Paxil, Zoloft or Prozac usage for panic, anxiety, depression

The SSRIs:

I would recommend Zoloft over Paxil, but that is based off my personal experience. I think it's important to note that I went on anti-depressants to get out of a major depressive episode and not for anxiety help. So take that into consideration while you continue reading.

Paxil didn't work for me at all. I felt really "blah" like I was in a rut, and I think I might have gained a few pounds. I was taking Clonazepam at the time for my panic attacks, but I don't have GAD so I can't say whether Paxil would help with daily anxiety.

Zoloft works for me, but I am having trouble with my motivation. I feel better, except I have no drive to do anything. I should mention that I had no motivation before I went on Zoloft (I was very depressed) so I can't say for sure if the Zoloft is causing more apathy or whether it just isn't fixing the apathy I already had.

If you want to see what hundreds of people think, here are links to some reviews:

Paxil (for treating anxiety): www.drugs.com/comments/paroxetine/paxil-for-anxiety.html
Zoloft (for treating panic disorder): www.drugs.com/comments/sertraline/zoloft-for-panic-disorder.html

The benzo:

I agree that 0.5mg of Clonazepam is not going to be sufficient in the long run. That's the starter dose, if I remember correctly -- it's equivalent to 0.25mg of Xanax. When I took Clonazepam, I was on 1mg pills. I never went up from that (other than occasionally taking more than one a day when I needed it).

Warning - tangent coming!

One interesting (and frustrating) fact I have found is the manufacturer of the generics makes a difference. Some brands do nothing for me (Teva) and others work really well (Sandoz). It might be that the brand of Clonazepam you have just doesn't work for you. If your doctor is unwilling to up your dose, perhaps you could ask him to prescribe you with another brand and see if that helps. Sorry about the tangent, but I have had a LOT of trouble with generic brands so I wanted to mention it.

I think it's great that you want to wean off Clonazepam -- and good luck with whichever med you choose. You will know within a few weeks if it's working for you and if not, you can always try the other.

-Cat

Bluecat:
Thanks you for you input. I have been on the zoloft before. Actually three times with different combinations and reactions. By itself it did not seem to help my depression much; but helped the anxiety, and all the feelings of that. Plus I felt oh so lazy all of the time. By the way is not a situational worry I have anxiety like gad -but an internal nagging anxiety from no where. It is miserable feeling. If left too long it turns in to a strange panick or paranoia of little things like shopping or even just buying a birthday card for someone, then irritable feelings. I can't even get a job now due to the panic of working and not being able to perform my tasks properly; and failing.

When I took the zoloft 'with' the escitalopram; it seemed to be starting to help; but I think my doctor crossed over the higher dose of the escitalapram that was causing mood issues too fast. I was on 20 mg of Escit. He dropped me 10 mg.'s and added 25 mg.s of zoloft. I felt a little better with regard to panick and obsessing over it for a week, but had horrific muscle pain and exhaustion. (Looking back I think it was withdrawals form the escitalopram) anyway-my thyroid numbers were off too so after a week of cross over we added in some levothyroxin. I felt even better for a week-then spriraled into sleepless nights and major irritable feelings. I was over medicated with thyroid meds. Nothing wrong with my thyroid - just effects of quick withdrawal I think.

The third time we attempted to augment with it again this summer and he suggested I drop a small dose of the clonazopram when I began the zoloft. I went into suicide thoughts about a week later. I felt it coming and then it came with no anxiety though. I think it was the drop of clonazopram with the addition of the zoloft.

Hibee: I do see my doctor about these questions. Thus I have not changed anything because we are trying to figure out what symptom goes with what. I just don't want to rely on the benzo forever. More than anything...I want to be on a medicine that works and I don't have to keep changing. So I have stayed here in the clonaz and escitalopram for about ten months now; but have recently had to return even to a small dose of estrogen to help other areas. It is frustrating but I am hopeful.

The thing is...I know without a doubt as I have suffered before that weaning from this benz is going to be horrible o matter how slow I go; and I find it worse than the paxil withdrawal I went through- or close in comparison.

Hey Stacey!

I do see patterns-but what to do about them...... I think the lexapro-escitalopram had made things worse for me and my family agrees and has agreed for years.

First-I can't sleep as well if I take the escitalopram at night, but can't get up as well if I take it in the morning. I have done that med to am as of late-thus the reason I am on here now-can't get moving!!!

However, it doesn't matter how much of each of these two meds I presently take; I still can not think about a job anymore. I always had anxiety and depression; but pushed through some of the anxiety and did work part time when I could even though I had it. But there is something about the escitalopram that hinders different things in me.

I will email you later too.

Hi

I was on escitalopram for 3 years but it pooped out on me and stopped working as well which seems to be the case with most AD I have tried. The reason I rated escitalopram so high was it really worked well for my anxiety and depression and it's the only AD I have taken which did not give me any side effects.

I have found Prozac to be good thus far but had to goto 60mg which is the target dose for anxiety when taking Prozac and as I mentioned above I also take Mirtazipine 30mg & Haloperidol 2mg. I struggle with anxiety on a daily basis due to having Aspergers Syndrome but the meds do help take the edge of things and I use self help to help me manage my anxiety.

Hibee