worried about medications

[gracemynote]

It's been awhile since I've been on here, but I finally got off the paxil in Feb 2007 however I still suffer horribly from health anxiety at times. MY last bout started up in July and I caved and went on another medication. I told my doc I didn't not want anything that was like paxil and so she prescribed me Buspar. I've been having issues with my health anxiety relating to my meds so I thought maybe I could look to you all for some advice b/c I am sure many of you have been on many different types of med and/or suffer from anxiety/panic attacks.

Right now my fear is that I'm scared about liver damage from using my medications in two seperate instances. The first one I was (and still am) taking buspar 30mg a day (15 mg each time) and while I was having moles removed (for precaution) my dermatologist prescribed me tylenol with codeine to be taken every 4 hours as needed for the pain after my surgery. I was prescribed 12 pills and I took 6 out of all those, not all on the same day of course. It doesn't say how many mg the pills are... just that it is tylenol with codeine. I don't know if my dermatologist knew I was taking buspar but the pharmacist did because I filled it at the same location. The first surgery I took, it was fine the really painful one. Then after the second surgery, it still hurt but I took maybe one or two to couteract the pain and I ended up breaking out completely in a rash. From looking up codeine, I think its a common reaction but I'm still parenoid. Then AFTER that, for a few days each night I was taking benadryl to get rid of that rash! Oh and not to mention the tons of novocaine they gave me to numb me up during the surgeries and biopsies (I don't know if that is processed through the liver).

I'm also worried about my use of klonopin use, the second instance. This was at least two weeks after the codeine use and my surgery that I started taking klonopin 1mg a day along with my buspar 30mg a day. I took it like this for 2.5 weeks and then started tapering off the klonopin and now I am only taking it as needed. But I am still worried that these medications have damaged my liver somehow. Back in July it was tested and found to be fine. Am I worrying too much, is it safe that I took these medications? I really do hate taking them but I was in so much pain from the surgery I had to take the tylenol/codeine. I was taking regular tylenol at times too after my surgeries (never more than recommended) but it didn't do anything so that is why I got the codeine.

Also I have not had a single drip of alcohol during this entire anxiety thing. My last drink was way back in July. I also did not take any of these medications in excess, or any more than I should have or what was prescribed. I just worry about this a lot, I use to work in a drug and alcohol rehab and I can relaxingly say I have never seen people take so many medications (they were taking 7 - 10 different pills at a time!) Plus they were drug or alcohol addicts. Is it safe to say I'm in the clear? Am I worrying about this too much? I know the liver can repair itself but I"m still worried that I could have damaged it beyond repair. Thanks for listening.....

Also I did post a few months ago about a similar thing, but it was drinking while I was on paxil in college. My liver test in July (2 years later) and that was fine so apparently that had no effect.

[scotty]

Short term use of Tylenol with codeine is not a problem at all, and yes, codeine allergies/rashes are common.

[nickels]

You most likely don't have liver damage, but if you are so concerned then get a blood test for peace of mind.

I think the bigger issue for you is working on managing your health anxiety. You need to look into some form of therapy, lots of us with here with anxiety swear by CBT.

You can continue to take meds all you want, but it won't cure the underlying issue, thats something you will have to face yourself. There are lots of great books on CBT...do a search on the site for some suggestions!

Out of curiosity, do you think the buspar is doing anything for you? I took it for a few months before switching to paxil and found that it did nothing for my anxiety and had lots of uncomfortable side effects. I really didn't like it.

[gracemynote]

The buspar does not fix the problem by the long run...(obviously cause I'm posting about a health anxiety related problem) but it does offer some relief to symptoms such as clenched teeth, etc. It is a LOT better than paxil... it doesn't make me feel drugged up or anything and it has a really short half life. But thats the problem, it works for like 2-3 hours after I take it and thats it. I'm hoping its not hard to come off of. Next month will be the six month mark and would like to start tapering, was it hard for you?

I am actually in therapy right now, I'm seeing a psychologist at school. Eventually I want to come off the meds but I am really stressed out with school right now so I'm going to wait 3 weeks until that is over with. I don't think it will be anything like paxil withdrawal but it might not be as simply as 1-2-3 either.

I am always worrying about something health related, its a terrible way of life.

As long I didn't take more of anything as prescribed, I should be okay right? I called the pharmacist and always asked about interactions and they said it was ok. But I am still parenoid anyway. Is liver damage more for people who drink and stuff while on medications?

[scotty]

If health anxiety is a problem, then drinking is not something you want to do. Alcohol is a real liver problem, that you can avoid simply by not drinking. Yes, alcohol makes the drugs effects on the liver much worse.

[nickels]

Grace - I was only on buspar for about 4 months or so, maybe less (its been 10 years and I don't exactly remember). I tapered off in only a few weeks time...and I don't remember it being difficult, however, I also had bad side effects from it, so anything felt better than the way I felt on it.

I'm glad that you are in therapy...I hope it is helpful! You might want to do a search, i recall a few threads about health anxiety and a specific book on it, but don't remember the specifics. Might be worth looking into.

[matthew T]

grace

I would be interested in seeing your taper schedule please.

My brother was on Bupar and klonopin sparingly, he stopped both without any issues, nONE

[gracemynote]

I'm going to stay on the buspar at least until school is over another 3 weeks before i start tapering. Also I want to make sure I am not going to have any klonopin withdrawals.

I was taking 1mg klonopin everyday for 2.5 weeks... (it was prescribed as needed). During the 3rd week I skipped a few days here and there. During hte 4th week I took 0.5 one day, skipped a day, 0.5, skipped a day, 0.25, skipped a day, and 0.25. I relapsed 3 days later on 1mg. I called the doc and she said I didn't have to start the taper over. I feel crummy tonight and I think its cause its been 4 days since my last pill. But I'm going to be strong and not take any more like I relapsed last time. If I have to feel crappy for a few days, so be it. I wasn't on it very long so it shouldn't be too bad. What scares me are all these benzo websites and the people on there are sitting there telling me I'm going to have a seizure with the way I tapered (thanks for making my anxiety go up!) but my doctor tells me that the way I have done it is fine. I'm going to listen to my body, the way I did with Paxil. Honestly, I don't think I've been on it long enough to have seizures but for some reason these people seem to be convinved its possible.

If I have been on buspar for six months, what is a recommended taper? I don't know how withdrawal works with buspar (i imagine its much easier than paxil) so I'm wondering how fast I should go. I don't have any bad side effects on it, so I'm hoping this will be easy. its a pretty light medication.