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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 15:29:33
Hullo dear people...This drug Paxil has worked for me before.
Hence, twice in the last 8 months I have tried to restart the paxil regime due to excrutiating depression coupled with anxiety, just hoping,praying, that it would work again.The most recent attempt was two weeks ago.In between I have tried FXR and a TCA and a neuroleptic, all monotherapy,all 6 week plus trials all to no avail.
So, two weeks ago, last chance with Paxil and now off everything. Even with valium on board i could not stand the sheer overwhelming anxiety. I have never felt anything like it. A 72 hour panic attack. I was only on 20mg.
Should I have loaded up the valium some more (and risk benzo addiction?) and eventually rode through it? That was the dilemna. I decided to kick it and missed my dose this morning. No panic today. Just the great old fat black dog of depression drooling all over me.
But, now i'm wondering two things.
Paxil withdrawal (after two weeks?) and the symptoms of depression not been treated-i have been severely/suicidally depressed, but part of me wonders whether the medications have been worsening the situation.
Amisulpride?zyprexa? Apologies to those(john L?) who have suggested those, but I'm so dumb I don't know what they are, what they treat, whether to augment and who they suit and at present only have access to a gnarly old GP, whose knowledge is, I fear almost as limited as mine. He also appears to be dead set against augmenting meds. Changing docs in the UK, or finding somebody who seems to have a clue is exhausting.Anybody out there with any pearls of wisdom/suggestions or experiences to share?
Can I ride this one out without meds?
Cheers
Paul
Posted by stjames on June 11, 2001, at 15:44:13
In reply to 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety, posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 15:29:33
6 weeks is not long enough for a trial. If you have had several depressive episodes this would indicate the need to life long AD treatment. The risk of relapse after 3 depressive episodes is 90 %. Starting and stoping an AD tends to lead to them not working.
James
Posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 16:22:00
In reply to Re: 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety, posted by stjames on June 11, 2001, at 15:44:13
> 6 weeks is not long enough for a trial. If you have had several depressive episodes this would indicate the need to life long AD treatment. The risk of relapse after 3 depressive episodes is 90 %. Starting and stoping an AD tends to lead to them not working.
>
> JamesThanks for the cheery news James. No offence.
Are you saying I've blown it with Paxil by going on and off? Do you think that will apply to SSRIs in general?
As I said in my post, I had 6 week plus trials (nearly nine with FXR)but the numerous side effects, coupled with zero, if not worsening symptoms, lead me to switching.I acknowledge and accept your AD for life advice, but I don't know where to turn next. Yes there's a myriad of drugs out there for me to try, but I'm wiped out with them not working and turning my head into jelly and my body into a dead weight.
As you are no doubt acutely aware,a mere 5 minutes can be one hell of a lifetime when depressed - 8 weeks, for it not to work. Well, i don't know if I can take another such disappointment.
Perhaps it's my only option, but which med next for my 8 week expedition? What I'd give to know.
Cheers
Paul
Posted by stjames on June 11, 2001, at 17:13:44
In reply to Re: 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety » stjames, posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 16:22:00
> Are you saying I've blown it with Paxil by going on and off? Do you think that will apply to SSRIs in general?
Maybe.
> Perhaps it's my only option, but which med next for my 8 week expedition? What I'd give to know.
How about Paxil at a higher dose, have you tried that ? Doses are not static, just because you did well at X dose in the past does not mean you sould stay at that dose now.
James
Posted by Jackster on June 12, 2001, at 1:47:02
In reply to 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety, posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 15:29:33
I was on Paxil (40mg) for 3 years for panic disorder - then tapered off after feeling so good. Panic attacks came back - and when I went back on the Paxil it didn't work nearly as well. I then started trying a myriad of other drugs one after the other - Celexa, Imipramine, Prozac. By the time I was a week into the Prozac I was having the worst Panic attacks ever. Maybe it's the buildup of all the different drugs in your system. I went back on Paxil just to have a break from the meltdown and eventually kind of stabilised. I'm now trying Zoloft (again went through bad PA's starting it) - but don't know if it's the new drug, withdrawal from Paxil or both.
I can't recommend a drug - I suppose I could have increased the Paxil dosage but I didn't want the side effects to increase.
Posted by Denise528 on December 6, 2001, at 6:57:34
In reply to Re: 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety, posted by Jackster on June 12, 2001, at 1:47:02
Hi Paul/Jackster, I'm having exactly the same problems as you. Six Years ago Paxil made me feel really good, infact better than well.
Tried to get back on it again in June when my depression came back (like an old faithful friend) and it has been absolute hell, the Seroxat made me really suicidal. I am now taking Zyprexa (which seems to help with the anxiety attacks) and prothiaden which I don't feel is doing anything at all. Let me know how you both get on as it seems we are all in the same boat.
Denise
Posted by denise528 on July 31, 2002, at 13:03:26
In reply to 16 days on paxil-hyper anxiety, posted by Paul W on June 11, 2001, at 15:29:33
> ,
> Hullo dear people...
>
> This drug Paxil has worked for me before.
> Hence, twice in the last 8 months I have tried to restart the paxil regime due to excrutiating depression coupled with anxiety, just hoping,praying, that it would work again.The most recent attempt was two weeks ago.
>
> In between I have tried FXR and a TCA and a neuroleptic, all monotherapy,all 6 week plus trials all to no avail.
>
> So, two weeks ago, last chance with Paxil and now off everything. Even with valium on board i could not stand the sheer overwhelming anxiety. I have never felt anything like it. A 72 hour panic attack. I was only on 20mg.
>
> Should I have loaded up the valium some more (and risk benzo addiction?) and eventually rode through it? That was the dilemna. I decided to kick it and missed my dose this morning. No panic today. Just the great old fat black dog of depression drooling all over me.
>
> But, now i'm wondering two things.
>
> Paxil withdrawal (after two weeks?) and the symptoms of depression not been treated-i have been severely/suicidally depressed, but part of me wonders whether the medications have been worsening the situation.
>
>
> Amisulpride?zyprexa? Apologies to those(john L?) who have suggested those, but I'm so dumb I don't know what they are, what they treat, whether to augment and who they suit and at present only have access to a gnarly old GP, whose knowledge is, I fear almost as limited as mine. He also appears to be dead set against augmenting meds. Changing docs in the UK, or finding somebody who seems to have a clue is exhausting.
>
> Anybody out there with any pearls of wisdom/suggestions or experiences to share?
>
> Can I ride this one out without meds?
>
> Cheers
>
> Paul
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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