anxiety...advice PLEASE!

  • Thread starter Thread starter osu6238
  • Start date Start date
O

osu6238

Guest
I have been living with anxiety/panic attacks for a few years now. The anxiety is always there, but it is especially worse in social situations, which leaRAB me to believe I have some sort of social anxiety as well. Right before college, my doctor put me on Prozac. I was on this medication for almost 2 years (10mg-small dose) and definitely noticed some changes. I didn't really seem to have the anxiety anymore (only nervousness when people are typically nervous...like giving a speech which seems normal). Since I wasn't anxious much anymore, I stayed on Prozac up until last May. I decided to go off the Prozac in May because along with decreased anxiety I became lazier, more tired, and lost some interest in sex. I know these aren't reasons to just take yourself off something, but being 20 with a boyfriend and not desiring sex much sucks! Anyway, going off the meRAB was no problem for a long time. I had a great summer with more energy and the anxiety did not really seem to come back. Come Deceraber, my anxiety came back full force along with PANIC ATTACKS which I had never experienced. It got to the point where I couldn't even go out to dinner with my boyfriend without freaking out. Desperate and regretful for going off of it, I put myself back on Prozac since I had a bottle left from before. This was a bad mistake. For some reason the second time around, my body would not take the Prozac. I threw up every day and got awful panic attacks. So after only about 5 days, I quit self medicating with the Prozac. I went to my doctor 2 months ago and he gave me Buspar, which has been about the most worthless thing of my life, and Ativan, which only works to calm me down, but doesn't help control my anxiety and social fears. At this point I am just looking for any advice. I know I should go back to my doctor and I plan to, but it is nice to talk to people who know what I'm going through. I don't think Buspar or Benzos (like Ativan) are the way to go and I think I may need an SSRI, but Prozac gave me hell when I tried it again. Somebody recommended Zoloft to me. If anybody could tell me their thoughts on Buspar, Prozac, Zoloft I would appreciate it. Also, I heard SSRI's can make you worse for awhile so maybe I should have just hung in there. I just want to be myself again and stop fearing life!!
 
I was put on paxil recently. My doc says it's the drug of choice for anxiety. It didn't help me much, but i really think my anxiety was just related to some very stressful events in my life right before it all started and i'm doing better just trying to deal on my own. I know some people who paxil is great for. Really i just wanted to say, maybe there is something in your life that is causing you problems. Anxiety is the mind trying to cope, so try taking out some bad factors in your life and get to the root of it all.
 
Hi - I was initially placed on Lexapro for anxiety. Stayed on it for about 6 weeks then came off, due to terrible side effects that wouldn't go away. I tried Buspar with much more success. It took a couple of weeks for it to kick in though. Its alot different than the ususal SSRI's, its in another class by itself. So sometimes I may experince some anxiety, but the Buspar helps me deal with it better. The Lexapro took away the anxiety completely but I was like a zorabie.
 
Reading your post, I just want to cry! This is exactly how I feel alot of the time too. I have a great life, awesome husband, 3 kiRAB, but panic/anxiety is ruining it. At times I feel great, not a care in the world... then out of nowhere it strikes. I am taking a beta blocker called Toprol XL and also Xanax but I don't know if the Toprol is doing anything yet... only been on it for a week. I do great on Xanax but my PCP only prescribes it in very small doses. I have not taken anything like SSRI yet. I'm too afraid of the side effects. Anyway just wanted to say hang in there -- I hope we all feel better soon!
 
Back
Top