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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CLAIREZ on July 28, 2001, at 13:07:26
I've been struggling w/my internist to find help for
my anxiety and mood swings. I'm on Wellbutrin as I had previous success w/zyban and no/few side effects. With the addition of only 15mg (7.5 mg twice/day)I became ill - flu like symptoms, neck pain, head pain and massive sweating as you'd expect with a high fever.
So...off that. I don't believe I am depressed. My main gripe is that (sans tobacco) I have trouble keeping calm - get wound up and anxious and often, when feeling irritable, this huge tension mounts that I could just hit someone/thing or lash out. Not good for relationships at work/home. So in reviewing my mental history - I've been a hair-puller (once pulled out all my hair halfway up my head (underneath). While it grew back I off and on still pull at any available hair. I spent so long so embarrassed in case the wind blew my hair and the massive bald zone was exposed.I'm fearful of being diagnosed incorrectly and medicated in an inappropriate fashion. I had no luck with Prozac (urge to drive off the road)and had trouble finding words, and Serzone left me weepy and totally unable to drive/stand and zombie-like.
My doctor is suggesting Paxil - I'm afraid of withdrawal and side effects.
Does anybody have similar experiences and tips?
Thanks,
Posted by mila on July 28, 2001, at 15:00:34
In reply to Need diagnosis help!, posted by CLAIREZ on July 28, 2001, at 13:07:26
Dear Clairez,
it seems that you've got an anxiety disorder and some substance-related disorder (tobacco dependency). Understand, that you are using tobacco as a depressant (which is very clever of you), to calm yourself down, and eventually became dependant on it.
Paxil should've been tried from the start. Do not worry about the side effects and withdrawal. Side effects are very much tolerable and tend to go away. Give yourself (and the medication) some time to work and cure you (several months, at least). By the time you'll be going through withdrawal (if at all)you will be so healthy you will be able to withstand them rather easily.
Psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral kind) is a must. people like you and me who are predisposed to anxiety are very intense thinkers, but they engage in thought processes without accompanying images. This prevents the person from seeing the feared situation and the adaptation never occurs. Therapy will help you to process the information on an emotional level, using images, and teach you how to deal with difficulties in life consciously. This will empower you greatly.
although anxiety and mood disorders are two different classes of disorders, they are frequently and successfully treated with similar medication. Do not let this fool you into thinking that you have depression. Although many anxiety sufferers do become depressed, the anxiety disorder is the one that should be treated first and foremost.
Medication also affected my recall (trouble with finding words, as you put it), but only the immediate recall. I dealt with it by doing memory exercises. I discovered, that generally, my memory improved very much as a result of medication, because emotions do not block it as much as before.
Please, keep posting.
love
mila
Posted by stjames on July 29, 2001, at 2:19:15
In reply to Need diagnosis help!, posted by CLAIREZ on July 28, 2001, at 13:07:26
> I'm fearful of being diagnosed incorrectly and medicated in an inappropriate fashion.
James here....
Then stop seeing an Internist, as this is out of his specality. What you describe is the specality
of a Pdoc.james
Posted by Gracie2 on August 1, 2001, at 3:24:22
In reply to Re: Need diagnosis help!, posted by stjames on July 29, 2001, at 2:19:15
A few recommendations:
As SJ said, you need a psychiatrist instead of an internist.
Second, you may wish to read up on the psychiatric medications available. I have found this particular website to be a goldmine of information on the advantages and disadvantages of many available antidepressants.
Do not be afraid to voice your fears to the psychiatrist and do not be disappointed if your medication does not have an immediate effect, as many of them take some time to work. You may also require a combination of medications for optimal results, which may take some experimentation, although this doesn't mean you've been misdiagnosed. Although it can be a pain, think of all the time and trouble you devote to being unhappy. Surely it is worth the same effort to be happy and feel well.
-Gracie
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