Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 271677

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

I have suffered from severe GAD for almost 7 yrs. i have been on many different drugs, now on parnate, just up to 30mgs. I have clonazepam daily, but I don't know how much more of this I can handle. Lexapro is not available in Canada of course. I was left on Effexor for over 2 yrs, despite my pleas to change, and I am truly mentally tired, and still fearing fear.
Any suggestions? Because my doctors seem to be running out of answers.

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on October 22, 2003, at 0:02:40

In reply to Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

Hi Hockeygirl:
I think we've exchanged posts before. Have you tried Buspirone? I have been on it since early Sept. having my dosage very slowly titrated up, plus taking clonazepam as needed. I have been on 30mg BuSpar per day for 2 weeks now, and I'm now finally beginning to feel some anxiety relief, without taking any Clonazepam. It's not completely gone, but has improved. The drawback so far, is side effects (extreme dizziness that lasts about an hour after each dosing - twice a day, general "flatness", and a little bit of weight gain). I don't know if I'll stay on it, as I'm at the top end of the recommended dose range (although many people take up to 60mg per day).
Might be worth a try for you (?).
Also consider Celexa, I was on it for over a year and it really helped with the anticipatory anxiety and constant worrying thoughts churning in my head. However, I stopped it due to insomnia and (after about 9 months) ssri induced depression and sexual side effects.
Good luck!
Jas

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by Elle2021 on October 22, 2003, at 5:05:21

In reply to Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

I take Lorazepam and sometimes Clonazepam for my anxiety. I have tired a number of anti-depressants, heard that Paxil is one of the best for GAD, also Prozac. Hope everything works out for you. Elle

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by Emme on October 22, 2003, at 9:59:07

In reply to Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

Is your clonazepm dose high enough?

I agree with the person who said Paxil is good for GAD. It helped me a lot and in a short time (like a week).

Good luck with the parnate. I hope it helps you.

If you're *really* having a tough time finding something that works and you exhaust the BuSpar, benzo, and antidepressant options, I've found that a dash of Seroquel really kicked my anxiety on days when clonazepam wouldn't cut it. (SSRIs are no longer an option for me.) I'd feel better in about an hour. The trick was finding a dose that worked without putting me straight to sleep when I needed to function the rest of the day. For me it was less than 6 mg. Antipsychotics have their own set of potential worries. But if you really totally run out of other options, it might be worth discussing with your doctor the possibility of trying a low dose.
Emme

 

Have you tried Serzone?

Posted by Emme on October 22, 2003, at 10:04:00

In reply to Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

I found Serzone sedating. Maybe it would calm you...Have you and your doctor discussed that one?

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help! » Emme

Posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 22, 2003, at 10:23:57

In reply to Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by Emme on October 22, 2003, at 9:59:07

Buspar didn't really work for me, although I didn't stay on it long, as it was added to risperedol?? Not quite sure why. My doctors don't think it is a good drug, My clonazepam is up to 2 mg per day, .5 tablets. I tried paxil, didn't work, although I went of Effexor to try paxil, and back on effexor, after now going through a complete withdrawal of effexor, I think it may be the effexor that was making me so ill, and not paxil. Zoloft, nefazadone, moclobemide, maybe serzone, I would have to look that up.
Thank you for the info.

 

GAD

Posted by DoYouKnowHim? on October 24, 2003, at 2:59:44

In reply to Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help! » Emme, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 22, 2003, at 10:23:57

hockeygirl:

i feel your pain, i have had GAD for about seven years too and have tried so many meds i cant recall them all.

you know, last month, my pdoc put me on addarell (ritalin) and it was the first med i ever took that had any effect whatsoever on my GAD. it felt great the first week, and now it seems to be wearing off a bit, but im still playing with the dosage.

e me if i can help, sportscarvell@aol.com

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by carolee on October 24, 2003, at 7:37:04

In reply to Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by hockeygirlcanada on October 21, 2003, at 22:46:09

I have had GAD for the past 15 years. It has affected my life soooo much, and at one point was actually suicidal. I have tried the natural path and then the medical route. I have taken so many meds thru the years, i can't recall them all.
I have just started the Lexapro, and take Lorazapam as needed...although I don't want to live my life on meds....first because I am losing my sex life, and second of all, I would like to become pregnant at some point...but can't live like this. Isn't there something that can put us all on the right path, increase the serotonium and we could be "free". I feel like I am at a dead end. PLEASE HELP

 

Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!

Posted by DoYouKnowHim? on October 26, 2003, at 3:12:08

In reply to Re: Severe Generalized Anxiety! Need Help!, posted by carolee on October 24, 2003, at 7:37:04

You are panicking. You can still take meds and (1) have a great sex life and (2) get pregnant. To think otherwise is defeated thinking.

I hate taking meds, too, as many do on this board. But people take pills for bad hearts, high blood pressure, too. GAD is a physical illness, too. Do NOT feel guilty about taking any med if you need it.

Meds are terrific. The long-term way of dealing with GAD is changing your thought patterns and lifestyle. Get that book BEYOND ANXIETY by Edmund Bourne. Best on GAD ever written.

Take care, Michael


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