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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sadienan on March 27, 2008, at 15:00:04
Greetings- I'm new here but have been a lurker for a long time.
I have a degree in Psychology but that did nothing to prevent me from falling into problems with psych. meds. (And, of course, problems with myself)Around age 30, I was finally diagnosed with Panic Disorder. It runs in my family- maternal side. My Mom drank to deal with hers. I really suffered with them all through school.
Developed an eating disorder at 14- which lasted about half a year.I had "anorexia" and it seemed to get rid of the anxiety I always had-strange, I know. I quit the anorexia when threatened by a family member to stop. Never had psychological treatment.
Anyway- finally had the Panic Disorder diagnosed around age 30- I was having severe hbp, shaking, vomiting.diarrhea, and a feeling of PERIL which could arise at any moment. Worst attack was out in the yard gardening in the sun. Yet I could drive the GW Bridge and NOT have an attack.
I saw several psychiatrists who confirmed the diagnosis. Breathing exercises did NOTHING. Relaxation tapes were a joke (yet at work I was using them for my clients.)
Sometimes it got so bad at work I would feign illness and lock myself in my office for the duration of the attack.
Needless to say- Xanax was presented as the cure. I took half the amount the dr. prescribed but stayed on the stuff about 8 years. By this time I was getting horrible headaches when the pill-piece was wearing off ( I was down to .125) but an alleviation of the headache when I took the pill. I found out that the headache was HBP. Dr. tried me on all kinds of pills for that- settled on Clonidine as it was so high periodically.
I foolishly decided to cold-turkey the xanax. My doctor said I was on such a tiny amount I probably would not notice a thing. So I quit.
I stayed off of them about a week- the worst week I can ever imagine. No sleep. Shaking. The ground moving under me. Horrific headaches. Symptoms would build up then subside=- then build up again- worse---finally I broke down and called a rehab and they came and got me. I'm glad I did!
I had an episode of my face and arm getting numb- they took my BP and it was 200/120 ! I was scared. They gave me a shot of phenobarbital along with clonidine- enough to knock out a horse, they said, but I was still so hyper I could not sleep even tho the BP went down to reasonable levels.
Finally- as I had not slept since entering the facility- they knocked me out with a med called "Placydl". It did the trick.
They put me on Prozac and told me that it blocked panic attacks. They suggested I use benadryl for anxiety and sleep. Sure enough- after a few more months of shakiness and sweaty palms, their regimen kicked in.
I was proud of myself- I felt free. And the Prozac worked!
However, there is always a new drug around the corner. Some years later, going thru a stressful time, a new Dr. put me on Klonopin. He said one could easily withdraw from this and that most people with panic disorder preferred it to Xanax.
Well, after awhile I got ornery and decided I did not want to take Benzos. The Dr. said "if you had diabetes you'd take insulin. You have panic disorder you need benzos." Well, I tapered them down and out and several weeks later the w/d set in- much the same as the Xanax but slower...and it was back to the rehab for me!
Then they put me on Seroquel for sleep. 600 milligrams per night. I weighed 120 and was 5 foot 6. Well, within a year I weighed 170 (and I was NOT eating anymore).
Then I read up on Seroquel and decided to get off of it. I contacted a good doctor who was appalled I was on 600 milligrams. I cut it to 300 and did not notice anything but when I got into the lower levels 100-150 mg- I noticed difficulty sleeping and nightmares and anxiety. So what I finally did was stupid, perhaps, but I was desperate just to be me again.
I still had some Klonopin hanging around. I took it (1mg)about a week as I reduced then quit the Seroquel. Then I threw out the Klonopin. I remain on the Prozac.
I moved from NY to CT and consulted a new, highly recommended psychiatrist. Both my parents died suddenly in my prescense and other traumatic issues occurred at the same time, including a corrupt attorney, a troubled son, and a daughter who felt "sick" when she looked at mother's day cards because they made her feel guilty.
The new Dr. said that I have ADHD and wanted to put me on Adderall! Now that is an amphetamine. For now- I said no thanks- but I wonder is it possible I was misdiagnosed all those years and was really hyper and anxious from ADHD?
I would be interested in any feedback from you folks. I feel I have blabbed on long enough here and am probably boring you. However, I will NEVER again take or withdraw from a psych drug w/o finding a doctor experienced in these issues.
And I am 55 years old and it took me that long to figure it out....at least in part! Thank you for your time. I can be a support to anyone going through Benzo w/d.
Posted by Sigismund on March 29, 2008, at 2:43:54
In reply to finally figured it out at 55?, posted by sadienan on March 27, 2008, at 15:00:04
You are not boring me, and please allow me to welcome you here.
I'm 54.
My experience with psychopharmacology has been mixed, but mainly negative.
No doubt my parents were right and I should have played football.
Posted by 49er on March 30, 2008, at 7:17:04
In reply to finally figured it out at 55?, posted by sadienan on March 27, 2008, at 15:00:04
> And I am 55 years old and it took me that long to figure it out....at least in part! Thank you for your time. I can be a support to anyone going through Benzo w/d.
Hi,
Welcome. Your story sounds heartbreaking.
Not to burst your bubble but when you are on these meds, it has been most people's experiences that you have to literally become your own doctor. I would say more but I don't want anything that could be perceived as inflamatory that would get me banned from these boards.
Look at your situation. You had withdrawal symptoms from Xanax that instead were treated as a return of the illness with more drugs.
Don't feel about about how long it took you to figure things out.
I was put on these meds in 1995 and it took me until 2006 to realize these meds were not good for me. I am now down to two meds and slowly tapering off of them.
I learned from the Paxil Progress Boards how to taper safely. There is no doubt in my mind that if I had tapered by my p-doc's schedule, I would be back on these meds.
As an FYI, when you are ready to come off of Prozac, do not cold turkey it even though most psychiatrists act like because of its long half life, you can do it safely. When I did that, it caused suicidal ideation the first time and severe depression the 2nd time.
Good luck to you.
49er
Posted by sadienan on March 30, 2008, at 13:47:59
In reply to Re: finally figured it out at 55?, posted by 49er on March 30, 2008, at 7:17:04
Thank you so very much for your kind words of wisdom. I feel better knowing I am not the only person to have gone through these problems. I wish I had never been put on the Xanax- but then again- I think about all the years I was able to work successfully, go to school for an advanced degree, take care of 2 kids as a single mom, a dog and 5 cats, and buy a home. Without the med I was verging on agoraphobia. I wish there were a nonaddictiive med for panic disorder.
> > And I am 55 years old and it took me that long to figure it out....at least in part! Thank you for your time. I can be a support to anyone going through Benzo w/d.
>
> Hi,
>
> Welcome. Your story sounds heartbreaking.
>
> Not to burst your bubble but when you are on these meds, it has been most people's experiences that you have to literally become your own doctor. I would say more but I don't want anything that could be perceived as inflamatory that would get me banned from these boards.
>
> Look at your situation. You had withdrawal symptoms from Xanax that instead were treated as a return of the illness with more drugs.
>
> Don't feel about about how long it took you to figure things out.
>
> I was put on these meds in 1995 and it took me until 2006 to realize these meds were not good for me. I am now down to two meds and slowly tapering off of them.
>
> I learned from the Paxil Progress Boards how to taper safely. There is no doubt in my mind that if I had tapered by my p-doc's schedule, I would be back on these meds.
>
> As an FYI, when you are ready to come off of Prozac, do not cold turkey it even though most psychiatrists act like because of its long half life, you can do it safely. When I did that, it caused suicidal ideation the first time and severe depression the 2nd time.
>
> Good luck to you.
>
> 49er
>
>
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2008, at 13:15:47
In reply to Re: finally figured it out at 55?, posted by sadienan on March 30, 2008, at 13:47:59
Just found this thread and so relate to you still on benzos for over 30 years origninally from CT had a wonderful pdoc there and still practicing. So babblemeile me if you want his name don't know what part of CT. Love Phillipa panic and axiety sufferer too. Older also.
Posted by tunguska on April 5, 2008, at 3:32:52
In reply to Re: finally figured it out at 55? » sadienan, posted by Phillipa on April 4, 2008, at 13:15:47
Amazing, docs all say similar things, it'll be easier to get off, they prescribe more drugs for the side effects of the ones they're telling you aren't giving you side effects, and when you have reactions to this stuff, or getting off this stuff, they tell you its a panic disorder...augh!!!
14 days no cymbalta and I think getting that out of my system has solved more problems than it has caused even though I've had to take some time off due to the "flu". Estroven and 5htp seems to be making it easier but also I found a book about toxic parents and suddenly realized I've been medicating off an on because first my mother and then my husband who both certainly have problems were hell bent on convincing me I was problemed. Neither are very happy now that I am thinking clearly ans standing up for myself. Tough noogies!
This is the end of the thread.
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