Medications Personally Tried by Our Founder - Personal Experience
My Medication Experience
While making content for The Anxious Resistance I am often asked about medications that I am taking or have taken. When I review medications I put in a personal experience with it if I have one. My goal here is to put into chronological order the medications that I have tried, the effect they had, and my experience.
- I was prescribed this by my pediatrician as a rescue medication. It was quite effective at helping me calm down. I found that it made me fatigued when I took it, but it was the best option I had. I tried not to take this medication very often because of its psychologically and physically addictive properties. Over the course of my mental health journey, I didn’t take more than 60 pills of Xanax.
2. Trazodone
- I was also prescribed this by my pediatrician. It was the only thing that would help me sleep. It would really put me out. This can be a good medication for sleep. After about 6 years of taking this medication, I tapered off of it.
- After about 3 weeks on this medication it made me incredibly suicidal. It was an experience that was horrifying and difficult to look back on. All I could think about for several weeks was death, and what might happen afterward. I was really low, in a way that I never could have without these chemical changes going on in my mind. After a week or so off of the medication I was no longer having suicidal thoughts. I was back to the same anxiety that I had previously. My reaction was severe enough that my prescriber no longer wanted to try medication.
- While on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I had a relapse of intense anxiety. I found a prescriber who wanted to try Wellbutrin. After about a week on the medication I started having joint pain as well as pins and needles sensations all over my body. I tried to tolerate this as long as possible. It became too much to endure while trying to function normally. I quit the medication with my prescribers instructions.
- My Primary Care Provider from my mission thought that this medication might be a good option for relief from my anxiety. After taking this medication many times I found that it did not help, nor did I have any side effects from it.
- After a time I moved to Oklahoma where I served the remainder of my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There I found a Primary Care Physician able to take my insurance and prescribe antidepressants. Pristiq was one that I had chosen because a friend of mine had taken it and had success. After several months of taking Pristiq there was no change in my condition. I did not have side effects and I did not have improvement.
- Effexor was the first medication that I tried with my post-mission prescriber. Within a week I was having itchy, pinchy feelings all over my body. Along with this I started having some suicidal ideation that was not tied to events in my life. My doctor wanted me to be inpatient at the hospital until the effects of the medication wore off. I convinced him that I wasn’t going to do anything and that I knew it was the medication making me feel that way. I went home and was supervised by my mother who is a psychiatric RN. After a few days the effects wore off.
- My doctor prescribed me this to help with the Suicidal Ideation caused by the Effexor. Olanzapine is one of the very few medications actually approved by the FDA for suicidal ideation. I only took a few doses until the Effexor wore off. The side effects I had from it included tiredness and an increase in appetite. I found that it helped with the suicidal thoughts.
- After trying a serotonin reuptake inhibitor again and reacting poorly, my doctor decided to try something a little more off-the-beaten-path. He prescribed Lamictal (Lamotrigine). We slowly titrated up the dose from 25mg to 50mg, then to 75mg, and finally 100mg. This happened over the course of several months. Each time the dosage increased I had aches in my muscles and joints. The longer I spent on the medication the more the side effects abated. When I first started the medication, I had some minor blurriness in my vision. It was definitely out of the ordinary and I attributed it to the medication. I thought I had felt some miniscule relief in depression from Lamictal and thought the medication was worth staying on, for a time.
- I tried a wide dosage range of gabapentin from 200 mg three times a day up to 800 mg three times a day. Again, this was over the course of months. I felt absolutely no relief from depression or anxiety taking gabapentin. I did not have any side effects either. I was frustrated because this medication took a long time to try, and I got absolutely nothing from it.
- I tried Buspar and since it has a very narrow dosage range, it was a short-lived attempt. I felt no different on Buspirone. No side effects, no relief, nothing.
12. Tenex/Intuniv (Guanfacine)
- This is a medication that I recommended I try to my doctor. I had a lot of side effects but it was the first thing that gave me relief from my anxiety besides Xanax (Alprazolam). Alprazolam was ruled out early in my treatment since it was not a long term solution. Benzodiazepine side effects and addiction are a serious problem. I did have dry mouth, a decreased appetite, constipation and episodes of sweating on guanfacine. I also had Orthostatic Hypotension which is feeling dizzy when standing quickly. That’s because this medication lowers blood pressure. I stayed on Guanfacine for about a year and half until I found better options.
- Chemically Lyrica (Pregabalin) is very similar to gabapentin. However, I wanted to give this medication a try. I had some reservations because it is a schedule V controlled substance and I didn’t want to get addicted. I wanted long-term solutions to my anxiety and depression. Lyrica didn’t work out though, like Gabapentin, I received no relief.
- Being on Seroquel (Quetiapine) was a harrowing experience. I was not myself on this medication. I am still in awe at how MESSED UP these medications can make you. First of all, I had a voracious appetite on Seroquel. I was only on Seroquel for a couple of weeks but gained at least 10 pounds. Agitation was the most severe side effect. I was constantly angry. I would punch things in my car. I completely destroyed an office chair that I had. The anger was uncontrollable. I remember thinking that I would have punched out a cop for no reason. This was a miserable couple of weeks for me. I was also incredibly tired. Which was a saving grace. I could sleep to avoid being angry and constantly eating.
15. Maprotiline
- Maprotiline was another medication that I suggested to my Doctor. At this point I had really gotten into my research about how antidepressants worked. Maprotiline appealed to me because it has significant action on the norepinephrine reuptake transporter. Specifically, it blocks that transporter. I had already failed Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (Wellbutrin) which left one other major neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine. Maprotiline felt like an obvious next option. It was another class of antidepressant and worked on norepinephrine. After only a few days of being on Maprotiline I had some serious side effects. I had some severe heart palpitations and felt hyperactive. Maprotiline proved to be a short-lived treatment.
- At this point in my mental health journey I was having difficulty sleeping. I gave Ambien a try. It didn’t help with my sleep at all and made me tired all day long. I only took two doses of Ambien.
- My experience taking Lunesta was exactly the same as Ambien. There was no real help with insomnia and it made me tired throughout the day.
- I chose Paxil as my next treatment because it is very specific with its serotonin actions. It has a very high affinity for the serotonin transporter. I reacted fairly well to Paxil compared to other SSRI and SNRI medications. At first, I felt a bit depressed on Paxil but then my mood began to lift. I felt tired on paxil but slowly my mood began to lift. The tiredness got bad enough that I felt I needed to quit Paxil. The fact that it did not make me suicidal as Effexor and Lexapro had was a good sign.
- My doctor chose Prozac (Fluoxetine) as our next option. He (my doctor) was hopeful that an SSRI would work although I was skeptical. We started the dosage low at 10mg and slowly titrated up 10mg at a time. Each time the dosage was raised I had muscle and joint aches for about a month. After a month, they would go away. It was a long and arduous process of raising the dose but each time we did I felt relief for my anxiety. We tried raising the dose to 50mg but I found that at this dosage the muscle aches would not go away. Prozac was the FIRST medication that gave me any real relief from my anxiety and depression. As you can see, this is #18 on the list.
20. Vistaril/ Atarax (Hydroxyzine)
- There were times when the Prozac didn’t give me enough relief from my anxiety. After a difficult breakup and some big changes in my life I sought some more relief from medications. My doctor (who was new as my previous doctor had retired) suggested that I give hydroxyzine a try. I found that it was very effective at taking away my anxiety. I started taking it every day. I felt like the effects from one dose lasted me all day. I actually found that I was pretty sensitive to hydroxyzine and found I needed less and less. After things settled in my life I found that the tiredness caused by the medication was too bothersome and I stopped taking it every day. I still use this medication to help me sleep and for the occasional breakthrough anxiety.
- After years of having success with my combination of Prozac and Hydroxyzine I had a small relapse. After graduating from college and finishing nursing school I found myself in the midst of a quarter life crisis. I found myself having difficulty with both anxiety and depression. I sought something I could add to my current combination of medications and my doctor (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) suggested Abilify (Aripiprazole) which is an approved add-on medication for depression. I found that after only several doses at 2 mg that I found relief. After a time I noted some fatigue from the medicine and cut the dose in half to 1 mg. I have been on Abilify for several months and have not experienced any other side effects from it.
Well, that’s it. My entire list of 21 prescription medications, taken over the course of nearly 10 years. This list does not include various vitamins and supplements that I tried over that length of time. Many may feel discouraged because of the lack of success with medications. I sure was! Many times I thought the attempts were hopeless. As long as there were options, I was willing to try though. As you can see, eventually I found the right combination of medications. You can too! Keep trying and don’t give up!
All the best,
Birk Gundersen, RN, BSN and Founder of The Anxious Resistance
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Sonata Sleeping Pills: The Ins and Outs of Zaleplon for Insomnia
What is Sonata (Zaleplon)?
Sonata is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic medication that is approved for treating insomnia in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called pyrazolopyrimidines and is considered to be a short acting sleep medication. Sonata helps people with difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep by acting on brain chemicals to induce sleep. It is only meant for short term use due to concerns about side effects with long term usage.
Sonata works by binding to GABA receptors in the brain to increase inhibitory neurotransmission. This helps promote sleep by slowing down brain activity. Unlike benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium which bind to benzodiazepine receptors, Sonata is more selective in its mechanism. It is rapidly absorbed and has a short half life which means it is cleared from the body relatively quickly.
Sonata is prescribed in capsule form, usually taken right before bedtime on an empty stomach. It is approved for use for up to 10 days by the FDA to help treat transient insomnia. Sonata can help people fall asleep faster and decrease the number of times they wake up in the middle of the night. However, it does not treat the underlying causes of insomnia.
History of Sonata
Sonata (zaleplon) was developed by the pharmaceutical company Neurocrine Biosciences and first approved by the FDA in 1998 for the short-term treatment of insomnia. At the time, it provided an alternative to similar medications like Ambien (zolpidem).
Sonata went generic in 2007, allowing other manufacturers to produce cheaper versions. This helped increase availability and lower costs for patients. The patent expiration also enabled wider prescription among healthcare providers.
Overall, Sonata's history stretches over 20 years from original development to widespread generic availability today. It fills an important niche as a short-acting sleep medication.
Mechanism of Action
Sonata (zaleplon) is a hypnotic agent that works by binding to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes sleep and decreases brain activity.
When zaleplon binds to GABA receptors, it increases GABA activity in the brain. This results in sedative effects that help patients fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night. Zaleplon specifically targets GABA-A receptors, which are involved in controlling sleep and wake cycles.
By enhancing GABA signaling at GABA-A receptor sites, zaleplon suppresses areas of the brain that promote wakefulness. This mechanism allows the drug to induce and maintain sleep in patients struggling with insomnia. The effects of zaleplon are rapid, which makes it optimal for decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep at bedtime.
Evidence for Use
Several clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of sonata for the treatment of insomnia. In randomized controlled trials comparing sonata to placebo, sonata significantly reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased total sleep time in patients with insomnia.[1]
The effects of sonata on sleep have been shown to be comparable to those of other commonly prescribed short-acting sleep medications like zolpidem (Ambien), and eszopiclone (Lunesta).[2] In head-to-head studies, sonata performed similarly to these other medications in decreasing the time to sleep onset and improving sleep maintenance.[3]
Overall, the current evidence from clinical research supports the use of sonata 10 mg for short-term treatment of insomnia. Sonata has repeatedly been shown to reduce sleep latency and improve sleep quality in those struggling with insomnia. Its efficacy is similar to other short-acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agents.
Benefits vs. Other Medications
Sonata (zaleplon) has some advantages compared to other commonly prescribed sleep medications:
- Faster sleep onset: Sonata typically helps people fall asleep around 30 minutes after taking it, which is faster than many older sleep aids like Ambien. It reaches peak concentrations in the body within 1 hour. This makes it a good option when you need help falling asleep quickly.
- Less residual effects than benzodiazepines: Drugs like Xanax or Valium (benzodiazepines) can lead to daytime drowsiness, slowed reflexes, and cognitive impairment that persists for hours after use. Sonata has a shorter half-life so there is less risk of next-day drowsiness compared to benzodiazepines.
- Lower abuse potential than benzodiazepines: Substances like Xanax and Valium have high potential for abuse and addiction. Sonata has a lower risk of dependency or substance abuse. The short half-life prevents sustained "highs" sought after by those who abuse sedatives.
By having a rapid onset, shorter duration, and lower abuse potential, Sonata provides some advantages over older sleep medications like Ambien as well as addictive benzodiazepines like Valium or Xanax. For those seeking a fast-acting, short-duration sleep aid, Sonata presents a good alternative.
Dosing
Sonata comes in 5mg or 10mg capsules that should be taken immediately before going to bed. The recommended dose is 5-10mg right before lying down for the night. It is important to only take Sonata when you are able to get a full night of sleep, as the medication will make you fall asleep quickly.
The maximum recommended dose is 10mg per night. Sonata should not be taken with or immediately after a meal, as this can reduce its effectiveness. Taking Sonata with food can delay the absorption of the medication.
It is important not to exceed the 10mg dose, as higher doses have not been shown to be more effective for sleep onset insomnia and can increase the risk of side effects. Sonata should also not be taken with other sedatives or tranquilizers, as combining it with other CNS depressants increases the risk of dangerous additive effects.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of Sonata are drowsiness, dizziness, and headache. These are usually mild and often improve over time.
More serious, Sonata can sometimes cause complex sleep behaviors like sleep walking, sleep driving, sleep eating, making phone calls, or having sex while not fully awake. Patients may not remember these events. Though rare, respiratory depression is a serious side effect that requires immediate medical care.
Positives
Sonata offers some key advantages compared to other sleep medications:
- Fast acting: Sonata starts working very quickly, usually within 30 minutes. This makes it a good option when you need help falling asleep fast.
- Fewer residual effects: Sonata leaves your system quickly, reducing next-day drowsiness. Most people feel alert and fully functional the morning after taking Sonata.
- Lower abuse potential: Unlike some other sleep meds, Sonata has a lower potential for abuse and addiction. The fast clearance from your system contributes to this reduced risk.
- Generic available: Sonata is available as a lower-cost generic called zaleplon. The generic works just as well as the brand name. Having a generic option makes Sonata more affordable.
Negatives
While Sonata can be helpful for insomnia, there are some potential downsides to be aware of:
- Complex Sleep Behaviors: Sonata belongs to a class of drugs called hypnotics and has been associated with unusual or potentially dangerous sleep-related behaviors like sleepwalking, sleep driving, preparing and eating food, making phone calls, or having sex while not fully awake. Patients taking Sonata should be cautioned about this rare side effect.
- Tolerance: Some patients develop tolerance to Sonata within just a few days or weeks of consistent use. This means the medication becomes less effective over time at the same dosage. Doctors may adjust the dosage accordingly, but there is still a risk of dependence.
- Severe Allergic Reactions: In rare cases, Sonata can cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions and skin conditions like angioedema, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Patients should seek immediate medical help if they experience symptoms like swelling, rash, blisters, or trouble breathing.
Conclusion
Sonata (zaleplon) is a prescription sleep medication used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It belongs to a class of drugs called nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics and acts on GABA receptors in the brain to induce sleep.
Compared to older benzodiazepine medications like Valium and Xanax, Sonata has a lower risk of dependence and abuse. The effects of Sonata wear off quickly, making it suitable for short-term, intermittent use. It helps people fall asleep faster and sleep through the night.
However, Sonata is only recommended for sleep problems lasting a few weeks, not long-term insomnia. It is not intended to be taken nightly on an ongoing basis, as tolerance can develop within just a few days. Long-term nightly use may lead to dependence and disrupted sleep patterns when stopping the medication.
For people with chronic insomnia lasting months or years, cognitive behavioral therapy and making lifestyle changes are safer and more effective solutions. Sonata can provide temporary relief, but it does not treat the underlying causes of persistent sleep difficulties. Used judiciously under medical supervision, it can help restore normal sleep cycles, allowing time to address the root issues. But it is not a cure for lifelong insomnia.
In summary, Sonata offers a faster-acting alternative to benzodiazepines for short-term insomnia, with less risk of dependence. But it should be used cautiously and not as a permanent nightly sleep aid due to concerns about addiction and impaired sleep quality over time. For chronic insomnia, behavioral and lifestyle changes lead to better long-term outcomes.
Explore Sonata (zaleplon) for sleep: its history, use, dosage, effects, and benefits vs. risks.
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