med question

[stevo978]

hey im an alcoholic in recovery my primary dr put me on xanax and effexor for about a year...got hooked on the xanax...so he reffered me to a p doc i am now on zoloft 150/naltraxone 50mg/Trileptal 900 mg/stelazine 6mg/cogentin 0.5 /inderol 60mg and now just started strattera...am i being over medicated?the dr told me that im on low doses is that true?....i was wondering if strattera will work for me in the future...i also smoke marijauana here n there

[ibizan]

Have u told these doctors past and present about ur chemical addiction?have u been diagnosed with a co-existing anxiety disorder from a psychologist or psychiatrist?

[stevo978]

yes i have i think that's why they took me offa xanax

[boogieman]

hello. i'm also on anti-anxiety meds and an antidepressant. my track record pretty much shows that benzodiazepines like xanax and valium will do me more harm than good, as i will end up abusing them or any other medication that is relatively fast acting as a sedative. in addition, smoking weed has the same eventual negative effects (i've tried--more than once). as far as dosages and the variety of the meds you're on, like ibizan said, it depends on your diagnoses and your honesty with your doctors. take care, gm

[ibizan]

the stelazine and cogentin is normally used for psychotic folks can really bean one out...and strattera has a seped like effect on chemically dependent ppl......would be nice if u saw a doctor who was savvy to workable meds with folks who are both chemically dependent with anxiety disorders!

[Tink70]

Just my opinion and they are like buttopenings - everyone has one and they are usually ugly - but YES!  You seem over medicated!  What EXACTLY is your diagnosis?  Anxiety Issues?  Addiction Issues? Depression?  Bi Polar?  Jeez Louise!  You sound like a walkin' pharmacy!  Maybe a second opinion might be good in the doctor arena and some straight forward honesty with that second doctor on your part about your behaviour - i.e. the pot and such....
Just a suggestion - just one greatful recovering alcoholic - medicated bipolar's opinion!
Love and Light
Tinkerbell

[Bob_D]

While that is a considerable amount of medication, it is impossible to know whether you are "over-medicated" without knowing your diagnosis and history. You also do not say whether the current medications you are taking are causing you any problems.

Psychiatric medications (anti-depressants and antipsychotics) are not tested with concurrent marijuana use. If you want them to be most effective, I would recommend you avoid smoking marijuana while you are taking them.

[stevo978]

my diagnoses is bipolar/depression

[juliebean405]

If you're "in recovery", you KNOW the kinds of medication you should and should not use.  If you're smoking pot, you're not in recovery (my opinion).  Sometimes we have disorders which require use of medication but sobriety is about using as little of it as possible, especially when it comes to things like Xanax, and NEVER  marijuana.
PS - I'm 28 years sober in AA