Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

[ignominous]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Thanks Dabs

I agree that a certain amount of dysphoria is essential to life. It alerts one to the fact that you may be going off course and that a change in game plan may be in order.

I don't want to put a blanket over my emotions but I must admit I have had a marked shift from positive to negative feelings since tapering down on the Bac. Its just a thought atm and appreciate the feedback. So far Bac has been the only mood or mind altering drug that I haven't taken just for kicks and it's worked remarkably effectively. Delivered what it promised with, at this level, no debilitating SEs.

As a pre google question what symptoms does Remeron primarily address.

Out of interest and ignore if I'm being to nosy but you seemed to have had a mood shift for the brighter about 6 weeks ago, could that have been anything to do with a change in medications? Maybe I read too much into posts sometimes especially when cruising high altitude with Bac!

[Isolde]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Hey Ig, ever consider just staying at a little bit higher dose of bac? One that keeps you feeling good? Hang out there for awhile and see if the SEs that are making you want to continue to titrate down diminish or not.
I stuck at 135 for awhile, and was amazed that what everyone had been telling me was in fact true - the SEs that were driving me crazy did get better. Not totally gone, but much more mangeable.

Just a thought. Though an AD might be better suited to treating the dysphoria. Heck, I've been thinking about it myself. Trying to get to my maintenance dose of bac first though (whatever that may be) and see how I'm doing then.

I know how you feel about not taking unnecessary meds. But look how much bac helped you! That's a testament that some drugs really can improve your life!

[ignominous]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Hi Is

That's really the whole point isn't it. Should I stay at a higher dose where I feel great and achieve to a large extent the 'happy catholic' look that Low mentions or should I stick with my plan and take things step by step.

Phase 1 is pretty complete, still no desire to drink, now 6 weeks, different Ig talking! Having had proof that my brain is capable of having chemical imbalances that can be rectified by medication I think that I should at least consider drugs designed for depression/anxiety.

Many people look to be doing famously and at a lower Bac dose than me. Looking around it seems that taking medication for mood is fairly prevalent. If you had to pick a drug for me what would it be? Bac is not an option! Don't want to hurt its feelings, I love Bac!

I'm now at 120mg which is half as expensive as 250 so that feels good. Will prob keep going down until I feel the cravings start to return and then jump back in the Bac boat quickly!

Are you still having the occasional drink and how will you decide what your maintenance dose is?

[AllyB]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

ignominous;1035348 wrote: Many people look to be doing famously and at a lower Bac dose than me. Looking around it seems that taking medication for mood is fairly prevalent. If you had to pick a drug for me what would it be? Bac is not an option! Don't want to hurt its feelings, I love Bac!

Have you tried St John's Wort? I was a bit sceptical about it before but tried it for a while when I was feeling particularly low and within a few days I felt bright and happy, in a nice natural way.

[Rusty]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I'm with Ig....I LOVE BAC!!! Hey, I actually forgot to take it when I went on an overnight trip, and I found myself being unusually impatient and grumpy. That's the kind of effect it has on me. I'm never forgetting it again. It is already in my bag and ready to go with me to Barcelona on Saturday.

Ally-I've heard that about St. John's Wort....but it depends on how bad of depression a person has...if it's clinical depression, it might not cause a dent. I've never suffered from depression, thankfully, so take my words with a grain of salt.

I'm off to the gym. See you guys later! :-)

[ignominous]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Not so sure how bad my depression or dysphoria is but it sucks nonetheless. Barcelona should be fun.

St John's Wort is on my list before I sign up for a lobotomy. Seems some people swear by it and for others it does nothing. Thanks for the suggestion Ally. Maybe I just need high doses!

I just read on Neva's thread that Levin said we were all going to get sweeter and better and lovelyier as time passes. He didn't tell me anything about that but I'm including myself as a recipient anyway. Thanks Doc.

[Isolde]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

ignominous;1035348 wrote: Hi Is

That's really the whole point isn't it. Should I stay at a higher dose where I feel great and achieve to a large extent the 'happy catholic' look that Low mentions or should I stick with my plan and take things step by step.

Phase 1 is pretty complete, still no desire to drink, now 6 weeks, different Ig talking! Having had proof that my brain is capable of having chemical imbalances that can be rectified by medication I think that I should at least consider drugs designed for depression/anxiety.

Many people look to be doing famously and at a lower Bac dose than me. Looking around it seems that taking medication for mood is fairly prevalent. If you had to pick a drug for me what would it be? Bac is not an option! Don't want to hurt its feelings, I love Bac!

I'm now at 120mg which is half as expensive as 250 so that feels good. Will prob keep going down until I feel the cravings start to return and then jump back in the Bac boat quickly!

Are you still having the occasional drink and how will you decide what your maintenance dose is?

Glad you are at least convinced that some meds can help out the chemical imbalances in our brains, that is a step in the right direction! I can definitely agree that it's like a different Ig talking than the one from 6 weeks ago. No offense to old Ig, but I like this one better. :l

I think that before you start looking at the pros and cons of different anti depressants (or hallucinogens, or psychoactives, or whatever!), you should assess your situation. Is this dysphoria caused by something external? Or has the depression been a sort of ongoing issue in your life, even when you had nothing to be down about?
In any case, you might find medication to be helpful, just some food for thought. Maybe if the depression stems from something external, meds could help you to see things a little bit more clearly and maybe start to work on making some positive changes. And if it is, as they say, all in your head, well, I think meds could be very helpful! As far as which one? Got me! I recommend a few different drugs, but none of them are for depression! I don't have any personal experience with ADs... well, except for some Cymbalta given to me by my dad when I was going through a rough patch that didn't agree with me and sent me to the ER last month! So basically, you prob. wouldn't my recommendation there anyway.

Yes, still having the occasional drink. About one or 2 a week I would say. Never with the desire to have more. Although it DOES really help with the consistent back pain I've been experiencing the last few weeks. But I'm not looking to medicate the pain away, trying to figure out where it's coming from and do yoga and re-adjusting my worksation, etc. Fun stuff. Anyway, I digress. I plan to continue slowly titrating down until either 1 of things occurs: 1) My cravings start to come back 2) I reach 80mgs without the return of cravings.
I'm comfortable staying at 80 for awhile. SEs were minimal at that dose and I was feeling awesome. Who knows if that euphoria will return (I'm feeling pretty damn good anyway lately, SEs and back pain and all), but 80 is my goal for now.

[taw]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Hey Ig!

I have been on prozac for a while now and it really helps...I have tried a couple others and they have not worked as well...I have pretty much suffered from depression my whole life...which came first....depression or alcoholism? Have been an alcoholic for at least 20 years...depressed as long as I can remember...

Just because you start a med does not mean you will need it for life....maybe it will help to just retrain your brain~!

All the best to you! hope you find some answers and things that help!

[ignominous]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Thanks for the input girls.

I'm heartened that you like the new Ig better. Feels very strange to me and in many ways I feel distanced from myself. I suspect changing the habits and thoughts of a lifetime will do that to you!!

Taw, I had wondered why no one had mentioned prozac, that was the rage about a decade ago, I wondered if it was now considered old hat. Thanks, I will look into it.

Now at 120mg a day and actually my mood is lightening, also finding that the SEs are manifesting themselves by a desire to post on MWO!

[taw]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

I love my prozac....hope I love my bac as much!! Maybe the two can make me human again! I have tried the new SSRI's and combo AD's and nothing has worked for me as well as prozac....and my new shipment arrived in the mail yesterday! I am golden till my bac gets here!!

[seeking_serenity]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Taw, I wish I was a religious woman, because I am sort of praying (in my own way) that you get your Bac in the mail soon. It's just not fair that you have to wait this long. Let us know the minute you get some! Your pain and desperation were so clear to me in your posts. I could feel it in my bones.

[taw]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Thanks SS! Great to hear from you again! Trust me you all will be the first to know it is here...You guys are the only ones I can share my hope with!

[ignominous]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Hi Serenity. Sounds like you're doing well............ anything for me on the drugs front?
Taw As Guitarista said to me eons ago........"Let it all hang out"

[Isolde]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

ignominous;1036094 wrote:
Now at 120mg a day and actually my mood is lightening, also finding that the SEs are manifesting themselves by a desire to post on MWO!

Me too! (Even the part about the 120mgs!)

Taw, I'm so glad you found something that works as well for you as prozac does. I know that it can be really hard to find the right AD or right combination of meds that works. I have a feeling that you will do well with the prozac/baclofen combination!

[Lowcountryman]

Sobriety. From one who knows. A sober point of view.

Same here, 120's, excellent. So much more better than I felt with an anti-depressant (Lexapro). I also slept better, no worries messing with my brain all night. Bac could be the standard for people who are always feeling a littlebit down. My mom used to say to me:"if you want to have a life full of euphoria, use drugs. otherwise prepare for a nightmare" (last words are mine). So, here I am
I've been kind of down almost all my life, even since I was a kid with no worries/trauma's whatever. Must be something in the brains. I would take any pill to make my life make more fun. Artificial and unnatural can also be very real. Omg, I'm getting so off-topic here, sorry
Point was: Just do whatever makes you feel better! Bible or Bac, whatever makes you a happier catholic