Sorry, i know this isn't completely heart talk. Just wondering what everyone took med wise for post op depression and anxiety. I've been told to up my celexa, but here lately my anxiety has been so devastating that the doc prescribed ativan for me. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? I'm a little hestitant to take something like it. thanks everyone
anxiety and depression
- Thread starter ryen0
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Ross
Well-known member
If you really need drugs to help, take it, but do be aware that it can become terribly addicting. I'm a firm believer in trying to work through the difficult periods without drugs, but some people just cannot do it like that, so if your one of those people, it's better to take it and deal with the problems, if they occur, later. After my last surgery, they had me on a 2mg continous IV drip of ativan and I did become addicted to it. Bare in mind, were talking 40+ days of it too.
Don't have to apologize -- this is definitely heart-related. Depression is a common problem after OHS. I never took meds for it, but I had a hard time sleeping and was given sleeping medication.
No shame in taking a prescription if you need it. However, I think you are wise in having some hesitancy and being cautious about it. I'm sure many others will be along here with experiences to share. Often there are non-med ways to get through it. I honestly think being in cardiac rehab helped me -- but even without that, just gradually increasing exercise -- walking, say -- can help. Taking time to relish the sunsets, the little things in life...
Best wishes to you...
Cardiac rehab is not a bad idea. I may ask about that. If i do take it, i deff want to use it only if i absolutely have to (which sometimes i feel i do) My cardiologists and just so vague to me sometimes, it upsets me and makes me feel like they don't know if i'm going to die or not. Doesn't help the anxiety. Of course i'm sure a lot of this is in my mind much more than my heart.
Please, please be careful with Ativan or any other benzodiazapene. They are EXTREMELY addictive. I'm not exagurating at all. It's probably easier to quit nicotine, heroin or crack.
That being said, if you have a brief period of time where you absolutely feel panicked or anxious, that's what it's good for. But long term, it will hurt you much more than help. Don't take it for more than a week or two.
That being said, if you have a brief period of time where you absolutely feel panicked or anxious, that's what it's good for. But long term, it will hurt you much more than help. Don't take it for more than a week or two.
Ross
Well-known member
Only thing is, if you take it, you won't want to do any rehab. You'll just want to veg out some place. At least that is the way I was with it.
My advice, get into rehab and work your butt off. The more you accomplish, the better your going to start to feel, but don't go in expecting instant results. That isn't going to happen. It takes a little time.
hensylee
Well-known member
ativan is just like valium and xanax. I take 1/2 xanax at night for sleep with my dr's blessings and Lexapro for the daytime. Lexapro made a big difference in my life. Both these types would be hard to quit, but Lexapro is easier - it is an antidepressant. The others are tranquilizers. Take care with any tranquilizer re the addiction element. Wishing you well. Exercise actually is good for depression plus anxiety.
debster913
Well-known member
Hey there!
No need to apologize--depression/anxiety after heart surgery is completely normal for some. I went through a really weird period after my surgery that lasted about nine months. Then my mother got sick and my doctor put me on 10 mg Lexapro. I was on it for about a year. At first I liked it, but then once my body got used to it, I got really, really tired and fatigued and had very little motivation. I think it also made my IBS worse to the point where my doctor and I thought something was wrong and she sent me in for a colonoscopy. (Everything was fine, though). I tried stopping the drug on my own, but had terrible withdrawal symptoms, so my doctor had to wean me off of it a few weeks later. A word of advice--never stop any medication cold turkey. I was a mess the first time I stopped taking Lexapro. But, different drugs work best for some and not for others. This is just my experience.
I feel much better now without an antidepressant and can say that I feel the best now I have since I had my surgery. The depression/anxiety should go away after some time, but be sure you are under your doctor's guidance through this all.
Anyway, feel free to come here and vent anytime. I know I have many times. You might also want to look up my old thread on depression after valve surgery. See the link below. Lots of people had interesting insights into this.
Take care of yourself.
Best,
Debi (debster913)
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21836
No need to apologize--depression/anxiety after heart surgery is completely normal for some. I went through a really weird period after my surgery that lasted about nine months. Then my mother got sick and my doctor put me on 10 mg Lexapro. I was on it for about a year. At first I liked it, but then once my body got used to it, I got really, really tired and fatigued and had very little motivation. I think it also made my IBS worse to the point where my doctor and I thought something was wrong and she sent me in for a colonoscopy. (Everything was fine, though). I tried stopping the drug on my own, but had terrible withdrawal symptoms, so my doctor had to wean me off of it a few weeks later. A word of advice--never stop any medication cold turkey. I was a mess the first time I stopped taking Lexapro. But, different drugs work best for some and not for others. This is just my experience.
I feel much better now without an antidepressant and can say that I feel the best now I have since I had my surgery. The depression/anxiety should go away after some time, but be sure you are under your doctor's guidance through this all.
Anyway, feel free to come here and vent anytime. I know I have many times. You might also want to look up my old thread on depression after valve surgery. See the link below. Lots of people had interesting insights into this.
Take care of yourself.
Best,
Debi (debster913)
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21836
I enjoyed reading your old post debi. So helpful to know others have gone through the same thing. My surgery went so well, i don't know why i'm acting like this. But i guess like what has been said, my "chemicals" are all out of wack. I don't want to completely rely on the meds, but hopefully they can take the edge off till i get past this hump. I've already been taking celexa too, so hopefully that will kick in. thank you for all the advice everyone
It sounds like you were already taking Celexa before surgery. Is that correct?
Is the doc who precscribed the Ativan your psychiatrist, or one of your other doctors?
In addition to the prescription drugs that your psychiatrist provides, do you also participate in therapy, either one-on-one or in a group? Have you been able to participate in this since surgery?
I do not have personal experience with this, but I have two relatives who had anxiety and depression problems and who had surgeries. Psychotherapy was hugely important in their recovery, more so than psychotropic drugs.
I had a flare up of anxiety back in 2002 which is why i take the celexa. I was fine forever, then the heart surgery verdict pushed it in again. I have a psychiatrist who is prescribing the meds and meeting with me. I'm just praying that the heart stuff will start to subside as it heals from surgery, then i can ease off my anxiety as well. The only time i'll go as far as ativan is when it is paralyzing fear, like today 
ryen, it would be remiss if I didn't warn you that benzo's can eventually cause central nervous system damage. Your psychiatrist may not even be aware of the studies, and if you asked him about CNS damage from benzos he might laugh.
Here's some quotes for ya:
Be careful.
Here's some quotes for ya:
Be careful.
debster913
Well-known member
Glad my old post helped you.
So if i take it just once and awhile only if i really need to, this isn't "abuse" is it?
R
ricks399
So
So
why not get the citations from Aaron and mention them to your psychiatrist. I would think s/he would be current in all the literature concerning drugs prescribed. And you would need a definition of abuse before you compare it to your situation and your dosage.
So
why not get the citations from Aaron and mention them to your psychiatrist. I would think s/he would be current in all the literature concerning drugs prescribed. And you would need a definition of abuse before you compare it to your situation and your dosage.
Good idea. I used to work at a pharmacy, and you deff can tell the ones that are abusing a drug. Whether it be xanax, oxycotin, percocet, what have you. I'm just glad i have it, just in case i have to use a last resort to calm down. All the sunsets and positive self talk in the world do not help when you are in the clinical state. At least for me
My doc put me on Paxil for anxiety. It works great and doesn't cause me to veg out. As an added benefit, it also helped lower my BP quite a bit. My doc said I was just too much of a type A personality and that was causing some of my issues with my BP.
When my Mom died, I did briefly take Xanax. I didn't have a care in the world when I took that stuff, but I would not recommend taking that for long periods of time.
When my Mom died, I did briefly take Xanax. I didn't have a care in the world when I took that stuff, but I would not recommend taking that for long periods of time.
I agree, it's not abuse. But:
The line between abuse and clinical dosage tends to gradually and almost imperceptibly become gray. A tolerance is built up to benzos within a week or two (some say days), and more is usually needed to achieve the same effect. The fact that it can cause "dilitation of ventricles" and other neurological problems like seizures upon withdrawal from higher doses is a major negative attribute that should be taken in to consideration.
After a tolerance buildup, your psychiatrist might eventually prescribe you a dosage that another psychiatrist would consider too much or abusive. What one would call abusive or excessive, another might call theraputic.
I'm not trying to be an alarmist, I just think it's a dangerous drug if you're not aware of the facts. Benzos are a wonderful relief if you need them for a little bit. Acute anxiety is really the intended purpose of the drug.
My point is just be aware that it's just a not so good band-aid for anxiety. It doesn't fix the problem forever, and it might make it worse in the end.
Adrienne
Well-known member
If I am particularly anxious or upset and am sure I will not sleep otherwise, I take a half mg of Ativan. Even during certain periods of my life where I was extremely upset for a longer period, I would always go a couple of nights without taking it. I NEVER take it during the day.
Yeah this deff isn't a complete crutch for anxiety. Sometimes it's just reassuring to know i have it. The only time i'll use it are those times when i absolutely feel i can't function. It's a very scary place to be, and probably for another forum, but like aaron said, that is what the med is for. Too often i know most people use it just for regular stress such as taking a test or something.
