Question:
Yes, I agree that none of this makes sense, but at least we know what we are dealing with now.Remember what it was like when we didn’t know that we had the panic and anxiety??? I firmly believe that the medications that I am on now have given my life back. I am getting out,driving,doing the things that I love,spending time with my family…I wouldn’t trade this for all the world!!!! Taking the medication has never been an issue with me. I have accepted the fact that I need it and if I have to take it all my life, then I will. I have no problem with that. I take the Effexor time release every day. I have the Ativan to take as needed. If I feel that I am going into a situation that I may become too anxious with , then I take the Ativan before I go. That way, if I do become anxious, it won’t take a long time for the Ativan to work to calm me down. I started taking the Ativan first. I was taking .5-4 times a day!!! That was over 2 yrs. ago. Now I take a half a pill when I need it. I bought a pill cutter to cut the pill in half as a knife just shredded the pill(and I cut myself too!) Insomnia is still an issue with me. The worries of being a mom to 4 kids have kept me up many a night.I do take the Ativan at bedtime to help with my sleep. I do sleep better but not all night. I yearn to have a good night’s sleep again. I do not fight the sleeping issue anymore and I am more relaxed at bedtime. I use to fret all day long thinking about how much sleep I will get or not get. Now I just try to avoid thinking about it. I have to de-stress many things in my life. It does take time and patience since we may have gotten into a habit regarding our worrying. But I am thankful for the medication and for a very understanding doctor who does not question using Ativan for anxiety. She knows that I am responsible and I will not abuse the Ativan. I am also seeing a therapist who has helped me with coping skills and given me understanding about the anxiety and panic. I do hope that you are doing better and I am glad that you have such understanding doctors. Do not be afraid to take the medication.Keep in touch.Julie * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
I don’t know why this didn’t post like it should, my newsgroup reader that I use most often is with my email…but this never showed up, but the one I posted right after it did??? ODD~ Well let’s see if I can get this posted to more than just remarQ. Any suggestions or remarks are welcome….! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ok, when my MD put me on Paxil 20mg…I had virtually no side effects, follow up aat 4 weeks, she tells me to up it to 40 mg. I asked if I should "wean" up to it, she said no. Then she suggested that I see a psychiatrist. So last Friday, I saw my first p-doc. Most of the session was spent discussing the events so far… this week (today) at my session he decided to up my Paxil to 60mg…not to wean up to it because I had been doing well on the jump from before. I know this is strange, but I don’t feel major side effects from any of it. My question is should I be weaning myself? I have been having insomnia a lot…and that isn’t new since the PD and PTSD…I have always dealt with that, but I would like to be functional again as soon as possible. He prescribed Trazadone for sleeping, told me to take the Xanax as needed (not to wait until after the attack, take it when the signs of PA first start) and not to be afraid to use the xanax when I felt it necessary. So I have been doing that, for the most part I still don’t depend on the xanax much, but with this ear infection that we found out about last Friday, along with a sinus infection….my balance is off and I feel out of sorts. Groggy almost. I think that is probably the change in Paxil, because the only side effect I remember when I started on 20 mg was a drowsy feeling, so maybe each increase I have to go through that side effect again. I know the Paxil is working great for the most part, but I am SOOO tired of medications I could scream!!!!! Anyone else felt like somedays it would be more worth it to stay home, avoid the triggers, and be agoraphobic without pushing to get better and just lose it completely rather than feel dependent on medication to function as a half-life human? Maybe none of this makes sense, but I am just at my wits end about all of it! Robin * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s
Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Ok, when my MD put me on Paxil 20mg…I had virtually no side effects, follow up aat 4 weeks, she tells me to up it to 40 mg. I asked if I should "wean" up to it, she said no. Then she suggested that I see a psychiatrist. So last Friday, I saw my first p-doc. Most of the session was spent discussing the events so far… this week (today) at my session he decided to up my Paxil to 60mg…not to wean up to it because I had been doing well on the jump from before. I know this is strange, but I don’t feel major side effects from any of it. My question is should I be weaning myself? I have been having insomnia a lot…and that isn’t new since the PD and PTSD…I have always dealt with that, but I would like to be functional again as soon as possible. He prescribed Trazadone for sleeping, told me to take the Xanax as needed (not to wait until after the attack, take it when the signs of PA first start) and not to be afraid to use the xanax when I felt it necessary. So I have been doing that, for the most part I still don’t depend on the xanax much, but with this ear infection that we found out about last Friday, along with a sinus infection….my balance is off and I feel out of sorts. Groggy almost. I think that is probably the change in Paxil, because the only side effect I remember when I started on 20 mg was a drowsy feeling, so maybe each increase I have to go through that side effect again. I know the Paxil is working great for the most part, but I am SOOO tired of medications I could scream!!!!! Anyone else felt like somedays it would be more worth it to stay home, avoid the triggers, and be agoraphobic without pushing to get better and just lose it completely rather than feel dependent on medication to function as a half-life human? Maybe none of this makes sense, but I am just at my wits end about all of it! * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
: Anyway, now my pdoc wants :me to try effexor..however, I’m scared to take it..he just got done :saying that I must be really sensitive to ssri’s..then why effexor? :Also, how can these doctors know exactly what chemical is out of wack :in your brain? I’ve heard all kinds of answers–too much dopamine, too :little serotonin (if that’s the case then why am I so senstive to :ssri’s?) I’m so confused..here are a list of all my symptoms: Dear Kelly, Some people that are sensitive to SSRI`s do better with a different kind of antidepressant. Effexor is not a SSRI but a SNRI. Just because you didn`t fare well on paxil and zoloft doesn`t mean that effexor won`t work, you won`t know unless you give it a try. I don`t think there is any way to know which chemical is out of whack, it is all trial and error when it comes to trying to find the right med or med combo for us. You might benefit greatly by using a benzo such as xanax side-effects. You should ask your doctor about it. It is quite common to have to try a few meds before finding the "right" one for you. Try not to get too discouraged, you will find something that will help you. Jackie ~*~How does one become a butterfly?’ she asked pensively. You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar~*~
Response:
Hi there, for the last past month I’ve really had a tough time. It all started with my anxiety getting completely out of control..I just started worrying about everything and it went into a downward spiral. I saw a psychiatrist and he perscribed paxil, it hyped me up, made my heart beat too fast..tried 12.5mg of zoloft..that made me agitated and I couldn’t sleep..so I stopped that. I have alternating periods of depression and anxiety..I don’t know how I got myself into this rut..I guess it just went out of control..it’s very strange that way, how you can have mild anxiety/moodiness that you can deal with and then your life starts to change and it just escalates. Anyway, now my pdoc wants me to try effexor..however, I’m scared to take it..he just got done saying that I must be really sensitive to ssri’s..then why effexor?
Effexor isn’t an SSRI. It’s a SNRI, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It’s effective for panic disorder and other anxiety disorders, and very effective for depression. Also, how can these doctors know exactly what chemical is out of wack in your brain? I’ve heard all kinds of answers–too much dopamine, too little serotonin (if that’s the case then why am I so senstive to ssri’s?) I’m so confused..here are a list of all my symptoms:
They don’t know what neurotransmitters are out of wack. That’s why they very often start with an SSRI, maybe try another SSRI, and then try an antidepressant from a different class, such as Effexor. I have always suffered from mild anxiety, but since last month it just got out of control–
Lots of people, if not most, have suffered with low-grade anxiety for many years before they develope an anxiety disorder. loss of appetite anxiety upset stomach depression-things just don’t feel the same crying way too much feeling tired and dragged out..however at night it’s hard to sleep
Those are symptoms of anxiety and depression. thanks kelly
I’d give the Effexor a try. Be sure the doc gives you a benzo, like Xanax or Ativan or Klonopin, to counteract the initial side effect of anxiety associated with the start of Effexor. Chip
Response:
Hi there, for the last past month I’ve really had a tough time. It all started with my anxiety getting completely out of control..I just started worrying about everything and it went into a downward spiral. I saw a psychiatrist and he perscribed paxil, it hyped me up, made my heart beat too fast..tried 12.5mg of zoloft..that made me agitated and I couldn’t sleep..so I stopped that. I have alternating periods of depression and anxiety..I don’t know how I got myself into this rut..I guess it just went out of control..it’s very strange that way, how you can have mild anxiety/moodiness that you can deal with and then your life starts to change and it just escalates. Anyway, now my pdoc wants me to try effexor..however, I’m scared to take it..he just got done saying that I must be really sensitive to ssri’s..then why effexor? Also, how can these doctors know exactly what chemical is out of wack in your brain? I’ve heard all kinds of answers–too much dopamine, too little serotonin (if that’s the case then why am I so senstive to ssri’s?) I’m so confused..here are a list of all my symptoms: I have always suffered from mild anxiety, but since last month it just got out of control– loss of appetite anxiety upset stomach depression-things just don’t feel the same crying way too much feeling tired and dragged out..however at night it’s hard to sleep thanks kelly
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