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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AntiTrust on February 13, 2004, at 7:32:46
Pdoc just put me on 25mg 2x a day of VISTRARIL for anxiety/panic. only been 3 days-seems to wipe me out (sleepy) anyone else been on it or is on it? any comments?
Posted by crazychickuk on February 13, 2004, at 8:22:07
In reply to anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by AntiTrust on February 13, 2004, at 7:32:46
It is an anti manic medication.. i have no experiecne with this drug, but i just did a search and it is an anti manic med thats why it probably knocks you out as it is a calmer..
Donna
Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 13, 2004, at 8:35:16
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by crazychickuk on February 13, 2004, at 8:22:07
Vistaril is an antihistamine. Don't let the indications in the monograph fool you, it is useless for anxiety. If autonomic sedation calms you, then perhaps it might work for certain kinds of mild anxiety [that go away on their own after a while which is how they prove this stuff useful at all, probably], but I am 99.44% sure that it is utterly useless for panic. Please, don't hesitate to ask your doctor for a drug that has a beneficial effect!
Posted by AntiTrust on February 13, 2004, at 16:39:53
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 13, 2004, at 8:35:16
> Vistaril is an antihistamine. Don't let the indications in the monograph fool you, it is useless for anxiety. If autonomic sedation calms you, then perhaps it might work for certain kinds of mild anxiety [that go away on their own after a while which is how they prove this stuff useful at all, probably], but I am 99.44% sure that it is utterly useless for panic. Please, don't hesitate to ask your doctor for a drug that has a beneficial effect!
NOW I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED-I have angoraphobia w/ panic attacks and high anxiety w/underlying depression. and the Pdoc puts me on VISTRARIL? a antihistamine??? what am i a guinea pig? DAMN IM MAD!!!!!
Posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 17:54:33
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by AntiTrust on February 13, 2004, at 16:39:53
I found vistaril helpful for anxiety. Yes, it is an antihistamine. But, it is not useless. Some anethesiologist (sp?) use it prior to putting someone under anesthesia. It helps dry mucous membranes and relaxes the patient. Also, antihistamines have been used to calm psychotic patients too. This drug definately calms people at different dosages.
I was in the hospital for anxiety and depression. I did not want a benzo, so they gave me vistaril at very high dosages. It defiantly worked for me. I took about 200 mg. I was so anxious that nothing would knock me out. I did find the vistaril calming for me.
Remeron (antidepressant) has a function that effects this histamine receptor of the brain. This drug is not useless either. So, don't believe that an antihistimine is useless. Antihistamines calm the body down, so someone doesn't have a histamine response. A rapid histamine response in an allergic reaction can lead to death without the intervention of an antihistamine. Therefore, antihistamines are very important and useful for many reasons other than an allergic reaction.
Antihistamines cause a vasodilation of the bronchioles and slows breathing down. This is a calming element to the body's whole system. More oxygen moves around in the body and to the brain. When people are very anxious, they tend not to breath slowly and fully. This will lead to a full blown panic attack. Slowing the breathing and getting much more oxygen to all parts of the body helps a person feel more calm. this can help prevent panic attacks. The dosage of the vistaril is key in helping prevent the panic attacks. It appears that the vistaril is helping you relax so much that you fall asleep. Perhaps, a smaller dosage would meet your needs.
This drug also has an antinausea function, but that's a whole other story. So in theory, vistaril is an antihistimine used to treat nausea and anxiety.
Posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 18:03:17
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 17:54:33
In conclusion, the vistaril is used to help prevent panic attacks by calming the entire system. It helps reduce the anxiety that ultimately leads to the panic attacks. It is a safe med to use. It is not habit forming like benzo's. Give the med a try. If if it not helping you, there are many other meds you can try. The doc probably chose this med, because it is the safest med. It is the starting point. My sister used this drug for over 10 years. She found it very helpful.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 13, 2004, at 21:58:41
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 17:54:33
Hydroxyzine provides AUTONOMIC sedation, yes. It is a good pre-op sedative. But Remeron's anxiolytic (and antipanic) actions are due to its serotonergic [and maybe noradrenergic] activity, not its antihistamine activity--the antihistamine receptor is what mediates the weight gain and grogginess of Remeron. When doctors want to quell the physical aspects of anxiety, they generally use beta blockers. And dry mucous membranes is hardly a beneficial effect in an anxiolytic!
Keep in mind, too, that generalized anxiety and panic are two different things. I'd believe that hydroxyzine works for generalized anxiety in some people (and spectacularly for allergic reactions, heh). Panic, though, you'd be hard-pressed to convince me about.
Just out of curiosity, were you treated with an SSRI or other serotonergic agent for your depression? If so, you might be downplaying its role in helping you with your anxiety ...
Posted by mik on February 13, 2004, at 23:14:27
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic? » shadows721, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 13, 2004, at 21:58:41
True some people do recieve a 'calming '
effect with visteral and benadryl, but im my case it makes me more anxious. For true panic medication is the best answer for the new and acute sufferer. ativan/xanax/ ssri meds can help. You have to learn to deal with panic in a practical way. but until you do meds. can be of big help.
best regards mik
Posted by shadows721 on February 14, 2004, at 1:52:16
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic? » shadows721, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 13, 2004, at 21:58:41
To Chairman = In the hospital, I was giving the Vistaril, because I refused to take Klonopin or Xanax. I didn't want to become dependent on those benzos. I wasn't on any other med at that point in time. The calming effect really showed in the art work that I did at that time too. I was told to use art work to express my emotions. The one before the Vistaril involved red and black colors. It illustrated a sledge hammer coming down on 3 people in fire like jagged flames. After the large dose of Vistaril, I painted a picture that involved soft pastels colors of clouds. All the patients noticed my temperment had drastically changed. So, in my personal experience, Vistaril had worked for me. Right before I got out of the hospital, I was put on Prozac that increased my anxiety level. My sister raves about her personal secret (Vistaril). So, vistaril has a place in psychiatry. I don't think the psychiatrist would have given me a useless medication in the horrid state I was in at that time.
I think this doc maybe just starting the patient out on vistaril as a start mark. If this doesn't work, I am sure a ssri or benzo will be tried next. Hopefully, therapy will be used as well to find out the underlining fears that are driving these panic attacks. Medication + therapy really help people learn better coping tools. This works better than medication alone to just cover up what needs to be uncovered.
I appreciate your comments.
Posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 5:37:19
In reply to anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL(to chairman), posted by shadows721 on February 14, 2004, at 1:52:16
I am on a antidepressant at the presentt time, lexapro. I was on effexor xr and celexa in the past. I have taken Kolonipin/xanex and buspar in the past have never been on VISTRARIL but like I stated in my first post it has only been 3 days on this one.
just confused on some of your posts-they conflict w/ each other. but other than that it is a starting point for me. everyday is a 'starting point' :)
Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 14, 2004, at 8:04:43
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL, posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 5:37:19
My posts were conflicted? I'll try to clarify if they were, I'm sorry.
My position: if you're already on lexapro, the Vistaril will help with residual anxiety. If you weren't on lexapro, I would expect it to help with anxiety, but not panic attacks. Be on the lookout for weight gain, though.
Posted by shadows721 on February 14, 2004, at 13:38:45
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL, posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 5:37:19
Give the med a try. It can't hurt to try it. Let us know if it does or doesn't work for you.
P.S. I was talking to a friend last night. She stated her dentist gave it to her, because she literally panics when going to the dentist. I never heard of that, but I am not surprised. She said it helps her relax. She couldn't go to the dentist without it. I sure wouldn't throw the med away even if it didn't work as you would like it to. You may be able to use it for other reasons, because it other benefits you can find online. It can be used in addition to other medications to help make them work better (i.e., pain meds). I used it to help with the nausea in starting the Lexapro. It helped me deal with that awful feeling of feeling like I was going to violently throw up for several weeks when I started Lexapro and helped with anxiety. Boy, I am glad I am not experiencing that now. I have taken it before taking tests too to help with test anxiety. It has helped me at higher doses to fall asleep as well. I think it is a great drug that is under utilized. But, that's my opinion. Caring thoughts sent your way :)
Posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 13:51:11
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL, posted by shadows721 on February 14, 2004, at 13:38:45
I am not giving up on this med YET....but I will admit have taken an extra one already per day. pdoc stated 2x a day. she has only seen me 3x so what does she know?
Posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 16:22:28
In reply to Re: anyone experienced w/ taking VISTARIL? for panic?, posted by crazychickuk on February 13, 2004, at 8:22:07
It is an anti manic medication.. i have no experiecne with this drug, but i just did a search and it is an anti manic med thats why it probably knocks you out as it is a calmer..
Donna
where did you find this information that it is a manic med? just wondering-thanks
AntiTrust
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