Posted by blueberry1 on January 22, 2007, at 20:14:12
In reply to citalopram, posted by lilvipr23 on January 22, 2007, at 18:44:02
The serotonin antidepressants like lexapro, celexa, and zoloft are favored by doctors to treat anxiety. The problem is they usually INCREASE anxiety in the first few weeks of treatment, and sometimes they don't work at all no matter how long or what dose. When they do work, they can work for a long time for some people or they can 'poopout' on some people. Most people at this board have had lots of poopouts.
In that class of drugs, I do not understand why they had you do celexa after failing lexapro. Lexapro is celexa with the inactive part of it removed. Not exactly the same drugs, but very similar. One is made from the other.
Anyway, the powerhorse in that class of drugs for anxiety is Paxil. I wonder why they didn't go with that one? If you were to try it, it would likely increase anxiety in the beginning.
But I am puzzled why they did not give you immediate relief, which is available. You don't have to wait 6 weeks for a drug to 'kick in'. They could give you another drug that provides anti-anxiety like immediately, within 1 hour, no waiting, and then withdraw it slowly weeks later after the antidepressant has taken over.
The drugs I'm talking about are the most common drugs prescribed on the planet. Xanax or klonopin or valium or diazepam. They say you get addicted to these. You do. But I tell you what, if you take lexapro for a year and stop it, you'll realize you are addicted to it as well. They fail to recognize that. Stop xanax and they call it 'withdrawal'. Stop lexapro and they call it 'discontinuation syndrome'. Silly play on words. They both feel like the flu mixed with viscious anxiety.
Anyway, to be free of anxiety and live your life you might have to consider being dependent on a drug. If not paxil, then one of the benzos I mentioned, or both. Some people here have failed all of those things and found profound immediate relief with a low dose antipsychotic like zyprexa or seroquel. They are also commonly prescribed to senior citizens and just about everybody, handed out like candy, for everything from anxiety to insomnia to depression to mania.
Just some ideas to bring to your doctor. Tell them you want relief right now. Waiting 6 weeks for a 'maybe it will work' gamble is too much at this point. Save the antipsychotics for your last choice. Ask for xanax or klonopin.
poster:blueberry1
thread:725356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070119/msgs/725393.html