Posted by JohnL on July 16, 2000, at 10:19:44
In reply to At Wit's End!, posted by netnanny on July 16, 2000, at 1:58:20
Netnanny,
In a book I read and scattered writings here and there I seems a very often overlooked cause of anxiety is either excess norepinephrine or an excess of norepinephrine receptor sites. If that is the case, Valium and similar meds will only counter the symptoms, but not correct the underlying problem. And may just complicate the situation by adding in troubling side effects. Another often overlooked cause is excess dopamine. All too often I think people are treated with serotonin enhancing meds like Zoloft or Paxil, or the benzos, when they in fact have nothing at all to do with the real problem. They can be real good at masking the problem, handing you some side effects, but not getting to the root of the problem.
Everything you wrote in your post seems to fit exactly this scenario. Excess NE or dopamine could easily be the overlooked culprits here. Especially the panicky, heart pounding, BP thing. Those are pretty strong and powerful clues, IF we know what clues we're looking for. I don't think most doctors are trained to diagnose that way though. I would confidentally bet they will prescribe you another benzo or an SSRI, and with good intentions accidentally and unknowingly miss the real target. I'm not second guessing your doctor. It's just my School of Hard Knocks at work.
So if Valium isn't that answer, and SSRIs aren't the answer, then what is? Well, two very often overlooked choices...1)An antihypertensive medication. Really. No joke. That normalizes excess NE chemistry and kills the symptoms right at the root of the cause; 2)a small dose of an antipsychotic like Zyprexa. It has some sedative relaxing quality to it, which may be a welcome relief to you, but it will also correct excess dopamine chemistry. So either a high blood pressure medication (even if you don't have chronic high blood pressure) or a small dose antipsychotic like Zyprexa. Just based on your post, I think your chances for total success would be far greater with either of these than with any kind of benzo or SSRI. Try a couple hypertension meds. If no good, try Zyprexa.
Just some ideas. As I said, I think these are very very often overlooked in cases of anxiety and panic.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:40617
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40634.html