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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jbee on August 16, 2004, at 22:34:25
I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder about 5 years ago and have been on Paxil
ever sense. I also take Welbutrin XL for ADD. I am now having what I believe to be
full-blown Anxiety Attacks. I get tightness in my chest, short of breath, sweat, and feel just freaked out.
Help? Is this just paxil not working or real anxiety attacks?
Posted by mcp on August 16, 2004, at 22:38:58
In reply to Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by jbee on August 16, 2004, at 22:34:25
Those are all classical signs of anxiety attacks. Trust me, I have been through the same crap. Rest assured there are tons of people out there feeling the same way. The only question is how to deal with them. The AD route didn't work for me, so I am back on the benzos. However, everyone is different.
> I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder about 5 years ago and have been on Paxil
> ever sense. I also take Welbutrin XL for ADD. I am now having what I believe to be
> full-blown Anxiety Attacks. I get tightness in my chest, short of breath, sweat, and feel just freaked out.
> Help? Is this just paxil not working or real anxiety attacks?
Posted by Glydin on August 17, 2004, at 7:34:05
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by mcp on August 16, 2004, at 22:38:58
How long have you been on Wellbutrin XL? Due to the fact it works on norepi, it can ramp up anxiety symptoms in some. Paxil is "suppose" to help with anxiety issues, but doesn't always work as effectively as advertised in certain individuals, but everyone is different. Talk with your doc if things don't improve or worsen for you.
Posted by woolav on August 17, 2004, at 10:14:44
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by Glydin on August 17, 2004, at 7:34:05
hello, I also have social anxiety disorder, as a result of untreated panic disorder that i had for years. Anyway, yep, you are having panic attacks. I have taken the paxil route too, (hate the side effects) so i take prozac now. But I take xanax daily and have not had a panic attack since (unless i forget to take it) So, I would def. ask your pdoc for xanax...or another benzo...
S
Posted by Glydin on August 17, 2004, at 12:53:41
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by woolav on August 17, 2004, at 10:14:44
There is probably something that I should have added --- While us anxiety prone are certainly assured to 99% that such symptoms are of the panic attack nature, reasonable prudence would suggest having all checked out to assure that IS what it IS. Not to alarm, but just to cover all bases.
Panic attacks do have good effective treatments.
Posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:29:09
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by Glydin on August 17, 2004, at 12:53:41
THANK-YOU ALL!
You confirmed my fears.
Thanks :}
-I have been having much milder symptoms for a couple of months, but they are getting worse.-I have been on the wellbutrin for 4 months now and the paxil for years.
-I think the paxil is no longer sufficient.?
Posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:34:37
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:29:09
What is the best (and worse) med. for Anxiety & Anxiety attacks?
Posted by crazychickuk on August 17, 2004, at 20:47:24
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:29:09
it really depends on the person.... maybe try a tca they are alot stronger.. ?
Posted by woolav on August 17, 2004, at 22:03:51
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by crazychickuk on August 17, 2004, at 20:47:24
Like I said, for me xanax has been a savior as far as panic attacks. They are gone now. I have other problems stemming from not treating the panic disorder for so long. But thats another issue....
Posted by jbee on August 17, 2004, at 23:13:55
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by crazychickuk on August 17, 2004, at 20:47:24
> it really depends on the person.... maybe try a tca they are alot stronger.. ?
TCA? tricyclic antidepresant
Posted by WAKI on August 18, 2004, at 0:40:52
In reply to Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by jbee on August 16, 2004, at 22:34:25
I think the welbutrin is turning up your "fight. flight and freeze" instincts.
Your hearts pounding, your trying to take in more oxygen. Your body is on full alert.
The wellbutrin does crank up my alert instincts.
Lower your breaths down to slow deep 8 to 12 per minute to communicate to your body it can slow down.
turn the volume down on wellbutrin.
crank up the volume on your ssri.
then call it a day.
Posted by Glydin on August 18, 2004, at 9:22:50
In reply to anxiety attacks. Whats Best?, posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:34:37
I am of the belief that benzo's are the way to effectively treat severe anxiety states - very carefully and with monitoring. But, benzos are not a good choice for everyone. If there is comorbid clinical level depression, that would need treatment also, in my opinion. Truely, only you and your doc can determine the best for your individual situation.
Posted by watergirl on August 18, 2004, at 11:41:52
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by WAKI on August 18, 2004, at 0:40:52
I really like what WAKI had to say.
> I think the welbutrin is turning up your "fight. flight and freeze" instincts.
>
> Your hearts pounding, your trying to take in more oxygen. Your body is on full alert.
>
> The wellbutrin does crank up my alert instincts.
>
> Lower your breaths down to slow deep 8 to 12 per minute to communicate to your body it can slow down.
>
> turn the volume down on wellbutrin.
>
> crank up the volume on your ssri.
>
> then call it a day.
It makes good sence. The Wellbutrin could very well be increasing your anxiety, especially sience your'e prone to it jbee. Different treatments work for different people.
Have you tried Benzos?
Have you discussed the increasing problem with your pdoc?Best Wishes,
CindyP.S. Whenever someone advises me on taking slow, deep breaths; I become more frustrated and maybe even outraged. But it does help (when I do it on my own).
Posted by MGOLDW on August 18, 2004, at 13:16:55
In reply to anxiety attacks. Whats Best?, posted by Jbee on August 17, 2004, at 19:34:37
> What is the best (and worse) med. for Anxiety & Anxiety attacks?
Xanax, in my opinion, is the best med for anxiety.
Good luck
Posted by waki on August 18, 2004, at 13:38:48
In reply to WAKI - Great Advise, posted by watergirl on August 18, 2004, at 11:41:52
thanks watergirl,
you have heard when people go to prison it is said "they do time". I did my time in an anxiety recovery clinic.
my head was about to explode, i lived in a pressure cooker hence i was a walking time bomb.
i checked into a anxiety recover clinic, we had therapy meetings every week.
more and more i think about it, my anxiety is lessoned not from meds but from a different way of thinking.
the most important 2 tools i got from the clinic were
1) understanding what and when the body goes under anxiety and stress.2) understanding how to prevent 80% of the anxiety that i was creating.
advent of anxiety recovery clinics were the best thing since man made the wheel.
for those of you living in a pressure cooker, meds help a great deal to manage the symptom, but therapy helps more to solve the problem
Posted by jbee on August 18, 2004, at 22:44:44
In reply to Re: watergirl- Great Advise, posted by waki on August 18, 2004, at 13:38:48
I am just going to sit down and take some time with my doc. It was also suggested that I keep a journal? many thanks Jbee
Posted by PanickingJake on August 19, 2004, at 18:37:19
In reply to Is this anxiety attacks or just anxiety?, posted by jbee on August 16, 2004, at 22:34:25
I just thought I'd let you know that I was in a GAD area and Paxil helped, then I went to Effexor XR and it helped. I felt the same sort of contstant anxiety almost to the point to having full-blown panic atacks. The drugs helped me though and I could easily get through a day. Then, all of a sudden, about 3 years after, I went into a tail spin and ended up having what I call Constant Panic Disorder. If you took the definition of GAD and had it take steroids. You could have very well just got worse, as opposed to the medication not working. I am taking WAY more now than I did (6 meds from 2 working) and I can hardly get through the day. Glydin also has a good point about the nerepinephrine effects of Wellbutrin. It can only be a possiblity if you've been on the same amount of meds for a while, otherwise if you are in the middle of a switch or something like that, you can't really asses what's going on. My aunt was on Paxil and it was working for a lot more years then I, and she got a little worse after a while. She ended up taking more Paxil and is back to normal. Too bad its not that easy for all of us.
Peace
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