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Do SSRI's really work for PD?

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Posted 9/10/2007 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Im still debating on weither or not to start using a SSRI for my panic attacks/anxiety. There seems to be alot of negative info on the net. I would say if they work wonderfully, then yeah I would like to try one, but if they only "sortof" work, then no, id rather be drugfree and misrable...lol

Any thoughts?

 

Posted 9/10/2007 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

I would read the internet but remember that every one is different and the info may be biased.  You won't know if the med works for you unless you try it and that has to be your decision. Depends on how bad your panic attacks are if you choose to try the med.

I am sure others will have opinions and be along soon to share with you.

Keep posting.

Posted 9/10/2007 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm totally biased against SSRI's for treatment of panic disorder because they're anti-depressants, and as such they are stimulating. If depression is present and it also happens to be the real source of your A/P, then one or more of the SSRI's may help you. My advice would be to talk this over with a psychiatrist. They're better trained and have more experience with these drugs so you're likely not have as much trial and error.

I cannot take SSRIs, so like I said, I'm biased against them. Personally I have had great success with Klonopin, a benzodiazepine. There are dependency issues with them, but they do work for treating panic disorders. Discuss that class of drugs with a psychiatrist as well. They can inform you of the risks and benefits and are more likely to prescribe them correctly if that's the route you choose to take.

Don't stay miserable, though, just for the sake of being drug free or for any other reason. This probably isn't something you can just ignore and you'll wake up with it gone some morning. Go for treatment of some kind, and the sooner the better. Believe me, things can get better.
Posted 9/11/2007 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
yeah  I would say you need to do what your instincts tell you to do - I have suffered with anxiety attacks/panic attacks for 7 years and only recently they had started to get particulary frequent and caused me to give up my full time job. I recently felt that I needed some help so visited my GP and was prescribed Citalopram, it has taken a couple of weeks to get into my system but I have to say I feel so much better that I took the plunge. I have only had 1 panic attack, which was due to a very stressful 2 hour car journey and crowded meeting room, in a week. I went back to see my GP who has prescribed me 14x 2mg Diazepam to take as and when I feel that I need it. I feel more confident knowing that they are in my bag if I need them but the daily 20mg of citalopram has worked wonders for me and really changed my life thus far. Don't do anything that you don't feel ready for - you will know when the time is right to take meds. Best of luck.
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