r/AutismTranslated • u/Nico3d3 • 1d ago
Meds for anxiety
I tried almost every SSRI under the sun. Paxil for 15 years, I stopped taking it because I was tired of the apathy and the absence of any emotions. It was like a lobotomy even with the lowest possible dose. Then a psychiatrist gave me effexor, after one week, I felt the same effect with the added bonus of always feeling jittery. Then, a doctor switched it to Zoloft : same, I had to stop taking it. I finally found another doctor and, she said we could try Celexa.
Guess what, the apathy and the absence of any feelings was back with the added bonus of constant dizziness. I had to stop taking it after three weeks. My first question is: why doctors always insist on trying another SSRI or SNRI? I have autism and from, what I already saw, it just seems like SSRI are not for us.
Second question: do you have any experience with some thing else, another molecule which doesn't mess with your serotonine? Whenever I try SSRI, I loose almost every feelings and I feel apathic. Like, significant others could die and I wouldn't care at all. Maybe Wellbutrin (I'm suspected to also have ADHD, ...) or Clonidine? Why are doctors so hell bent on giving SSRI and nothing else? I have another appointment, with the doctor, in april. I'm not fond of going back to see her, it always seem like they don't care. They are like : "oh, those SSRI work for most people, it will work for you too". I'm like : "no, they don't work for me, it's my own body, I know what I feel". I already told her I was autistic but, it didn't seem to change her opinion on SSRI. General practitionner seem to have very little informations on how medication affect us differently.
I do read books on autism specific anxiety and it helps me a lot. From what I can see, my anxiety isn't completely caused by chemical imbalance. It's mostly because I spent my entire life ignoring my specific needs as an undiagnosed autistic guy. However, I do feel the crippling effect of it and it makes my life feel like hell.
3
u/Maleficent-Rough-983 1d ago
i had more help from SNRIs but it also had terrible withdrawal to come off of for years. my anxiety has become manageable without medication thanks to over a decade of on and off therapy. meds are a band-aid if your anxiety is rooted in issues that need to be addressed with therapy. but if your anxiety is out of control you may need meds to even get through some therapy. i spent years not improving much with CBT. i find DBT to be a much better fit and this is true for a lot of autistics as we tend to be emotionally sensitive.
2
u/Which-Leave 1d ago
I'm on a mood stabilizer which helps immensely, but I also have bipolar II so I'm not sure if that would be appropriate? maybe worth asking about though!
2
u/Pinkowlcup 1d ago
If you suspect ADHD you should read up on rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD). I’m on clonidine and it has been game changing.
2
u/namingdwarves 1d ago
Ssris and snris also do not agree with me in the slightest. The only helpful things I’ve found are pregabalin and Ativan.
1
u/Nico3d3 1d ago
SSRI is out of question for me too. How do I argue and make myself heard by doctors ? It seems like they are hell bent on trying every different kinds of SSRI, none of them ever suggested some thing else. Meanwhile, I'm suffering and I have to jump through hoops to try to find an appointment.
1
u/namingdwarves 1d ago
Pregabalin is only restricted in certain countries. It’s definitely not in Canada (where I am) I and I don’t think it is in the us either so I can’t see a doctor being very against letting you try that one if you asked. It doesn’t have the same awful side effects ssris do at all so I’ve been really happy with it. You can get high off it though so if you struggle with that type of thing maybe think about it a bit first. :)
I also played Guinea pig with whatever drug doctors came up with for close to 15 years so I understand your frustration.
Benzo’s are terribly difficult to have prescribed, I have severe PTSD and they’ve even started limiting me on them in recent years. sucks because they’re honestly the most helpful thing I’ve ever come across for actually functioning in public. :( im sorry it’s so hard.
1
u/trekette222 1d ago
I take Abilify but I also have bipolar sooo…
I’ve heard it’s good for people on the spectrum.
1
u/WaterWithin 1d ago
I improved so much in my constant, body based anxiety taking proplanolol consists tly for about 1 year. I got waaay more calm and now take it like 1x a week for situational anxiety. I dont know why its not perscribed more, for autistics and now. Now i take guanfacine daily. It really helps.
1
u/Cravatfiend 1d ago
I'm autistic and have been on Zoloft (sertraline) for years. I haven't had apathy or mood flattening like you've experienced. I know it's worked for a few autistic friends and colleagues as well, but some others have had reactions like yours.
Doctors are so set on SSRIs because they are the most effective for the largest amount of people. A lot of doctors don't feel confident prescribing medicines outside this group because they have less experience with non-SSRI dosages and management.
Because SSRIs do work for some autistic people, and there's not a lot of official studies yet suggesting a link between autism and bad experiences with SSRIs, your doctors won't necessarily think to avoid them just because you're autistic. You'll need to focus on the fact they haven't worked for you as an individual.
Getting doctors to hear you is hard, but the best you can do is tell them that:
a) you have tried a list of SSRIs/SNRIs and that they have all given you this same reaction; and
b) that you do not want to try any other SSRIs/SNRIs.
The last part is important. If you only say the first part, they'll see it as hesitance they can talk you out of, because this is the med that works for most people. If they still insist after you ask specifically for something else, they are not listening and you should (if possible) try to see another doctor.
1
u/Super_Sea_850 1d ago
Are you seeing a general practitioner or a psychiatrist? If you've been seeing a GP and not getting anywhere you should see a psychiatrist instead if you're able to
1
u/Nico3d3 1d ago
Are you seeing a general practitioner or a psychiatrist?
The joy of living in Quebec is that you have a hard time even getting to see a GP. Then, good luck trying to see a psychiatrist. My demand was refused first time I tried, under the pretext that I was functional.
1
u/Super_Sea_850 1d ago
Ah that's rough. Idk much about Canadian Healthcare, but is there possibly a private option that you could get into sooner? Or in the US there's even online psychiatry services. Idk if thats available to you in Canada but hopefully you're able to figure something out. Could you maybe request to see a different GP instead?
4
u/SA_Dza 1d ago
I'm on Busperone (an anxiolytic) and it has helped where other meds have not.