Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1748

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 82. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by Anne on December 26, 1998, at 14:38:45

Okay here;s the deal, I really need help. I have been having panic attacks I already take 30mg Remeron and 20mg Prozac for depression. My doctor " Who is not comfortable prescribing antianxiety meds " Would only give me ten .5 mg ativan and that helped but now I am out and the panic is back with a vengence. It is destroying my life and I am desperate... Can I take Kava Kava along with my other meds to help me calm down. I have a very demanding job and can't just do deep breathing excersizes and all of that. My job is both physically and emotionally demanding, but I do love it and have no idea why panic has struck me now... Please help. Anyone... Please....

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by Victoria on December 26, 1998, at 15:57:05

In reply to Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by Anne on December 26, 1998, at 14:38:45

I don't know about Kava Kava's interaction with other drugs, but here are two thoughts:

If you have communicated to your doctor how serious your anxiety and panic is and your doctor isn't comfortable treating those problems, maybe s/he's not the doctor for you. Perhaps you should look for one who is comfortable with and knowledgeable about the problems you have. (If the panic is a new thing, has your doctor considered the possibility that it's a side-effect of your other medication--especially if one or both are relatively new to you.)

But yes, you can do breathing exercises and any other techniques you know of to calm panic. You must have breaks or a lunch hour at work. I know it's frustrating to have to do things like that--I have insomnia and have to work hard to get adequate sleep, and I resent having to struggle for something that should come naturally--but whatever else is going on, your body is telling you it needs attention and caring. I'm not suggesting that non-medical techniques are all that's needed for panic, but they can't hurt and, at least, will create an atmosphere of self-caring that I think is sometimes hard for us who have developed lots of ways of toughing out our symptoms in order to function.

Good luck!

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by alan on December 27, 1998, at 4:40:11

In reply to Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by Anne on December 26, 1998, at 14:38:45

> Okay here;s the deal, I really need help. I have been having panic attacks I already take 30mg Remeron and 20mg Prozac for depression. My doctor " Who is not comfortable prescribing antianxiety meds " Would only give me ten .5 mg ativan and that helped but now I am out and the panic is back with a vengence. It is destroying my life and I am desperate... Can I take Kava Kava along with my other meds to help me calm down. I have a very demanding job and can't just do deep breathing excersizes and all of that. My job is both physically and emotionally demanding, but I do love it and have no idea why panic has struck me now... Please help. Anyone... Please....


Find a Doc who does not prescribe on the basis of what she "feels comfortable with".
Talk with somone expert before taking kava-kava; I 'feel' that it may affect the levels of the other drugs you are taking, or whatever.
You might try getting a referral from a med school psych dept if one is nearby.
Godspeed.

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by saint james on December 27, 1998, at 7:13:44

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by alan on December 27, 1998, at 4:40:11

> > Okay here;s the deal, I really need help. I have been having panic attacks I already take 30mg Remeron and 20mg Prozac for depression.


James here....

I 2nd and 3 d moving to another doc if the present one is unwilling to prescribe meds to control your panic attacks. I used to take 90 1 mg Atavin in a 3 month period and with correct AD dose (Effexor) I average 45-60 atavin in 3-4 months. I don't take Atavin 3 days running and I have been stable at this dose for some time (years). Sometimes I need more and I have never had a problem with my doc being unwilling to refill the Atavin...he gives me a script for 30
every 3 months and I am free to call for a refill
if needed...no problem.

james

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by stan harding on January 4, 2000, at 11:27:36

In reply to Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by Anne on December 26, 1998, at 14:38:45

> Okay here;s the deal, I really need help. I have been having panic attacks I already take 30mg Remeron and 20mg Prozac for depression. My doctor " Who is not comfortable prescribing antianxiety meds " Would only give me ten .5 mg ativan and that helped but now I am out and the panic is back with a vengence. It is destroying my life and I am desperate... Can I take Kava Kava along with my other meds to help me calm down. I have a very demanding job and can't just do deep breathing excersizes and all of that. My job is both physically and emotionally demanding, but I do love it and have no idea why panic has struck me now... Please help. Anyone... Please....

Hi Anne,
with your stressed life its probable you are rarther hyped and have been building up tension for some time,years more like. Your body gets run down the chemical balance goes and things generally fall apart You and only you can decide what it is possible for you to do.

Coffee should not be taken by anyone in your position, neither should stimulating foods or alcohol.Each of these things will help, but there is no magic bullet!
but stopping coffee NOW would be a good start

best wishes
Stan

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by Justin Groom on January 4, 2000, at 19:15:45

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by stan harding on January 4, 2000, at 11:27:36

> > Okay here;s the deal, I really need help. I have been having panic attacks I already take 30mg Remeron and 20mg Prozac for depression. My doctor " Who is not comfortable prescribing antianxiety meds " Would only give me ten .5 mg ativan and that helped but now I am out and the panic is back with a vengence. It is destroying my life and I am desperate... Can I take Kava Kava along with my other meds to help me calm down. I have a very demanding job and can't just do deep breathing excersizes and all of that. My job is both physically and emotionally demanding, but I do love it and have no idea why panic has struck me now... Please help. Anyone... Please....
>
> Hi Anne,
> with your stressed life its probable you are rarther hyped and have been building up tension for some time,years more like. Your body gets run down the chemical balance goes and things generally fall apart You and only you can decide what it is possible for you to do.
>
> Coffee should not be taken by anyone in your position, neither should stimulating foods or alcohol.Each of these things will help, but there is no magic bullet!
> but stopping coffee NOW would be a good start
>
> best wishes
> Stan

from what i've heard, and experienced taking too much kava kava is like taking java java. take a concentrated kava kava, 2-3 pills at the most. more than that makes me wired. plus i have built up a tolerance to it. hope this helps in some way.

thx,
justin

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by Sam on January 5, 2000, at 0:44:50

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by Justin Groom on January 4, 2000, at 19:15:45

I think it is a bad idea to mix any herbal or over-the-counter medications with any prescription medications. The interactions of the combination is unpredictable and possibly dangerous. I have also heard that prolonged or frequent use of kava kava can cause jaundice. I would look for another doctor who will give you benzodiazepines, they are addictive but they work and the side-effects are not too bad generally. Some doctors insist on using SSRI's etc. and no benzodiazepines. This may work for some people, but not others. Why should you suffer because of one doctors philosophy?

 

Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????

Posted by lois on January 6, 2000, at 6:14:20

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by Sam on January 5, 2000, at 0:44:50

Anne,

I really hope you can change doctors. I used to panic and was on ativan for a long time.Finally got off of it because I was on tegretol and then added neurontin. I just take 0.25 of clonapin (also a benzo) at night now with my other ssri and bipolar meds-also remeron.I panic without the clonapin,but I have been able to wean down the dose slowly over time.Chocolate can sometimes make me panic also BTW. I'm pulling for you!
Also sometime with med changes I would panic.A 1/2 ativan under the tongue did the trick for those times.
Lois

 

What about other anti-anxiety drugs

Posted by Abby on January 6, 2000, at 10:04:12

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by lois on January 6, 2000, at 6:14:20

> Anne,
>
> I really hope you can change doctors. I used to panic and was on ativan for a long time.Finally got off of it because I was on tegretol and then added neurontin. I just take 0.25 of clonapin (also a benzo) at night now with my other ssri and bipolar meds-also remeron.I panic without the clonapin,but I have been able to wean down the dose slowly over time.Chocolate can sometimes make me panic also BTW. I'm pulling for you!
> Also sometime with med changes I would panic.A 1/2 ativan under the tongue did the trick for those times.
> Lois

Any thoughts on Buspar? It's not a bendo; it does have to be taken on a regular basis, but it isn't addictive.

Abby

 

BuSpar

Posted by Sam on January 9, 2000, at 22:35:35

In reply to What about other anti-anxiety drugs, posted by Abby on January 6, 2000, at 10:04:12

I tried BuSpar and it made my head feel like a coffee percolator. Way to wierd! I know other people that had strange reactions to it to. Sawdust isn't addictive but I wouldn't use it for anxiety either.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Andy on January 10, 2000, at 16:15:46

In reply to BuSpar, posted by Sam on January 9, 2000, at 22:35:35

I take 60 mg of BuSpar. I have no side effects. According to Norden in "Beyond Prozac" BuSpar is underrecognized. Because it takes a few weeks to work and you don't feel anything when you take a pill (contrast Xanax or Valium) people feel better but don't believe it was the BuSpar.

The fact that it is nonaddictive should not be taken lightly


> I tried BuSpar and it made my head feel like a coffee percolator. Way to wierd! I know other people that had strange reactions to it to. Sawdust isn't addictive but I wouldn't use it for anxiety either.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Sam on January 10, 2000, at 18:18:15

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Andy on January 10, 2000, at 16:15:46

If it works for you great. I know of three people including myself that discontinued it very earily on because of weird side-effects. Some of the drugs that are supposed to be non-addictive seem to have some rough withdrawal symptoms. See other articles in psychobabble.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Morc on January 11, 2000, at 15:13:08

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Sam on January 10, 2000, at 18:18:15

> If it works for you great. I know of three people including myself that discontinued it very earily on because of weird side-effects. Some of the drugs that are supposed to be non-addictive seem to have some rough withdrawal symptoms. See other articles in psychobabble.

I, too, had an unpleasant and weird response to BuSpar. Too bad, because from its profile, it sounded like the perfect med for me.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by anna on January 11, 2000, at 17:07:10

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Morc on January 11, 2000, at 15:13:08

> > If it works for you great. I know of three people including myself that discontinued it very earily on because of weird side-effects. Some of the drugs that are supposed to be non-addictive seem to have some rough withdrawal symptoms. See other articles in psychobabble.
>
> I, too, had an unpleasant and weird response to BuSpar. Too bad, because from its profile, it sounded like the perfect med for me.
--
I took it for a while--only worked at 60mg/day and even then I was never sure it did much. I am off it and notice NO DIFFERENCE. I did not have side effects on it

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Al on January 18, 2000, at 21:39:59

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by anna on January 11, 2000, at 17:07:10

BuSpar (60mg)did nothing for my panic disorder, and I gave it 2.5 months. My doctor prescribed Neurontin + doxepin to help with sleep and it has done wonders for me.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Snowie on January 18, 2000, at 22:50:22

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Al on January 18, 2000, at 21:39:59

Al,

What is doxepin and what does this combination do for you? In other words, can you be more specific? I, too, tried BuSpar once, and it did nothing for me, but I stopped taking it after less than a month. Thanks!

Snowie


> BuSpar (60mg)did nothing for my panic disorder, and I gave it 2.5 months. My doctor prescribed Neurontin + doxepin to help with sleep and it has done wonders for me.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Al on January 18, 2000, at 23:19:38

In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Snowie on January 18, 2000, at 22:50:22

> Al,
>
> What is doxepin and what does this combination do for you? In other words, can you be more specific? I, too, tried BuSpar once, and it did nothing for me, but I stopped taking it after less than a month. Thanks!
>
> Snowie

Doxepin is a tri-cyclic used for anti-depression. It allows me to get a good nights rest (much needed for GAD), and gives me an overall feeling of tranquility.

 

Re: BuSpar

Posted by Walter on June 5, 2000, at 10:19:37

In reply to BuSpar, posted by Sam on January 9, 2000, at 22:35:35

Took buspar 10 mg daily for 1 yr. Ineffective at that dosage level. When taken with a lot of caffeine, it destroyed my sex drive . I threw the BUSPAR away. will try stress relieve exercises etc. You need to take at least 20 to 30mg daily to be of any use.

 

Need help with meds!

Posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32

In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by saint james on December 27, 1998, at 7:13:44

Can someone help me? I believe I am suffering from GAD, and have been for sometime. One of my symptoms is that I have a terrible time sleeping, periodically. I am not taking anything right now, besides Ambien as needed. But it makes me feel terrible in the morning. I am thinking of starting Buspar, but am afraid since I am VERY sensitive to meds and have had really weird reactions to some Chinese herbs, and Kava Kava.

What do you recommend to help with sleeping, stop palipations and racing, and generally calm me down...?

-Polly

 

Re: Need help with meds!

Posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 15:52:41

In reply to Need help with meds!, posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32

> What do you recommend to help with sleeping, stop palipations and racing, and generally calm me down...?
>
> -Polly


Polly,

I take Ambien for sleep also, I have had Insomnia for about a year and a half now. Fortunetly, I don't experience any side effects with it. I've also had success with Remeron. If you have a low tolerance for meds, a low dose (5-10mg) might do the trick for you. One of the side effects of Remeron is an increased appetite for a lot of people. So, if putting on weight is a big concern for you, this might not be the answer.

BuSpar did not work for me, but I've read here of many having success with it. In the overall scheme of AAs it seems to be a very mild one, and with your low tolerance level it might be a possible answer for you.

As always you should discuss any suggestions you get here with your doctor. I wish you luck in finding the right "stuff" for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

Peace,
Greg

 

Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » pollypop

Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33

In reply to Need help with meds!, posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32

I had a doctor prescribe Buspar for me because she thought that the class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines, which I was currently taking with wonderful results, was terrible because it's been found to be addictive. Buspar made me so dizzy and naseaus that I could not stand up or walk around without waves coming over me. I couldn't even see what was in front of me, all I saw were dizzy blind spots. The doctor recommended that I continue taking the Buspar. She said that the side effects would subside. Well they NEVER subsided!!! They only increased in intensity until I was so dizzy and sick that I could not see or get out of bed. Not only that, but when I stopped taking Buspar, it took THREE WEEKS for the dizzyness and head spinning feelings to go away!!! I have been on dozens of meds over the years, and Buspar holds the record for being THE ALL TIME WORST!!! And I'm NOT the only one to have such negative side effects from this nasty medication. My boyfriend thought he was having a heart attack the first night he'd taken Buspar. He had such strong heart palpitations at 4am and chest pain that he had to call 911 and get rushed to the hospital by ambulance. PLEASE PLEASE BE WARY OF THIS HORRIBLE MED!!! There are SUCH BETTER meds out there that will cure anxiety and not make you sick!!! Ask your doctor about Klonopin or Lorazepam. If your doctor thinks those (in the class of Benzodiazepines) are horrible, yet Buspar is ok, then FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!!!

 

Re: better alternative to Buspar

Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 17:56:40

In reply to Re: Need help with meds!, posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 15:52:41

Polly,
From the symptons you describe, Klonopin would help you immediately. It doesn't have any bizarre side effects, it won't make you gain weight or kill your sex drive. About 45 minutes after taking it, you'll just feel very mellow and calm. You want to start off with a small dose, like half a mg. It can make you very sleepy when you begin to take it, so make sure you're in a setting where you could just comfortably go to sleep for awhile. After a week or so the "high buzz" feeling goes away and you'll just feel very relaxed from it. It does wonders for anxiety and the effects are immediate. After a few weeks you can figure out what dose is right for you by seeing how much you need to take that makes you feel relaxed but doesn't put you to sleep. Female doctors tend to be extremely anal about prescribing it or any of the medications in the family it belongs to, so your best bet is a male doctor.

 

Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!!

Posted by FredPotter on June 7, 2000, at 18:01:39

In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » pollypop, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33

If you have panic attacks, Buspar is no good. If you have persistent debilitaing anxiety, then it might be, but benzos won't. YMWV

 

Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » Cari

Posted by Greg on June 7, 2000, at 18:02:23

In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » pollypop, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33

You obviously have have a very passionate opinion about BuSpar. I'm very sorry to hear that both you and your husband had such horrible experiences with it. I hope your post was not a result of my suggestion that it might be an option for Polly.

Some people on this board have had great experience with BuSpar, some, like myself, have felt no effects from it at all, and for some like you and your husband, it has truly been a Greek tragedy. But this is the nature of many of the drugs we here at Babble use. Chemical makeup, receptors in the brain, DNA and genetics, among other things determine how a person will react to a given med. 100 different people might have 100 different reactions to a single med. One man's poison mignt be another man's miracle.

I can relate to how strongly you feel about the BuSpar, I feel the same way about narcotics. I took pain killers for chronic pain for over a year and they nearly killed me. It is only by the grace of God that I am still here today. I occasionally read someone's post discussing the possibility using one of the narcotics I used as a possible answer to depression or anxiety and it makes me want to scream "NO, DON'T DO IT!" (and I have done that). But all I can really do is relate my experience to others and hope that they don't have to go thru the pain that I did. Dr. Bob's disclaimer (for lack of a better word) at the top of the main page is:

"Don't (necessarily) believe everything you hear. Your mileage may vary. What you say may (conceivably) be used against you. In a crisis, get help the old-fashioned way. It's good to give as well as to receive."

And that is good sound advise. I don't expect anyone to try a chemical just because I say it works, or, not try something just because I say say it doesn't. I just try to give my experience and support, and then hope and pray that the person can find what's right for them, with, hopefully, a good doctor's help.

I hope that Polly goes to her doctor with all the experiences that she has heard here and makes an informed, intelligent decision based on what she and her doctor feel is right for her. And if that ends up being BuSpar, then so be it.

All my best to you and your husband, I hope that you are doing well.

Greg

 

Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!!

Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 18:34:34

In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » Cari, posted by Greg on June 7, 2000, at 18:02:23

Greg,
I'm glad you've had positive effects from Buspar, although I must admit that surprised me a great deal. I agree with you that 100 different people can have 100 different reactions to the same med, and hopefully Polly will discuss her options available at length with her doctor. I also recommend checking any new med out on the internet and reading as much as possible about it before taking it, and make sure you don't only check out the web sites sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies because of course they will be biased. As for Fred who said that Benzos are only good for panic attacks but not chronic debilitating anxiety, I beg to differ. I have the chronic debilitating kind and the Benzos are the only meds that have been effective for me since I took my first Klonopin 7 yrs ago. I've stopped taking them at various times, mostly due to moving to new areas & states where doctors are paranoid about prescribing them, and have suffered anxiety so acute and terrorizing that I could not drive a car for months. That constant impending "sense of doom" is kept away by taking the same dosage of Klonopin each day.


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