Posted by MelanieG on March 30, 2012, at 22:02:58
In reply to Re: Anxiety medication, posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 30, 2012, at 21:53:57
> For what it's worth, Lexapro really helped me with my anxiety. If you tolerated it in the past, you might revisit it and see if it can be helpful for your anxiety too.
Thanks - I was thinking the same thing. That I might tolerate it well again, since I've tried it before.
> i would also explore your difficulty tolerating meds with your psychiatrist and therapist. Many individuals with anxiety issues react strongly to meds in terms of side effects. It is thought to be not just a biologically driven reaction. That is, their anxiety is making them think they are having a bad reaction to the med (ironic, right?)
Yes ironic, and very possible with me. I'm a worrier. I was under the care of a Psychiatrist but found he only saw me on occasion and didn't really follow me as closely as I felt necessary. I then found a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who is licensed to prescribe, and provides me with therapy. I can see her every week and she's reachable via text any time - not the case with the 'doc'.
I will mention that I'm almost 100% certain that the side effects I felt on Paxil were not driven by anxiety, though I can see how that might be possible. But the reason is - I did get some relief initially. I began feeling like my old self - it calmed me down, and I began to feel much less anxious. RELAXED. But then it seemed as the drug increased in my body (?) - it made me feel ill. Each night before I took my pill, I felt very sick to my stomach. Could barely eat. I'd eat though and then take a big glass of milk and the pill, and then my Ambien and go to sleep.
But it got worse. Then I'd skip a day and resume. Happened again. I did the same and then I decided to stop - felt more anxious one day. So gave up - and therapist agreed.> For example, one psychiatrist told a friend of mine that he tells his anxious patients never to read the potential side effects of their new meds or they will begin to think they are having those side effects.
I can understand that --- but I didn't read the side effects of the Paxil. I do have a tendency to have stomach problems - have Irritable Bowel. But this was no doubt a gastric side effect from the drug. And it immediately subsided when I'd stop the drug. The next day.
Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated.
It's a horrible feeling. I do get relief from Xanax at a low dose - but it also makes me very tired. I'm tired all the time. :(
poster:MelanieG
thread:1014604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120328/msgs/1014610.html