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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 20:24:13
am condsidering taking smthg for anxiety, random panic attacks and irritability (all hormone related IMO)
doc recommends lex but have searched the archives here and read scary weight gain stories.
also googled wellbutrin and think it may not work for panic..but it may seem to be better b.c no weight gain? or is this not true?
should i skip the ssri route altogether? i dont know WHAT to do! i did take prozac and buspar- for a year, but that was 10-ish years ago ...dont even remember if it helped - just know getting off was hell. and have been med free since.
i posted my 'story'yesterday (see: hormone hell above) am new to board - having 'a time' right now - cant decide what to do - plan of action needed.
had two panic attacks this month - but none in months before now - but cannot deal w. those at all....and now am having the typical fear of having one making me insane.
so should i dive back into ssri world 10 years later??-ugh. dont want to. why is this happening?!
i have a xanax rx - i usually dont take - but am so drug sensitive - a half of a white (lowest dose) calms me down - even a 1/4 works half the time - making me think a placebo would work just as well - what could a 1/4 possibly do?! what abt 1/2 a xan everyday? or is that bad? kinda makes me tired.
SOMEONE HELP! i am thin and do NOT want to gain weight - that would make me ENTIRELY depressed. so scared now reading abt so many w. weight gain on lex. scared to go there. would literally die if i gained. but cannot cope w. ONE more anxiety attack - it cant happen. am lost.
TIA
Posted by wildcard on September 17, 2005, at 21:56:49
In reply to Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 20:24:13
google effexor and see what u think ; )
Posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 22:22:42
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any? » tiffanywp, posted by wildcard on September 17, 2005, at 21:56:49
> google effexor and see what u think ; )
i went to effexor site - did quiz - but on quiz there were no questions abt panic or anxiety.??? - but then on the 'understanding effexor' page it said it was approved for GAD - which i am unsure i have - when i did the GAD tests i did not qualify there either. anyway - tell me why you suggested me looking into this? is the weght gain a non issue here/w. effexor? i am not always worried daily - as the GAD sites say - just have random panic attacks out of no where. and major irritability. so please let me pick you brain and tell me all you know! here is what i want - i want to not have panic and irritability and to not gain weight. :)
Posted by wildcard on September 17, 2005, at 22:35:36
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 22:22:42
for me, effexor xr has decreased my appetite as it has for several others i know. it is also an anti depressant used for treatment of depression and anxiety. i take klonopin w/ it as my anxiety is severe but i personally know several people on effexor that are very happy w/ it but i have read posts on here from people that did not like it. it's worth a try. it really depends on how u react to it. take care ; )
Posted by theo on September 17, 2005, at 22:55:30
In reply to Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 20:24:13
> am condsidering taking smthg for anxiety, random panic attacks and irritability (all hormone related IMO)
>
> doc recommends lex but have searched the archives here and read scary weight gain stories.
>
> also googled wellbutrin and think it may not work for panic..but it may seem to be better b.c no weight gain? or is this not true?
>
> should i skip the ssri route altogether? i dont know WHAT to do! i did take prozac and buspar- for a year, but that was 10-ish years ago ...dont even remember if it helped - just know getting off was hell. and have been med free since.
>
> i posted my 'story'yesterday (see: hormone hell above) am new to board - having 'a time' right now - cant decide what to do - plan of action needed.
>
> had two panic attacks this month - but none in months before now - but cannot deal w. those at all....and now am having the typical fear of having one making me insane.
>
> so should i dive back into ssri world 10 years later??-ugh. dont want to. why is this happening?!
>
> i have a xanax rx - i usually dont take - but am so drug sensitive - a half of a white (lowest dose) calms me down - even a 1/4 works half the time - making me think a placebo would work just as well - what could a 1/4 possibly do?! what abt 1/2 a xan everyday? or is that bad? kinda makes me tired.
>
> SOMEONE HELP! i am thin and do NOT want to gain weight - that would make me ENTIRELY depressed. so scared now reading abt so many w. weight gain on lex. scared to go there. would literally die if i gained. but cannot cope w. ONE more anxiety attack - it cant happen. am lost.
> TIAHonestly, I think Paxil 10mg or Paxil CR 12.5mg would be the only SSRI group med that truly works for anxiety. The big drawback, sexual side effects.
I took 1mg Xanax XR twice daily (7:00am & 7:00pm) for a while and it worked great. The only reason I stopped was fear of getting dependent to a benzo. I would try it again if my panic got bad.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2005, at 23:11:52
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any? » tiffanywp, posted by theo on September 17, 2005, at 22:55:30
You won't gain wt on xanax. And if that's all you need to get rid of anxiety use the xanax. It's not hard to come off of even if you take it regularly. I just don't trust the AD's Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by fairywings on September 17, 2005, at 23:14:43
In reply to Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by tiffanywp on September 17, 2005, at 20:24:13
hi tiff,
i took lex, hated it, swelled like crazy, sweated like a pig, it was awful, and gained weight. i hated zoloft too, same stuff.
never took wellb., so i can't comment.i love xanax, i take regular, not xr, and got over the sleepiness after a couple of weeks. i only take as needed a couple of x's a week. it's great for my terrible anxiety, seems to have a weight reduction effect on me, but not appetite reduction, if that makes any sense? i don't have an addiction problem, at least not now, i've not increased.
hope that helps.
fw
Posted by spriggy on September 18, 2005, at 17:05:06
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any? » tiffanywp, posted by fairywings on September 17, 2005, at 23:14:43
Are panic attacks your main problem? Do you have general anxiety as well?
I've had several panic attacks myself so I know how horrific they are. I'd rather go through childbirth again!!Have you tried Klonopin? It lasts longer than Xanex so it might be of worth to you as well.
If it's mostly panic attacks, I'd stay away from SSRI's- just take something "as needed." that's what I do.
Lexapro and Wellbutrin only made my anxiety worse and also thrust me into a horrible-dark-strange depression.
I wish now I had just stuck with something as needed and not taken something daily.Another thing that has helped me with panic attacks is this Anxiety work book. It teaches you breathing techniques (which I poo poo'd at first until I realized learning how to breathe through the attacks REALLY does help).
It also helps you break the cycle of the "fear of another one" which often triggered horrible anxiety for me.
How long do your attacks last?
Posted by spriggy on September 18, 2005, at 17:07:15
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by spriggy on September 18, 2005, at 17:05:06
Lexapro did not increase my anxiety but Wellbutrin definitely did.
Lexapro did however, make me depressed and feel like I was an emotional basket case. I couldn't decide if I was euphoric or suicidal. Sometimes I would feel both in an hour!
Wellbutrin did take away my appetite completely. I did not eat for 4 days until my husband FORCED me to eat half of a banana.
I didn't gain any weight on Lexapro though, in fact, I lost a few pounds but it was likely because I was wiggin' out so much I would forget to eat.
Posted by tiffanywp on September 18, 2005, at 18:45:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro or Wellbutrin: which drug - if any?, posted by spriggy on September 18, 2005, at 17:05:06
> Are panic attacks your main problem? Do you have general anxiety as well?
> I've had several panic attacks myself so I know how horrific they are. I'd rather go through childbirth again!!
>
> Have you tried Klonopin? It lasts longer than Xanex so it might be of worth to you as well.
>
> If it's mostly panic attacks, I'd stay away from SSRI's- just take something "as needed." that's what I do.
>
> Lexapro and Wellbutrin only made my anxiety worse and also thrust me into a horrible-dark-strange depression.
> I wish now I had just stuck with something as needed and not taken something daily.
>
> Another thing that has helped me with panic attacks is this Anxiety work book. It teaches you breathing techniques (which I poo poo'd at first until I realized learning how to breathe through the attacks REALLY does help).
>
> It also helps you break the cycle of the "fear of another one" which often triggered horrible anxiety for me.
>
> How long do your attacks last?
>
hey - my panic attacks last only a few minutes (5-ish)and very random - only two in months - but i think i am getting generally scared of it happening again which makes me on edge in random situations SOMETIMES- i.e dealing w. other kids parents at school. stuff out of home around other people.i dont know if that qualifies as general anxiety. i dont worry abt everydya things all day - just worry i will have panic while out of house. does this make sense?
i am DEF. afraid to go SSRI route but feel like i'd be popping xanax daily w. the way ive felt past 4 days.
have OB appt tom. - do you think she'd give Klonopin instead of lex? what should i tel her/ask for???????????
tia!!!!!!!
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