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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Candace on April 13, 2000, at 7:20:50
Has anyone had a successful med for panic disorder. I have been on Xanax for a very long time and doctors have combined it with Zoloft (too many side effects) and now Prozac for the past 7 months. Prozac caused too much weight gain, lethargy, apathy, nightmares, but it does give me security in the fact that I won't have a breakthrough panic attack.
Any help would be appreciated as seeing the doc soon for a change. Thought about WEllbutrin or BuSpar or Effexor XR. Any experience with this?
Posted by Andy on April 13, 2000, at 20:41:59
In reply to treatment for panic disorder, posted by Candace on April 13, 2000, at 7:20:50
> Has anyone had a successful med for panic disorder. I have been on Xanax for a very long time and doctors have combined it with Zoloft (too many side effects) and now Prozac for the past 7 months. Prozac caused too much weight gain, lethargy, apathy, nightmares, but it does give me security in the fact that I won't have a breakthrough panic attack.
>
> Any help would be appreciated as seeing the doc soon for a change. Thought about WEllbutrin or BuSpar or Effexor XR. Any experience with this?
My doc diagnosed me with panic and dysthymia. I can tell you from my experience that welbutrin alone won't work and buspar dosn't usually work for panic. Don't know about effexor.
I also take prozac and think its one of the best of the newer drugs. Practically no side effects compared to zoloft. Paxil was a killer in that respect. Trouble is its losing some effectiveness and were trying to get it to work again.
I'd say that adding to or replacing the xanax with klonopin might work. Thats a long acting drug for panic where you won't get break through attacks. You won't get problems like weight gain with that either. This might be a place to start.
Andy
Posted by Louise on April 13, 2000, at 23:23:22
In reply to treatment for panic disorder, posted by Candace on April 13, 2000, at 7:20:50
> Has anyone had a successful med for panic disorder. I have been on Xanax for a very long time and doctors have combined it with Zoloft (too many side effects) and now Prozac for the past 7 months. Prozac caused too much weight gain, lethargy, apathy, nightmares, but it does give me security in the fact that I won't have a breakthrough panic attack.
>
> Any help would be appreciated as seeing the doc soon for a change. Thought about WEllbutrin or BuSpar or Effexor XR. Any experience with this?
I also suffered from panic attacks and was on Xanax for a year or so and then went on nortriptylin also. I decided to stop Xanax and just keep the nortrip. for a few years. Last March I started Paxil but gained way too much weight so I had my Dr. switch me to something else. He gave me Effexor XR and I've been on it for about 1 month. There was no withdrawal from Paxil -- just an immediate switch to Effex. with absolutely no side affects. Effex. has continued to keep the panic attacks in check and I feel pretty good. My eyes are quite dry and now I have to use drops for moisture with my contact lens. Seems to be a common problem. Good luck.
Posted by Elizabeth on April 14, 2000, at 2:57:55
In reply to Re: treatment for panic disorder, posted by Louise on April 13, 2000, at 23:23:22
Does the Xanax not work well enough?
Some people use Klonopin on a daily, around-the-clock basis with Xanax for breakthrough attacks.
Antidepressants (SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, and some others) work, though it's a toss-up as to which ones work for whom. (Maprotiline, bupropion (Wellbutrin), and trazodone do not work; neither does buspirone (Buspar).) Another SSRI (Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), and Celexa (citalopram) are the trade names in the U.S.) might be easier to tolerate than Prozac. Start at a very low dose, increase it slowly *as tolerated*.
Propranolol helps with some of the symptoms, though it won't relieve panic attacks entirely by itself.
Last, some people find that cognitive-behavioral therapy helps. Might be worth looking into if you can find and afford it.
Posted by ChrisK on April 14, 2000, at 6:28:52
In reply to Re: treatment for panic disorder, posted by Elizabeth on April 14, 2000, at 2:57:55
When I was going through a stage of very bad panic attacks I found the most help with Klonopin. It can be taken successfully at a low dose like .25mg/twice a day. I really haven't heard of too many people who had any success with Buspar. For me I met as well have been taking a placebo.
If you would like to try Effexor I think it is one of the best choices that you have outlined. I was on it for a while for depression but did not have panic attacks during that period.
Hope the best for you, it sounds like you are going in the right direction.
This is the end of the thread.
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