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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
After eight years of struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I finally found something last summer that took off the edge - 25mg of Seroquel.
It calmed down my racing mind and I felt decent for eight good months, However at the end of March, I lost some money in a financial transaction, and I started worrying. And all the worrying sort of pushed all the anxiety out in the open again.
I tried going up in Seroquel to 200 and 300mg. It hasn't really made a difference. My pdoc prescribed 20mg of Paxil, which I hesitate to do because the 25mg of Seroquel worked so well for so long (it was the first of 30+ meds that had a positive effect on me).
This anxiety bothers me 24/7. My mind is always divided. If I don't have to be somewhere for work, then I stay at home on the couch. I have lost all the confidence that I had gained over the previous eight months. I need hope.
People are great on this board. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Michael
Posted by MARTY on May 11, 2006, at 17:53:41
In reply to What would you do if you were me?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
In your 30+ meds, have you tried an Antidepressant that has anxiolitc properties ? like paxil, Nardil or else ?Marty
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 18:24:39
In reply to What would you do if you were me?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
Please give me your opinion, respectfully.
Posted by Phillipa on May 11, 2006, at 19:23:15
In reply to SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ?????????, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 18:24:39
Mine is simple the worrying caused it and maybe theraphy would help more than meds right now? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on May 11, 2006, at 20:25:32
In reply to Re: SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ????????? » UgottaHaveHOPE, posted by Phillipa on May 11, 2006, at 19:23:15
> Mine is simple the worrying caused it and maybe theraphy would help more than meds right now? Love Phillipa
I would also say to try adjunctive psychotherapy to your Seroquel if your insurance covers it or can afford to do so. If you are worrying 24/7, a new medicine isn't going to do any good. It will just make you worry about the worry. Unless, of course, the Paxil also covers what might be an OC spectrum condition. Then, maybe Paxil would cover the 24/7 worry which sounds like a little admixture of OCD. But I can't sayfor sure, I dont know you, that's just an opinion.
-- Feel better
Jay
Posted by Racer on May 11, 2006, at 21:14:49
In reply to Re: SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ????? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on May 11, 2006, at 20:25:32
And another voice for therapy, but in conjunction with the Paxil...
Paxil was great for me, while it was working, but that's another story. Anyway, it was anxiolytic, and it brought my depression mostly to remission for longer than any other drug so far has worked for me.
And I also agree that the worry sounds a lot like it's got a strong OC component to it. Paxil can be helpful for OCD, and it's anxiolytic, and it's an antidepressant, and it might just want to be your friend.
I know you're concerned about withdrawal, but here's a secret: if it doesn't work for you, you won't be on it long enough to experience withdrawal. If it does work, and you decide to go off it when you've been on it for a long time? Well, as I posted to you above, some people have no real problems with that.
Good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on May 11, 2006, at 22:31:04
In reply to Re: SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ?????, posted by Racer on May 11, 2006, at 21:14:49
Low dose paxil is okay it worked for me at l0mg with xanax. And luvox is the most sedatomg SSRI. For me at least. Love Phillipa
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 0:53:02
In reply to Re: SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ????? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on May 11, 2006, at 20:25:32
Please tell me in laymen's terms.
Posted by Racer on May 12, 2006, at 1:47:40
In reply to Re: Yxibow Racer, what is OC spectrum condition?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 0:53:02
> Please tell me in laymen's terms.
OC = Obsessive/Compulsive
What I was trying to say, and I suspect Yxibow was trying to get at something similar, is that if you're worrying constantly, it's probably partly that whole obsessive thing. Is your worry productive? If not, and it still keeps up, then you very well may be obsessing, rather than worrying.
Now, don't get me wrong, there have been times in my life when I had such a hard time getting ends to meet that I would worry about it a lot. My worry tended to go around in circles, with telephone/utilities/food cycling through my thoughts all the time. Sort of like, "Rent is paid, now telephone is [x], utilities are [y], food is a minimum of [z], and I'll only have [x-5] after paying rent... How can I keep the lights and telephone on another two weeks, after paying rent? And can I find a way to save on food in order to do it?" I know, from those times, that I would have one hell of a time, because every time I decided I would do one thing, I'd think of potential consequences that would point towards doing another. That's partly legitimate worry, obviously, but it's also obsessing about it: the worry was interfering with my functioning, and I really wasn't getting anything productive out of it.
So, sometimes even legitimate worries are taken into the realm of obsession.
I've seen some signs of obsessiveness in your posts, too, which lead me to recommend you give the Paxil a try. Remember -- if it doesn't work, you can stop it.
Good luck, and I hope that helps.
Posted by SLS on May 12, 2006, at 9:11:33
In reply to What would you do if you were me?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
I would just like to voice my agreement with the others regarding the use of Paxil. It is genuinely effective for GAD and might help with obsessive ruminations. If that doesn't work, I would consider trying Zyprexa. It really does help with the type of ruminent thinking that you are probably experiencing. Actually, it might not be a bad idea to substitute Zyprexa for the Seroquel now and have it act as a bridge until the Paxil has a chance to work.
- Scott
Posted by RobertDavid on May 12, 2006, at 12:38:24
In reply to What would you do if you were me?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
> After eight years of struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I finally found something last summer that took off the edge - 25mg of Seroquel.
Do you have any other issues/disorters to deal with? If GAD is you're primary diagnosis have you tried a benzo and if so which ones at what dose?
In my opinion a benzo such as klonopin would be my next try. Many on this board and elsewhere get their anxiety relief from benzo's, they work fast and can be taken long term. They blend well with other meds such as anti depressants.
I prefer klonopin as it has a long half life compared to xanxax or ativan (which are great meds for many).
My 2 cents worth. Rob
Posted by yxibow on May 13, 2006, at 0:19:26
In reply to Re: Yxibow Racer, what is OC spectrum condition?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 0:53:02
> Please tell me in laymen's terms.
OC Spectrum disorders are those which exhibit qualities similar to OCD. They include Hypochondria, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Trichotillomania, Compulsive Picking (similar to Trichotillomania), specific phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Compulsive shopping and other loss of control disorders, and some Somatoform disorders.
They are not OCD as classically defined, but have qualities that exhibit, and have similar neurochemical systems as OCD, and may exist comorbidly (at the same time) as OCD itself.
Posted by yxibow on May 13, 2006, at 0:25:48
In reply to Re: SLS, MedEmpow, GardenGirl, Yxibow, David ????? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on May 11, 2006, at 20:25:32
> > Mine is simple the worrying caused it and maybe theraphy would help more than meds right now? Love Phillipa
>
> I would also say to try adjunctive psychotherapy to your Seroquel if your insurance covers it or can afford to do so. If you are worrying 24/7, a new medicine isn't going to do any good. It will just make you worry about the worry.
And I might comment on my comment, that worrying about the worry was one reason I took Luvox at one point in my treatment because I was thinking about 16 hours a day whether Seroquel would ever give me TD. It doesnt matter whether it will or wont, the idea is not a lovely thought, but neither the Seroquel or the Luvox will do as good a job if I continued to worry about the medication. A good healthy concern and a reading of the PDR is fine but when one thinks they will get all the side effects, "medical student syndrome" develops and the medicine doesnt work as well and they may perceive nonexistant side effects. That doesnt mean that a side effect couldn't occur and shouldn't be reported to your doctor, but unless you're on polypharmacy like I am, taking one or two medications at most is not likely to compound side effects.-- cheers
Jay
Posted by gardenergirl on May 13, 2006, at 11:33:02
In reply to What would you do if you were me?, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 11, 2006, at 17:19:32
Sorry, I missed your question before.
I agree with the others to give the Paxil a try. I hate that medical student disease, and I've fallen prey to it before. But still, it sounds to me like finding relief from your anxiety would be worth the side effect risks. And many of them wane in time.
Also, I highly recommend therapy. If that's not an option, at the least, try to get ahold of a copy of "The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook" which offers a wealth of different ways to combat anxiety. If you can do therapy, the book is still a good thing to have around as an adjunct or even as something to work on with your T.
And try to take some time just to breathe. Tell yourself that you can worry later. Maybe even designate a specific worry time, like an appt. with yourself. Then during your day, if you notice worry set in, remind yourself that you have a time for that.
Good luck.
gg
This is the end of the thread.
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