General anxiety medicine, help please.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

2 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Xanax is addictive and soul destroying

The figures don't reflect that. The vast majority of users are able to control their use of it. I've found that with medical support, I've to a large degree moved on from the things that were weighing me down. Yes, people abuse it, but people abuse many things.

[The Hammer2021]

The OP should see a doctor at a reputable hospital and get an appropriate medication and help with breathing and meditation techniques. There is a whole new generation of anti anxiety medicine around but recent UK research suggests most are useless but potentially very damaging.

[The Hammer2021]

9 minutes ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

The figures don't reflect that. The vast majority of users are able to control their use of it. I've found that with medical support, I've to a large degree moved on from the things that were weighing me down. Yes, people abuse it, but people abuse many things.

Only a few weeks of continuous use of Xanax can lead to lifelong addiction and the withdrawal symptons are more punishing than heroin. It's a dreadful drug which like Valium and Oxycontin feeds addiction via a legitimate care system. The worse thing about Xanax is the way it brutalises people robbing them of their care or empathy for other people. It's the drug for uncaring narcissists. It's toxic poison

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

This is just nonsense.

[The Hammer2021]

Just now, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

This is just nonsense.

It's the historical tragedy of the Pharmaceutical industry since Bayer and their development of Morphine and Heroin, with Hoffman la Roche promoting Valium, Purdue  and the Sacklers addicting innocents to opiates using Oxycontin to create wealth and misery and Xanax is part of the same trajectory. The withdrawal effects are so difficult most people REMAIN ADDICTED FOR LIFE in a dull void of half emotions. It's attack on empathy is responsible for the vacuous nihlism of a generation of hip hop artists.

 

 

 

 

.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

8 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

REMAIN ADDICTED FOR LIFE in a dull void of half emotions.

This was not my personal experience of Alprazolam use. As I said, people abuse many things. The fact people abuse alcohol doesn't stop me having a drink. Xanax can be a useful tool for psychiatric care to bring your thought processes under control as part of a wider care package. It's not right for everyone, it may not be right for the OP, but it was right for me, it worked, and I didn't become addicted or lose my empathy. So, maybe you or one of your loved ones lost control while using it. I'm sorry if that's the case, but I don't agree with your portrayal of the drug.

 

 

 

[JackGats]

Problem is, I've never heard of anyone taking a benzo like Xanax everyday and not quickly developing tolerance, plus withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop. Vicious circle guaranteed. I have a couple of Xanax pills in my travel kit which I use on long flights. If I can't sleep well sometimes I try to sweat it out in my bed as I don't need to wake up for work anymore.

 

Valerian improves sleep with some people. Also melatonin just before bedtime (not during the day!).

[3NUMBAS]

amytriptaline is good foor mild anxiety .10mg works a treat

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

I've been prescribed Amytriptaline but off label for upper back and neck pain (I have mild Scoliosis) and for that it was very effective in getting me through a pain flare up.

[davidst01]

22 hours ago, KannikaP said:

I just Googled Vipassana Meditation as I had no idea what it was.

Now I know....a load of cobblers.  Sitting thinking about your problems never cured anything. And the site I read says it take a couple of years to get yourself sortrd.

I know someone who did a 10 day vipasana retreat in India. One of the participants lost the plot and grabbed a policemans gun and shot himself. 10 days no talking does that to some people. 

[davidst01]

2 hours ago, JackGats said:

Problem is, I've never heard of anyone taking a benzo like Xanax everyday and not quickly developing tolerance, plus withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop. Vicious circle guaranteed. I have a couple of Xanax pills in my travel kit which I use on long flights. If I can't sleep well sometimes I try to sweat it out in my bed as I don't need to wake up for work anymore.

 

Valerian improves sleep with some people. Also melatonin just before bedtime (not during the day!).

I take some anti hystemines for sleeping. They are non addictive and have the sedative in them

[davidst01]

2 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

amytriptaline is good foor mild anxiety .10mg works a treat

Amitriptyline is a medicine used for treating pain. You can take it: to treat nerve pain (neuralgia) and back pain. to help prevent migraine attacks.

 

Is your pain causing you anxiety?

[davidst01]

22 hours ago, Genmai said:

pot edibles

Thailand is starting to legalise pot. But unsure if this includes edibles. Are you based abroad?

[Swimfan]

23 hours ago, KannikaP said:

I just Googled Vipassana Meditation as I had no idea what it was.

Now I know....a load of cobblers.  Sitting thinking about your problems never cured anything. And the site I read says it take a couple of years to get yourself sortrd.

Sounds like it might do you some good as you obviously completely misinterpreted what it is about. Completely the opposite to what you said. 

[Swimfan]

17 minutes ago, davidst01 said:

Amitriptyline is a medicine used for treating pain. You can take it: to treat nerve pain (neuralgia) and back pain. to help prevent migraine attacks.

 

Is your pain causing you anxiety?

 

19 minutes ago, davidst01 said:

Amitriptyline is a medicine used for treating pain. You can take it: to treat nerve pain (neuralgia) and back pain. to help prevent migraine attacks.

 

Is your pain causing you anxiety?

That’s a secondary use for Amitriptyline. If you did your research you will see it’s actually an old school tricyclic antidepressant. And is often prescribed as a sleeping aid. 

[daveAustin]

On 12/20/2021 at 5:13 PM, bamboozled said:

I might sound like a broken record as I've passed it on before: the book, "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle really helped me out. It's available in Thailand in English. If I'm feeling anxious, I have found just opening that book to almost any page and reading a bit....it is very calming and reassuring.

Also, Vipassana meditation. If you are in Bkk or CM I'm sure you can find some groups that are having get-togethers for meditating. I'm sure they could discuss it with you.

The book and the Vipassana are along similar veins the idea being that we create the stress by out minds running off into the past and the future instead of in the present. We have become so accustomed to it that we don't even realize it anymore.

You certainly are not alone. I think the majority of folks feel similarly, to differing degrees, and with different levels of awareness. Good that you've decided to pursue some course of action.

Power of Now is an awesome book. In short, taking control of thoughts by observing them. That’s the key. Diet, exercise, nose breathing and sleep, along with changes of scenery, are musts, but hard for someone struggling to get the basics in order first. 
All the best. 

[scubascuba3]

6 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Power of Now is an awesome book. In short, taking control of thoughts by observing them. That’s the key. Diet, exercise, nose breathing and sleep, along with changes of scenery, are musts, but hard for someone struggling to get the basics in order first. 
All the best. 

i read power of now a long time ago, I can't remember it now except it seemed like two halves, first part quite good, second part got religious and i switched off

[Ohphuket]

I'd say firstly, this is far too important an issue to entrust to a bunch of strangers posting on a forum.

 

I assume you're in Thailand - in your shoes I would head off to your local government hospital and wait an hour to see a GP. Explain that you are suffering from general anxiety.

 

He will probably prescribe you something, and most importantly should arrange a follow-up appointment. If he doesn't, ask him to. If whatever he gave you isn't working out, he'll change it to something else. Doing it under a doctor's supervision is just the safest way to go. Thai doctors are a lot less reluctant to prescribe effective medication than Western doctors, in my experience.

 

If it's anything like my local government hospital, you'll be charged 500 baht for the doctor's time, and a few hundred baht for your medication. Getting medicine from the hospital ensures that you are getting the genuine article.

 

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[Neeranam]

Exercise, I started running 25 km a week and trust me it works for anxiety/insomnia. 

Before, I tried many things, Hindu meditation, which is great - https://www.brahmakumaris.org/centre-locator

4 different centres you can do a course in Bangkok

 

I tried Buddhist meditation, do it anywhere in Thailand. 

 

Buspar works well. 

 

Gabapentin for sleep is OK

 

Trazadone 50mg helps sleep on the odd day.

 

If you have mental/drug/alcohol issues, best to get to the root first before trying anything. 

 

Good luck, it's not easy but there is a way out of depression/anxiety.

[Neeranam]

17 minutes ago, Ohphuket said:

I'd say firstly, this is far too important an issue to entrust to a bunch of strangers posting on a forum.

 

I assume you're in Thailand - in your shoes I would head off to your local government hospital and wait an hour to see a GP. Explain that you are suffering from general anxiety.

 

He will probably prescribe you something, and most importantly should arrange a follow-up appointment. If he doesn't, ask him to. If whatever he gave you isn't working out, he'll change it to something else. Doing it under a doctor's supervision is just the safest way to go. Thai doctors are a lot less reluctant to prescribe effective medication than Western doctors, in my experience.

There are forum members here that know more than doctors in Thailand. 

Absolutely DON'T trust a general practitioner at a Thai govt. hospital. 

If anything, got to the local mental hospital to get an evaluation and there they can, if needed, prescribe medication that general doctors can't. 

 

[Hummin]

On 12/21/2021 at 5:32 AM, dagling said:

No I have not. Is it legal and where can it be bought?

Kratom have different strains and different potency, so I would not start with Kratom without learn more about it, and know what strain and the strenght it have, and how it works on you. Same with ganja or mariuana or any other self medication substitutes. 

 

Get proper  help for your problems. 

[Ohphuket]

On 12/20/2021 at 3:42 PM, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

Go to a decent private hospital. Immediately. Talk to a doctor about trying Alprazolam (AKA Xanax, short acting Benzo). It'll help you get your sleep in order in the short term.

FWIW I am also medically diagnosed with GAD (not my own diagnosis) and suffer severe panic attacks, also related to childhood trauma. I went through this most of my adult life without seeking help but I have this under control now with very good psychiatric help that I've had in Thailand, and the support of my wife and children. Alprazolam has been highly effective, I now only take it in very small doses occasionally, a couple of times a week to help me sleep or for emergencies. I am a chronic insomniac, my problem is sleep initiation, but once asleep I have no problem staying asleep. Your problem may not be the same, but in my case, immediate release, short acting GABA medication is extremely effective. Taken with caution, and occasionally, it will not lead to addiction.

I take it in such low doses now, my doctor has moved me onto occasional Zolpidem, just for sleep initiation as needed, but I keep an emergency dose of Alprazolam in my wallet, just in case. I find that reassuring.

 

DO NOT self medicate. See a doctor. Get your sleep patterns in order, stay off the alcohol for a few weeks. Things will get better. Good luck to you, friend.

 

 

 

 

 

There's some excellent advice here. One thing I would say is that I've had nothing but good experiences with my local Thai government hospital. It's so cheap that insurance etc doesn't really come into it, you can just pay cash. Any drugs prescribed are sold at cost price, which definitely isn't true at private hospitals from my own experience.

 

All the doctors I've met there have been intelligent and highly professional. Without making an appointment, I'm usually in and out of there in a hour. On my last visit, I was in the (excellent) specialists office 10 minutes after walking into the hospital. All they need for ID is my driving license.

 

Just something to consider, given that private hospitals can represent a larger financial commitment.

 

 

 

[Neeranam]

28 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

i read power of now a long time ago, I can't remember it now except it seemed like two halves, first part quite good, second part got religious and i switched off

What a waste, it's a great book and Tolle is certainly not religious, not that there is anything wrong with religious philosophy. 

[Ohphuket]

2 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

There are forum members here that know more than doctors in Thailand. 

Absolutely DON'T trust a general practitioner at a Thai govt. hospital. 

If anything, got to the local mental hospital to get an evaluation and there they can, if needed, prescribe medication that general doctors can't. 

 

 

I disagree. Sure, I could point out that it's easy to walk into a local pharmacy and get some valium/xanax, but if you don't do it while being monitored by a doctor, it's straight up dangerous.

 

"Local mental hospital" .... "medication that general doctors can't prescribe" .... you may think you're one of the forum members "who know more than doctors", but that's lousy advice.

 

His "local mental hospital" might be hundreds of miles away. He wants something that will alleviate anxiety, what do you think the "mental hospital" would give him, morphine?

 

Your advice that he can't trust GPs in certain types of hospitals is dangerous and wrong. Well done for trying to put him off getting treatment at anywhere other than "his local mental hospital". Some help you are.

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, Ohphuket said:

 

I disagree. Sure, I could point out that it's easy to walk into a local pharmacy and get some valium/xanax, but if you don't do it while being monitored by a doctor, it's straight up dangerous.

 

"Local mental hospital" .... "medication that general doctors can't prescribe" .... you may think you're one of the forum members "who know more than doctors", but that's lousy advice.

 

His "local mental hospital" might be hundreds of miles away. He wants something that will alleviate anxiety, what do you think the "mental hospital" would give him, morphine?

 

Your advice that he can't trust GPs in certain types of hospitals is dangerous and wrong. Well done for trying to put him off getting treatment at anywhere other than "his local mental hospital". Some help you are.

It is illegal for drug stores to hand out valium. 20-30 years ago, yes. 

 

Psychiatric hospitals are in every provincial town. If he lives in a large city, there will be a choice. 

General doctors do not deal with psych cases these days, and are unqualified. 

I've many years experience dealing with psych hospitals in Thailand. I have also much experience with doctors at govt. hospitals. Once I saw a senior doctor at Rama 4 hospital who wanted to give my alcoholic friend diazepam. When I question him as to if it was addictive, he said "no, just a little".

I've seen the head of psychiatry at another hospital with 37 years experience who told me, an alcoholic who hadn't drank for 5 years that it was ok for me to drink a few beers a week. I have many more stories, having worked in a drug rehabilitation facility for nearly 20 years. 

I see you are a new member, do you live in Thailand?

 

 

[Ohphuket]

4 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

It is illegal for drug stores to hand out valium. 20-30 years ago, yes. 

 

Psychiatric hospitals are in every provincial town. If he lives in a large city, there will be a choice. 

General doctors do not deal with psych cases these days, and are unqualified. 

I've many years experience dealing with psych hospitals in Thailand. I have also much experience with doctors at govt. hospitals. Once I saw a senior doctor at Rama 4 hospital who wanted to give my alcoholic friend diazepam. When I question him as to if it was addictive, he said "no, just a little".

I've seen the head of psychiatry at another hospital with 37 years experience who told me, an alcoholic who hadn't drank for 5 years that it was ok for me to drink a few beers a week. I have many more stories, having worked in a drug rehabilitation facility for nearly 20 years. 

I see you are a new member, do you live in Thailand?

 

 

 

Illegal for drug stores to hand out valium? Are you saying that no Thai pharmacies sell valium? You must be very naive if you believe that.

 

Perhaps you're volunteering to pay for transport to his nearest "mental hospital", and pay all the associated costs.

 

He said in his initial post that he'd already seen a variety of psychiatrists, none of whom helped him. What makes you think that Dr Somchai of Buriram Mental Hospital is going to succeed where many others have failed?

 

What he actually asked for was a drug to alleviate "general anxiety". I refer you back to the first (and best) reply in this thread:

 

On 12/20/2021 at 3:42 PM, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

Talk to a doctor about trying Alprazolam (AKA Xanax, short acting Benzo). It'll help you get your sleep in order in the short term.

 

Any GP can prescribe Xanax. I notice you didn't respond angrily to that post, perhaps because he used the magic words "private hospital" (he didn't mention mental hospitals or psychiatrists).

 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

The fact is there are a lot of garbage doctors in Thailand. The better ones work in private hospitals, just like the better teachers work in private schools. This is just a reality of life, and it's amplified in Thailand. That's not to say any doctor at a private hospital is a good one though, there are some terrible one in private hospitals too, mercenary, negligent, incompetent. If you found a good doctor in a government hospital, more power to you.

 

There really are doctors posting on this forum by the way. Stick around and find out more.

 

 

 

[JackGats]

2 hours ago, davidst01 said:

I take some anti hystemines for sleeping. They are non addictive and have the sedative in them

Yes but they take ages to kick in and you wake up with a hangover.

 

Maybe when cannabis gets genuinely legal we can brew ourselves some herb tea before before bedtime.

[Neeranam]

23 minutes ago, Ohphuket said:

Illegal for drug stores to hand out valium? Are you saying that no Thai pharmacies sell valium? You must be very naive if you believe that.

 

Perhaps you're volunteering to pay for transport to his nearest "mental hospital", and pay all the associated costs.

 

He said in his initial post that he'd already seen a variety of psychiatrists, none of whom helped him. What makes you think that Dr Somchai of Buriram Mental Hospital is going to succeed where many others have failed?

 

What he actually asked for was a drug to alleviate "general anxiety". I refer you back to the first (and best) reply in this thread:

Yes, it is illegal for drug stores to sell valium.  

Buriram has a mental hospital, is that where you live?

Oh, I see you are trying to extend your 30 day visa ???? 

You gave terrible advice regarding going to a general Thai hospital, I am Thai, trust me. 

[Ohphuket]

5 minutes ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

The fact is there are a lot of garbage doctors in Thailand. The better ones work in private hospitals, just like the better teachers work in private schools. This is just a reality of life, and it's amplified in Thailand. If you found a good doctor in a government hospital, more power to you.

 

There really are doctors posting on this forum by the way. Stick around and find out more.

 

Well yes, that's what you'd expect. Most of the doctors I've seen at the government hospital were relatively young, no doubt seniority is a factor when applying for private hospital jobs.

 

I stand by my statement that any doctor can prescribe Xanax (as an example), though, and the low cost and convenience of government hospitals mean that in the worst case scenario, you've wasted 1000 baht and a couple of hours of your time.

 

For somebody suffering from acute anxiety, he may be more likely to go through with a cheap and straightforward course of action (government hospital) than a more expensive and complicated course of action (tens of thousands of baht, appointments with psychiatrists etc).

 

If he has plenty of money, absolutely an expensive private hospital would be my recommendation. I was just presenting an alternative.