Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

[Changed1]

My psychiatrist has me on quite the cocktail. When I am not drinking I get very down. I went almost three weeks some months back and couldn't take the depression. I've screwed up on the meds and really don't want to tell him, as he won't be happy with me. He doesn't understand why I cannot stop drinking completely. I told him I had two drinks one day and he just about was ready to dump me. Of course, I understand his running out of patience. Sigh.

Anyway, if you are, what has your experience been with them? I'm not fond of pharmaceuticals at this point (have Campral but I'm not taking it), as I'm already on four other meds for mental health.

[bernard]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Changed1;677351 wrote: My psychiatrist has me on quite the cocktail. Cocktails are good if the shrink knows how to tune them. See Stahl, the inventor of California Rocket Fuel and the concept of rational polypharmacy.

When I am not drinking I get very down. That's unusual because alcohol much more often causes depression.

I went almost three weeks some months back and couldn't take the depression. I've screwed up on the meds and really don't want to tell him, as he won't be happy with me. BAD, BAD idea. If you can't tell him, what's he good for? He certainly can't help you if you don't tell him.
He doesn't understand why I cannot stop drinking completely.

If that true, you need a new shrink. Any shrink who cannot understand that is just incompetent and is a danger to himself and others.
I told him I had two drinks one day and he just about was ready to dump me. Of course, I understand his running out of patience. Sigh.

No way! You pay him to have patience. Duh.
Anyway, if you are, what has your experience been with them? I'm not fond of pharmaceuticals at this point (have Campral but I'm not taking it), as I'm already on four other meds for mental health.

Please, lose some patience and make your shrink lose a patient.

[bernard]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Regarding you titular question, dual diagnosis is very common for alcoholics, very common.

[louise]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Changed, I think numerous people on this site are on medications for anxiety, depression or bipolar issues. As Bernard said, dual diagnosis is very common and your psychiatrist should know this and should understand that you may be self medicating the depression with alcohol. It is a catch 22, because although alcohol temporarily lifts mood, ultimately it is a depressant.

[beatle]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

bernard;677622 wrote:

BAD, BAD idea. If you can't tell him, what's he good for? He certainly can't help you if you don't tell him.

If that true, you need a new shrink. Any shrink who cannot understand that is just incompetent and is a danger to himself and others.

Please, lose some patience and make your shrink lose a patient.

I agree. Get rid of him. I never found a doctor of any kind who has helped me with my alcohol problems, despite complete honesty on my part with numerous supposed experts in the field. (I wonder if Cindi is the only one with a caring and informed doctor?)

I have no faith in doctors anymore. They have failed their alcoholic patients for decades, ignoring and fighting against all new strides in possibilities for healing. Countless patients' lives have been ruined and lost -- probably millions -- thanks to the doctors and the entrenched medical establishment (and thanks to our own blind belief in their abilities and dedication to our health).

That's why we are here on MWO taking our own lives into our own hands -- and dangerous as it may seem, the alternative seems much more dangerous to me.

[Changed1]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Thanks so much Bernard and all. I think I see your points. He is ready to be done with me. We've been together for five years and he is frustrated with me because I'll be better for a while, then worse, then better, etc. He's told me he's not an addictionologist. I see him in six hours and am not quite sure what to say, but think I'll be honest. As was pointed out to by Bernard, I am paying him for a service.

Due to my repeated drinking, I have halved one of the meds. It's a med that can cause a fatal rash if titrated up too quickly, so I really do need to be honest. When I was up to full dosage on that med, I literally FORGOT I had a bottle of wine in the fridge. I really did. That is why I am thinking I need to go back up there at that level. I can titrate myself up very slowly and know how to do this, but I should probably still get his blessing.

Thanks all. BTW, I have been thinking about getting a new Dr., but I've seen some real pieces of work and this guy has been the best by far, in that he listens to me.

[Changed1]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

beatle;677640 wrote: I agree. Get rid of him. I never found a doctor of any kind who has helped me with my alcohol problems, despite complete honesty on my part with numerous supposed experts in the field. (I wonder if Cindi is the only one with a caring and informed doctor?)

I have no faith in doctors anymore. They have failed their alcoholic patients for decades, ignoring and fighting against all new strides in possibilities for healing. Countless patients' lives have been ruined and lost -- probably millions -- thanks to the doctors and the entrenched medical establishment (and thanks to our own blind belief in their abilities and dedication to our mental health).

That's why we are here on MWO taking our own lives into our own hands -- and dangerous as it may seem, the alternative seems much more dangerous to me.

I hear you on this. My general practitioner's prescription is for me to go to AA. I know some people find it to be of value, but I am just irked with it as I think it's prevented strides in addiction medicine from really taking root and the thinking in many circles would not be in favor of meds like Topo and the rest. I prefer to deal with my issues through medicine and science, although I do go to a Women for Sobriety group. Still, I am primarily reliant on psychopharmacology.

I am going to have to do more reading here. I'll mention the Bac but if it's a muscle relaxer, my shrink will flip and say no. Oh well, I'll mention it anyway and see what he says.

[Changed1]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Bernard, I went on Amazon on read some of that book. It looks excellent and very expensive. Still being stuck is very expensive. I have mixed moods, which is very tricky. Maybe it's a book I should really pick up and thank you so much for linking to it.

[beatle]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Dr. Ameisen had huge anxiety issues. The Bac was therefore a double blessing for him, in that it both resolved his anxiety and eliminated his craving for alcohol. In fact, I wonder if this might be the "real" reason Bac has such an anti-craving effect -- because it takes away the cause for the need to drink...? Then again, there seem to be a lot of alcoholics who don't have anxiety issues -- I am certainly not one of them, though. And I do feel the Bac is working on my anxiety, even at a low dosage.

As for the price of the book, you should recall all the effort behind it -- and I'm pretty sure he is not making money on it (at least not yet!). I feel that buying the book is both a recognition of all his hard work and a contribution to the continuation of spreading the word.

[Changed1]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

beatle, oh I have anxiety issues. In fact, I cannot even drive places I want to go as I have this driving phobia around road construction. I literally had to pull off the freeway last weekend and find a way around it. I definitely want to go on the Baclofen if it will relieve anxiety. I see him in an hour and am going to ask for it.

As to the book, I am not working right now. I'll have to see what I can do.

[Lusus Naturae]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Changed1;677766 wrote: Bernard, I went on Amazon on read some of that book. It looks excellent and very expensive. Still being stuck is very expensive. I have mixed moods, which is very tricky. Maybe it's a book I should really pick up and thank you so much for linking to it.
I agree with Beatle:
As for the price of the book, you should recall all the effort behind it -- and I'm pretty sure he is not making money on it (at least not yet!). I feel that buying the book is both a recognition of all his hard work and a contribution to the continuation of spreading the word.

But, since you're out of work...

I found the book (two copies in fact) at my local library. You might check yours.

[Changed1]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Lusus Naturae;678038 wrote: I agree with Beatle:


But, since you're out of work...

I found the book (two copies in fact) at my local library. You might check yours.

Great, I will check the local library. I might just buy it anyway. I spent enough on rehabs this year so what is another $100.

I checked with my shrink today and he doesn't know what Baclofen is, so looks like I'll just stick to my cocktail and increase the dosage of one of the meds.

[gyco]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

hi change,im not a doctor but ive been treated by a few psychiatrist 5, psychologists 4 and a few general practitioners a dozen if not more,,i beleive that to be a lot,to put the medical field down,i find that odd,they didnt give you this ailment,either you got it hereditary, or even if you didnt you brought it on yourself,put the shoe on the other foot,how would you deal with someone tht cant not drink,someone who has totally destroyed there brain cells or wants to,ive said it many times,society excepts you,till you get out of hand,i was treated for panic attacks at 45,odd age to get them,so i was told,anxiety,came on at the same time,job bringing up kids 4,a wife of 23 years at the time,i lost my doctor after 20 years,what he did was wrong,he terminated not only me,but my wife,but he kept my kids on,in my case they call me a hared case,no doctors want that,they dont make money off of us,were technically speaking in most of there eyes a waste of time,i went to a treatment center a couple of years ago,thats when he dropped me,i beleive it was the best thing that happened to me,eve then i wasn't ready,i was forced,but all tell you it sure opened my eyes to appreciate what i got,even if you lapse or relapse,after being there you have the skills to no better,dont blame the medical field its only an excuse i do wish you well and hope i didnt offend anyone its just my opinion gyco

[Lusus Naturae]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

Changed1;678164 wrote: Great, I will check the local library. I might just buy it anyway. I spent enough on rehabs this year so what is another $100.

Oh, I see. You're talking about the book Bernard referenced earlier in the thread. I thought you were talking about Olivier Ameisen's book The End of My Addiction...

[gyco]

Anyone on psychotropic drugs or have other issues?

i forgot to add i was on many different benzidipeins anti depressent you name it i was on it,alls i had to do was stop drinking , easy , the skill to it all is staying stopped