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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tiffanywp on September 18, 2005, at 21:27:55
firstly - so glad i found this site - thanks to all who have and continue to respond to my posts.
hate to tell story again so in short - having troubles i contribute to hormones...irritablilty to the point of rage, weepiness and panic attacks.
the panic attacks are the MOST bothersome - have had two in two weeks and now am textbook in that am afraid of having another...so am associating things/people where the two happened...thus effecting daily life.
also besides the full on P.As have had a sort of anxiety for a while abt P.As b/c have had before - just not in a while.
SOooooo - have OB appt tom. they have already on phone said lexapro - i am scared of SSRI - i have a xanax scrip. i have been taking since the panic attack fri - i take 1/2 or 3/4 of a .5 and it works - makes me super tired and i feel sort of wasted - i am so senstive to drugs - at least no panic tho.
so if i kept w/ just xan. would the wasted feeling go away? or should i try ativan or klonopine daily? or as needed? i dont trust the doc - they are willing to call in lex over phone and put me on SSRI w/out even seeing me. or am i insane and b.c of this anxiety i actually need a SSRI? or try the Benzo's first and then move onto SSRI if needed?
what to do? PLEASE help ASAP.......would be great since appt is tom. THANKS!
Posted by Glydin on September 19, 2005, at 7:51:37
In reply to Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 18, 2005, at 21:27:55
I did a benzo alone for 3 years and that worked well for me - for the most part. I had tried SSRI's initially and had a wretched time with them. However, long term benzo use can lead to depression and I do think that's what could have happened with me - or at least, it was contributing factor to the fact that a clinical level depression did happen to me. Anxiety and panic are my primary symptoms, but depressive symptoms aren't much fun either and when my anxiety is ill controlled, I have depressive symptoms also - so it's a chicken versus the egg thing for me.
For a LONG time, I really thought anxiety as a stand alone DX was underrated. I still believe that to a degree, but I have learned of the very close relationship anxiety, panic, and depression have.
Lexapro has been a good med for me. I swore I would never try another SSRI, but I'm glad I went back on that swear to myself.
For me, the combo of a low dose benzo and Lex is good. I did experience startup anxiety with Lex and a benzo certainly helped with that. It took a litte while for times to straighten out, but things did get much better. I think it's very difficult for us anxiety proned to remain with a med long enough to reap it's benefits due to the nature of an anxiety disorder itself, but it can sometimes be well worth it. There are indeed chemical interventions that can help but there is a "getting through" we must endure.
Good Luck
Posted by tiffanywp on September 19, 2005, at 9:01:32
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI » tiffanywp, posted by Glydin on September 19, 2005, at 7:51:37
> I did a benzo alone for 3 years and that worked well for me - for the most part. I had tried SSRI's initially and had a wretched time with them. However, long term benzo use can lead to depression and I do think that's what could have happened with me - or at least, it was contributing factor to the fact that a clinical level depression did happen to me. Anxiety and panic are my primary symptoms, but depressive symptoms aren't much fun either and when my anxiety is ill controlled, I have depressive symptoms also - so it's a chicken versus the egg thing for me.
>
> For a LONG time, I really thought anxiety as a stand alone DX was underrated. I still believe that to a degree, but I have learned of the very close relationship anxiety, panic, and depression have.
>
> Lexapro has been a good med for me. I swore I would never try another SSRI, but I'm glad I went back on that swear to myself.
>
> For me, the combo of a low dose benzo and Lex is good. I did experience startup anxiety with Lex and a benzo certainly helped with that. It took a litte while for times to straighten out, but things did get much better. I think it's very difficult for us anxiety proned to remain with a med long enough to reap it's benefits due to the nature of an anxiety disorder itself, but it can sometimes be well worth it. There are indeed chemical interventions that can help but there is a "getting through" we must endure.
>
> Good LuckHEY - did the lex make you gain weight? this is another huge problem for me -one of my MAIN fears of getting on an SSRI is the potential weight gain- i refuse to gain a single pound. that will send me spiraling into a depression.
Posted by Glydin on September 19, 2005, at 10:31:34
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 19, 2005, at 9:01:32
> HEY - did the lex make you gain weight? this is another huge problem for me -one of my MAIN fears of getting on an SSRI is the potential weight gain- i refuse to gain a single pound. that will send me spiraling into a depression.Not so far. It's been seven months. If anything it's curbed my appetite. That wasn't altogether a good thing for me as I'm underweight mostly and my response to severe stress is not eating.
Posted by spriggy on September 19, 2005, at 12:54:35
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 19, 2005, at 9:01:32
I was on lexapro for a short period of time ( a little less than two months) but I *lost* weight while on it. I didn't gain any weight.
I think if anxiety and panic attacks are your main symptoms, I would stick with a benzo on an as needed basis instead of something daily.
My symptoms are identical to yours and SSRI's only made me wig out more ( weird depression and slung me in and out of cycling).
Lexapro made me feel like I was an a bad acid trip. Xanex always has helped my anxiety. You could ask for Klonopin because it stays in your system much longer-- it helps better to alleviate rebound anxiety.
Hope you find answers soon. I know how tough it is.
Posted by Bill LL on September 20, 2005, at 11:18:44
In reply to Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 18, 2005, at 21:27:55
I would recommend taking Lexapro each day, and use the benzo on an as needed basis.
Posted by tiffanywp on September 20, 2005, at 19:06:05
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI, posted by Bill LL on September 20, 2005, at 11:18:44
> I would recommend taking Lexapro each day, and use the benzo on an as needed basis.
Why Bill LL? is this your path? does it work? do you have anxiety? did you gain weight? TIA :)
Posted by tizza on September 21, 2005, at 3:32:23
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 20, 2005, at 19:06:05
My personal experience with ssri's is that they made me gain weight. I personally prefer benzo's because I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and social phobia. I'm on efexor which has helped with anxiety but I want off them because I don't think they are helping too much. I know benzo's are VERY addictive but they seem to help me more. One other thing, coming off ssri's is not a very plesent experience as is coming off benzo's, but I found that the ssri experience was much more worse for me than coming off benzo's. What ever route you take just remember to taper off all these kind of drugs very, very slowly. Hope I was of some help!
Posted by Bill LL on September 22, 2005, at 15:49:14
In reply to Re: Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 20, 2005, at 19:06:05
I have been on Lexapro, and it's cousin Celexa, for years with no weight gain. But like the other SSRI's, it often causes a degree of sexual dysfunction which is dose related. That's the main side effect sthat people complain about.
Benzos have less side effects than SSRI's, the main one being daytime tiredness. Lexapro can cause daytime tiredness also, but generally not as much as Benzos. But at low doses, the tiredness caused by both types of drugs is not too bad.
The biggest problem with benzos is that with long term use they tend to be less effective. When one raises the dose, it regains it's effectiveness against anxiety, but it may cause more tiredness during the day.
SSRI's also usually require dose increases over time. But even at higher doses, they usually don't cause as much tiredness as benzos.
Also, after long term use, benzos can cause a certain degree of depression in some people.
So I sort of think that a combination of the 2 might be the best approach. And that way, you might be able to keep the dose of each one lower than if you took one without the other.
> > I would recommend taking Lexapro each day, and use the benzo on an as needed basis.
>
>
> Why Bill LL? is this your path? does it work? do you have anxiety? did you gain weight? TIA :)
>
Posted by Bill LL on September 22, 2005, at 15:57:00
In reply to Benzo or SSRI, posted by tiffanywp on September 18, 2005, at 21:27:55
I'm sorry. I just submitted my post and forgot to answer your other question. I personally have EXTREME anxiety all of the time when not medicated.
My current psycho-active drugs are: Lexapro (35 mg), Provigil (400 mg), and I just started Lamictal last week. I also take a beta blocker for mild hypertension, but it also is known to have a certain anti-anxiety affect (beta blockers can lower physical anxiety, not the worrying kind).
I'm trying Lamictal to see if it allows me to lower my dose of Lexapro. Although Lexapro does a good job of controlling both my anxiety and depression, it has given me bad sexual side effects at 40 mg.
The Provigil (sort of a stimulant) further helps with my anxiety, and also helps with my ADD.
I have never tried benzos, but they are great for anxiety. I would not hesitate to use them in the future if I need to.
This is the end of the thread.
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