Posted by pandey_m on July 31, 1999, at 17:41:50
In reply to Re: Prozac and Xanax interacting with each other, posted by JB on July 12, 1999, at 12:04:31
All,
I agree with JB, I try to do the same. In particular, for this thread :
1. xanax (and benzos in general,old or new) are for the short term (3 months or so). If anxiety borders on or actually crosses over to panic, then benzos are not the answer. Anafranil (clomipramine) 10mg at bedtime for not more than 3 months is a good antipanic (and anti-agoraphobia). (it was also breakthrough in OCD treatment when it came around). Imipramine is also used as antipanic, but it is less effective. I don't know the antipanic dose of imipramine except that it is much lower than the antidepressant dose. With either of these you are unlikely to get any rebound panic attack when you stop. CAUTION : THESE ARE OLD TRICYCLICS, SO DO'NT MESS WITH THEM. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR. DONT SELF-MEDICATE ON THESE even though their doses relevant to this thread are low enough so that even in bipolars not on mood-stabilizers they are very unlikely to cause any switch to hypomania.
2. IMHO : in depressive / anxiety / panic disorders medicines help you reach a stage where you have the option to exercise your will-power and get yourself back in shape. But somewhere it is finally you who has to do it. Of course it is (at least for me) a Sisyphean job - you've got to do that over and over again. When you are too low (or too high or too panicky) of course you got to leave it to the medicines, but you got to train yourself to take notice when it is time to put in that will-power.-------------------------
By the way, I first found this site last year while trying to locate an audio of the Alan Parson's Project song "Psychobabble". Serendipity?
poster:pandey_m
thread:7954
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/9450.html