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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
I've tried them all and some more than once. I am not conditioned to the side effects, they are true and real. Even 2.5 mg of Lexapro exacerbates my anxiety 4 fold or more. I've even tried Depakote, Wellbutrin, and Nortriptaline. I feel like a guinny pig. Most of the meds give me excessive nausea to the point of gagging, some make me feel like I want to kill someone, most give me terrible headaches and dizzyness like others would describe as migraines. I get excessive diarrhea too with abodominal pains and stomach gurgling you can hear across the room.
What else can I do for this? My anxiety turned into GAD back in December, when my 39 y.o. brother passed away. I'm 38 and he was my best friend. I had what they use to call a nervous breakdown. The depression has settled, but the anxiety is all day from the time I wake up until I go to bed. The only thing that helps me is Xanax, which I take everyday, several times a day. I'm a Registered Nurse x14 years and can't work right now since March of 2007. I'm married with two kids 5 and 7. I have no worries in life and am financially secure. I only worry about how long this is going to last and when I will get well. I'm not the energetic lets do anything father I once was. I hate that I can't do more with my kids. I'm not even having panic attacks, it just severe anxiety. I'm only taking Xanax 1mg twice daily if that. I'm on Metorprolol 12.5mg twice daily, that keeps my heart from racing. I'm weaning off of Serzone which worked well for me for years, but stopped working and thats it. I like to think that I'm very intelligent, had a 3.6 GPA in college. I'm pretty street smart too....This anxiety has overtaken my body. I've had every lab test and workup you can imagine and everything is normal. I've even tried the homeopathci route without success.
Any advice would be appreciated...thanks
Gary
Posted by Netch on September 28, 2007, at 18:24:13
In reply to Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
Lyrica and Stablon (Tianeptine) might help you.
Netch
Posted by brooke484 on September 28, 2007, at 19:22:15
In reply to Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
Did you try to increase the Serzone before you went off it? Maybe you needed a higher dose.
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2007, at 19:59:43
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by brooke484 on September 28, 2007, at 19:22:15
Oh do I relate to you as I too am a registered nurse who turned her keys in when my thyroid went and the anxiety sky rocketed. Benzo have always been my main stay but going on 30 some odd years of benzos something is changeing don't know what in my body. As from extreme anxiety now severely tired. Have to have someone accompany me most of the time when going out. Been on all the SSRI's too only one in low doses I can tolerate is luvox with valium at bedtime. I have a pdoc appointment next week and am going to try and get a Rx for lyrica as 25mg is from what I hear good for anxiety. Also pain and getting older do have back pain. I do understand. It's horrible isn't it? So many things you want to do and try and suffer a shot of versed would feel good. Phillipa
Posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 20:06:20
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2007, at 19:59:43
I think we need to talk Phillipa. Email me your phone number to GARY1RN@YAHOO.COM and I will call you tomorrow, or I can send you my number if you give me your email address. Lets put our heads together. I have other ideas.......
Gary
Posted by johnj on September 28, 2007, at 20:13:50
In reply to Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
Are you sure the weaning off serzone is not causing the anxiety?
Also, you could have rebound anxiety after the xanax is washing out of your system.
Have you tried doxepin?
Also, for my anxiety the thing that has helped the most is running. At first, I could not do 1 minute of jogging. Now, I am up to 15 to 20 minutes and want to get that to 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week. If you can't jog just walk, and walk, and walk. I did that while starting my jogging. Instead of sitting at home on the computer and trying to find an answer distract yourself. If you walked 2 or 3 hours a day instead of ruminating it will help. It is almost impossible to be anxious while working out. I would weight lift too but my body has been beaten down and it is not time yet.
In addition, I have learned that just letting it go and not thinking about it has helped. I don't fight anything anymore. This has helped a lot.
BTW: I have gad/ocd and right now I am 3 months med free. I sleep ok some nights and some others I only get 3 hours. I just offer the bad days up for someone I love or who has passed away. I am still learning to let go as the cycle of life cannot be fought. Some days I do so well and am pretty in tune with everything but I have many bad days too. I just know that right now is one day and things will be different tomorrow, maybe not better, but different but they will get better.Meds are hard for me and right now I can't really take anything as my system is not ready for it. I am going to go for a year without anything and then make the decision to try something or not. NO ssri's or benzo's work for me they just make things worse. Seroquel was a disaster as was remeron.
My next choices are notryptiline which I have been on before or doxepin.
Seeking something spiritual also helps. I believe, and this is just me ok?, that we suffer due to original sin. So, we do the best we can.
I have had some luck with beta blockers like you. But, I use them sparingly.
I wish you luck and will pray for you. Peace
johnj
Posted by gary engel on September 28, 2007, at 20:19:27
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help » Gary Engel, posted by johnj on September 28, 2007, at 20:13:50
Your right about the exercise but haven't felt well enogh to lately due to the ssri side effects. I'm off the. Ssris now and still anious but not like the anxiety on the ssris. Be careful of nortryptaline. I smacked my son and was so irritable after only two days on it.
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2007, at 21:45:15
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help » Gary Engel, posted by johnj on September 28, 2007, at 20:13:50
Running kept undepressed for many years now my back as multiple problems back of a 70 something year old the ortho said so no running. The high I got from it was prenominal but walking is not an endorphin high for me it doesn't work. And I think the whole time. There has to be another solution. Gary you can babblemail me see my name is blue and click on it a blank page saying babblemail appears it goes to me directly like an e-mail and we can talk. Phillipa
Posted by Netch on September 29, 2007, at 7:19:56
In reply to Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
Another option for treating depression is lamictal... especially if your depression is associated with agitation. It's considered to have the best AD effect among the ACs.
/Netch
Posted by Netch on September 29, 2007, at 8:32:30
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Netch on September 29, 2007, at 7:19:56
Another option for anxiety is Buspar.
/Netch
Posted by johnj on September 30, 2007, at 8:55:04
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help » johnj, posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2007, at 21:45:15
They are other ways to get aerobic exercise besides running. It is the theory I meant not just running.
Posted by johnj on September 30, 2007, at 8:56:55
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by gary engel on September 28, 2007, at 20:19:27
Even when I don't have the energy I do something, even just walking. You will find just moving helps. To get energy you must expend some energy IMHO. At first I couldn't jog at all but worked up to it. It has been a life saver.
Posted by Phillipa on September 30, 2007, at 19:19:11
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help +raquo; Phillipa, posted by johnj on September 30, 2007, at 8:55:04
Johnny just meant running was the only one that worked for me. Phillipa
Posted by Aricay on October 22, 2007, at 19:28:43
In reply to Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Gary Engel on September 28, 2007, at 18:17:11
Gary, I too, cannot tolerate SSRI's and I have also tried this, that, and the other.
Lithium, for me has diffinately helped my depression. I was on neurontin and lorazepam (as needed) for about 2 years. Two months ago, I quit neurontin. It had stopped working for me.
I'm now on a low dose of lithium and Lyrica. I'm doing better, but I can't say anything, for sure about Lyrica - it hasn't been long enough.
Have you tried lithium or lorazepam?
Posted by Gary Engel on October 22, 2007, at 19:37:14
In reply to Re: Can't tolerate SSRI's, need advice for my GAD help, posted by Aricay on October 22, 2007, at 19:28:43
I take xanax as needed. I've been on serzone for a few years. Drs have tried to wean me off and on it. I can't get it as I go through major w/d. I also take a beta blocker and Klonopin 1mg twice per day. New doc added low dose lamictal and seroquel. The seroquel knocks me out even at 6.25mg. I ordered Stablon, a great European SSRE E stands for enhancer. He thinks I will tolerate this. My doc is internationally known for his extensive knowledge and research. I'm so sick of this.
This is the end of the thread.
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