Posted by torachan on May 30, 2008, at 14:10:13
In reply to Re: The best Tricyclic for anxiety.... » linkadge, posted by johnj on May 30, 2008, at 9:05:31
Johnj, your situation sounds very similar to mine, along with the fact my name is John, and panic attacks struck around 1993. The difference however is I've been on clonazepam ever since, which stopped the panic attacks dead in its tracks, but the underlying problem manifested as GAD as I suspect happens alot. I also have sleep issues, and although Effexor seems to help with my mood and a little with my anxiety, judging by the fact that I'm able to reduce mt benzo dosage when on Effexor, this drug seems to disrupt sleep quite considerably. Actually, benzos in long term use begin to act as sleep disrupters as well. I also slept maybe 3-4 hours last night. I seem to wake up and my mind ruminates on basically nothing in particular and I can't get back to sleep. Sometimes I don't even feel like I'm sleeping at all.
I also feel my anxiety is physical in nature. I tried to get my doctor to test my blood cortisol levels and glucoadrenocorticoid levels--fancy term which means the hormone that regulates the release of adrenaline controlled by the pituitary gland. He said a drug to reduce these levels would not reduce my anxiety, even if it was physical. I could not understand this, but upon further reflection it seems to make some sense. I though if these drugs are not working in reducing my overall anxiety, why not reduce the results of anxiety ie; stress induced physiological effects.
Anyways, sleep is always an issue when treating anxiety as I can attest. Like I said, benzos lose there sedating properties over time and SSRI/NRI's seems to disrupt sleep.
John
poster:torachan
thread:831465
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/832094.html