Posted by Michael D on January 27, 2002, at 18:51:19
In reply to Try again-Anyone else with Depression/Anxiety, posted by johnnyjohn on January 27, 2002, at 17:36:06
> Somehow JohnHill is listed on my post. I will try this again
>
> I am new to the board and need some help. I started getting panic attacks 1 year ago and was started on Klonopin 0.5 mg per day. The panic is gone, but what is left is low energy-flatness-moderate depression. I have tried the TCA's, SSRI's and effexor with alittle help, but mostly they cause increased anxiety.John,
I had the same thing when I first started taking medication: my anxiety went up. My doctor said this is normal, that anxiety sometimes increases *temporarily* when a patient is first on SSRIs. I don't think he realized that if you never reach a high enough dose, the anxiety will never leave.
Recently I was increased to 40 mg of Celexa. For a day or two I felt the need and the comfort to cry; a real breakthrough! Before then I had always felt too anxious to cry.
I've since come to the conclusion that anxiety while on an SSRI means you need a higher dose.
I have found that SSRIs affect me very much like a machine that holds my eyelids wide open. It forces more awareness, and often it's very uncomfortable. There is a comfort in the numbness of depression.
They first make me more aware of the unpleasant feelings.I hope this helps.
By the way, if you have had bad side effects on some SSRIs, try a different one. I'm now on Celexa, which is far easier, for me, than Serzone and Paxil were.
Michael Dewolf
poster:Michael D
thread:91779
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/91789.html