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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RubyCash on October 27, 2003, at 15:48:36
Hello, I'm having "issues" that are disabling my attempts to get well.
It seems like I have always had depression and some form of anxiety, at least since I was 12 or so, but just recently the depression had gotten "out of hand" and really started affecting my personal life so I went ahead and did a medical research study pitting placebos and Paxil against a mystery medication in order to do it's final test phases before it was approved for general use. I should have known better.
In the second week I suffered my very first panic attack, which pretty much put my paralyzing anxiety attacks to shame as I thought I was about to die from some sort of allergic reaction to the medication or a heart attack.
Needless to say I had a few more less severe but just as frightening panic attacks after leaving the study, and now I would say that I have an upgraded anxiety condition due to the fact that the episode put me in fear of the following:
ANY stimulants, meaning caffiene, sugar (even fruit sugar or small pieces of candy) Drinks that may have alternative stimulants in them such as ginseng or guarana...
I'm also afraid to take vitamins in case there is a link to whatever is in them and my anxiety.
Any situation which might spike my anxiety, such as haunted houses (it's almost halloween and that's one of my favorite things)Movies that contain drug use also trigger my anxiety.
I'm also avoiding alcohol because "feeling out of control" sometimes makes me anxious, and hang overs the next day make me very anxiety riddled.
I know alot if not all of this is in my head, but sitting here knowing it isn't making any difference.
I am currently avoiding taking my new prescription. I went in to a clinic at my bf's behest and was prescribed Zoloft and ativan.
The psychiatrist was very patronizing which sort of fostered a lack of trust, and then he told me the zoloft would give me anxiety in the first couple of weeks and that was why he was prescribing the ativan.
I have had ativan before so I went ahead and took half a pill the night before I intended to take the Zoloft as he suggested, but I can't get myself to take the Zoloft without freaking myself out.
It's been three nights of taking the ativan and failing to take the zoloft.
I'm considering hypnotherapy because I am crippling my own chances of ever getting out of this awful place.
Any pointers?
Posted by Sooshi on October 27, 2003, at 16:17:33
In reply to Afraid to take meds! Afraid not to take them., posted by RubyCash on October 27, 2003, at 15:48:36
Hi RubyCash,
Wow, your post sounds like it could have been from me 10 years ago! I had the exact same issues with caffeine, vitamins, tricyclics, alcohol, and on and on, for fear that they would create some kind of "loss of control", such as hyperactivity or upset stomach/bowels, fainting, racing heart, etc. etc!!!Zoloft is really an excellent med, and I took it for years, along with Klonopin, for depression and anxiety. I don't recall Zoloft causing me any anxiety at all...but maybe it was tempered by the Klonopin. I actually got over my panic attacks and anxiety completely with Cognitive Therapy. I would highly recommend the book "Feeling Good" by David Burns. It is my anxiety bible!!
I still have that fear of side effects when starting a new med (you may have seen my posts about my fear of starting Topamax!), but now I just dive in and know that the se's almost ALWAYS go away after a few days, and if they don't, I just STOP taking the damn med!
Hope I've helped a little, and keep me posted,
Sooshi
Posted by RubyCash on October 27, 2003, at 16:28:39
In reply to Re: Afraid to take meds! Afraid not to take them., posted by Sooshi on October 27, 2003, at 16:17:33
Thank you soosh!
It's odd, I came here for info and support and then I freaked myself out even more about the side effects by reading other posts...
your post however was totally helpful and I am going to look into cognitive therapy.
I'm on a government aid sort of health plan that no longer covers mental care (though I found a place that covers meds and some alternative therapies...)
Thankyou!
-Ruby
Posted by ramsea on October 28, 2003, at 10:25:43
In reply to Re: Afraid to take meds! Afraid not to take them., posted by RubyCash on October 27, 2003, at 16:28:39
Supposed to be that Zoloft may increase anxiety/panic slightly for a couple of weeks, after which most people who are going to be helped by Zoloft find their anxiety/panic symptoms lessening and some people experience a very welcome remission. So guess that Ativan is there to smooth over the first few weeks. Hope you even out soon.
This is the end of the thread.
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