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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by male34 on March 12, 2003, at 20:29:22
ive got anxiety now on LEX 6 weeks and diazapam, a,my point I want to get the best med for My anxiety agoraphobic apnics etc.. (not depressed) what do you think is BEST! for anxiety ???
who can truly say what drug realy! works for stoppping anxiety casue im still anxious! on this darn LEX is giving me more anxiety ,sounds crazy but it is giving me more anxiety,"want the anti anxiety drug" what is it please thanks ,please
Posted by Jack Smith on March 12, 2003, at 20:37:14
In reply to ANXIETY!!! best med that works? your votes?, posted by male34 on March 12, 2003, at 20:29:22
Have you tried regularly taking a benzo for a week? Try to take .5 mg Klonopin twice a day or 1 mg twice a day. If you are really not depressed then this should resolve things.
I too had strong physical anxiety (no panic) and took xanax regularly--once the anxiety resolved, however, I hit a strong depressive episode. Celexa worked great for that but has since pooped out. Still looking for an adequate replacement.
JACK
Posted by viridis on March 12, 2003, at 22:36:08
In reply to ANXIETY!!! best med that works? your votes?, posted by male34 on March 12, 2003, at 20:29:22
Benzos -- I favor Klonopin and Xanax. SSRIs could work eventually (maybe, or just make things worse) but if you need rapid relief, benzos are the "gold standard", hands down.
Posted by Jaynee on March 13, 2003, at 0:52:52
In reply to Benzo's, no doubt, posted by Jack Smith on March 12, 2003, at 20:37:14
For a quick fix, I agree with the Benzo recommendation. I prefer Ativan, and the only other one I tried was Clonazepam, which was absolutely terrible for me. I don't know why, but it made my anxiety way worse. I had one hell of a panic attack after I took it, and it made me feel even more depressed, which I thought wasn't possible. I couldn't wait to get it out of my system. I will never take that stuff again.
I know people swear by Clonazepam or Klonopin, but I had some weird reaction to it. I think I like ativan, because it gives me a slight euphoric feeling as well as relief from anxiety. The only problem with Ativan, is that when I am really anxious, it doesn't last long enough, and I have to take lots.
But anxiety also has to be attacked through other measures than just medication. In my humble opinion. Exercise, Meditation, CBT, proper eating, no coffee, tea, cola's, etc, no sugar, slowing down, practicing gratitude, and so on. I find that sometimes I need to take the benzo, so I can get to the point of functioning enough to start to practice all the so called natural approaches to attacking or accepting anxiety, so it disappears again. Of course I am talking about "extreme" anxiety.
Posted by male34 on March 13, 2003, at 9:53:36
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt, posted by Jaynee on March 13, 2003, at 0:52:52
jaynee if you get this you made me interested can you tell me do you also take an SSRI?(im on lex it makes me more anxious-go figure) but im like you when your in anxiety its hard to focus on getting down to earth to start teaching your self calming methods ,but where do I start this CBT stuff ,books maybe? and like you I also eat strict for anti-anxiety ,all you listed I avoid ,I even take vitamins to avoid anxiety, but im on lex-10mgs 6 th week still anxious Im taking only 2.5 mg's of diazapm AM & PM(like KLON and Ativan ,i believe) should I take more and can we stay on a Benzo like diazapm for long term,please write back with medicine and thought process help ,Id be very greatful if you did thanks and good luck 2-U,THANKS!
Posted by Jack Smith on March 13, 2003, at 12:47:05
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt--jaynee,q?, posted by male34 on March 13, 2003, at 9:53:36
> Im taking only 2.5 mg's of diazapm AM & PM(like KLON and Ativan ,i believe) should I take more and can we stay on a Benzo like diazapm for long term
If you have the right doc who knows what he/she is doing, you can stay on benzos long term. They may make you sign some sort of informed consent thing saying you are aware of possible withdrawls. BTW, 2.5 mgs of Valium is VERY small, no wonder you aren't getting much help. FWIW, I think that Klonopin or Ativan is a much better bet for long term benzo therapy.
JACK
Posted by Jaynee on March 13, 2003, at 18:43:51
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt--jaynee,q?, posted by male34 on March 13, 2003, at 9:53:36
Hi Male34, I would start by getting the book called "The Feeling Good Handbook", by David D. Burns, I really liked it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0452281326/drbobsvirte00-20
If you are short on cash, go to your local library.
As for what meds I am on, I am taking Celexa. It helps with my depression somewhat, but I still have some underlying anxiety, but not the debilating anxiety I can get. That tends to come on every 5 years, like clock work. I found that when the panic hits, the best thing I can do is relax, and accept it. As hard as that is, that is how I tend to get rid of them. When the panic attacks don't let it scare you, when it doesn't scare you it will feel like your body is tingling and on fire. It you don't get to upset about it, and just go with it, they eventually go away. Basically it is fear of fear. I learned to drive a car, shop, just about everything right in the middle of a panic attack. Once you just let go and go with the panic sensations, you will get less and less. Abdominal breathing is also "very" important. Maybe try and find a Beginners Meditation Video, to practice with.
I hope that helps.
Posted by male34 on March 13, 2003, at 21:53:49
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt--jaynee,q?, posted by Jaynee on March 13, 2003, at 18:43:51
jaynee its so weird you said that tingling burning feeling ive been working and going through these panic attacks and lately feeling hot flashes ,i havent stopped doing what Im doing so I guess im moving on. instead of stopping and freezing in fear,but what exactly is abdominal breathing ,if you could quickly explain ,please thanks so much ,god blees Ill pray for your sucess also. thanks!!!!!!(going to get that book also)
Posted by Alara on March 14, 2003, at 4:06:58
In reply to Benzo's, no doubt, posted by Jack Smith on March 12, 2003, at 20:37:14
> Have you tried regularly taking a benzo for a week? Try to take .5 mg Klonopin twice a day or 1 mg twice a day. If you are really not depressed then this should resolve things.
>
> I too had strong physical anxiety (no panic) and took xanax regularly--once the anxiety resolved, however, I hit a strong depressive episode. Celexa worked great for that but has since pooped out. Still looking for an adequate replacement.
>
> JACKThis is interesting, Jack. Xanax had an antidepressant effect on me (and is used by some docs as an AD.) What dose were you on?
I second the motion: Benzos are the most effective treatment for anxiety. Maybe if the pharmaceutical companies cut down some of the SSRI hype, we'd have less benzophobia around.
Posted by Jack Smith on March 14, 2003, at 12:19:49
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt » Jack Smith, posted by Alara on March 14, 2003, at 4:06:58
> This is interesting, Jack. Xanax had an antidepressant effect on me (and is used by some docs as an AD.) What dose were you on?
>I took .25 three times a day, for only a few weeks. Looking back, I think the best course of action would have been to up the dose of xanax but me and my GP wanted to try zoloft instead. My GP screwed up and prescribed me 50mg as a starting dose of zoloft, the s/e's were immense and scared me away from AD's for a few months--too bad b/c I could have gotten a lot better quicker.
I don't think the xanax caused depression but I think that the anxiety I had was masking a depression--so once the anxiety resolved itself a little, my depression broke through.
JACK
Posted by Jaynee on March 14, 2003, at 17:31:56
In reply to Re: Benzo's, no doubt--jaynee,q?, posted by male34 on March 13, 2003, at 21:53:49
Adominal breathing is basically using your stomach to inhale as opposed to using your chest. If you put your hand on your stomach and slowly inhale through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth and you can feel your stomach expand out on the inhale and go back down on the exhale, then you are doing it right.
Any beginning Meditation or Yoga video will show you how to do it. You should stop yourself every so often and check to make sure you are using abdominal breathing. Remember it is slow breathing, not fast.
good luck.
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