anxiety meds

Allison, I was taking Cymbalta for a year or so. I had to quit taking it because of a side effect. It made me sweat buckets. Even during the winter. I'd walk outside in twenty degree temps (or lower) without a coat. I hope you don't experience that. It's awful.
 
JennieR said:
Allison, I was taking Cymbalta for a year or so. I had to quit taking it because of a side effect. It made me sweat buckets. Even during the winter. I'd walk outside in twenty degree temps (or lower) without a coat. I hope you don't experience that. It's awful.
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OMG that is so funny because that's what Paxil does to me! I have been an excessive sweater for years now and it's awful (not to mention disgusting!!). My therapist says it's a very common side effect of Paxil. I even have horrible night sweats and weird hot flashes. I've talked to lots of doctors about this and I have no hormonal imbalances or anything--it's simply the Paxil. Ugh. I hope Cymbalta doesn't do that to me. I am so anxious to get rid of this sweating!
 
crazystepr said:
Anxiety and depression run in my family BIG time. It's not something I can manage without drugs and I have ZERO shame in that. You gotta do what works, right?
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Ditto.

I understand that some are hesitant to take medication for various different reasons. But for me, I lived 23 years of almost constant hell, and didn't start to feel better until I started on medication. Like Allison said, this is NOT something I can manage with therapy, exercise, meditation, etc (and believe me, I have tried).

I am actually putting off TTC baby #2 with my new husband because I can't decide what to do about my meds during a pregnancy. I am looking into starting some neurofeedback to see if that could help with my anxiety, and then maybe I could go off my meds for awhile to have another baby.
 
Panic attacks are definitely NO FUN! I remember getting them in high school (no meds back then) and having NO idea what they were. I really thought I was going crazy :(
 
I have bipolar and post traumatic stress disorder and mood disorder, so I am on, lamictal, seroquel, trazadone, and celexa, and I am so much better then I used to be, so not ashamed to be on medications, I am so glad I did get on all those, I am so much more stable then I ever used to be,
 
The whole thing about not wanting to take medications you need has always been a mystery to me. To me, it's like walking around in a blur because you refuse to wear glasses because they're "unnatural" and you weren't born with them. I just don't get it. Life is short and you only go around once. Why not get the most you can out of it?
 
I have been on several different meds over the years and currently take Cymbalta for Major depressive disorder. I can't imagine not being on it, because when I wasn't I was a complete mess. I've lowered my dosage over the years, but will NOT completely go off of it!!

DF is also on cumbalta and takes ambien for sleep. He is on them for PTSD from Iraq, and cannot go off them because he has extreme driving anxiety (he was injured in a suicide car bombing).

I can't see anyone not wanting to go on medication if they know it is going to help. Sure sometimes there are annoying side effects (for me, night sweats and dry mouth), but knowing I'm not going to fly off the handle at the drop of a dime is worth it!!
 
I go back and forth and have tried both Lexapro and Zoloft, but end up gaining at least 10lbs or so within 3-6 months while on them. The stress of exercising and eating right yet still gaining weight always starts in and then I go off the medicine. Lexapro does seem to help a lot with both my extreme anxiety and sleep problems, but I am having a hard time getting past the weight gain that goes along with it. My doctor wanted me to try celexa and see if that was better, but I am starting to think I will gain no matter what I go on, even the lower doses. I can deal with all the other side effects, but when you start to feel bad about yourself, it almost takes away the benefit you are getting from the medicine. Has anyone else had this experience and found a medicine that didn't make them gain weight - I would love to know.
 
I have been on lexapro for a little over a month. I am going through a divorce and the past couple of months have been hell. After a few scary anxiety attacks and several days with very little sleep, I decided it was time to do something. I am now resting easy and sleeping through the night about 8 hours. The medication has been a life saver for me. I am going to stay on it through the whole process because I don't think I can cope without it. I am not ashamed of it at all, sometimes the situation is just bigger than you are and you have to do the best you can.
 
luger.cr said:
Like others, I really dislike the idea of taking a drug to deal with help deal with anxiety/depression. Exercise and talking with friends work better than anything for me, but in the last several years I've been impelled by job stress to try different drugs. Researching the choices is very important, on both legitimate medical sites and on forums for people with anxiety/depression. Each person is different in responding to a drug or drug combination.

I tried St. John's Wort and 4 kinds of prescription drugs over several years. I couldn't tell a difference with St. John's wort though many people can. The prescribed drugs had side effects that I couldn't tolerate and some didn't help at all. What I take now is SAMe, a supplement, and can really tell a difference if I stop taking it. I also take a low dose of Wellbutrin, which makes me a little impatient at times, but improves my overall mood.

I highly recommend a book called Mad in America, just to encourage a scepticism of the pharmaceutical industry. Many drugs have worked no better for anxiety and depression than placebos in studies.

If I may say, from the perspective of being in my 60's, is that the best treatment for anxiety is to eliminate as many anxiety-producing elements of our lives as possible and replace them with calm and rewarding activities. Or just leave empty space, meandering time. People get so loaded up with things that aren't really important.
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Could not agree more with this last paragraph...giving up the "barroom buddies" and sobering up has been a HUGE difference maker for me!! The lightbulb finally went on to the fact that alcohol was making my condition worse, not better, yet no one could tell me to stop...it simply had to be my decision, I'm just glad I finally made a smart one!
 
I've been on and off meds for anxiety/depression for years and feel that I may always need them. Runs on one side of my family too. I tried recently to wean myself off them and did NOT have good results....major anxiety/depression started up weeks later and I had to go back on. Oh well! I agree with doing what you have to to enjoy life as much as possible. Why suffer so much when you don't have to. Some people don't really need meds long term and others do so don't be ashamed. Life is too short!
 
Jasmin416 said:
I tried recently to wean myself off them and did NOT have good results....major anxiety/depression started up weeks later and I had to go back on. Oh well! I agree with doing what you have to to enjoy life as much as possible. Why suffer so much when you don't have to.!
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For me, it's kind of a catch 22. I am much more stable on the meds but I do NOT enjoy their side effects (sweating, nightmares, insomnia, etc.--not to mention the sexual side effects...sorry if that's TMI but it's true and it's a major problem.)

It's hard to know you're giving up one thing to have another. Which one is more important?......

That's the only reason I am trying to wean myself off of Paxil and onto another med. I don't even really remember what life is like without Paxil. Maybe the "side effects" I'm mentioning aren't even "side effects" but just ME? I have to at least try and find out. But Paxil is so damn addictive--and no one tells you that.

I have been told by more than one doctor that the only way to get off of Paxil is to go into rehab and detox for a few weeks. HOW SCARY IS THAT?!?!? I don't have time or money to go into detox to get off an anxiety pill. This stupid, little, pink pill is causing me more anxiety than it's relieving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is where I get furious at drug companies for scamming people and not telling them the whole truth. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get off of Paxil. This is my third attempt at it and I'm two weeks in. I guess I'll just have to wait and see......
 
crazystepr said:
For me, it's kind of a catch 22. I am much more stable on the meds but I do NOT enjoy their side effects (sweating, nightmares, insomnia, etc.--not to mention the sexual side effects...sorry if that's TMI but it's true and it's a major problem.)

I agree with the sexual side effects...that and the weight gain make it hard to want to really stay on these meds....geesh if I could just get rid of those 2 side effects I'd be golden. :)
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Hmmmm...not to get off topic but how do you quote someone else in your reply. Looks like I messed it up for quoting allison. ???
 
nancy324 said:
The whole thing about not wanting to take medications you need has always been a mystery to me. To me, it's like walking around in a blur because you refuse to wear glasses because they're "unnatural" and you weren't born with them. I just don't get it. Life is short and you only go around once. Why not get the most you can out of it?
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<<<Applause>>>

I have not personally experienced any weight gain (probably actually lost weight on my meds, maybe 2 or 3 lbs). However, the sexual side effects are another story. My poor husband...
 
I have occasional bouts with anxiety, usually for specific situations, and find that xanax helps greatly. But for a lot of people, xanax loses its effectiveness if taken it regularly. it's best for occasional bouts, like if you get stressed out before flying or something like that. I personally did not have luck with antidepressants. I tried lexapro and I felt like I'd had at least 1000 cups of espresso. Anxiety is an awful incapacitating feeling so keep trying til you find something that works for you.
 
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