Post-Welbutrin failure anxiety

good afternoon. I am new to this forum, but not new to anxiety. Sort of. Many moons ago, my PCP diagnosed me with depression and prescribed Welbutrin. This treatex me very successfully for nearly ten years. Last May, I ended up at the ER with an anxiety attack caused by welbutrin failure. I have since been on Prozac. At first, 20 mg, then 40, now 40 twice a day.

Before the welbutrin failure, I'd had a total of 2 anxiety attacks in my life, during times of exceptionally high stress. Directly following the ER visit, i suddenly dealt with anywhere from 5-15 attacks daily.

I use deep breathing exercises when i feel the first symptoms, plus take my next dose of prozac as soon as possible. My concern is that my neurological symptoms seem to be getting consistently worse, regardless of stress. Neuropathic pain, feeling my heart beat so hard it hurts, only to have normal pulse and blood pressure readings, tremors that I struggle to differentiate between anxiety and hypoPara (this is a diagnosed condition: idiopathic hypoParathyroidism), insomnia, fatigue, lack of sexual response, sudden exhaustion, brain fog (caused presumably by calcifications in the brain from the hypoPara)...

What are some techniques you use to cope, how do you avoid constant ER trips, and what other medications might i discuss with my doctor, since it has only been a year on the prozac and my dose is so high already?

Just for reference, I am 37, weigh about 140 lbs., and stand 5'5" tall.

Blessings,
Elura

Thanks, Larry. I don't have a fear of death, really. I have faced death multiple times already, both in accidents and from my own health. Although my husband is 14 years older than me, he will likely outlive me with ease.

Just a general feeling of being overwhelmed. It has started startling me awake a couple of times a week now. Not to mention that when it strikes at work, the dizziness and sometimes weakness that accompanies it can make functioning difficult.

I do, at least, recognize that it is an unreasonable reaction, and that helps bring it under some control. Still, I find it disconcerting to lose emotional control like that.

Of course, I used to write creatively as a release valve. Since my hypoPara diagnosis, though, my concentration has been on working long enough to pay off debts, enjoy time with my children and grandchildren, and hopefully, get our home handicap accessible before the pain excludes me from normalcy.

And therein likely lies the source of my increased anxiety. Must be time to set pen again to paper to release some of the tension from my overwhelmed mind. It would be nice to have a few days without neuropathic pain.
I am rambling. I tend to do that.

Elura

You might ask your doctor about a quick acting medication for breakthrough anxiety. This is how my hubby has reduced his number of ER trips. He often had heart-rates of well over 150 by the time we would get there (we live in a remote area).

Another thought I had, though I cannot claim to relate, I'm not familiar with your physical issues. I have an aunt who suffers from chronic pain, as well as anxiety. (She has spinal issues, has broken her back and neck over 10 times, surgery, halos, etc.) She sees a counselor once a week, and uses some of the same techniques to handle panic attacks and to work through the pain, such as meditation and breathing exercises. (There are some links to breathing exercises in the resources page. They might be worth checking out.) Have you considered visiting a counselor/psychologist?

Sorry to hear how much you're going through!

Larry, I have one published, JADED. The second is still being written, titled BECAUSE THE NIGHT, a vampire erotica. JADED is contemporary romance, with a very steamy first 4 chapters. Like any good story, mine always have a happy ending.

BeRock--love the monicker. HypoPara is one of a few hormone disorders I live with. Research did prove a couple of years ago that there is a definitive link between the loss of PTH and depression/anxiety. Just as there is a definitive link from any chronic illness, particularly one that can be debilitating. I spent 6 months barely able to walk, and yes, I have contemplated suicide in the past. Oddly enough, not since diagnosis, but back when I had no idea why my body would not cooperate with me, even before the physical symptoms fully manifested.

Instead of suicide, I ended up as a cutter for 9 years. Pretty messed up from the start of life. Lol. I guess that is what makes my writing powerful, because i definitely feel powerful emotions.

Again, I am rambling. See... I go off on a tangent so easily.

And yes, Larry, I will hang around. Although I work 2nd shift at an automotive plant, and Sundays are my only day off, I will try to check in when I can.

Blessings,
Elura