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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chelle on September 22, 2015, at 11:49:58
Hello all, I am new here and have been struggling for a bit. I'm a wife, mom, and employed full time as an HR Professional. I have been on Ativan 1mg at bedtime for three years, then it was upped to 2mg. I started taking it once daily at work and it really helped keep anxiety at bay. I was on low dose Paxil 20mg for ten years then switched to lexapro 20mg a few years ago. I stopped taking all antidepressants about a year and a half ago.
A few weeks ago, after getting sick with a mono flare up, my anxiety srarted to return. At first I could calm myself down, but have now been experiencing daily panic attacks. For me the worst is the body symptoms and feeling "not like myself"... I went to my doc and she gave me more Ativan and Effexor. I'm on day 6 of the Effexor and don't notice anything yet. The panic is so bad I filled out FMLA paperwork for the first time in my life. I feel like a failure. I had my anxiety under control for so long... I'm scared I won't be able to go back to work, that my husband will leave, I'll be homeless, in a mental hospital...it's bad. And I can't sleep. I've been taking more of the Ativan and finally took 4mg just to pass out. Woke up 4 hours later. I haven't been sleeping well, no appetite...I just don't understand how I'm fine for years, then this happens. I'm so scared right now
Posted by rjlockhart37 on September 23, 2015, at 0:33:50
In reply to Need help, posted by Chelle on September 22, 2015, at 11:49:58
there's couple things, the mononucleosis (flare up) has changed some firing in the brain, increasing anxiety, that or the Effexor could be doing some of this (yet it's a low chance)
beta blockers are a suggested option, that or increase more with/changed benzo to Xanax XR (it works for 12 hours, and alprazolam is the gold standard for anxiety associated with panic attacks.......)
Lorazepam eases anxiety, i've taken ativan before, 2mg three times daily, it's more like relaxing and feeling relief, but Xanax or Klonopin are stronger in their own since.....
i would talk to your doctor about it, and maybe a side note, maybe close your eyes, and put yourself in a dim room and try to relax.....a long time ago i was going through anxiety, and thinking i was going crazy, it's all fear, and feeling like i had too much caffeine, yet was paranoid at the same time......
talk wiht your doctor about beta blockers and maybe swtiching to Xanax XR
r
Posted by baseball55 on September 23, 2015, at 20:26:20
In reply to Need help, posted by Chelle on September 22, 2015, at 11:49:58
It sounds like your anxiety is fueling catastrophic thinking (my husband will leave, I'll end up homeless) which is causing greater anxiety. This is how anxiety can be. When this happens, it's very disabling. Have you seen a therapist? Especially a cognitive or dialectical behavioral therapist (CBT or DBT)? Can you find one or look for one in your area? You might start with your insurance company website or your state social work association.
CBT and DBT have proven very useful in helping people with these self-reinforcing anxiety attacks. If benzos are no longer controlling anxiety, the next step would be therapy.
Good luck! And keep us all posted. We are rooting for you.
> Hello all, I am new here and have been struggling for a bit. I'm a wife, mom, and employed full time as an HR Professional. I have been on Ativan 1mg at bedtime for three years, then it was upped to 2mg. I started taking it once daily at work and it really helped keep anxiety at bay. I was on low dose Paxil 20mg for ten years then switched to lexapro 20mg a few years ago. I stopped taking all antidepressants about a year and a half ago.
> A few weeks ago, after getting sick with a mono flare up, my anxiety srarted to return. At first I could calm myself down, but have now been experiencing daily panic attacks. For me the worst is the body symptoms and feeling "not like myself"... I went to my doc and she gave me more Ativan and Effexor. I'm on day 6 of the Effexor and don't notice anything yet. The panic is so bad I filled out FMLA paperwork for the first time in my life. I feel like a failure. I had my anxiety under control for so long... I'm scared I won't be able to go back to work, that my husband will leave, I'll be homeless, in a mental hospital...it's bad. And I can't sleep. I've been taking more of the Ativan and finally took 4mg just to pass out. Woke up 4 hours later. I haven't been sleeping well, no appetite...I just don't understand how I'm fine for years, then this happens. I'm so scared right now
Posted by rjlockhart37 on September 23, 2015, at 21:37:39
In reply to Need help, posted by Chelle on September 22, 2015, at 11:49:58
a beta blocker (i didn't say that totally in the first post) that will calm your psychical symptoms, by blocking epinephrine, and psychical signs of anxiety. It would be more of a psychical relief feeling if you took a beta blocker, xanax ativan, there more with mental calming.......
but still is the effexor could have a small role in the heightened anxiety, even though they use it for depression with anxiety, it targets NE receptors and can be unpleasant
This is the end of the thread.
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