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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 jono_in_adelaide on November 9, 2012, at 0:06:18
Went to the doctor on tuesday, and told him that there had been a significant increase in anxiety for no apparent reason, and that i had ti increase the Xanax to 1mg 3 x daily. Asked him what he thought we should do.
He thought we might double the Zoloft to 200mg/day, but he ordered some blood tests (I suspect that was just to buy him self time to think) and asked me to come back in a week.
I doubtr the increase in Zoloft will work (SSRI's dont seem to do anything for my anxiety) but I guess i have to try it.
My options as I see them are
*keep things as they are, and hope that it burns it self out
*increase the Zoloft and hope that this works
*change the Zoloft to Remeron and see if this helps
*as a last resort, try Nardil
any other ideas?
Posted by ChicagoKat on November 9, 2012, at 4:50:55
In reply to Anxiety redux, posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 9, 2012, at 0:06:18
> *change the Zoloft to Remeron and see if this helps
>
> *as a last resort, try Nardil
>
Hi Jono,I think in the long run the above two ideas are the best.
If it were me, I'd try the Remeron first. It felt blissful to me when I had anxiety. And it's obviously less of a hassle than Nardil. But, as you said, Nardil is always there as a last resort b/c it is very powerful against anxiety.
One thought: I know you recently went on Wellbutrin...it can cause anxiety/agitation in some people. It did for me, it was actually pretty serious anxiety; I couldn't get off the drug soon enough.
Just my 2 cents. I hope you find a solution that works well. I know anxiety can feel just awful; worse than depression to me.
Kat
Posted by brynb on November 9, 2012, at 6:55:28
In reply to Anxiety redux, posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 9, 2012, at 0:06:18
Hi Jono-
I suffer from bad anxiety too. I used to take benzos (a lot), but it became problematic due to my dependence, so I discontinued using them except on a prn basis.
I'm on Lexapro, and I find it to be an excellent AD for GAD, probably because it's the cleanest in terms of serotonin. Have you tried it before?
Also, I've been back in a depressed cycle recently, and anxiety has reared its ugly head again. My pdoc is an addiction specialist and we've tried everything under the sun for anxiolytics (in place of benzos) to no avail. Finally, he agreed to do a trial using Librium as (it was the only benzo I hadn't tried). He felt I wouldn't have any "association" with it compared to all the others. I have to say, although it's less potent than Xanax, Klonopin and Valium, it's been great so far. Have you tried it?
Perhaps Lexapro and/or Librium would be helpful in your situation--so far it's been really helpful for me.
Hope you feel better.
-b
Posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2012, at 8:52:39
In reply to Re: Anxiety redux » jono_in_adelaide, posted by brynb on November 9, 2012, at 6:55:28
Jono if taking wellbutrin it's true it's horrible for anxiety. One week of it and I was taken off it. As for remeron strangely I took 15mg of it at a time when couldn't sleep even on benzos and it did nothing so went off in a month. No withdrawal either. I've heard that zoloft can be good for PTSD types of anxiety. Keep plugging away. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 10, 2012, at 2:46:49
In reply to Re: Anxiety redux » jono_in_adelaide, posted by brynb on November 9, 2012, at 6:55:28
Hi Brya
tried lexapro and it was no better than Zoloft
Librium was withdrawn from sale in Australia many years ago because the sales were so low Roch decided it wasnt worth the hastle of continued marketing.
The benzos here are
diazepam (Valium)
oxazepam (Serax)
temazepam (restoril)
nitrazepam(mogadon, sleeping pill)
flunitrazepam (rohypnol, sleeping pill)
alprazolam (Xanax)
bromazapam (Lexotan, tranquilizer)
lorazepam (Ativan)
clobazam (a 1,5 benzodiazepine, tranquilizer)
clonazepam (Klonopin - only approved and marketed for epilepsy here)The benzos i have tried have been oxazepam, diazepam and alprazolam, and i have found alprazolam to be the most usefull. I am tempted to try clonazepam because of its long half life, if the doc will let me.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 10, 2012, at 2:48:55
In reply to Re: Anxiety redux, posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2012, at 8:52:39
Hi Phillipa, the Welbutrin hasnt made the anxiety worse (or better) but I might stop it and switch back to Edronax (another NARI) to see if that helps any
Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2012, at 20:04:58
In reply to Re: Anxiety redux, posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 10, 2012, at 2:48:55
I wonder why it effected me that way? Phillipa
Posted by brynb on November 10, 2012, at 22:04:28
In reply to Re: Anxiety redux, posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 10, 2012, at 2:46:49
Hi Jono-
I'm surprised Lexapro wasn't better than Zoloft for you; it's truly the cleanest (and only "real") SRI--I personally respond really positively to its pure serotonergic action for my anxiety. Are you open to giving it another shot? Maybe you need a higher dose? Perhaps it would be good for you in combination with Klonopin.
Klonopin is great for anxiety, and as you know, it has a super-long half-life like Valium. It's used as a mood stabilizer, too. Many find it to be a depressant, but I find that's kept in check by a good AD.
Again, I've tried everything under the sun for anxiety, including the off-label and out-of-box meds, and the only ones that work for me are benzos. I'm currently doing well with Librium, but I just started, so I don't want to jinx myself!
Good luck and do keep me posted--hope you feel better soon!
-b
Posted by Meltingpot on November 18, 2012, at 13:31:15
In reply to Anxiety redux, posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 9, 2012, at 0:06:18
Hi,
Have you tried Zyprexa, 10mg of Zyprexa when I'm really bad, on the verge of suicide, makes me feel so much better. It really helps with the physical sensations of anxiety.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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