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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Siobhan_VA on August 23, 2004, at 9:07:43
My first post to Dr. Bob... Anxiety is debiliating my life. I have been under some very stressful life situations some of these things include; grief/family-reorg./possible move overseas. I suffered from very serious anxiety several years ago and was treated, now it's back.
I am seeing a counselor, and have tried several med's but they were all making me so sick and increased my anxiety ten-fold. I tried Zoloft/Paxil/Remeron (which worked for 2 yrs)/Wellbutrin/Effexor XR which all made me so sick and I am being treated now with Lexapro. I have yet to see any real positive help from this yet (it's been only 5 days) but have noticed my side-effects become less severe.
I had been treated years ago for anxiety and the fears of being alone and was medicated with Remeron. My new doc opposes this med since it is a bit older.
Since the sudden death in my family and other life stressors I've been in several grief groups but my old anxiety has come back to haunt me and now I am also fighting depression. I am at a loss and need advice.
I plan to stick with the Lexapro but the insomnia, nausea and increased anxiety are scaring me off. Is there hope with this med? I am so physically exhausted and I have again lost a lot of weight. I am 5' 5" and now weigh 114lbs. I am afraid b/c this is how I lost 30 lbs. randomly 3 years ago due to anxiety. I got help from my family then, but can not do that now. My Mom died and my father re-married.
Anyone suggestions on how I can sleep and eat and function?
Thank you so much.
Posted by Beatrix34 on August 23, 2004, at 13:34:23
In reply to Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Siobhan_VA on August 23, 2004, at 9:07:43
Hi Siobhan -
My real name too by the way...funny. Anyway, your worls sounds all too familiar to me. I too lost a amily member, got married, moved to another country, and quit my job of 12 years...ouch. It is totally normal to be feeling anxiety and depression...these are huge things to deal with.
I went on Effexor as well..not good for me, and then they switched me to Lexapro. It was really tough for the first few weeks as it can initially increase your anxiety and moodiness, as well as give you insomnia. I took Simply Sleep to help me (same as Tylenol PM, without the acetaminaphine), it worked wonders for me. Lexapro is a REALLY good drug but one that you need to have patience with as it can take between 6 and 8 weeks to see the true effects. I have found it to be great though...only a couple of S/E's for me.
Hang in there, it gets better!
Posted by Mariposa on August 23, 2004, at 14:25:42
In reply to Re: Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Beatrix34 on August 23, 2004, at 13:34:23
Ditto.....have been on Lex 16+ mos. w/good results. First few weeks were really tough for me, and it took 9 weeks before I felt improvement, but it was worth it.
Best of luck!~~~8|8
Posted by invisiblemanpa on August 23, 2004, at 16:34:40
In reply to Re: Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Mariposa on August 23, 2004, at 14:25:42
You are not alone. Over the past 4 plus years, I have faced the death of my father to Alzeiheimers, a horrible bitter divorce in which I lost everything, bankruptcy, moving away from my children and loss of my professional career...through all of this I developed severe depression and horrible socail anxiety...the anxiety I had been dealing with my whole adult life, but just kinda ran away from things when it was bad..not it is debilitating....I have been the route with all the serzone, paxil,zoloft, wellbutrin which all made me crazy with side effects (except the serzone which did nothing)...this summer I had good luck with a change to remeron, a low dose of effexor xr and ativan..it worked great until I thought I was ready to tackle a professional position and move...I fell apart in weeks....it was like everything quit working....I resigned and returned to my Mother's house......I sit here now, with a Masters and life time of experiance and unable to use it..thinking about applying for disability..and hoping the meds. kick in again. Of course my psy doc will not see me early....I know that I would be lost without some type of benzo...the ativan is definately starting to poop out on me..I want to try klonopin ...of course if the almighty Psy. doc will let me....I have had luck with Xanax in the past but in the long run it ended up like the Ativan....now I am just lost in PA.........
Good luck...
Posted by Catgirl on August 23, 2004, at 18:48:58
In reply to Re: Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Mariposa on August 23, 2004, at 14:25:42
Posted by cpallen79 on August 23, 2004, at 19:43:11
In reply to Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Siobhan_VA on August 23, 2004, at 9:07:43
Please do not get stressed from my response, but have you considered the notion that you may have a latent bipolar disorder that is aggravated by life stress? It sounds like you are in the midsts of an agitated depression, which CAN be a part of the bipolar spectrum. Perhaps see if you meet any of the other criteria for BP, and if not, then perhaps BP is not correct... if you do, you may want to consider adding in a mood stabilizer to assist in that debilitating anxiety. Also, use a benzo as needed that is longer acting like Ativan, Valium, or Klonopin. Finally, if you feel any worse, you need to consider hospitalization to stabilize yourself...I cannot emphasize this enough!!!!!! I really wish I had done that when I had gone through the worse of my problems back in February, rather than sitting and suffering.
Best of luck,
Chris
> My first post to Dr. Bob... Anxiety is debiliating my life. I have been under some very stressful life situations some of these things include; grief/family-reorg./possible move overseas. I suffered from very serious anxiety several years ago and was treated, now it's back.
>
> I am seeing a counselor, and have tried several med's but they were all making me so sick and increased my anxiety ten-fold. I tried Zoloft/Paxil/Remeron (which worked for 2 yrs)/Wellbutrin/Effexor XR which all made me so sick and I am being treated now with Lexapro. I have yet to see any real positive help from this yet (it's been only 5 days) but have noticed my side-effects become less severe.
>
> I had been treated years ago for anxiety and the fears of being alone and was medicated with Remeron. My new doc opposes this med since it is a bit older.
>
> Since the sudden death in my family and other life stressors I've been in several grief groups but my old anxiety has come back to haunt me and now I am also fighting depression. I am at a loss and need advice.
>
> I plan to stick with the Lexapro but the insomnia, nausea and increased anxiety are scaring me off. Is there hope with this med? I am so physically exhausted and I have again lost a lot of weight. I am 5' 5" and now weigh 114lbs. I am afraid b/c this is how I lost 30 lbs. randomly 3 years ago due to anxiety. I got help from my family then, but can not do that now. My Mom died and my father re-married.
>
> Anyone suggestions on how I can sleep and eat and function?
>
> Thank you so much.
Posted by flipsactown on August 23, 2004, at 23:46:34
In reply to Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Siobhan_VA on August 23, 2004, at 9:07:43
I have been on Lexapro over 2 months and am depression free. I have been on AD's for over 13 years of which 7 years I was on Prozac. However, Prozac pooped out after 7 years and I decided to try Lexapro. It took 45 days before I realized that I was depression free. The first couple of weeks were bad for me as I was very fatigued and experienced insomnia. These side effects do subside, so hang tough, think positive and in 5 to 7 weeks, hopefully, you should be feeling the AD effects of Lexapro. I am currently taking 30mg, but started at 10mg. Good luck.
FST
> My first post to Dr. Bob... Anxiety is debiliating my life. I have been under some very stressful life situations some of these things include; grief/family-reorg./possible move overseas. I suffered from very serious anxiety several years ago and was treated, now it's back.
>
> I am seeing a counselor, and have tried several med's but they were all making me so sick and increased my anxiety ten-fold. I tried Zoloft/Paxil/Remeron (which worked for 2 yrs)/Wellbutrin/Effexor XR which all made me so sick and I am being treated now with Lexapro. I have yet to see any real positive help from this yet (it's been only 5 days) but have noticed my side-effects become less severe.
>
> I had been treated years ago for anxiety and the fears of being alone and was medicated with Remeron. My new doc opposes this med since it is a bit older.
>
> Since the sudden death in my family and other life stressors I've been in several grief groups but my old anxiety has come back to haunt me and now I am also fighting depression. I am at a loss and need advice.
>
> I plan to stick with the Lexapro but the insomnia, nausea and increased anxiety are scaring me off. Is there hope with this med? I am so physically exhausted and I have again lost a lot of weight. I am 5' 5" and now weigh 114lbs. I am afraid b/c this is how I lost 30 lbs. randomly 3 years ago due to anxiety. I got help from my family then, but can not do that now. My Mom died and my father re-married.
>
> Anyone suggestions on how I can sleep and eat and function?
>
> Thank you so much.
Posted by crazychickuk on August 24, 2004, at 5:38:15
In reply to Old Anxiety returns...Sudden Death... Lexapro Q's, posted by Siobhan_VA on August 23, 2004, at 9:07:43
Sorry i can no be of any help.. i just want to say i am sorry for your loss.. ((((BIG HUGS))))
This is the end of the thread.
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