Advice, finding right treatment/meds for anxiety

I have been taking Citalopram (generic for Celexa) for about five years. about three years ago, my dosage went from 10mg to 20mg... and recently I was upped to 40mg. Have only been taking that dosage for a day, so not sure if it will help.

My symptoms are much more anxiety related, than depression -- however who I see will not prescribe anxiety meds. I'm wondering if they help? I've heard of Busbar... and of course Xanax and other meds you take as needed.

I do not have insurance, so seeking out therapy is not an option at this time. But I would be willing to see a different doctor who will give me different meds to try. I need to get my anxiety under control, the physical symptoms have been really awful. As many of you know, it's my own personal hell -- and ruining my life and the ability to enjoy it.

I'm hoping the higher dosage will help... but I wanted to get some advice in case it doesn't...

Thank you.

Ashley,

Hopefully the increase in celexa will work. If it's worked at a lower dose, odds are that the increase will work just fine.

And even though antidepressants are called antidepressants, the work super well for most anxiety patients that don't suffer from depression.

Also, if you would like to be prescribed something like Xanax, a lot of GP's don't prescribe them. Your best bet would be to see a psychiatrist.

Good luck!!

Hi Ashley,
I feel for you and others that have to go through this. I am on Zoloft, but the first 3 months I had acute anxiety. Fortunately my family doctor (that specializes in mental health), gave me clonazepam. I think it's called Klonapin in the States. I am in Canada. Anyway, it is definitely a benzo, but I needed it. I gradually came off it and I am okay. I also was given 'pregabalin' with is similar to 'Lyrica'. Lyrica is really for nerve pain, but a side effect is reducing anxiety. That definitely helped me. I am still on 100 mg of that.
My sister was on Celexa, but was having extreme anxiety so they took her off. However, she is bipolar so she should probably be on totally different meds. I hope your doctor will prescribe something to get you through the anxiety. It is not pleasant. cq

Thank you for all of your responses. I appreciate it so much. I will stick with the new dosage, and hopefully that will help. I am also getting my thyroid checked... it can cause anxiety, so perhaps that is part of the problem.

Thank you again for all of your advice. If anyone has any more advice, I appreciate it. It's difficult to figure out what treatment is best for you when you don't have access to the healthcare that you need because you cannot afford it. But I'm doing the best that I can...

Why do things always have to get worse before they get better when your change meds or up the dosage? I am having a rough time... but am hanging in there... thoughts of everyone I love dying and me being alone to eventually die alone are all my mind wants to think about. It's exhausting.

A.,

I am sorry you are dealing with those thoughts...they can be really challenging, and as you said...exhausting!

Here is a link for some great downloads that should help you process through and diffuses these worries.


Therapy Work Sheets:


www.get.gg/freedownloads2.htm


With encouragement!


S.C.

I am doing by far worse. I thought I was doing awful a few days in... but a little over a week in, and I am a complete mess. Cannot stop crying, shaking, panicking, cannot sleep or eat... I am terrified of dying, of being alone, of my loved ones dying. It's unbearable.

I called my NP, who is my GYN, and she suggested I go back to my 20 mg dosage and seek out a medical doctor or psychiatrist if that doesn't help or if I need relief now. So tomorrow I am going to see a medical doctor. My dad has an appointment, and he is giving it to me... I hope that there is something to be done to balance me out. This is the most awful I've ever felt.

I was on Buspar for a while as the Lexapro was dialing in. I found it to be very effective but it takes a while to kick in.

I saw my dad's doctor on Tuesday, and I really liked him. He is one of the good ones, and I would know because I've seen a lot of them. He really understood depression and anxiety and explained to me that I wasn't crazy... because I was beginning to wonder. He also talked about his experience with therapy at length, which he himself has done. But it's best to consider therapy after I've found the right balance of meds. I don't think I would be receptive to therapy until I'm a bit more balanced. Again though, I like my doctor - he said he wouldn't give up on me, that I would get there.

He kept me on Citalopram, but my previous dose of 20mg. And then added Wellbutrin 150mg. And then gave me some Clonazepam temporarily to help me get to sleep at night when needed. Because I hadn't been sleeping.

I have noticed a slow but steady improvement. When I first wake up is the worst... because I usually have a nightmare (usually can't remember) but I wake up with this feeling of dread, sometimes a panic attack. It's also difficult for me to get to sleep... I always try to get to sleep without the Clonazepam, but will take it if it's clear I am not going to sleep without it. I still have fears about death, death of my parents... but the thoughts are getting quieter.

I will say one good thing that has come from the worst and longest episode of depression/anxiety I have ever had... it has motivated me to find the solution. To keep trying until I feel better. Of course this is something I will always struggle with, but I need to find a way to live with it.

But right now it's baby steps... a cycle of wake, shower, meds, eat, rest, sleep, repeat. You do the best you can...