Opinions - Alprazolam for an antidepressant?

[brandon561]

Swim has been very depressed the last couple months due to a lot unfortunate things happening in his life. Swim hasn't really talked to anyone about it. Swim has found out that when he takes xanax it actually helps his depression symptoms and feels like life is somewhat more enjoyable. What should swim do? Would a doctor prescribe xanax as an anit depressant? Also, what kind of doctor would swim have to go to talk about it?

[wespawloski]

Yes, anti-anxieties and antidepressants go hand in hand! Anti depressants have been known to help anxiety, anti anxieties have been known to help depression. Any reasonable doc would prescribe a benzodiazipine for depression :P and SWIM even suggests SWIY thinks about a possible anti-depressant/benzodiazipine combo, that could prove to be the perfect tool to help him achieve a happier state :P He could also consider just sticking with GABA, it may do the job well enough to not warrant adding another medication.

Sole treatment with a gaba agonist (benzodiazipines, GHB, ambien, etc) is plausable and clinically effective. Good luck! Does SWIY experience a noticable boost of happyness with alcohol? ethanol works somewhat alike those medications.

[brandon561]

Ok so your saying sway should consult a doctor? Sway use to be very happy and was its just been the last couple months that have been giving sway problems. What type of doctor would sway talk to for a prescription of xanax or something that will help?

[wespawloski]

His general doctor could probably help him, but SWIY should probably consider seeing a psychiatrist if he plans to take this medication long term. Also, medication like this may pose some questions or problems to SWIY, and he would want to see a psichiatrist about them, rather than his GD.

SWIY mentions he has only been having trouble the last few months, that makes perfect sense to be prescribed a benzodiazipine. Times can get tough, and gaba-agonists can help take off the pressures of the world (They are used as anti-anxieties for such a purpose).

If SWIY has tried xanax, and it helps him, he should tell his doc so. If SWIY tells the doc his story and explains how xanax helps, any sensible doc will have no problem with it. (By doc, SWIM means general or psichiatrist, anyone who can prescribe meds to help SWIY)

SWIY's doc may want to try other medications, its up to SWIY if he wants to.

If SWIM can ask, how many mgs did SWIY take, and at what time of day? Has he tried xanax mid-day or early morning? How dose the medication affect him at those times? Xanax and its brother medications can cause drowseyness and reduced cognitive functioning (at higher doses).

SWIM's old psichiatrist took 1/8mg xanax for pain relief, and it worked fantastic for him. Just to show you, smart people do fine with such medications :P

Word of warning... benzodiazipines can be addictive, and they have a potential to become a dependant component to sleep (for instance). They arn't very addictive, but the potential exists.

[brandon561]

Swim took 1mg of xanax this morning and is feeling great right now....not drowsy at all. Swims one problem is that he is one his parents insurance plan and really don't want them to know how swims feeling right now. Should i just go ahead and do it, or just get a doctor without the help of swims insurance. Swim is very embarrassed to really tell anyone about this.

[wespawloski]

I understand

The fact that taking Xanax doesn't make you drowsy... SWIM would say that is a very good sign that this medication could help you.

SWIM doesn't know how medical insurance really works in its infrastructural nature... but if SWIY is sure it would be obvious to his parrents, he wouldn't want to do that.

Thankfully, xanax generics are cheap. SWIM got some 120 pills for a pittence, about XXX he thinks. SWIM has amazing prescription insurance, but assumes that it shouldnt be more than 30 some dollars :/ if its not that expensive, and SWIY would like to remain anonymous, then going the non-insured route seems the best option.

1mg is a decent dose :O but if it works for you, thats fantastic! SWIY may want to see how other doses affect him (lower ones, mainly :P) to see if he can find the best balance between positive and negative effects. SWIM can't predict what will work for SWIY, so whatever SWIY feels is the best, is the best. Is SWIY having any issues with a comedown? He may want to try working with his medication to space it out throughout the day (and it will help him fall asleep :P) say... three .5 doses in a day. Again, if 1mg works for SWIM's day, keep it.

Sorry, SWIM now realizes it may be visiting a doctor that SWIY is concerned monetarily. Psichiatrists will run you about 200 dollars for a first visit... SWIM would suggest he tell his parrents he really needs to talk about... something going on in his life (IE, a girlfriend, school pressures, etc), he feels fine, but really needs to talk to someone. If you catch SWIM's drift, there are reasons besides feeling a need for medication and depression one could visit a psichiatrist.

But, it would be even easier to see your general doc for... a physical or something. Then just talk to the doc about your issue, and tell him it needs to be confidential.

SWIM could even go the route of telling his parrents he talked to the doc about insomnia and got prescribed xanax. Same goes for pain mangement, chronic neck pain or something could be remedied with a benzodiazipine.

Those above two options could also be proxied through a psichiatrist, psichiatrists are for medication management in all spectrums.

After you visit the doc, you have doctor-patient confidentiality and the doc cannot tell your parrents what you really talked about. (SWIM is not entirely sure what the rules are for minors, if you are under 18; pretty sure the same confidentiality applies)

Hope that helps :P sorry for my writing style... If you have any more questions or discussions, I would be happy to talk with you.

[ConcertaXL]

GABA agonists do indeed help with some depressions just as SSRIs or SNRIs can provide relief from anxiety... But finding someone to prescribe benzo's in this day and age could be quite difficult. With the massive abuse of these controlled substances doctors are far more likely to offer SSRI treatment, and anxiety is often treated with trazodone, propranolol or buspirone to avoid benzos or similar drugs. Being 18 or thereabouts will not help- SWIM knows from experience having been refused benzos for anxiety in the UK while 40-50year olds or above have no problem getting temazepam.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Realistic advice, far more real world than the other posts in this thread
	There's a lot of hype among the med. community now about such kinds of "subversion." Nicely written.

[wespawloski]

SWIM has always had the experience that doctors will accept his knowledge of what has worked. Doctors may be against giving you a medication, but they usually understand finding a medication that works is the most important part of treatment.

Plus a reuptake-inhibitor would take two weeks to get started, and may or may not help. That would be silly. If the original poster tells his doctor, clearly, that a benzo works, it would be horrible for the doc to deny that.

Plus, benzodiazipines are given out in such excess, any middle-age person who goes to a doc with stress will end up with one. Well, nowadays they probably throw SSRIs at them, first... but it has been common practice to give benzodiazipines for anxiety and stress, its nothing out of the ordinary. Also, America has a much more liberal drug policy

If you doc refuses to give you a medication you know works for you, find a new doctor. He obviously doesnt care enough to act rationally. This point is paramount : do not let a doctor bully you out of a successful medication. Unless, SWIY doesn't mind trying other medications... But it sounds like the depressive effects came about recently in a jump, and SWIM would say its reasonable to relieve it temporarily with a quick acting medication until things improve. Now, if the depressive aspects continue for an elongated time, then it may be in SWIY's best interests to look for a less-addictive and less "rewarding" medication.

That is something for SWIY to consider, he may become dependant on the medication... where even after his life has improved, he may have become dependant on the medication to live his life without it. SWIY may not even notice his life is improving... SWIY, also, may not develop coping methods to employ later in his life to fight his psychological troubles :/

SWIM would advise SWIY to, when talking to his doctor, work out a plan for his use. Setting up a plan can help SWIMers get away from irrational thought. IE : SWIY may resolve to only use the medication when he has to work, giving it breaks on weekends, decreasing his dosage on non-essential days... etc. If SWIY is feeling dedicated, he may keep a journal to share with his doc after a month, to show whats been happening. SWIY can also look at his journal, and see if its what SWIY wants.

SWIY could always use [xanax] (I use [] to show a variable for a benzodiazipine, its getting tiring to type that huge work :I) temporarily, then when he has a vacation for lifely duties try out a few SSRIs / anti-depressants to see if one works well.

Sorry to sound so negative during this post :P I do not mean to deter you, but simply inform you. Drugs are not scary and out to ruin you, but they can become a part of oneself, a part that he may not want to give up.

[brandon561]

Sway really isn't worried about getting addicted to the medication....He just needs something to get his spirits up in this dark time. Swim really cant find any meaning for life and the more it goes on the worse it gets. Swim is probably going to talk to his parents about going with insurance, since the uninsured way would be way to expensive for swim right now. Swim really appreciates all your posts and taking time to help swim out. The only thing is the xanax swim has been getting hasn't been legal mainly from friends.

brandon561 added 32 Minutes and 40 Seconds later...

Swim actually just talked to his mother and she has been very helpful with my decision to go to the doctor. She suggested swim goes and talks with a psychiatrist. Swim really sees no benefit in talking to someone. Swim has talked his mother in going to a general doctor. Swim was wondering what he should say when he gets there, so they dont think swim is just there to get the medication?

[wespawloski]

SWIM has met three psichiatrists.

1: threw SSRIs at him, obviously clueless, they never talked

2: SWIM liked this guy. He understood SWIM. SWIM talked to him just because SWIM trusted him

3: This psichiatrist suggested SWIM "get cognitive therapy" and she was only for "Medication management"

Moral of the story : Most psychiatrists don't want to get cognitive therapy with you. SWIM advises SWIY to see a psichiatrist (if his insurance covers it); psichiatrists will talk to you about medication, and pretty much leave it at that. Plus, they know more about them, and if something unpleasant happens, a psychiatrist is much better at directing you to alternatives. SWIM tried to have a conversation with his general doc about lexapro, and SWIM quickly realized he knew more than the doc did (SWIM has been doing lots of research).

Your mindset on this whole process is humorous, you sound like your a criminal :P SWIM told his psichiatrist " I've tried street ecstacy pills many times, the benefits it gives me is extraordinary, and I would love to try and find something that brings me closer to that point where I can express myself and feel happy." something along those lines :P His second psychiatrist (much love) said "alright... have you ever tried dextroamphetamine? ok, we'll have you try out vyvanse" He was being sponsored by the makers of vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) to prescribe it... but thats only slightly relevant :P

SWIM tells all his psichiatrists the vast amount of dangerous and abusing drug activity hes had. SWIM makes sure to explain his reasoning and explain why. A little vignette of SWIM's life he will occasionally tell psichiatrists - "Well, my psichiatrist gave me xanax, I abused it. Lost a day of my life when I woke up sunday and thought it was Saturday... I never want that to happen again" (true story) That is the most important thing you can do, truthfully explain your experience. People pick up on your honesty, if what you have told us here is true, simply sit down (do not let your parrents in with you, lol) and tell the doc : what is happening, you have tried this drug, it worked extremely well, and it helps you to achieve happyness in a dark time. Try to brief yourself a little on the medication (just skim wikipedia) and just really explain how it effects you and the benefits its given you. (I dont mean to quote wikipedia, but in example of xanax "I think the gaba agonization really helps, it helps me calm down" sounds a whole lot better than "well it does something, and I feel better!". Do not speak past your knowledge though, you may get ahead of yourself)

SWIM told his new psichiatrist that he abuses every medication hes ever gotten, because he likes to experiment... SWIM still gets his amphetamines every month.

SWIY might have trouble because he has never tried any SSRI, but explain to the doc you are in a really dark place, and you know the way to get out. These doctors arnt out to get you... If your mom endorses your visit (IE sets up the appointment, chats with the doc), that gives you massive credibility. If the doc asks to speak with your parrents, and you don't want him to talk about the medication, just tell the doctor so. (Its also perfectly fine to say no, there are very reasonable cases for wanting to keep your visits undisclosed). Also, if the doc suggests a lower dosage, go with it. Depending on how much you get, you may be able to increase it to a comfortable level till your next appointment. Then tell the doc you tried it, and it didn't work as good as before. (I do recommend, though, you try lower doses)

Best of luck! if the doctor won't prescribe it to you, tell him your going to now go IV heroin, then walk out. Case closed.

I jest, but if he doesn't help you, just tell your mom you didn't like the way he acted and you don't trust him (SWIM would most definitely not want to talk to a doc who would disregard his experience, methadone is prescribed to help heroin addicts... and a depressed person isn't allowed to be happy?). If he won't prescribe it, its not your fault. You deserve something that helps you through your depression, we both know the benefits that feeling good can have on one's whole life. You are obviously doing this because you feel something is wrong, and using medication to help get past that is what its there for.

[brandon561]

swim greatly appreciates all the help you've been giving me. Since where similar in age it probably helps. So have you been successful in going to the psichiatrist does it help. Also, what's the difference form a psichiatrist than a psychiatrist?

[brandon561]

Swim is going to get an appointment with a psichiatrist by the end of the week. Swim will let you know what the outcome of the appointment is. Swim is very happy to have people out there that can understand what he's going through as he thought he would never come to this.

[wespawloski]

It happens to the best of us :/ Good luck! Be safe.

[brandon561]

Thnx. Swim's mom just told him that they scheduled an appointment with some doctor they said swim could "talk with" how would swim know if this is the correct doctor to be asking for medication.

[wespawloski]

Well, because this is a psychiatrist (I assume), the doctor will want to know whats affecting you, of course, to determine whether SWIY would require medication and what kind. again, just explain yourself like you have here, noting your extensively positive experience with Alprazolam (xanax). Really, just give the whole story you have here, and see what the doctor says.

[brandon561]

Swim just found out the doctor he's going to see is a therapist would this do anything to help swims problems? Are they the same thing as a psichiatrist?

brandon561 added 6 Minutes and 22 Seconds later...

"My approach to counseling is based on cognitive behavioral and brief solution oriented therapy"
This is a quote from her website.

If you would like to check it out here's the direct link.
lynnwappler.com

[brandon561]

Swim has a great feeling he is wasting his time. It's his parents that want to see. Swim doesnt think if he just tell his parents about the xanax because they will think swim just wants it to get fuc#$d up on.

[tyranny4u]

In TT's opinion (research and own experiences) it is true that on many
depressed patients Alprazolam has antidepressive effects in the be-
ginning of treatment / consumption. But after some time, might it be
weeks or months, the effect almost would turn into the opposite. But
the benzo-effect of inhibition treshold still is shown, so people tend
to commit suicide more than those not taking benzodiazepines.

Treating real depressions using medications should be under advice
of physicians and / or psychologists. Alprazolam might help in the be-
ginning of therapy, but should not given too long and also should not
given as a standalone medication. It has to be cleared what kind of
depression the patient suffers from and what drugs would be best for
treatment.

[brandon561]

Swim does understand what your saying, But swim hasn't felt as happy as he does when he's taking the xanax at all. Swim feels like life is actually there. Swim is not excited to go and talk with some1 about what's going on. Swim seems like that wouldn't help one bit. Also, it's getting very expensive for swim to purchase the xanax from whoever has it. Swim doesn't think his depression will last for a very long time. Swim believes it could be "fixed" if you can say that in a couple months.

[Politicalchalk]

Benzos have no use in analgesia. Clonazepam and diazepam have muscle relaxant properties, and the cat's sure one could come up with a few more exceptions, but what's all this about switching between an amphetamine to tramadol? It's not really an opiate, just behaves like one. It also has SSRI activity, is that what swiy refers to?

[tyranny4u]

Originally Posted by Politicalchalk

Benzos have no use in analgesia.

right, and some kind of pain might even felt stronger when using benzos
or barbiturates. i sais some kind of pain, as in a few cases certain subs-
tances of both groups help. but TT thinks it's more the way he mentioned
first

[brandon561]

Swim is looking for something that will take the edge off of his day. swim was just prescribed the ultram and really hasn't taken many. Depression came after my accident. Swim is not a drug abuser at all. Swim is actually quite scared to try many drugs other than weed and really xanax. Swim is just very curious about certain things. When swim takes the xanax he takes small amounts just to help with his depression. Swim never really abuses any sort of drugs. Swim is just trying to "fit" in somewhere.

[brandon561]

Swim is already on untram ER 200mg and im sure that tramadol HCI. Swim has 3 slipped discs and a very bruised lower back right now. Swim doesnt think the untram has any effect on the amount of pain in his back? Also, it's quite a bit expensive even with insurance. Would it be safe for swim to take his daily dose of Ultram and his 1mg to 1.5 mg of xanax? Swim hasn't been taking his ultram the past few days and has only taking the xanax so he's somewhat a little happier throughout the day.

brandon561 added 149 Minutes and 25 Seconds later...

Swim means Ultram ER

[wespawloski]

Those medications should probably not be used in conjunction... You must consult with a doctor.

Did this depression come about after you started Ultram? Or a few weeks after? After you sustained injury?

I have read your other posts on this forum... Seeking hedonistic pleasure, rather than relief, appears to be your motive. It is not a good idea to get an addictive prescription medication if one is seeking its employment for pleasure.

[TheNewLeft]

depression and anxiety go hand in hand. it's very rare for some to be clinically depressed without suffering from anxiety and vice versa.

it's not that the xanax is curing your depression....but the calmness you feel as a result of taking it, provides a sense of relief which you probably feel is alleviating your depression.

if it's really a problem talk to a therapist and you might want to consider taking an actual anti-depressant.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good clarification-xanax doesn't affect depression, just anxiety which is often caused by depression