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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 12:33:52
Yes, sorry - it's me again! I posted a request earlier for alternatives to AD's since I've had miserable luck with them. Although I am still considering the use of Klonopin daily (advice given to me from that last question) I haven't quite given up the notion of using an AD.
My question is this - if I experienced increased panic/anxiety (a nightmare experience for me which set me back in my recovery for months and years)on Prozac, Paxil, Effexor. Is there any hope I would respond differently to Celexa????? My doc seems to think that combining that with Klonopin to help me get through the early increased anxiety days would help. Not only am I VERY fearful of the increased panic and general "I'm losing my mind" feeling, I don't like feeling sedated. My recent round with Parnate did just that to me. It was a VERY weird feeling and I just ended up becoming very anxious over that and stopped. I'm still reverberating over that recent experience and am in a highly sensitized state with my disorder as a result.
Sorry to be so long winded but would like to hear from ANYONE, who has had similar experiences but found help on Celexa - that is for panic disorder and agoraphobia - not depression.Thanks,
Lisa
Posted by jay on August 17, 2002, at 21:00:44
In reply to Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!!, posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 12:33:52
> Yes, sorry - it's me again! I posted a request earlier for alternatives to AD's since I've had miserable luck with them. Although I am still considering the use of Klonopin daily (advice given to me from that last question) I haven't quite given up the notion of using an AD.
> My question is this - if I experienced increased panic/anxiety (a nightmare experience for me which set me back in my recovery for months and years)on Prozac, Paxil, Effexor. Is there any hope I would respond differently to Celexa????? My doc seems to think that combining that with Klonopin to help me get through the early increased anxiety days would help. Not only am I VERY fearful of the increased panic and general "I'm losing my mind" feeling, I don't like feeling sedated. My recent round with Parnate did just that to me. It was a VERY weird feeling and I just ended up becoming very anxious over that and stopped. I'm still reverberating over that recent experience and am in a highly sensitized state with my disorder as a result.
> Sorry to be so long winded but would like to hear from ANYONE, who has had similar experiences but found help on Celexa - that is for panic disorder and agoraphobia - not depression.
>
> Thanks,
> LisaHi Lisa:
No need to be sorry! The Klonipin (at a good dose...what dose are you on?) + Celexa *should* (no guarantees of course...but likely..) do a fair to good job for your panic and agoraphobia. When thinking of 'sedation', and if I ever worry about it (I don't, exactly, because my anxiety is so bad...I welcome it), I think of what I have read about meditation, Yoga, and even Buddhism. A Buddhist therapist once said that the idea of 'forgetting' is a valuable tool, and in meditation, you learn to block out many things. That's why I think benzo's work "so" well. Of course it is no way to lead your life everyday, but our Western society forces us into constantly remembering every little detail of our day with such intense focus. No wonder we are so *burnt* out! Our neurons are firing at a massively rapid rate, like a overloaded computer, jumping from subject to subject.
Anyhow...sorry for the 'lecture'...I just think you might want to try and become a bit more accustomed to allowing the tranquility of a bit of sedation into your daily routine. If you can use both your medication and direct your thoughts *with* the medication to this state, it may help your overall healing and peace of mind.
Best wishes,
Jay
Posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 21:14:06
In reply to Re: Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!! » LLL, posted by jay on August 17, 2002, at 21:00:44
Jay,
The sedation felt was not like the sedation felt on xanax - warm, relaxed and maybe sleepy. It was sedation that felt like I was "slipping away" from this earth. I don't know what it feels like to slowly die and be aware of it, but I imagine it felt like that. Since I have panic disorder my brain misinterprets and over reacts to bodily sensations that most normals (or those with other diagnoses) can overlook, that's the nature of this disorder. Not only did I have that weird sedation which was with me 24 hours a day, even upon awakening - I couldn't sleep through the night and at least quench it. So no amount of meditation is going to help with that. I do use meditation to help me let go of my thoughts, but not succesfully when I'm suffering from some medicine side effect.
I am not yet on Klonopin, that is the next step I am debating - Klonopin and Celexa. My concern is for the *Celexa* and what SSRI's have done to my psyche in the past.
Thanks
Posted by Ritch on August 17, 2002, at 21:16:33
In reply to Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!!, posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 12:33:52
> Yes, sorry - it's me again! I posted a request earlier for alternatives to AD's since I've had miserable luck with them. Although I am still considering the use of Klonopin daily (advice given to me from that last question) I haven't quite given up the notion of using an AD.
> My question is this - if I experienced increased panic/anxiety (a nightmare experience for me which set me back in my recovery for months and years)on Prozac, Paxil, Effexor. Is there any hope I would respond differently to Celexa????? My doc seems to think that combining that with Klonopin to help me get through the early increased anxiety days would help. Not only am I VERY fearful of the increased panic and general "I'm losing my mind" feeling, I don't like feeling sedated. My recent round with Parnate did just that to me. It was a VERY weird feeling and I just ended up becoming very anxious over that and stopped. I'm still reverberating over that recent experience and am in a highly sensitized state with my disorder as a result.
> Sorry to be so long winded but would like to hear from ANYONE, who has had similar experiences but found help on Celexa - that is for panic disorder and agoraphobia - not depression.
>
> Thanks,
> Lisa
Lisa,
My advice is to try the Celexa. The SSRI's may be similar, but everybody responds a little differently (benefits and side effects). When it comes to a treatment resistant/intolerant situation it's tough to tell what will work magic or not, until you are willing to play out all of the cards.
Mitch
Posted by Ritch on August 17, 2002, at 21:22:04
In reply to Re: Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!! » LLL, posted by jay on August 17, 2002, at 21:00:44
> > Yes, sorry - it's me again! I posted a request earlier for alternatives to AD's since I've had miserable luck with them. Although I am still considering the use of Klonopin daily (advice given to me from that last question) I haven't quite given up the notion of using an AD.
> > My question is this - if I experienced increased panic/anxiety (a nightmare experience for me which set me back in my recovery for months and years)on Prozac, Paxil, Effexor. Is there any hope I would respond differently to Celexa????? My doc seems to think that combining that with Klonopin to help me get through the early increased anxiety days would help. Not only am I VERY fearful of the increased panic and general "I'm losing my mind" feeling, I don't like feeling sedated. My recent round with Parnate did just that to me. It was a VERY weird feeling and I just ended up becoming very anxious over that and stopped. I'm still reverberating over that recent experience and am in a highly sensitized state with my disorder as a result.
> > Sorry to be so long winded but would like to hear from ANYONE, who has had similar experiences but found help on Celexa - that is for panic disorder and agoraphobia - not depression.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Lisa
>
> Hi Lisa:
>
> No need to be sorry! The Klonipin (at a good dose...what dose are you on?) + Celexa *should* (no guarantees of course...but likely..) do a fair to good job for your panic and agoraphobia. When thinking of 'sedation', and if I ever worry about it (I don't, exactly, because my anxiety is so bad...I welcome it), I think of what I have read about meditation, Yoga, and even Buddhism. A Buddhist therapist once said that the idea of 'forgetting' is a valuable tool, and in meditation, you learn to block out many things. That's why I think benzo's work "so" well. Of course it is no way to lead your life everyday, but our Western society forces us into constantly remembering every little detail of our day with such intense focus. No wonder we are so *burnt* out! Our neurons are firing at a massively rapid rate, like a overloaded computer, jumping from subject to subject.
>
> Anyhow...sorry for the 'lecture'...I just think you might want to try and become a bit more accustomed to allowing the tranquility of a bit of sedation into your daily routine. If you can use both your medication and direct your thoughts *with* the medication to this state, it may help your overall healing and peace of mind.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jay
Jay,That is an interesting post. It seems that Mania/hypomania and extreme anxiety such as panic/OCD are related. It is like the mind can become an out of control wood chipper and you have to pitch an occasional rock in the wood chipper to let it know who is boss.
Mitch
Posted by teri on August 17, 2002, at 23:05:32
In reply to Re: Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!! » jay, posted by Ritch on August 17, 2002, at 21:22:04
I was on zoloft, Effexor xr (really bad experience) remeron,and other tricyl. and the Celexa and Klonopin combo has been the best for me. I have really bad anxiety and insomnia and when I was on Zoloft it made me so anxious and I couldn't sleep so my doctor put me on Trazadone at night and I ended up with Serotonin Syndrome. I was scared to take another SSRI after that. When I tried Effexor my anxiety was so bad I was taking 2 or 3 xanax a day just to get through it if I had to go out. I was just frozen in a panic. Not sure why the FDA approved that one for GAD. Anyway, Celexa isn't as taxing for me and combined with Klonopin it's been the best combo. Finally. Sometimes I have breakthrough anxiety and I take .5mg of Xanax for that but things are getting better. My doctor at first prescribed 20mg of Celexa and 3mg of Klonopin. I was so wiped out I was running into things, I reduced the Klonopin to two mg, one at night and one during the day and now most days I can get by with 1 1/2mg of it. I did increase the Celexa to 30 mg and that didn't make me more jittery and if it did I didn't notice it as much because the klon. takes the edge off. I've been doing this for almost a year. Good Luck teri
Posted by Jackster on August 18, 2002, at 2:59:30
In reply to Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!!, posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 12:33:52
> Yes, sorry - it's me again! I posted a request earlier for alternatives to AD's since I've had miserable luck with them. Although I am still considering the use of Klonopin daily (advice given to me from that last question) I haven't quite given up the notion of using an AD.
> My question is this - if I experienced increased panic/anxiety (a nightmare experience for me which set me back in my recovery for months and years)on Prozac, Paxil, Effexor. Is there any hope I would respond differently to Celexa????? My doc seems to think that combining that with Klonopin to help me get through the early increased anxiety days would help. Not only am I VERY fearful of the increased panic and general "I'm losing my mind" feeling, I don't like feeling sedated. My recent round with Parnate did just that to me. It was a VERY weird feeling and I just ended up becoming very anxious over that and stopped. I'm still reverberating over that recent experience and am in a highly sensitized state with my disorder as a result.
> Sorry to be so long winded but would like to hear from ANYONE, who has had similar experiences but found help on Celexa - that is for panic disorder and agoraphobia - not depression.
>
> Thanks,
> LisaHi Lisa from a fellow sufferer. I started on Paxil (was put on it with a small dose of the tricyclic amitriptyline which is quite sedating - prob why I didn't have any start up anxiety) and it worked like magic. After 3 years I foolishly stopped it thinking I could go without. When the panic attacks started again and I went back to the Paxil it no longer worked. I've been on a merry go round of drugs since - Celexa being one of them. It didn't work for me - I had practically no effect from it. I think it is a kind of 'milder' SSRI - so may be good for you. (I needed 40mg of Paxil). I had a rash while taking it - apparently a v rare side effect. Doc didn't believe it was because of the Celexa - but *coincidentally* the rash went away after I stopped it.
It may be worth a try - just remember to start really low dose. Some ADs are now available as liquid form so you can start as low as 1ml. I've been labelled as 'med sensitive' - prob because of all the meds I've tried!
Everyone's different, but as an agoraphobic I preferred the AD option - not having to worry about benzos wearing off or having to have them with you all the time.
Good luck,
Jackie
Posted by teri on August 18, 2002, at 7:38:28
In reply to Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!!, posted by LLL on August 17, 2002, at 12:33:52
Hi again. One thing I didn't mention about Klonopin is that the sedation does wear off after a while. You'll still feel relaxed from it and it helps a lot with anxiety but you won't feel wiped out from it. It stays in your system longer than some of the other benzos like xanax so it works throughout the day. I do have wordfinding problems and repeating things I've said to people sometimes but I'm not sure if thats just having too much on my plate right now or the meds. It has gotten better since I cut back to 1/2 during the day and a whole pill at night. Some days I need to increase it, though. Just depends on how I'm feeling. Teri
Posted by bethann on August 18, 2002, at 11:21:51
In reply to Re: Fellow panic /agoraphobia sufferers-Pls HELP!!, posted by teri on August 18, 2002, at 7:38:28
Clonopin is a great drug; stays in the system longer than any other. The only side affect I've noticed is that I do tend to repeat things and have wordfinding problems, also. I'm glad it's not just me, that someone else has that happen too. If you are going to take something, this is the one.
This is the end of the thread.
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