Anxiety....what to do??

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granny0

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Hey BCKN,

I've been where you are. Switched from Paxil (which worked for anxiety for me but not depression) to Lexapro, which after a month, I was worse, not better. Then switched to Zoloft and that's the AD I do best on. Recently increased from 100 mg a day to 200 mg and 5 mg of abilify. Slowing coming out of the dark hole. I would suggest you try something other than the Lexapro - works for some, not for others.

Best wishes,

JB
 
For those of you that don't know my "story"...I tried to taper at home off of a percocet/vicodin addiction and it caused massive anxiety and panic attacks. I ended up going into detox and on a five day suboxone treatment. I felt GREAT while I was there. Also, right before I went in, I started on lexapro. The first week I was home, I felt pretty good, but a little blue perhaps and had night sweats. I was taking vistaril to sleep and sleeping well.

Anyway, a few nights ago I started feeling like I had drank 1,000 cups of coffee and my insides were jumping. I had 2 nights of the WORST RLS that I think was from the visturil, so I stopped taking it. I cut my lexapro down (per doctors orders) thinking it was causing the jittery feeling and now that is gone, but I am back in full blown anxiety attacks. I can barely function, take care of my kiRAB, go out in public, talk to people. It sucks.

I know I can take xanax or klonopin, but I am so scared of anything addictive. Please help, I was doing SO well....now I feel like I am back at square one......it's been 16 days since I had any opiates and 11 days since stopping suboxone....
 
Hi,
I went through the same thing. I felt great for 3 weeks and then I crashed. Slowly I went off the replace ment drugs and it still felt like hell. 7 weeks after it all stared I began to feel back to my old self. It was slow and ugly. I thought I was going to loss my mind. But it passed. I stayed off the offer of more drugs to “get me through”. I feel good today. Hold on tight you feel better. This is normal, your brain is still trying to get back to base line.
Oxox,
der
 
What does the abilify do? I'm on 100mg of zoloft too and it works alright. I tried going up to 150 once and I got extremely nauseated.
 
I take it in the morning with the Zoloft and have noticed that I am not nearly as tired as I was prior to taking it. It has also helped with more positive thoughts - my doc said it helps with racing thoughts so I guess it has.

Good luck,

JB
 
Thanks for the reply! What did you do in the meantime to get through though? I can barely function right now and just wish I was not here (no - I am not suicidal, i swear, just wish I was never born type of thing). I have 2 kiRAB to take care of. Part of me thinks I should keep up on the lexapro, but then the other thing is I wonder if it is causing the whole process of feeling normal to be delayed? Would the lexapro prevent me from naturally getting my brain better?
 
I can sympathize with what you are going through. I have 3 kiRAB under the age of 5 at home and went through something similar.

I can suggest what worked for me when I got anxious. Meditation and yoga. When you start to get the jitters or feel them coming on, find a place to sit quietly and focus on your breath. Breathe in deeply and slowly through your nose, then let it out through your mouth slowly. Do this until you calm yourself.

Yoga is another great tool for a lot of things. You don't need to be a contortionist either. There are many "poses" that relieve stress and anxiety. Also, you get benefits from the stretching.

Good luck, you'll make it through.
 
if you have panic attacks. takeing a low dose of benzo may help .if it is perminent . i have known people that have taken small amounts for years an live alot better life . yes me an i am an addict been taking the same amount of klonapin for 5 years now with no need to up my dose . at first my md had me on 1mg 3 times a day .an after about 3 months i was ending up with extra pills the afternoon pill so we droped it back to 2 an 4+ years later it helps tramedously . go figure with my past an all why i take it with vigelence. alot of drug addicts an alcolholics develope anxiety over time or in my case my md said i had it all my life it just got at my nerves. an my past drug use may have played a role or not . good luck scott. try it be careful talk to your md. i was diagnosed 10 years ago with panic disorder. at one time i was terrified to go anywhere an i am 6ft5 260 big guy i thought whats wrong with me . but thats behind me now. its like night an day. not one panic attack since . some general anxiety but nothing like a full fledged anxiety attack. my md said though without meRAB . if you can lie down they should go away in 1or 2 hours for me i could not stay still that feeling like i was having a heart attack . not anymore
 
No kidding huh? I have 2 kiRAB under age 3.....lying down for 2 hours won't happen. ;) I am going to see a new doctor that specializes in detox and addiction. Hopefully she can get me on the right meRAB. I was on suboxone for 5 days and I felt great.....but not sure that is the route for me. I wasn't on a HUGE dose. For months I was on 30 mg percocet per day, but then the last month before I realized I was getting into trouble I was on anywhere up to 100 mg. Lexapro has been a nightmare. I take vistuari as needed, but it gives me RLS :dizzy: I NEED something to work. I am getting agoraphobic and this is NOT me!!!
 
magpie1970;

Thanks so much. I think I need to get into some counseling as well. How long did you feel that way? Did you end up taking any meRAB for anxiety? Thanks :wave:
 
Hey!

I am sorry you are dealing with such bad anxiety! I have gone thru my fair share of that and it usually comes in spurts.... If I am not depressed than I have high anxiety and for that I take klonopin. It calms me downs but then makes me tired.... So that may not work for you with the kiRAB....

Anxiety is exhausting... It's miserable and I feel for you!!! I know when I was weaning down and going thru withdrawals it caused huge amounts of anxiety so maybe once you get thru the w/d stage this will go away?? Have you had issues with anxiety before?

Good luck and I hope everything starts getting better for you!
Hugs.
 
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