Posted by Gracie2 on January 20, 2001, at 0:36:47
In reply to anxiety advice needed! andrew, johnl, anyone, posted by rogdog on January 19, 2001, at 18:00:20
I was given depakote and seroquel for anxiety and they worked quite well. Before meds, I had terrible insomnia, panic attacks, crying jags, etc. After meds, I was able to sleep - almost too well - and became downright calm. I quit drinking and almost quit smoking - down to 5 cigarettes a day.Alas, there are side effects. I experienced pronounced emotional "flattening"...I didn't feel anxious or depressed, but neither did I feel anything else. I was pretty much sedated all the time. I quit reading and started watching TV. I lost every last creative urge...the kiss of death for an artist. And I gained quite a bit of weight, although this might have been due to the prozac or paxil, or a combination of these with the depakote.
Now that I am off the depakote and seroquel (which was my decision, not my doctor's) my old habits are returning...smoking, drinking, and not sleeping. I am having bouts of depression and anxiety that I did not experience on meds. I'm considering a return to the depakote and seroquel, possibly at a lower dosage (I was taking 500 mg of depakote and 150 mg of seroquel
daily).Despite the side effects, if you're suffering from severe anxiety, I have to recommend this medication - they'll knock it right out.
-Gracie
poster:Gracie2
thread:52043
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010111/msgs/52066.html