nothing works

[Stephanie73]

Despite being a small, thin woman, I take 60 mgs of Remeron, 60 mg of Buspar, and 15 mg of zolpidem a day for depression, GAD, and severe insomnia (I was hospitalized 3 weeks this past summer for insomnia, and left the hospital taking 25 mgs of zolpidem with 100 mg Seroquel per night, but have gotten down to 15 mgs and cut out the Seroquel). I also work out 1 1/2 hours and day, meditate daily, eat super healthy, and avoid all caffeine, but for about a year I have experienced anxiety-induced numbness in one limb or the other virtually everyday and a depressed mood still. I've had every possible test run and anxiety is definitely the cause of the numbness. SSRIs make things 100 times worse (I become terrified about fires and the car brakes going out within days of Prozac, for example). I took Klonopin years ago for GAD, and remember the physical withdrawal being awful, and would like to avoid the benzo route if possible, but I don't know what else I can do given the current drugs, exercise, and meditation aren't enough. It can't possibly be good to be so anxious that I'm numb half the day, every day, but I'm desperate for help. Should I break down and try a benzo again?

[benthic_man]

Stephanie, you take heavy doses of the medications you list here. You haven't mentioned whether or not you're involved in counseling or therapy beyond medication. I tend to agree with MrGreen in that existing well-researched therapies are available, while alternatives are sometimes effective, as well, if not necessarily to the same degree for many people.
     I responded to Cognitive Behavioral therapy along with guided counseling that helped me design a program to improve how I deal with anxiety. Not everyone responds to non-medical therapies, but the advantage to dealing with a psychiatrist is that we were able to get to the root of my anxiety rather than medicate away the symptoms. Since many people suffer from chemical imbalances that respond to medication, I'm aware that many medical doctors are able to shunt people away from counseling, but I'd suggest you look at what's out there. Personally, I'm completely uninterested in alternative therapies, and since I (and about 5,000 other people in the US) got botulism from a bad batch of St. John's wort 3 years ago, I never trust herbal remedies. However, different things work for differing people, and it sounds like you need to try something new besides your current suite of medication. Good luck!

[walkingpharmacy]

Hydroxyzine was very helpful for me to get off and stay off Alprazolam, which is a benzo the same as Klonopin.

You could be having withdrawal still. Those Benzo's do terrible stuff to the CNS and withdrawal can last years, hence the feeling you have of wanting to get back on them.

Risperdal has a very good antianxiety affect too, but there are specific reasons why you should take risperdal, such as bipolar or schizo, and not just for anxiety.

What I find strange about your symptoms is that you are treated for depression, but seem to have had a hypomanic episode resulting in a prolonged insomnia. Has anyone ever really looked into you being bipolar?

See a specialist before giving up and going back on benzo's

[Victoria60]

believe me.. try this..., I am not here to promote yoga.. but i have seen many people getting out of their anxiety problems by doing pranayam..the breathing exercise from Yoga, thousands of people have overcome their anxiety problems by following and doing yoga...
if interested let me know i can search some materials and post..

[MrGreen]

Although I don't disagree with the alternative options, I would say that we must be very careful if using anything herbal. We are not sure of the full make up of some products and it could interact with your normal medication. So just stay safe along those lines. We all hate benzos. But at times we have to submit to the fact that they are the only form of medication that do the trick. I have been hooked on xanax in the past and it was a nightmare tablet. Take Remeron ( Zispin as we call it ) now and Klonopin too. They do the trick for me. But I am also making the effort by pushing myself into situations I used to avoid. That, to me, is another portion of the answer. Medication is a portion, theraphy is a portion too, and you facing up to your fears is the last portion. Get them all right and your life will change. Nobody is doctor round here. We are basing our answers on our experiences over the years. That is important to note. Your own doctor makes the final shout.

[Marin600]

Hi.  I'm not in the med field, and I don't have your situation, but I've had a lot of difficult-to-solve conditions that made me read everything I could find to try to find answers, since drs had sort of written me off.  I've been so relieved to find a multitude of answers in alternative health and chiropractic.  If you know someone who swears by their chiropractor, try that person, or ask at all the health food stores and to to the one whose name comes up most frequently.  See if there's a holistic dr in your area, or within a 2 or 3 hr drive. See a nutritionist.  Were you following your clean diet/healthstyle when you began taking the drugs?  Or did that come after?  Maybe you need careful weaning from the drugs?  I'd definitely try chiropractic---with massage would be even more helpful, I would think---and locate a naturopath, holistic dr, or nutritionist.  Mega B vitamins plus a potent Vit-Min complex should help.  B and magnesium deficiencies can cause some of the problems you're experiencing.  Take the vits and mins one by one and research deficiencies on them.  I'd sure try anything before the benso.  See if your health food stores have self-help discussion groups to join, or, with their help, start your own.  Good luck.  Let us know how you solve the problem.