Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 835991

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Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

Meds: Lamictal 75mg down from 100mg about a week ago, maybe less. Zoloft 100mg, Meoprolol 25mg bid, Xanax XR 1mg bid, Klonopin 1mg bid, Regular Xanax 0.5mg prn

Last 3 days, my anxiety has been non-stop, which is not normal for me. I can usually get rid of it with a 0.5mg prn Xanax. Last three days, I've been taking extra Xanax XR, Klonopin and extra fast acting Xanax.

Symptoms are: weird feeling in chest, short of breath, some depersonalizing (comes and goes). Beta blocker keeping HR under control thank god. It's so bad I feel like being admitted somewhere. I have no change in my life, no added stress, etc. What the hell could be going on and what do I do ? Psych doc. on vacation, figures... Oh and BTW, I'm getting so tired from the extra benzos that I go to lay down in bed and the anxiety is still brewing. How can that be with such fatigue. ??????????

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by dbc on June 22, 2008, at 22:38:32

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

You're having a prolonged panic attack. I've ended up in ERs many times because of them. The best thing to do at this point is to accept that you've lost control and to wait. Being worried about it will only make it worse.

Also it might have been the drop in lamictal but theres no way to prove that.

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS » dbc

Posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2008, at 0:27:01

In reply to Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by dbc on June 22, 2008, at 22:38:32

I thought panic attacks could only last a short time? What is your age could it be heart? Hows your pulse and breathing? I'd think the benzos would work never had problems of anxiety with 50mg of lamictal when on it. Any other meds you're on? Phillipa

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2008, at 0:29:15

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

Above post meant for original thread starter. That is how my thyroid started. Incredible anxiety. Maybe you should call a hospital and see what they say?? Love Phillipa

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by dbc on June 23, 2008, at 3:30:18

In reply to Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS » dbc, posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2008, at 0:27:01

I've had over 12 EKGs in 2 years, my heart is fine im just neurotic. Rolling panic attacks are rare but happen. The effects from previous panics cause more panics and after 6 hours or so your whole chest hurts which causes all sorts of other panics.

You'll swear to god you're dying and even some doctors might think you are with a BP spiking 200/105 but you'll live. A heavy dose of benzos usually cures it but sometimes that isnt available. My doctors know to never ever keep me without valium no matter how much i have to take now.

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by johnj on June 23, 2008, at 9:40:07

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

Gary:

Because I deal with the same problem often I agree that you just have to accept it as panic and let it go. MUCH easier said than done, I know this and have to keep telling myself too.

I have big problems with lamictal causing restlessness. I still have attacks (a very bad Sunday) and I have accepted, but not totally, that there is not much I can do. I don't know if this helps at all as panic just keeps coming. Srri's were terrible for me.

I know you tried a TCA and you thought about something called NE syndrome. How much time did you give it and did you try other tca's? They do take weeks to work so maybe a sedating one is better. There are options.

Also, you need to get your body moving and find some distraction. Sitting at home will just let you think and think. You need to break the routine. I employ meditation, breathing exercises to help me. They don't work right away but you need to get into the habit of doing things everyday. Right now as I type this I have a tight chest. That is what it is for me.

Good luck.

johnj

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS » Mike_Cohen_2

Posted by yxibow on June 23, 2008, at 15:51:23

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

> Meds: Lamictal 75mg down from 100mg about a week ago, maybe less. Zoloft 100mg, Meoprolol 25mg bid, Xanax XR 1mg bid, Klonopin 1mg bid, Regular Xanax 0.5mg prn
>
> Last 3 days, my anxiety has been non-stop, which is not normal for me. I can usually get rid of it with a 0.5mg prn Xanax. Last three days, I've been taking extra Xanax XR, Klonopin and extra fast acting Xanax.
>
> Symptoms are: weird feeling in chest, short of breath, some depersonalizing (comes and goes). Beta blocker keeping HR under control thank god. It's so bad I feel like being admitted somewhere. I have no change in my life, no added stress, etc. What the hell could be going on and what do I do ? Psych doc. on vacation, figures... Oh and BTW, I'm getting so tired from the extra benzos that I go to lay down in bed and the anxiety is still brewing. How can that be with such fatigue. ??????????


Yes - I would agree that it sounds like a panic attack. Your natural fight or flight system is kicking in and rather strongly it sounds.

And also, I wouldn't rule out the psychodynamics that your psychologist is on vacation -- that brings up fears for some.

He or she should have though a pager # or the like signed out to another doctor, if you need to contact -- that's professional courtesy and usually law.


Just go easy on the multiple mixtures of benzodiazepines -- they have slightly different properties and reaching for all sorts of jars without counting up what is going on could just make your moods unstable.


I'm sure some of us have been through them, some quite strong -- the thing to do is to, and this is really hard, to force yourself out of the bedroom and do something that sounds really boring I know, like walking around the block for a while.

Just getting outside can block these things (unless you're extremely agoraphobic, but even then, aversion therapy sometimes works -- but that's for a doctor to decide).

If its a persistent symptom a low dose of something like Seroquel may need to be added, but that's down the line.


-- best wishes

Jay

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by bleauberry on June 23, 2008, at 18:07:22

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

You might consider going back to 100mg lamictal, stabilize, then retry reducing to 75mg. In the meantime, any thyroid alterations should be settled to baseline. Can't do much to change the thyroid factor at this point, but you can get lamictal back to where it was temporarily just to remove that as a factor. When stabilized with some new confidence, then proceed again. This time, do only one thing at a time.

As a sidenote, 100mg to 75mg might be too big of a jump. I mean, sure, it is common. That doesn't mean it is ok for you. A good rule of thumb for any med is to reduce dose no faster than 10% per week. That would mean some pill cutting with a knife or blade to custom sizes, and going from 100mg to 90mg to 80mg and so on, roughly, at whatever speed you find comfortable.

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by Marty on June 26, 2008, at 13:32:03

In reply to Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by dbc on June 22, 2008, at 22:38:32


Lamictal can be difficul to diminish/withdraw for some anxious people. Been there, done that... panic attacks and depersonalisation was at the party for me... and for only cutting 25mg of the dose.

Hang on.
/\/\arty

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by ideation on June 27, 2008, at 14:44:51

In reply to Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Marty on June 26, 2008, at 13:32:03

I feel really bad for you. Especially because I just went through the same thing and it lasted just like that for almost two weeks. I wanted to be admitted I wanted to kill myself. I didn't know why it was happening, and I'm terrified of medications. So I sat there with a bottle of Xanax that I was unable to take. I know this might sound lame but it kind of helped for me. I just kept working on my breathing and spent time with my family and kept in mind that I could always go to the emergency room if I needed to. Mine went away after I started doing my normal activities I had stopped doing. It was really hard. I wish the best of luck to you.

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by Zyprexa on June 27, 2008, at 20:57:29

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

The only thing for my panic attacks and anxiety, is zyprexa. Works every time. Just take them every day and no problems. If I stop taking it I will usualy run into problems.

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS » Mike_Cohen_2

Posted by Zyprexa on June 27, 2008, at 20:59:59

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

I would not be supprised if the anxiety could be fixed with going back up on Lamictal. Just a guess. Why did you cut down on that one?

 

Re: Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS

Posted by blueboy on June 28, 2008, at 10:48:31

In reply to Anxiety all of a sudden is OFF THE CHARTS, posted by Mike_Cohen_2 on June 22, 2008, at 21:15:58

One possibility is a mixed bipolar episode. I only suggest this because a cycle is one possible explanation for "anxiety out of nowhere".


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