Posted 9/9/2011 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone
Several months ago I experienced a very traumatic event in my life that I am still dealing with today. This event has reactivated my old (once dormant) anxiety, fears, phobias and obsessions to the point where I have just become a basket case. I have trembling, tight throat with frequent swallowing, raging anxiety, a constant state of stress, a floaty feeling in my head sometimes...you name it!.
Since I can't drink alcohol or take many of the drugs I used to take to "cope" I have been taking my regular Ativan but lately, I've also been taking Atenolol and spraying copious amount of Astelin nasal spray up my nose several times in the evening and at night. I have even been letting it run down the back of my throat and swallowing it because it's the only thing that makes me feel at least somewhat relaxed and sleepy.
However, I have begun to wonder if the Astelin and/or Atenolol might be actually aggravating my anxiety symptoms and making me feel worse. For example, I was surprised to read that if you swallow it you are supposed to call the poison control center and that it may cause harm to your body. I had no idea about this and just assumed that because it is administered up the nose that a certain amount would run down the back of your throat and get swallowed. I've also sprayed it up my nose and had it go into my lungs and make me cough. When I use it, I always sleep in late but feel really high-strung and full of anxiety the next morning. Sometimes I act and feel differently too (moody, wired, etc).
I guess my point/question is twofold...
1) Has anyone else ever used Astelin or other antihistamine to cope with the symptoms of anxiety?.
2) Did it actually increase your anxiety or have a "rebound" affect (ie; make your anxiety even worse)?.
Thanks again for any help and support on this. I don't know what else I can say or do. My anxiety had left me for years and then right out of the blue (after this recent traumatic experience) it came back stronger than ever like some raging cancer.
- Seth P.