Posted by MelanieG on April 1, 2012, at 20:14:45
In reply to Re: Anxiety medication » MelanieG, posted by SLS on April 1, 2012, at 6:16:25
Hi Scott and thank you for your responses - one of the folks on here mentioned you had a lot of experience and I really appreciate your sharing this with me.
I've been depressed in the past - but I'm really not now. Well - - - I feel DOWN at times because I am concerned I will have a panic attack so that prevents me from getting out there and living my life. I don't feel STRONG - or like myself. Previously I dealt with a great deal of 'stuff' - and whatever was thrown my way, I handled it! Now - I have this anxious feeling and I am shaky a lot. I don't like that feeling. So THAT bugs me.
I've had a few periods over the past 9 months where the anxiety was reduce but any little thing - gets it going again. And I am hyper sensitive to noise, various sensations etc. Like I am now claustrophobic - never was before! I hate elevators - never did before. I don't like getting on an airplane - never had an issue before.
Anyway - I have an incredibly sensitive stomach, always have. It seems to me that I am very sensitive to the SSRI's. And it's not just because I know the 'can' cause nausea and vomiting. I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome 20+ years ago. I've always had a 'nervous' stomach. But the anti-depressants I've tried definitely cause an increased nausea in me and really reduce my appetite. I've finally got my weight up to a decent amount (I'm almost 5'8 and weigh 120 lbs and I am small framed) - but when I am on an SSRI, I will lose. I was on Lexapro about 6 years ago for 6 months. I recall doing okay on it but I also recall it definitely reduced my appetite. That said - I don't really care to go on one that will cause me to put on 20 lbs either. (lol) The Paxil made me super sick to my stomach - do doubt.
So I'm wondering if I should stop trying the SSRI's? The therapist is open to me trying whatever I am comfortable with. I see her tomorrow night - I'm wondering if I should suggest going on Klonopin rather than the Xanax OR the Xanax CR. I actually have a bottle of Xanax CR .5mg, can't recall how it affected me. But lately I've just been so exhausted. BUT I think that might also be the Ambien - which I am weening myself off of. I am now taking ONE QUARTER of a 10mg Ambien, started that this past weekend and slept each night just fine. I am dreaming again - and I never had dreams on Ambien, so I think my sleep cycles were not 'normal'.
Anyway - maybe I should just suggest that I stick with a Benzo. Especially given I am not depressed - except for the fact that I am bothered by feeling this way. If I could just feel myself with no anxiety - I'd be happy.
As for CBT - - basically when I go to see her, I just vent about how I am feeling. I like the therapist a lot - but I'm not really finding she is giving me any ideas on how to work through all this or change it. Maybe it just takes time.
I'm going to talk to her tomorrow night about next steps. But - I am a bit nervous about trying yet another SSRI. I have to go to work every day and the last time when we tried Paxil it really was affecting my work day and I can't afford to jeopardize my job. If I had a few weeks to take off from work and see how the drug made me feel - then yes, I might be more apt to try it, but I do not.
Thanks again - keep you posted.
poster:MelanieG
thread:1014604
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120328/msgs/1014735.html