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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 26. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
I've suffered from social phobia and what I believe is depression for a long time.
But sometimes I feel very anxious for no apparent reason, like I'm on edge all the time, can't sleep, can't eat, etc. It's like a nightmare.
When it first started a couple of years ago at age 19, I ended up in hospital because of the abdominal pain the anxiety caused and they monitored me for appendicitis, I didn't sleep for two days in the hospital, it was hellish.
Doesn't seem to match any DSM or ICD diagnosis that I can find. 1mg clonazepam or a few hundred milligrams of pregabalin completely alleviates it, hoping that the doctor will let me try tiagabine or carbamazepine too.
Does anyone else have any similar experiences of anxiety or any insight into my condition? Hopefully when I get to see the psychiatrist he will be able to give me a better diagnosis.
Posted by alchemy on September 17, 2012, at 19:40:06
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
I identify with having extreme anxiety for no reason. It was years ago, but I think my answer was xanax. Not exercise, not breathing, not counseling - it was beyond that and miserable!
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 20:40:32
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
It sounds like GAD - generalised anxiety disorder
Psychotherapy can help, as can certain drugs (SSRI antidepressants, Mirtazepine, Buspar, Atarax, and as a last resort, benzodiazepines)
Ask your family doctor for a trial of an SSRI and see if this helps, if not, maybe ask for a referal to a psychiatrist?
Best wishes
Jon
Posted by schleprock on September 17, 2012, at 22:40:36
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
Yes, this does sound just like GAD. I'm not sure why DSM would want to make this so difiicult to find as a diagnosis. I had the same symptoms and found great success in the tricyclic Nortriptyline for 17 years. Of course most doctors will probably try to start you off on SSRIs first.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 22:45:20
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by schleprock on September 17, 2012, at 22:40:36
Yes, they love the SSRI's, pretty soon they will be putting them and stating in the water instead of fluoride.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 23:40:52
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 22:45:20
I thought there were already traces in drinking water or is this a rumor? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on September 18, 2012, at 0:27:02
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 20:40:32
> It sounds like GAD - generalised anxiety disorder
>
> Psychotherapy can help, as can certain drugs (SSRI antidepressants, Mirtazepine, Buspar, Atarax, and as a last resort, benzodiazepines)
>
> Ask your family doctor for a trial of an SSRI and see if this helps, if not, maybe ask for a referal to a psychiatrist?
>
> Best wishes
>
> Jon
Perhaps Nardil?
- Scott
Posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 3:07:12
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 23:40:52
I've already tried Citalopram, Mirtazapine, Reboxetine, Moclobemide and Tranylcypromine. None of them had any discernible effect on me. I'm being referred to try and actually get a doctor who will prescribe a high dose of MAOI's.
Posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 3:14:52
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 3:07:12
I don't identify as having GAD because I don't worry about everyday things, I feel anxious but I'm not concerned about anything in particular.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 18, 2012, at 6:44:32
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 3:14:52
Well, it sounds like GAD to me, but I'm no expert!
I'd try Nardil,as SLS, also worth trying are Buspar,Atarax, Lyrica and failing that, ask about a long acting benzo provided the anxiety is severe enough to accept the dependence that can come with these drugs.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on September 18, 2012, at 7:51:47
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
I think you need to be evaluated for co-occurring disorders. It may be symptoms of multiple things.
Not saying this is the case for you, but at one point I was experiencing what I labeled as "anxiety" but in retrospect, it was hypomania associated with bipolar II. I had been focusing on the keyed up feeling and ignoring the excessive productivity and excessive talking.
Best,
EE
Posted by brynb on September 18, 2012, at 9:30:36
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 3:07:12
> I've already tried Citalopram, Mirtazapine, Reboxetine, Moclobemide and Tranylcypromine. None of them had any discernible effect on me. I'm being referred to try and actually get a doctor who will prescribe a high dose of MAOI's.
I've tried most of the drugs above, but as far as anxiety goes (and it sounds very much like you're suffering from GAD, as everyone pretty much suggested) Lexapro worked the best. Perhaps that's because it's a true SRI. Of course, adding a benzo with it works even better. I like Konopin or Valium on a daily basis because of the long half-lives, though I find Xanax to be better during acute attacks and not as much of a depressant.
Good luck.
Posted by Meltingpot on September 18, 2012, at 9:35:46
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
When I stop my medication I stop sleeping and I feel constantly on edge that pacing up and down and walking are the only things that seem to help. There is absolutely no reason (as far as I am aware) for my anxiety (which makes it worse) but it always seems to be there. I have all the somatic symptoms that go with the anxiety, tightness in chest, light headedness, wretching, not sleeping, nightmares.
Yes instead of worrying that I'm going to have a heart attack I wish I would actually have one so that I don't have to put up with these symptoms anymore.Zyprexa has always been a God Send for helping with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Have you tried it?
Denise
Posted by Chris O on September 18, 2012, at 10:20:32
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
Ash:
I have chronic anxiety that never dissipates. It's not the "on edge" feeling unless I am forced to perform (speak, be extroverted, be engaged--which is pretty much, live, which I avoid much of the time!). Anyway, I think I identify. Benzos do not help me much though. I feel that they are too weak for what I am experiencing. It's good that that they help you.
The "feeling anxious for no apparent reason" sounds very biological/chemical to me. I know when I take meds or supplements that have dopamine activators in them, I get that really unpleasant wired feeling. Hope you find a solution to your issue.
Chris
Posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 11:59:58
In reply to I know exactly how you feel., posted by Meltingpot on September 18, 2012, at 9:35:46
> Zyprexa has always been a God Send for helping with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Have you tried it?The neurological damage those kind of drugs cause makes me averse to taking them and I don't have any physical symptoms. If I did I'd probably try clonidine.
Posted by gman22 on September 18, 2012, at 12:54:46
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
Sounds like classic anxiety and panic disorder, or a combination of the two...It sounds as if you already know what meds are effective, clonazepam and pregabalin. Also you haven't tried imipramine, nortriptyline, zoloft and paxil. All have been used successfully for these types of symptoms.
Posted by schleprock on September 18, 2012, at 18:44:18
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel., posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 11:59:58
>
> > Zyprexa has always been a God Send for helping with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Have you tried it?
>
> The neurological damage those kind of drugs cause makes me averse to taking them and I don't have any physical symptoms. If I did I'd probably try clonidine.
>
>
Have you been speaking with Lou?
Posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 19:54:44
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel. » Ash2012, posted by schleprock on September 18, 2012, at 18:44:18
> >
> Have you been speaking with Lou?
>Who?
Posted by phillipa on September 18, 2012, at 19:58:30
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel., posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 19:54:44
Ash a poster on here. Check the board for some of his posts. Don't take it seriously the posts okay? Phillipa
Posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 20:10:54
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel. » Ash2012, posted by phillipa on September 18, 2012, at 19:58:30
You sure it's even a person? Posting style seems reminiscent of a bot personally.
Posted by phillipa on September 18, 2012, at 20:14:23
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel., posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 20:10:54
I don't think anyone really knows as this is the internet. Anything is possible. Phillipa
Posted by schleprock on September 19, 2012, at 11:57:03
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel., posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 20:10:54
> You sure it's even a person? Posting style seems reminiscent of a bot personally.
Lou is most definitely not a "bot". If he was, he'd be talking about the dangers of anti-virus\spyware software and firewalls.
Posted by AlexCanada on September 20, 2012, at 6:02:28
In reply to Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Ash2012 on September 17, 2012, at 19:25:26
> I've suffered from social phobia and what I believe is depression for a long time.
>
> But sometimes I feel very anxious for no apparent reason, like I'm on edge all the time, can't sleep, can't eat, etc. It's like a nightmare.
>
> When it first started a couple of years ago at age 19, I ended up in hospital because of the abdominal pain the anxiety caused and they monitored me for appendicitis, I didn't sleep for two days in the hospital, it was hellish.
>
> Doesn't seem to match any DSM or ICD diagnosis that I can find. 1mg clonazepam or a few hundred milligrams of pregabalin completely alleviates it, hoping that the doctor will let me try tiagabine or carbamazepine too.
>
> Does anyone else have any similar experiences of anxiety or any insight into my condition? Hopefully when I get to see the psychiatrist he will be able to give me a better diagnosis.Mine is quite similar. It's this ''out of nowhere'' and for no reason type of anxiety for me. Nothing bad could be happening but the anxiety would manifest itself regardless and/or persist constantly.
If I try going off of my valium then it eventually comes back with a vengeance but also end up feeling very dark, dysphoric and end up feeling as if I am viewing the world through a very negative lens. Mind panic attacks for me may occur when I'm not on valium either. Some of it may be withdrawal but a lot of it may be just a return of my old symptoms (I have strong melancholic depression + the out of no where anxiety).
Gabapentin also works.
Lamictal wiped out all anxiety for me when I tried it a while back. Quite quickly too but I felt very cognitively impaired that I could not stand it. Many people do speak wonders of Lamictal though.
Posted by AlexCanada on September 20, 2012, at 6:09:10
In reply to Re: Does anyone else have this kind of anxiety?, posted by Chris O on September 18, 2012, at 10:20:32
> Ash:
>
> I have chronic anxiety that never dissipates. It's not the "on edge" feeling unless I am forced to perform (speak, be extroverted, be engaged--which is pretty much, live, which I avoid much of the time!). Anyway, I think I identify. Benzos do not help me much though. I feel that they are too weak for what I am experiencing. It's good that that they help you.
>
> The "feeling anxious for no apparent reason" sounds very biological/chemical to me. I know when I take meds or supplements that have dopamine activators in them, I get that really unpleasant wired feeling. Hope you find a solution to your issue.
>
> ChrisWhich supplements might these be? Magnesium Glycinate would sometimes cause anxiety in me.
Posted by AlexCanada on September 20, 2012, at 6:16:30
In reply to Re: I know exactly how you feel., posted by Ash2012 on September 18, 2012, at 19:54:44
>
> > >
> > Have you been speaking with Lou?
> >
>
> Who?Lou is an anxiety causing agent and capable of causing neorological damage. Upon exposure initial symptoms may include frustration, irritability, yelling, kicking, screaming, and throwing books across the room. Avoid at all costs.
Report to nearest doctor if effects do not subside.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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