I went for my follow up appointment today after the carotid surgery and everything is normal. I go back in a month.
Tomorrow I go to our PCP and I am going to ask him for something I can take when DH has an "event". I don't want something that will knock me out and I can't take Wellbutrin. I tried that a few years ago for quitting smoking and it really did a number on my head. So I thought I would check with you folks here and get some ideas.
Jean, I have been taking Fluoxetine HCL 10 mg. generic for Prozac since December. I told my doctor I wanted something to just take the edge off. I don't handle medication very well, however, this has been really helpful to me. I was very reluctant to take anything, but I am sure glad I changed my mind.
I know how serious this is, but for a humor break, try reading my blog on "Alzheimer Spouses in the Valley of the Dolls." - http://www.thealzheimerspouse.com/Valleyofdolls.htm
I am on Zoloft once a day, and Xanaax as needed. I'm not sure how much the Zoloft helps, but before I took it, I was at the point where I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning. I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and never get up. Now at least I get up.
I take the generic for Zolof--50mg daily. I didn't ask for anything. I was psut on it. I guess I was showing a lot of stress in my pCP's office and he ordered it. I've been on it since early October and find it quite helpful. At first I felt like a wimp because he thought I needed it. Then he (the dr.) said it would be foolish not to take it because in my situation, the stress could really raise havoc with my body, emotions, etc. I don't thik I would want to go off it when I remember what it was like before I started taking it.
I've never taken anything for stress other than my Bach's Rescue Remedy. I have this irrational fear of not being in total control of myself. I don't like admitting that I am not in total contol of myself and needing help. Like a house of cards-pull the wrong one out and your world comes tumbling down. Please understand me-I am NOT faulting anyone for taking meds. We all have to find our own peace.
I take 20 mg of the generic for celexa. I was so messed up with stress this past summer that my doctor took one look at me and said you need something to take the edge off but keep your mind unfogged. I don't have any trouble with the celexa. He did give me enough xanax to hold me over till the antidepressant kicked in--about 2 1/2 weeks.
Thanks Ladies, It looks like The common one is Celexa or the generic form. I'll see what the doctor says tomorrow and hope he agrees that I need something
I take Xanax (as needed). Have taken it since my first husband died 25 years ago and I started having panic attacks. I prefer something as needed instead of something I have to take every day.
In 2001 I was in the caretaker's house of a rather fancy finca - estate - outside of Deia, Mallorca. Very traditional white stucco peasant's house. Simple furniture, at least 20 miles from any shopping at all and 100 from the only real city on Mallorca, Palma. But there was a conference, and a meeting was going on there, and I had to get a platter of hors d'oeuvres from the kitchen. Traditional kitchen. And in a little basket, along with vitamins, was a bottle of Prozac.
Everybody does it. Everybody but me I guess, but I'm gettin' pretty close there!
I find exercise to be my best stress reliever - taking the dogs for a walk does lots of good things for the three of us - they and I get exercise, they make me laugh and we all get fresh air.
So far, no medications but that is by choice - meds really mess up my head and I try to avoid them.
I took 150 mg of generic Wellbutrin once a day for several years and it really took the edge off. Last summer, he upped the dose to twice a day. I don't like taking anything but to be able to function 24/7, it's a necessity.
i have resisted as well but today i got news my sisters first grandbaby died during the delivery last nite. sigh! (great neice to me)so very sad! she is an emotional person to begin with and her stress and breakdown today on the phone and now a tiny babys funeral is adding to my anxiety today. i cant help but think how the almighty can take such a tiny angel who already had such love awaiting her arrival for life--and leave our diseased loved ones instead. seems so unjust. i may need to get a script myself before long. divvi
I take a supplement called serenity factor to reduce stress and depression: http://us.naturalfactors.com/search.asp?mode=List&pid=762. It lowered my blood sugar back to my normal from a higher level caused by stress, so while there isn't good scientific evidence I feel it works for me. I take one in the morning, not the full recommended dose.
divvi, I am so sorry about your great neice. You are sooooo right that it seems unjust. My little grandson was born with 22Q deletion. We will have to work with that for his life. I would give up my life for him if he could be well and I know DH would, too.
I have been thinking of using something to take the edge off but have resisted so far. Bluedaze, what is Bach's Rescue Remidy? Like you, I have a fear of being out of control.
I am back from the doctors appointment and he has given me a script for Xanax. I am to take it as I need it and can try a half dose if I want. He said it shouldn't make me dopey because I told him I couldn't be dopey and DH not knowing what he's doing!
I also asked about another neuro for DH because the one he has does not impress me. He had his nurse call and get an appointment with the new guy so I hope he knows more about AZ than this first one does.
I picked up the prescription today and according to the instructions I can take one every 6 hours as needed. I will try one first and see if it has any side affects I don't like. I will let you know.
I always try half dose of what the dr orders if its new to me. and this saved me bigtime when i had a reaction to percoset for pain with my tooth. i hate to think how long i would have been down had i taken the full dose ordered the first time..at least that way if you do have side effects its not as bad! divvi
Please be very careful with the xanex. It is highly addictive and should not be used long term. I take 25 mg of Zoloft and this works well for me. Prior to taking it I lived with tears under the surface at all times.
I took half of the Xanex about 10.30a.m. and so far I haven't felt anything. The only thing was it left a bitter taste in my mouth so I had to have some chocolate to take away the taste. That's my story and I am sticking to it. BG
I don't believe I am going to make it with the Zanax. The half I took this morning made me sleepy a while later. I didn't think too much of it because I usually nap during the day just not that early. I ended up sleeping twice. I took the other half after dinner and an hour or so later I feel like I could sleep. So I don't think they are going to do me much good if I can't stay awake...especially if I am doing the driving. Guess I'll have to call the doctor and ask for something else.
i think if i ever came down to taking one for myself i would either lexapro or zoloft. many people i know are on lexapro with good results. its a newer one and zoloft on of the older standbys for yrs. divvi
I am on celexa and it works well for me. I have been told that lexapro is in the same family as celexa but a purer form of it. My husband had been on lexapro for a few years and it worked well for him--he couldn't take celexa for the side effects. He was just recently changed to cymbalta as the lexapro had stopped working for him.
lmor, I don't think I would need the meds and Tylenol to help me sleep if I continue taking the Zanax. I don't want to sleep I just want to be able to calm down and keep my BP down when DH has one of his "off the wall" episodes. Jean
My meaning being if the Zanax makes you sleepy only take it at bedtime and NOT during the day. That still doesn't make sense but if I can relax at night it seems to carry forward some to the day, or you may need to try another brand. Zanax doesn't make me sleepy during the day, it just mellows me out. Good Luck.
During the day is when I need to be calm. I don't know how long the affects would last but I doubt it would take me through the day as well.
The PCP's nurse called me a while ago about my BP meds which the doubled at the hospital. The pharmacy has the dose as once a day and they needed a new order to make it twice a day. So while I was on the phone I told her about the Zanax just making me sleep so she will talk to the doctor and get back to me next week. I hope I am not going to be trying this pill and that pill until we hit on the right one for me.
jean, if you are not already taking something like Lexapro or Celica etc. that might be helpful. It takes a couple weeks but it was a lifesaver for me. You take that of a morning and you might not need the Zanax.
I haven't "spoken up" in a while but have been checking in and reading almost daily. This topic has been of particular interest to me, to see that many have had to do what I do to help stay ahead of the stress. Even though we are still pretty early in the AD stages compared to many of you, I am having an especially hard time trying to stay on top of the things that DH thinks he can take care of but ends up forgetting or screwing up. Add that to the same questions over and over...don't know how I'd do it without my Zoloft. I started taking Prozac several years ago, then switched to Zoloft after my FCP thought it would help with some anxiety problems. When our teenage son became a quadriplegic following a car accident, I found myself really struggling. He returned to high school and I returned to teaching. We had help in the morning getting DS dressed and up for the day, then DH and I went to our jobs. In the evening and on weekends we took care of helping with homework and the hygeine and the bathing and the extra laundry and the grief... Son finished college and married and is doing well in spite of his disability, much happiness there. But I continue on with the Zoloft because without it my brain does not produce enough seretonin to keep me going.
Thanks to all of you who share and vent and laugh and encourage....this site has been a huge blessing to me.
bluedaze, I thought of asking for samples but of course it was after I got of the phone! I will call next week and ask. I have to go down to the office and pick up the new script for the 2 BP's and I thought while I was out I would stop at the neuro's and sign to have DH's records sent to the new neuro he will be seeing next month. Does any of this count as respite:-) Jean
moorsb--You asked if anyone had taken Lexapro. Yes, I did--started at 10mg and was sleeping 13 hrs a night and napping during the day. Cut back to 5mg and then 2.5mg--was still tired all the time. I guess it's just not the one for me.