfort or whatever.  If you notice your meds not working as well as they should, just cut back by a half-pill for a few days, and then return to the dose you got, and you'll notice they work better.  They call this a "drug holiday," very good for long-term use of drugs.  Just don't completely stop either of your medicines too quickly, or you can wind up with seizures and withdrawals.

But the SSRI, nothing can compare with the nightmare of getting off those things, which is the main reason why I object to docs giving those out.  You can get in and out of them if you've only been on them, say, a year...but any longer than that, and you're stuck for life.  But these are only my opinions.  I just wanted to support you.
GG
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