Posted by ncrainbow on May 18, 2008, at 12:19:24
In reply to Treatment resistant anxiety, posted by jms600 on May 18, 2008, at 8:12:52
Please excuse bad spelling----
I do not know a lot about some of the newer meds you listed but from my layperson's eye, it seems you have only tried one traditional (old school) SSRI. In clinical trials, SSRI's are often very effective against anxiety for long term relief.
I had tremendous anxiety about 8 years ago, including debilitating panic attacks and frequent anticipatory anxiety. I was tapered up to 40 mg Celexa and it put my panic attacks and anxiety completely into remission for 8 years. I have only recently switched off of it to try to find a med that will address some other issues.
I do encourage you to consider Celexa as well as its more focused sister Lexapro. I did not have any fatigue or sexual side effects from the Celexa but Lexapro knocked me out so that I felt like a zombie. I know each person responds differently but I just add that because if your doc has you try Lexapro and it makes you zombie like, don't rule out Celexa.
I am sure some more educated and med-sophisticated folks will jump in and add that Lexapro is just Celexa without the unneccessary additives but regardless, I found that I couldn't get to the equivalent of 40mg of Celexa on Lexapro without a strong sedative result.
Another suggestion from the old school is that an effective benzo against resistant anxiety that is not as sedating as valium is Librium. I know it is rarely used these days but when I needed a gentle-loading pleasant benzo that was a smooth anti-anxiety agent, I was pleasantly suprised by librium. ***** I will give this warning that I have heard (just anecdotaly) that Librium is partiuclarly addictive so if you struggle from addiction and the tendency to develop tolerance, it might not be the benzo for you.
That's my two cents. :)
poster:ncrainbow
thread:829765
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080510/msgs/829785.html