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daddyjaxx
Guest
I started having extreme anxiety a few months back. I had non stop shaking, couldn't concentrate, and couldn't sleep. Went to see my PMP and she gave me some Lexapro samples and Ativan with instructions that the Lexapro would take 3-4 weeks to kick in. She also gave me Arabien for the insomnia. After 4 weeks, I wasn't feeling any better. The Ativan calmed me down for a little while and the Arabien put me to sleep but didn't keep me asleep. On my four week followup, she gave me more Ativan and a prescription for Paxil and Arabien CR instead with advice to followup with a psychiatrist. The CR definitely did the trick to keep me asleep.
I called at least 10 psychiatrists and not one ever returned my call. I finally saw a list on my insurance with five doctors at the same address, so I called and someone actually answered the phone and got me in the next day. This was just two days after I started the Paxil.
He took me off the Paxil and Ativan and switched to Effexor XR 75mg (37.5 mg for the first week) and Clorazepate 7.5 BID. (He asked me if I preferred that or Klonopin. I said you're the doc and I preferred something that lasted longer than Ativan). He told me he never prescribes Valium and the clorazepate has just as long a half life as Valium.
I feel 150% better since i have been on this corabination. My PMP noticed the change when I went back for another followup that was supposed to see how I was doing on the Paxil. She reiterated what the psychiatrist said that to NEVER miss even one dose of the Effexor. She said the side effects from withdrawl come on so quickly that most pharmacies will even spot you some in advance if you run out without a prescription. No more anxiety....no more insomnia.
So, the question is is the Effexor helping or is the Tranxene or is it the corabo? I just say the psychiatrist last week and he gave me another 30 days supply of each and said that if I stay stable at these dosages he will then give me 90 days of each. I hate being on the benzos that long, but I'd rather taper off of those eventually than go through the terrible anxiety again.
I called at least 10 psychiatrists and not one ever returned my call. I finally saw a list on my insurance with five doctors at the same address, so I called and someone actually answered the phone and got me in the next day. This was just two days after I started the Paxil.
He took me off the Paxil and Ativan and switched to Effexor XR 75mg (37.5 mg for the first week) and Clorazepate 7.5 BID. (He asked me if I preferred that or Klonopin. I said you're the doc and I preferred something that lasted longer than Ativan). He told me he never prescribes Valium and the clorazepate has just as long a half life as Valium.
I feel 150% better since i have been on this corabination. My PMP noticed the change when I went back for another followup that was supposed to see how I was doing on the Paxil. She reiterated what the psychiatrist said that to NEVER miss even one dose of the Effexor. She said the side effects from withdrawl come on so quickly that most pharmacies will even spot you some in advance if you run out without a prescription. No more anxiety....no more insomnia.
So, the question is is the Effexor helping or is the Tranxene or is it the corabo? I just say the psychiatrist last week and he gave me another 30 days supply of each and said that if I stay stable at these dosages he will then give me 90 days of each. I hate being on the benzos that long, but I'd rather taper off of those eventually than go through the terrible anxiety again.