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Newbie here, and feeling somewhat desperate.....

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 1/4/2009 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I just found this site today, it looks like there are so many supportive members over here :)

This is my situation...I'm 44 and in the throws of peri, I started experiencing anxiety about four years ago.  I can tolerate the other symptoms of peri, however; the anxiety is my biggest challenge!  With the anxiety comes panic and of course those dreaded heart palpitations.  I have had every test known to man, all checks out well.  Simply, it's anxiety and I can't get through it without medication.

I was on Effexor for a few years, did very well on it, never had any side effects and came off of it pretty easily.  Because I was feeling so good, I decided to stop taking it.  Well that was silly, it was because of the med that I was feeling so well.  SO here I am, starting on it once again, though I am experiencing side effects this time.  Mostly increased anxiety is what I feel, and I hate it!  My doctor said to hang-in-there, I'll get over this rough patch.  I don't know, I'm not convinced it will work this time.

Has anyone else successfully got past the initial side effects and is doing well on an AD? If so, can you tell me which one and how you made it through this rough patch?

Thanks so much!

Posted 1/4/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there, This is Kitt and Welcome to HealingWell. I tried many AD's and the side effects of being dizzy, and fuzzy brained and walking into walls was not good so many I had to quit and try another.  I am on Cymbalta and had no trouble getting on that but I want off.............as I am still having anxiety and depression and I have even been overdozed on it trying to get to a level that worked...................

I used to take an old tricyclic but after many years it petered out on me. ( 20 years on it,   did very well)

Celexa has had good reviews on the forum but each person is different. 

What happened when you went off the med completely? I am asking as I am a bit nervous going off the AD.

Thank you so much

Kitt

Posted 1/4/2009 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitt,

THanks for the warm welcome.  It looks like you have had your run of ADs as well.  I read so many horror stories about coming off of Effexor, I was terrified!!!  Well, I went from 75mg to 37.5mg (the lowest dose) and stayed on that for quite awhile.  Then I went every other day and continued like that for a few weeks.  Then I stopped taking it all together.  I had some dizziness and brain zaps, though it didn't last long at all.  In a couple of weeks I was feeling just fine.  If it's really something you want to get off of, don't be afraid.  As long as you have the help of a doctor, you'll do just fine :)

Hugs,

Karen

Posted 1/4/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you and yes I have a Pdoc that was normal until she was blessed with me for a patient.  smhair .

Hugs

Kitt

Posted 1/4/2009 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Karen
'I am on Celexa and for ME it is helping out in a huge way
I was totally a skeptic and did not want to go on AD's and prolly a lil afraid too admit I needed it
BUT after I lost my dad I just could not take things at the pace I was and it was a decision the doc and I made together

I wish you all the best and welcome to the family

Lyn

FIXING TYPOS LOL turn

Posted 1/4/2009 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hekofaride :)

Nice to meet you! You have already had a warm reception so I thought I would just say hello and welcome. There are a lot of great people on here to talk to and wonderful resources to go through and read.

Take care!
Posted 1/4/2009 8:57 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you all for welcoming me to this forum.  It's so hard to know what to do.  Do you stick with it and try to ride out the initial side effects?  Do you switch before going on any longer?  And if you do switch, to which one!?  There are so many.  I think if the Effexor doesn't work, I will try Prozac.  If that one doesn't work, I will try Celexa or Lexapro.  I wish I would have never messed around with the Effexor, it worked so well for me.  I don't suffer from any type of depression, it's all anxietyk, every single uncomfortable bit of it!!!

Thanks again!

Hugs,

Karen

Posted 1/4/2009 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Karen
'As I said I take celexa and it does it for me
My daughter poor thing is on Prozac
YEP gets the OCD and anxiety from momma


I would say try one out to see give it 4 to 6 weeks and if not working you will have to keep trying to find something that will

I also take valium for anxiety /panic attacks ...........LYN
Posted 1/4/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Lynn, do you take the Celexa for just anxiety or depression as well?  Is Celexa the mother to Lexapro?  Did you struggle with side effects when starting the Celexa?  How is your daughter doing on Prozac?  I also have a type of OCD, I worry about everything!  Mostly I suffer with health anxieties, and I am constantly worrying about the wellbeing of my son and husband.  I apologize for all the questions, I'm just at a strange crossroad right now and no knowing which way to go.

Thanks so much!

Karen

Posted 1/4/2009 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Karen I take it for depression and anxiety and my daughter takes it prozac for depression( lost both grandparents in 2 yrs( my parents) and bio dad) as well as she sees me so sick sometimes it worries her) and OCD
WE both are total fanatics with worrry and cleaning and checking locked doors 5 to 7 times
Routine is a biggie with the 2 of us
Especially with our morning rituals and then bed rituals it would be funny and sometimes is BUT not if we get in each others way lol
I sit back and watch her and think to myself I have done this to her and it hurts me
Cait is a teen and an honor student she is my life...........
Her NN on here is Beautiful Disaster

No worries about the questions thats what this place is all abut hun k

LYN
Posted 1/4/2009 10:31 PM (GMT 0)

Karen, hi! I am 49 and peri-menopausal, too. I've had the heart palpitations for years but it got worse with the peri-menopausal. This past week I went on a Beta Blocker because I was tired and scared of my heart doing strange things. And it got bad! Today, my heart has been racing here and there, but I'm sticking with it. These meds probably take time. Give your med the time it needs. Side effects go away after about 2 weeks or a little more. I'm not a professional. I also take Prozac successfully.

You might consider a Beta Blocker if the palpitations are affecting your life as much as they were mine. Course, the fact that they scare the heck out of ya doesn't help. Many here can relate!

Posted 1/5/2009 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome!  I don't have any experience with the meds you are talking about, but wanted to throw my support for you in here. 

I am also in my forties and dealing with the fun that is peri-menopause, heart palps and all.  I've had p/a for over 19 years now and it has been very up and down, but really seemed to increase along with the changes in hormones.  Once i realized it was peri-menopause, I calmed a bit because I can explain the symptoms I feel...for some reason that seems to help me.  If I can say the heart palps are from the fluctuating hormones it stops me from going into the what-ifs...what if it's a heart attack or heart disease, etc.  It isn't always easy though, as heart symptoms seem to be the scariest ones for me.

I do hope you will continue to come here, this is the BEST group of people around, the support is amazing. 

Posted 1/5/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and Welcome to HW - you have found a great site!

I have found that initial side effects with most meds tend to go away within 2 weeks. I always try and ride it out and if I still am feeling unwanted side effects, then I call my doc.

Best of luck and keep us posted!
Posted 1/5/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you everyone for your warm welcomes and encouragement.  I had a very bad night last night and not doing much better this morning.  I'm just really feeling distraught right now, and wanting my old self back so badly!  I don't know how I ever got to this point, I hate it!

Thanks again!

Hugs,

Karen

Posted 1/6/2009 3:53 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement.  It has been a ROUGH few days.  The anxiety has been so bad that my body hurt all over.

Yesterday I decided to take the lower dose of Effexor and last night I slept like a baby and this morning has been very easy.  Today I'm supposed to take the higher dose, however; I'm afraid to do that.  I can't stand the side effects.  I think I'm going to stay on the lower dose for a bit longer and then try switching to Prozac.  Effexor worked wonders for me for several years, now I'm afraid it has just pooped-out!

Nikki, have you been on Lexapro for awhile and you're now suffering from side effects?  Or have you just started on it?  If the Prozac doesn't work eithor, I will try the Lexapro.

I never suffered from anxiety until I hit 40 (I'm now 44), and that's when my hormones played havoc with me.  I can't tell you how much I miss my care-free self.  I hate being plagued with this anxiety, espcecially when this is supposed to be some of the best years of my life!

Hugs,

Karen

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