Posted by JohnX2 on December 11, 2001, at 21:26:26
In reply to Re: Anxiety - what else is left? » Jenna S., posted by JohnX2 on December 11, 2001, at 21:20:10
oh. To the Wellbutrin you could also try the
anti-convulsant Neurontin or Topamax. Neurontin has the
longer track record of being used as an
adjunctive medication for anxiety. Another
possible choice is the newer anti-convulsant Gabitril
(tiagabine).
>
> It seems like when people are ready to
> throw in the towel Lamictal is a good try. Lamictal
> can be a good mood stabilizer and anti-depressant
> but it leans toward stimulating. You may want to add Topamax
> to it to help with anxiety. Topamax is less of an
> anti-depressant, better for mood stabilization and anxiety.
> Some people have recently reported novel synergy
> between the two meds (like me so admitedly I'm
> biased). Both are anti-convulsants.
>
> Maybe you could revist Wellbutrin somehow, but
> what to do about the anxiety? Strange that the
> benzos didn't help? That is so weird.
>
> This is a fringe recommendation but I guess were
> at that stage of suggesting anything. What about the
> supplement 5-htp and flaxseed oil for anxiety?
> The 5-htp worked immediately for me. Also, are
> we taking all the b-vitamins, etc?
>
> good luck.
> john
>
>
> > My bf has anxiety and depression which seem to have resisted all attempts to treat them. The anxiety is the more unbearable of the two and he really needs to find something to alleviate it. The problem is, that he has taken everything we can think of! Can anyone think of anything else that is left to try?!
> >
> > Here is the list of drugs he has already tried:
> > Benzos - lorazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide - no help.
> > Tricyclics - amitriptyline, clomipramine, trimipramine, dothiepin - marginal assistance.
> > Antipsychotics - thioridazine, chlorpromazine, droperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, sulpiride, amisulpride, flupenthixol. These all caused increased agitation and anxiety, paradoxically. Doses of risperidone below 1mg per day lowered anxiety but not sufficiently. Increasing the dose leads to increased anxiety.
> > SSRIs - fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, citalopram - all made anxiety worse. Sertraline was neutral.
> > Venlafaxine - very much worsened anxiety.
> > Reboxetine - as for venlafaxine but worse.
> > Bupropion - up to 150mg per day helps a bit, more than that increases anxiety.
> > Mirtazapine - helps but not enough.
> > Mood stabilisers - carbamazepine - no effects at all.
> > MAOIs - moclobemide, phenelzine - moclobemide was generally neutral, phenelzine caused anxiety and dangerously high blood pressure so had to be withdrawn.
> > Hypnotics - temazepam, nitrazepam, zopiclone, zolpidem, chloral hydrate, various antihistamines - the benzos sedated, others did not, none reduced anxiety.
> >
> > Various combos of the above have been tried, which didn't really help either. Combos were generally antidepressants with benzos and /or antipsychotics, and some antidepressant augmentations, eg sertraline and mirtazapine.
> >
> > Even Kava and St John's Wort have not worked, but made anxiety worse....
> >
> > Help!
> >
> > Jenna
poster:JohnX2
thread:86605
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86624.html