Posted by Jeffrey on March 7, 2004, at 20:18:28
In reply to Re: Anxiety Augmentation -Help Needed Please, posted by micro on March 7, 2004, at 18:23:36
> > > Well you might just try raising your klonopin dose, assuming your doc is willing. While Ive heard people get relief from like .25mg a day, I need 4mg, and others higher than that.
> > > You said you augmented with neurontin, but klonopin is better, which sounds like you actually didnt take the 2 at the same time. If thats true, why not try that?
> > > Antipsychotics can work very well (zyprexa is the one Ive found best), but you might want to think about other things first, depending on what you think of their side effects. They can also help with depression (the atypicals anyway).
> > > matt
> >
> > Thanks for your reply Matt. I have decided with my pdoc I will begin to lower my Effexor and move up with the celexa to 80 mg (which is considered very high I understand) and use clonazepam liberally.
> >
> > I don't think atypical antipsychotics are the right choice at this time for my depression and anxiety. I cannot afford losing the sharpness my mind has now despite the anxiety and depression. I fear that the AP might make me more drousy and out of it. I am a lawyer, somehow managing my workload.
> >
> > Thanks again very much. Any further thoughts are appreciated.
> >
>
> Jeff, I would like to help, but I do not know the etiology of your anxiety or your diagnosis.
> As you know some meds cause anxiety as well, so it is important to know if your current therapy is not inducing any relaxation Why? Remember, that what is works well for others may not be pharmacologically compatible with you!
>
> Regards, Micro
>
Micro,Thanks for your willingness to help.
The following is some backgroud to my situation:
I have anxiety stemming from my unborn baby being exposed to an abdominal x-ray before my wife knew she was pregnant. There is an increased risk of some cancers to the baby from this type of exposure. However, this risk is insignificant and I have been advised by Doctors not to worry about the exposure as it is more likely that cancer would occur spontaneously etc.
My anxiety manifests physically (I am never relaxed feeling and generally physically nervous) and mentally with obsessive worrying.
Anyway, I worried obsessively about this and could not concentrate on anything and developed depression as a result. I fear I will never be able to enjoy the baby and that this worry will not go away. To say the least, my wife's pregancy has been miserable for me. I had been very excited for having a baby before this anxiety began.
I began taking Effexor, as it had helped me in the past (at 75mg XR) achieve complete remission from anxiety that resulted from a very low risk sexual encounter which I feared had given me HIV. In that case I got the HIV test and it was negative and began my life again and gradually went off the Effexor and did not have an episode of anxiety for 2+ years without any medication. In this current situation, there is no "test" and I am left with complete uncertainty of whether the x-ray had any negative effects.
I took Effexor up to 300 mg XR and there was some response but nothing great. I moved down to 150 mg XR and began Celexa and I am now taking 60 mg a day. I have responded better to the Celexa but still am "not myself" and I am continually worried with low level depression.
Despite this anxiety/depression, I can function in work and social situations ok.
I see friends socially, and maintain a law practice.I have taken about .75 mg a day of clonazepam throughout this episode which began in August. The baby is due any week now...
I am desperate and just want to feel better and get over this and enjoy my life and my baby.
I was thinking of lowering my Effexor and upping the Celexa to a very high dose.
Thanks for your concern. Any thoughts are appreciated. Best regards, Jeffrey
poster:Jeffrey
thread:318833
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040304/msgs/321792.html