Posted by polarbear206 on July 16, 2007, at 8:24:43
In reply to 4 PM uncomfortable anxiety. Sharing experiences, posted by mexfriend on July 15, 2007, at 0:37:55
>
> Hi, I’m new here. I would like to share experiences with other people with my same problem.
> I have anxiety almost every day at around 4pm that last til night causing insomnia (just falling sleep). It’s not related with what i have for lunch, or what I drink. In the mornings, I wake up very calmed (perhaps somewhat anergic) and don’t have any anxiety until around 11am when it starts very slowly, but definitely the high rush of anxiety is around 2 hours past lunchtime. This is causing me big trouble because with that anxiety I can’t work well after lunch.
>
> As a third problem on importance (after anxiety and insomnia), my mood is not very good. I don’t enjoy doing a lot of things that I liked before, but i suspect that this is an effect of the first 2 problems.
>
> Let me share the experiences I have had with meds.
>
> Alprazolam (Xanax): Pros: At .25 mg relax me and helps me to fall sleep. Cons: I don’t take it frequently because of dependence concerns.
>
> Clonazepam (Klonopin): Pros: Last longer than Xanax, relax me very well. Cons: At 1mg makes me a little lethargic, same concern than above.
>
> Beer (Bud Light,etc): Pros: Great as an anxiolytic after work. Elevates my mood (> 2 beers). Cons: Creating dependence. Not restful sleep. promotes insomnia even more.
>
> Doxepin 2 week trial (Sinequan): Pros: Only med that made me go to sleep early. Great for my acidic IBS-D (>50mg). Cons: Severe cognitive impairment starting with lowest dose capsule available here (25mg). Next day severe hand shaking. Couldn't stand the med :(
>
> Escitalopram 3 week trial (Lexapro): Pros: Decreased beer craving. perhaps relaxed me a bit. Cons: at 10 mg Anorgasmia, Somnolence in the afternoons but not at nights! Didn't elevate my mood.
>
> Paroxetine 5 day trial (Paxil): Pros: somewhat effective for my IBS-D. Cons: Nightmare for me. "480 Volt" brain shocks in first stage REM sleeping scaring enough to quit immediately the med.
>
> Mirtazapine 8 week trial (Remeron): Pros: Eliminated completely my insomnia after a couple of weeks, great! Always felt very natural (mentally) on it (at 15mg). After 2 weeks it elevated my mood but that only lasted 2 more weeks. Cons: Gained a lot of weight in a disappointing way at 15mg and also 30mg. Couldn't stand more than 30mg because next day sedation.
>
> Pregabalin 4 week pdoc trial (Lyrica): Pros: Worked for anxiety after 1 week. Strange but also elevated my mood (perhaps because of the anxiety stabilization). Cons: Just quit working for both things after a month. Never helped with insomnia.
>
> Duloxetine 2 week pdoc trial (Cymbalta): Pros: somewhat effective for my IBS-D Cons: Extreme afternoon fatigue at 60mg, couldn’t stand the med. Made me sound sensitive and phobic. I think i don’t need more noradrenaline neither serotonine or perhaps I’m very sensitive!
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> Exercise, sleep hygiene and quit drinking alcohol doesn't help me much.
>
> Feeling a little hopeless considering all the med i have had.
>
> Today i started Kava Kava, i will give it a try to see if it helps.
> After Kava Kava i plan to give a fair trial to plain valerian for the insomnia part.
>
> Please share any experience. Any knowledge you may have on this concern is greatly appreciated.
> Mexfriend.
>
You may do very well with a mood stabilizer to augment your antidepressant and keep you more even. Since you have had so many failed trials of meds, I would highly consider it. Lamictal has a good track record. Works great for me in combination with effexor and wellbutrin.Polarbear
poster:polarbear206
thread:769634
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070710/msgs/769843.html