Posted by KimberlyDi on August 7, 2003, at 19:03:31
In reply to advice from all, please, posted by glove on August 7, 2003, at 13:18:21
first of all, you have a lot on your plate, no matter what med you take. sounds like you need to calm your anxiety without dulling your brain for graduate school. Effexor would be out of the question because of the common memory problems people experience on it. (Effexor can also raise blood pressure) Paxil used to work well for my anxiety. Lots of people need cocktails of meds. You may need increased dosage of Paxil but also have something else added that's stronger in the depression area. definately see a p-doc for that.
Wellbutrin wasn't great for anxiety but when i took that, depression was my problem. needs change when you go through life.
On the other hand, you sound very intelligent. You are exercising and going to therapy. People who want to get well usually get well quicker. I know that. <grin> I willed a broken foot into submission because I missed dancing in clubs so much. Cast off, black laced-up-tightly boots on, I danced until my foot was too swollen, giving up around midnight to hop one-footed back to my car. My doctor was amazed. Mind over matter. You can do it.
KDi in Texas
> Hello everyone, I have been reading this website for some time now but this is the first time that I have posted. I am at a difficult point right now and would really appreciate it if you guys could just tell me what you think.
> When I was 16 I broke up with my boy of 3 years and got very depressed...went into hospital for a couple of weeks and put on Prozac and Lithium. But I was also taking Accutane which was later shown to cause severe depression in patients. Recovered but always had a little bit of anxiety and OCD...nothing that bothered me. Father has OCD bad. At 18 was switched to Celexa...don't remember why. Celexa worked the same all through college until last summer. My parents told me that they are getting divorced...Dad has been cheating. I didn't acknowledge my pain until last X-mas. I began having severe panic attacks and didn't leave the house for two weeks. I was put on Paxil (50 mg), stopped smoking, and stopped drinking all at the same time. Attacks went away but was then suicidal for a couple of days. I did some research and found that birth control can cause problems (which I had been put on in October) so I got off the BP pills and started Wellbutrin (150 mg in morning and 150 mg at night)...depression went away. Now, since then I have had residual anxiety...worrying about mom dying, about boyfriend leaving me, etc. Also, sometimes I find it impossible to get full breaths in. I have started tai chi and exercise. Therapist suggested going to pdoc to get med adjustment. Went to pdoc and he suggested lithium and that I may be bipolar type 2. Now, I looked at the symptoms of bpII and do not relate at all. No family history of BP. My only problems are a little bit of OCD (skin picking) and anxiety. I don't have sleeping problems, no excess energy, no spending sprees, no excess esteem...nothing. I have asked friends and family if they recognize any of these signs and they adamantly say no. Pdoc also said that Wellbutrin may be making anxiety worse and high blood pressure med may be causing problems too. So, this is where I stand. I do not think that I need Lithium. I have decided to cut back on my Wellbutrin to 150 mg in morning and to cut back on BP med because I am exercising more ( I will monitor it though). I am also about to start grad school. Isnt it possible that I am just greiving the loss of my father and that I am freaked out about grad school...I am having to take out $20,000 in loans. I just don't know what to think. Also, I am currently in therapy and am in the process of reviewing an emotionally abusive childhood. I know you guys aren't docs but I would just really like to know what you guys think. Should I maybe increase the paxil? I have Ativen but am too scared to use it. Thank you guys so much for listening...it is such a comfort.
poster:KimberlyDi
thread:248993
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030807/msgs/249115.html