Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 81488

Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 12:57:10

Hey everybody,

Hope everybody is well. Today is my first day without Celexa - I was taking it for two weeks (only 10 mgs./day) for GAD and panic attacks. It definitely made me feel much worse! I had one of the most severe panic attacks that I have ever experienced two days ago, and decided that it was time to part ways with the Celexa. I was taking Paxil (again, only 10 mgs./day) about 6 months ago and felt complete relief, but had to stop for excessive weight gain.

My doc wants me to try Zoloft now - but I feel that I've become SSRI-shy after this experience! Any advice people? And how long should I wait before I start Zoloft if I decide to go for it? I'm looking for to hearing from you...

Daniel

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy

Posted by Mitch on October 17, 2001, at 13:39:21

In reply to Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 12:57:10

> Hey everybody,
>
> Hope everybody is well. Today is my first day without Celexa - I was taking it for two weeks (only 10 mgs./day) for GAD and panic attacks. It definitely made me feel much worse! I had one of the most severe panic attacks that I have ever experienced two days ago, and decided that it was time to part ways with the Celexa. I was taking Paxil (again, only 10 mgs./day) about 6 months ago and felt complete relief, but had to stop for excessive weight gain.
>
> My doc wants me to try Zoloft now - but I feel that I've become SSRI-shy after this experience! Any advice people? And how long should I wait before I start Zoloft if I decide to go for it? I'm looking for to hearing from you...
>
> Daniel


Daniel, It sounds like you are sensitive to SSri's that are more *activating*. Paxil is pretty sedative in comparison to Celexa and Zoloft. Some people find Celexa makes them more *wired* then Zoloft and vice versa. It is too bad you couldn't stick with the Paxil since it was working for you. As far as weight gain goes, I have heard people hear squawk about weight gain from all of them (SSRI's)-although Paxil is the one that gets blamed the most. I wonder if your doctor couldn't maintain the Paxil and add something to ameliorate the weight gain (if that's possible)??

Mitch

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 17:36:19

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy, posted by Mitch on October 17, 2001, at 13:39:21


I wonder if your doctor couldn't maintain the Paxil and add something to ameliorate the weight gain (if that's possible)??
>
> Mitch

Thanks for your input Mitch... Yeah, I had never heard that Celexa could be soooo activating... And, to be honest, I really don't mind the sedative effect that Paxil had on me. I'd much rather be sleepy-headed and yawning but feel CALM... I have a feeling that Zoloft will be too activating for me as well.

I have heard of people mixing agents to counteract weight gain from ad's to their cocktails. However, I can't remember the names of those agents! If anyone knows about this or has had succees counteracting weight gain, let me know!

Thanks...
Daniel

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy

Posted by Daveman on October 17, 2001, at 19:14:00

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 17:36:19

Daniel:

There is a school of thought, gaining some currency, that SSRI's are contraindicated in patients with pure panic disorders (as opposed to other forms of anxiety or depression). This school of thought contends that a high-potency benzo such as Xanax is far more effective, particularly when taken together with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

This argument does not apply to me, since panic attacks were a relatively small part of the problems which caused me to go on meds. I have found Celexa very effective and not activating; from everything I've heard (though not personal experience), Zoloft is more activating than Celexa.

If Paxil was effective, maybe you should try it again? Like the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it:)

Dave

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » Daveman

Posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 21:48:23

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy, posted by Daveman on October 17, 2001, at 19:14:00

> Daniel:
>
> There is a school of thought, gaining some currency, that SSRI's are contraindicated in patients with pure panic disorders (as opposed to other forms of anxiety or depression). This school of thought contends that a high-potency benzo such as Xanax is far more effective, particularly when taken together with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

> Thanks for responding Dave.

I would have to agree. I truly felt like I was on speed with Celexa - couldn't calm down and relax, even with 1 mg. of Xanax a day. I've heard good things about Remeron, I might give that a try. I realize that I really don't have a problem with depression (miraculously, given how challenging living with anxiety has been), so the SSRI route doesn't seem to make much sense. It seems that the docs at Kaiser want to push them at all costs, however! I really just need help to stifle my anxiety and panic attacks and be able to relax, even if that means sedation!


> This argument does not apply to me, since panic attacks were a relatively small part of the problems which caused me to go on meds. I have found Celexa very effective and not activating; from everything I've heard (though not personal experience), Zoloft is more activating than Celexa.

> Then I will definitely stay away from Zoloft. Thanks for the tip!


> If Paxil was effective, maybe you should try it again? Like the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it:)

> Oh Dave, I wish I could... I'm just to vain to stand the weight gain! I'd never had to hold my breath to tie my shoes, and I never want to again! I finally lost my **Paxil Pounds**, and it took me over six months. But it is good to know it is there as a last resort.

Thanks again,

Daniel
>

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » Daveman

Posted by Mitch on October 17, 2001, at 23:39:12

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy, posted by Daveman on October 17, 2001, at 19:14:00

> Daniel:
>
> There is a school of thought, gaining some currency, that SSRI's are contraindicated in patients with pure panic disorders (as opposed to other forms of anxiety or depression). This school of thought contends that a high-potency benzo such as Xanax is far more effective, particularly when taken together with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

> Dave


Daveman, thanks a lot for sharing that information. I have found SSri's to be very effective for my social phobia. BUT, I still suffered situational panic attacks despite being on Prozac or Zoloft, for example. Since I have been on Klonopin (low-dose)for 2-3 years now I have not suffered any full-blown panic episodes. It is weird, but the SSRI's make me more comfortable approaching panicky situations, but the benzos are what actually *prevent* the attacks NOT the SSRI! What the SSRi seems to do is make me less *worried* about *future* panic episodes-but I can still get into the middle of something that triggers one and it will still happen without the benzo.

Mitch

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » dannyboy

Posted by Daveman on October 18, 2001, at 1:05:47

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » Daveman, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 21:48:23

Hi Daniel:

Well, I can't speak about Remeron as an anti-panic med, but it is gangbusters as a sedative! Warning- if you start it, and take only 15 mg., don't plan on being anywhere the following day- first time I took it I slept 11 hours straight. That does moderate after a few days, but it never completely goes away- I'm still taking it as a sleep augmentation to Celexa.

BTW I'm not sure "situational panic" qualifies as a panic disorder. This is one of the areas where, it seems to me, the SSRI's are overprescribed. Some docs have not investigated the SSRI's and buy into the "wonder drug" propaganda ("here, take this, it has no side effects"- if only!), so they give it to patients who have an occasional panic attack. Seems to me a small stock of Xanax or Ativan on hand is the best answer to "situational panic"- those drugs seem tailor made for occasional situational use, assuming of course the patient does not have an addictive personality. A true panic disorder, OTOH (which involves panic attacks which seemingly come out of nowhere and are not "situational") would require a much more comprehensive response.

AS always, the foregoing is JMO (Just my opinion). I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV:)

Dave

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by karenR on October 18, 2001, at 14:54:13

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety? » Daveman, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 21:48:23

I think you are going to have to just keep trying meds until you find the right one. I also have anxiety that
I am trying to cope with. I actually find zoloft sedating, though. It didn't work for me. I also went through
buspar, remeron and finally found happiness with serzone. Remeron was a great me for me in the beginning, but I
found I needed to increase my dose every 3-4 weeks, and unfortunately, I gained quite
a bit of weight quickly. I went off due to the weight gain and the fact that I couldn't remain at a
constant state on remeron. Zoloft did nothing for my anxiety, but I was on it years ago for depression
and it worked great. I found serzone to be my saviour, no side effects for me and I felt very "normal".
It seems many people haven't have much success with serzone, but my experience was a good one. That's why I think
you will just have to try meds until you find the right one for you. Give things a chance to work, most of them will
take at least a month. If you are having terrible side effects that you can't live with, then you have to stop earlier.
Good luck,

karenR

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by Mitch on October 18, 2001, at 22:16:55

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by karenR on October 18, 2001, at 14:54:13

> I think you are going to have to just keep trying meds until you find the right one. I also have anxiety that
> I am trying to cope with. I actually find zoloft sedating, though. It didn't work for me. I also went through
> buspar, remeron and finally found happiness with serzone. Remeron was a great me for me in the beginning, but I
> found I needed to increase my dose every 3-4 weeks, and unfortunately, I gained quite
> a bit of weight quickly. I went off due to the weight gain and the fact that I couldn't remain at a
> constant state on remeron. Zoloft did nothing for my anxiety, but I was on it years ago for depression
> and it worked great. I found serzone to be my saviour, no side effects for me and I felt very "normal".
> It seems many people haven't have much success with serzone, but my experience was a good one. That's why I think
> you will just have to try meds until you find the right one for you. Give things a chance to work, most of them will
> take at least a month. If you are having terrible side effects that you can't live with, then you have to stop earlier.
> Good luck,
>
> karenR

I second what Karen said about Serzone, I had forgot about that one. I tried it to help with the anxiety from taking Adderall. It *did* work-it seemed to work the best for anticipatory anxiety than any other antidepressant I had ever taken. Unfortunately, I developed a skin pruritis (itchies) from it and it got stopped because of that. Reduced agitation quite well-was quite impressed with that. I didn't get much of an AD effect with it, however.

Mitch

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by Jackster on October 22, 2001, at 4:27:57

In reply to Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 12:57:10

> Hey everybody,
>
> Hope everybody is well. Today is my first day without Celexa - I was taking it for two weeks (only 10 mgs./day) for GAD and panic attacks. It definitely made me feel much worse! I had one of the most severe panic attacks that I have ever experienced two days ago, and decided that it was time to part ways with the Celexa. I was taking Paxil (again, only 10 mgs./day) about 6 months ago and felt complete relief, but had to stop for excessive weight gain.
>
> My doc wants me to try Zoloft now - but I feel that I've become SSRI-shy after this experience! Any advice people? And how long should I wait before I start Zoloft if I decide to go for it? I'm looking for to hearing from you...
>
> Daniel


I had the same experience. I was on Paxil (40mg) for agoraphobia - worked great. I tapered off - the panic attacks came back, and when I went back on - the Paxil didn't work nearly as well (at that dose). Since then I've been through a spectrum of AD's - and seem to be extremely sensitive to the activating ones. Both Prozac and Zoloft actually increased my PA's - Paxil is the only one I never had any trouble with (apart from the dreaded weight gain) and that worked wonderfully. I'd rather be fat and happy than skinny through constant worry!

Jackie

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by Mary-Teresa on October 22, 2001, at 14:53:48

In reply to Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by dannyboy on October 17, 2001, at 12:57:10

> Try to get by with out it. I have never regretted anything more.

 

Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?

Posted by dannyboy on October 23, 2001, at 23:58:30

In reply to Re: Help! Should I try Zoloft for Anxiety?, posted by Mary-Teresa on October 22, 2001, at 14:53:48

> > Hey Everybody -

Thank you very much for your input. Well, the bad news is that Celexa did NOT work for me at all - in fact, it made my panic attacks worse than I could remember for some time. After only 2 weeks, I got off of it, but I feel very destabilized by the experience and felt it best to go back on Paxil for the time being (at least I know that it works for me, and my fear of weight gain is now less than my fear of having multiple panic attacks a day, which Celexa was causing for me). I will stay on Paxil for the time being until I "unlearn" my panic responses again... I'm already beginning to feel better.

Again - any tips for agents that I can take that might counteract the weight gain from Paxil? I've heard that a small dose of WellButrin might do the trick, but I also know that this medication is very user-unfriendly to panic sufferers!

Thanks again everybody - it's really helpful to hear from others and to get your feedback and advice! :)

Daniel


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