I tried to take the Buspar during the day, and it buzzed me up really bad.  I remember the first time I did this, and I had to take an ativan, lie down and wait for it to pass.   I told the doc the only time I could take it was when I took my antidepressant, which was Lexapro, before I went to bed.  The Lexapro was great for my anxiety, but took months to kick in for this.  I contered the Buspar, and helped me stay asleep.

We have to remember that these meds have different effects for all of us.  If it stimulating, usually you'd want to take it during the day, so you can get through the effects while you're working.  It it knocks you out, take it before you go to bed.  I try to try new meds on the weekend, so if it has some action, I can clean the housse to get through it, or take a nap to deal with it.

I went on Cymbalta, and it buzzed me up.  The first time I took it, I was up till 4am, and realized that this was something I was going to have to take at work, so I could take advantage of the energizing effects.  Others find it sedating..... so you get the picture.

As far as Neurontin, this is a med that was initially made for epilepsy.  As usual, they found that it's was also good for controlling mood swings.  Then they started using it for pain management.  It's also good for anxiety, as I hear it's sedating.  At least it's not addicting.  Too bad things that work for anxiety are addicting.  I guess that's why most of us have problems with sedating drugs.  At least it takes the anxiety down , and give you a break for this symptom.    

Hi all my name is Cathy and I'am a anxious perosn, lol. My panic started when I was about 25 so 10 years ago. I fought it for years but finally wore me down and went on Paxil. The first time I took it it worked wonders, no side effects I felt great. Than I had my second child 3 and a half yrs ago and went off it while I was pregnant. I had no withdrawal symptoms than. Went back on the paxil about 3 months after I had her. No side effects nothing. Than last summer I became really depressed so my Dr added Effexor to my life. Was suppose to wean off the Paxil while adding effexor to my body. When I got down to 5 mg of paxil and 75 mg effexor I felt not to bad. Than I was done the paxil and spent 2 weeks in bed. I really thought I was dying. Went back to the dr and cried for my PAXIL back. Went back on 20 mg of paxil and off the effexor, Felt great for about 1 week and since than I have been a wreck. Costant dizzy spells like everyday, constant nausea like everyday. Started taking benadryl sinus and gravol just to function. Knocked my paxil down to 5 mg and the funny thing is everytime I take it now I feel anxiety coming on. So I don't know if its from the Paxil or just anxiety. I'm cranky all the time feel like I could scream and than cry 2 minutes later. Just had a sinus xrzy doen and have a major sinus infection so I'm on antibiotics fot this. I want the Paxil out of my body and i'm wondering if anyone has tried the liquid form I've heard about to help the weaning? Also is there a med I can take that I could use strictly if I felt anxious?

Also I want to thank everyone who has given me advice and listened to my sorrows. Whoever though of these forums I say a prayer for and send my love. Its helped so much.

catmth3,

I saw in a post where someone had success with using liquid paxil to get off Paxil.  When I run across it, I'll let you know who posted it, or where to find it.

Hang in there with us.  Are you going to stay on Effexor, or get off all antidepressants altogether?  I was on Paxil for 6mo., and didn't have any trouble coming off of it.  It seems like the longer you're on something, the harder it is to get off.  I know I experienced the Zaps on Lexapro, and not everyone has that experience.  I have three children, so I realize what you're saying about being on meds.  It helps me.  I've also had sinus infections, and they make you feel funky, too.  Take care!  I'll get back to you!        

:santagrin:
Thnaks so much its so comforting knowing others go thru what I have....I'm trying to get off them all together so wish me luck take care and chat soon

catmth3,

I'm just wondering how you're doing?  It's been another week.  Let us know how you're withdrawl for meds is working...    :turkey:

Just wanted to thank everyone here.  I get sad and sympathize with every story I see.  I hope we all are making a small step in the right direction each day.  I've been living with panic disorder for 8 yrs now (on Paxil).  It's been a life-saver.  I'm not going to get into my whole story now, but am I so glad to have found this place.  Seems like a great resource for information, comfort and support.  Good luck to everyone!

MB

z28_ 2000,

Hang around and see how well people are doing with this symptom.  It takes lots of work to turn this one around, and meds are usually the first step.                            :welcomeani:

Hi.  I haven't posted in here in a while, but I believe it's time to again.  I think I went a little off the deep end again yesterday.  I had been having thoughts about my relationship, and apparently my old insecurities snuck in and make me a little nuts.  (pardon the term).  I was so sure my wonderful fiance was leaving me, though nothing happened to spark that thought. I got so worked up over it I just started bawling my eyes out.   I couldn't fall asleep, my legs kept twitching, I was, I don't know, completely freaked out and I had no actual reason to be.  I mean, he sat me down and told me he wants to be with me forever and we're planning a wedding and out of the blue I start freaking out.  I suppose I've always had this idea that I can't have what I want because each time I get truly happy in a relationship, the person leaves.  I've told him that, and he says I have absolutely nothing to worry about, that I worry too much and that I'm crazy to think he's going anywhere.  

If it helps, I've been off Lexapro for a month now.  Shawn says it was too soon and I should get back on it for a while, maybe forever if these episodes happen.  I haven't been having any symptoms of depression though.  I've been trying new things, getting out more with him.  Any advice concerning anxiety or meds would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

Oh, I forgot to mention that when I went to bed, I was also hot/cold. Like with a fever, restless...I just felt unlike myself.  Like I couldn't escape that feeling no matter what.

Soounds like your thoughts are stressing you out.

Negative thoughts are the worst!  When you have depression and anxiety, it can overwhelm you with these.  I try to remind myself that the negativity is part of the depression talking to me, and push it out.  If you don't have any evidence that your man is leaving, it's gotta be these darned symptoms toying with your thought process...   Check your thoughts a couple times a day and see if they're negative.  If they are, change them.

As far as going off the lexapro, only you can decide what to do.  Either you fight this kind of symptom when it comes back, or use meds to do the battle for you.  It kept my anxiety down and helped me to stay asleep when I was on it, and I thought it was an excellent medication.    :hearthrob:  It slowed that racing thoughts, too.  I have lots of good things to say about Lexapro!

Last night after reading these boards, I stopped and really looked at what I had been thinking about.  Stupid things.  Like I would not be able to fall asleep thinking of my household chores.  I stopped making those such a priority and made our relationship #1, now I worry about that.  Like maybe we're not spending enough time together, maybe we're not doing enough things together, maybe we're doing too much together.  My thoughts go on and on.

I've been OFF of  Lexapro for a month now. While I was on it, I didn't catch myself being overwhelmed with the worry.  I'd still think, but it'd be like just thoughts, not like I do now.  Shawn talked to me this morning as said maybe I just need the Lex. around when I start getting really freaked out.  

I'm kinda nervous to get put back on it.  It's nice being able to have that extra 80 dollars.  It's so expensive and doesn't have a generic yet.  But if I have to have it then I have, no doubts.

There are cheaper ad's than this.  Prozac is in a generic, isn't it?  I wouldn't be on Cymbalta if I had to pay for it.  I have ins., and get this for $25. a month.  With all my other meds, it's just under $100. with ins.    

I'm new here and I am posting here because I think I'm experiencing anxiety but I don't know.

I'm being treated for depression....with Lithium and Effexor...and was recently hospitalized with suicidal ideation.  I felt okay in the hospital, but now that I've been out for about two weeks and am back at work (did an intensive outpatient for a week) I am experiencing bouts of...something.

I feel slow and dull, as if my brain is wrapped in cotton, but underneath that I have flashes of emotional pain or anxiety...I'm not sure.  It's like being hit with an explosion of mixed feelings all at once, at intervals, without warning and without any trigger that I can discern.

It's really beginning to drive me nuts.  I'm also battling the idea that I've done something wrong to be feeling this crappy again so soon after hospitalization.

Is this anxiety?  Or a sort of mixed state?  Please help!

MLO

If you've only been on these meds, you're probably feeling the chemical adjustment your brain is going through on meds, don't you think?  I know when I first got on ad's it was a bumpy ride.  I didn't go back to work for 6wks.  I knew going back to work while going through this wouldn't work.

Are you under a lot of stress at work?

By the way,     to the room.  We're discussing work in other anxiety rooms, so take a look and see....  After 5 post, I think you can start your own topic, if you'd like.  Be sure and visit the meds rooms, too.  You'll see lots of info about your meds there.

I'm sorry...I should have been more clear.

I've been on Effexor for over a year.  My doctor added Adderall about  six months ago, and when that stopped working, switched to Concerta.

I was taking the Effexor/Concerta mix when I went into the hospital.  In there, the doctor took away the Concerta, upped the Effexor to the dose I was on before (450mg)  and added Lithium as a booster for the Effexor.  In the hospital it seemed to work...I was feeling calm and peaceful and productive.

One of the counselors explained that I would feel different when moving from the hospital to outpatient, and I was okay with that.  Now I'm not okay with how I'm feeling...mostly because I don't know what I'm feeling.

And yes....work is stressful.  It varies, but I rotate an emergency pager (I have my own in addition) among two other co-workers and I have to check it when it goes off.  I've taken to turning off my pager about an hour before I go to bed, because I simply have to, but I can't turn the emergency pager off.

And thank you for such a quick response!

Being outside a hospital setting and back in the mainstream might be stressful for you....maybe that's what the counceler was trying to say.  Since your anxiety has been high, you might be experiencing a return of symptoms, and the med adjustment will continue to work to stablilze your symptoms as time goes on.  I think med adjustments are scarey for most of us as you know it's not fully working, and you might be needing more adjustments as time goes on.

I hope you begin to feel better as time goes on.  Did the people at the hospital help you with any coping skills to get your anxiety down?

They did and I've been diligently using them, but they don't seem to be helping.

The one thing that I haven't tried...simply because I haven't found one yet...is trying a depression support group in my area.

I'm currently in weekly therapy and two groups...a weekly and a bimonthly.

Have you tried deep breathing?  It helps calm me down really quickly.

Hello,
I am so tired of living my life this way. I am 28 years old and have smoked pot everyday for 16 years. And up until about 2 years ago I never really thought much of it. I used to be very active and the type of person who was always in the presence of friends. Now, there are days that go by that I don't even talk to anyone. I want to quit smoking, I've tried to quit smoking, but I don't last 24 hours before I'm back at it. To me it sounds so crazy to say "I'm addicted to marijuana." It seems like it should be easy to quit. I started seeing a doc. about my problems with anxiety, depression, and my addiction. He prescribed me Lexapro, which I took for about 9 months. The Lexapro worked for awhile, but then I started to feel more depressed (I just didn't cry all the time) and I gained like 15 lbs. which is also a downer. So now I have been off of the Lexapro for almost 2 months and I feel like I am on a emotional roller coaster. I want so bad for my life to change, I have alot to live for and I don't want to waste my life away. I just don't know where to begin...........

My advice is that you go back to the doc and tell him what's going on.  He can try you on another med real quick.  Don't let this get you down.  You're not the first to quit your meds and find out that it doesn't work, nor will you be the last.

 I hope you keep posting.

                                                                      Jackie  

I went to my doc. today and put me on Wellbutrin.  I hope this helps.  I can't handle feeling this way anymore.  Too bad it takes a few weeks to be effective.  But it will be worth the wait if it helps.

For some, Wellbrutin is a rough ride to get started on.  Look at the  med room for support, but let us know how you do.   :)

Well so far I am on my 5th day of wellbutrin and I am hoping that it's going to start working soon.  I am tired of these Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde days.  A couple of days ago I felt really good and today I'm feeling the exact opposite. I feel like climbing back in bed and pulling the covers over my head and waiting for this depression to pass.  What really makes me crazy is that I don't know why I feel so down, my life isn't that bad, actually it has been alot worse in the past and I didn't feel like this then.  I hope tomorrow will be better.

Hi PainfullyShy and    to DF, keep posting and let us know how things go. There are plenty of other rooms to look into and you'll get lots of help and support.

Birdie   :)

I know about waking up in a down mood, but the best I can do is get out of bed and see if I can change it.  I think the worst thing to do is stay in bed.  Depression seems to be like that, at times..  The thing you feel like doing is the worst thing to do.   Like cutting off your friends because you're afraid of bringing them down..

I stayed away from people while I was going through the med adjustment, too.  I just felt more comfortable.  I figured I needed to come up with a way to tell myfriends about anxiety and what it was doing to me.  They didn't understand till they went through something, then we had something to compare it too.

Do you work?  Do you have a support system?  Keep up with the meds.  It takes a couple of weeks to start getting the effects.  My couple of good days turned into more good days as time went by. Hopefully this will happen for you, too.

Hi, nice to meet you all. I'm a 21 yr old canadian suffering from anxiety and depression, and am very relieved to have found such a wonderful resourse as this site.  I've been having problems since I was 17 and after my last attack decided to seek help. That was a month ago, and I have been taking effexor ever since. I'm currently on 112.5mg per day, my Gp is slowly moving me up to 150mg. I've noticed zero improvement, even am a little bit more depressed. Hopefully the drug kicks in, as my doc says it will. If it doens't then I think it will be hard to avoid self medicating again with pints! Of that I certainly miss the reprieve. I just want to feel happy again and enjoy all the things I used to love to do, and not just pretend. I too, dropped out of university, I hope to go back next semester but if this is the rate of progress I am to expect, then I suspect the couch will not cool in september.
It's great to be able to come to a place where people have walked a mile in your shoes, and unlike family and friends have the capacity to truly understand what you are going through, and even offer advice.
thanks to whomever put this together. the last three days I've felt a little better after logging on.
To me, an indication that you may suffer from these problems is when you find yourself unable to enjoy the moment, and dread living the next.

  gusser!

I know what you are talking about on many counts.  I wish meds didn't take so long to work, and I had to stop working for 6wks. when I finally seeked treatment for these symptoms.  People who never suffered with this don't really get it, either.

We're glad to have you join the room.  Hopefully, you'll notice that your symptoms are going down, and will be albe to resume your education, soon.

I think many people self medicate their symptoms, thinking that sooner or later they will go away, but this doesn't work well with meds.    :blush21:

Well looks like things have begun to settle down a little bit.  The last three days have been o.k except for getting anxious at a family gathering tonight.  I had a nap while my cousins played video games and feel better now (about 2 hours later).  

      I have to admit I was a little shocked when my doc suggested I was drinking too much, and that not only was I self-medicating but the booze was likely making me feel worse.  It makes sense now, the only hard part is telling friends why I haven't had a drink in a little over a month.  My b-day's coming up and I know there will be a little bit of pressure.  I'm just telling people that I"m all partied out, and want to get rid of my beer gut for bikini season.  
 Thanks for taking the time out of your day to reply. I've said it before but it needs repeating, I love this site! All the people are so understanding, and kind. It really takes the edge off of a bad day!

I'm sure you'll be able to handle the friends.  You sound like you're slowly feeling better.  Hope that couch looks less and less inviting...   :D  Maybe some exercise would help with that 'beer gut'.   :wave:

I want to get up and exercise, but getting up early sucks.  I'm going to try again tommorow. I've got to do it eventually, cause one thing that I've just learned, is that setting yourself up for dissapointment does damage.  I know a healthy body can help lead to a healthier mind, it's just going to be weird to get active again as my illness got worse I became less and less active until I became this other person. I'd sleep in, work , and party, all the while maintaining the happy fascade so now one would think I was crazy.  When I told a couple of my best friends recently, they were shocked. They thought I was one of the happiest people they knew.  Did anybody else here do that, put on the happy mask, and dance like a monkey?

Oh, and the couch does seem to be losing some of it's appeal.  "insert emoticon here"

Happy mask at work and in the general public, but hubby and close friends know where I'm at.

Walking is a great place to start if you need to get your activity level back up.  That couch potato thing has taken many hostages over the winter.   :p

Look at your life as being a thing in process.  Look at the things you can do to get your self esteem back up there.  Feeling good isn't just a given.  We all work on our appearance, thoughts, and try to put good food into our bodies to help us along the way.  Exercixe is great as long as you don't overdo it.  Reading or listening to music can help with your mood.  Having  nice surroundings helps, too.  There are many things that we can do to help ourselves feel like life is good.     :smart:

Hi!! I found this site today and I wanted to introduce myself. I am Jen and I was diagnosed with Depression, Panic Disorder and OCD. I am currently on Meds and so far so good. Well, most of the time anyway. I still find that I am most comfortable when I interact with people "like me". I don't really know anyone IRL that suffers the way I do. I'm sure there are some but there not being open about it. Anyway, just wanted to say HI!! :D

I know what you mean.  I have the obsessive part of ocd and the rest of your diagnosis.  The Panic Disorder has scaled down to generalized anxiety, but I think if things would fall apart, I'd probably be on tranqs again.

Those panic attacks are terrible aren't they?  I got stuck in one once, and I went to the doc a couple of days later and got on meds.  Right now I take Cymbalta as I have problems with my kidneys which causes cramping and leg pain.  I have to wait another week + till I can get the testing and see the doc a couple of days later for the scoop on what he can do to correct this.  I'm not sleeping over this and going to work has been a real bummer.

I hate anxiety, but that won't take care of it.  I read to get my mind forused on something.  Sometimes the depression breaks through and I have to karate myself out of the bed to get things done. Getting ready for work is about the worst.  That and laundry... I work fulltime and have three children, two teens, and a nine year old.  They supply me with plenty of motivation to keep my head in the right place.

 to the room.  You are not alone, by any means!  

Hello Everyone   :)

There are no pretty words for what I have, for what so many of us have, so I'm just going to blurt it out.   I have generalized anxiety, ie; daily, HOURLY, excessive worry about my health, mild depression and PTSD is cropping up again.    

I can't shut my brain off.  I can't seem to stop all the worry and it's not just about my health, which by the way there is nothing at all wrong with my health  :p , it's worry about everything and it all manifests itself into physical symptoms of dizziness, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, irritability, moodiness, I don't do the things I used to enjoy doing, I can barely do the things that I'm supposed to be doing.....you all know the drill I'm afraid.

The PTSD thing, I've suffered with that before too....back in 1997....and even though I thought it was gone for years, it all came crashing down around me again after suffering a blood clot after giving birth to my daughter back in Jul '03 and being put back into the hospital just 6 hours after my discharge.  I was terrified.   I'm just waiting for something bad to happen and I hate that!  

The mild depression I've struggles with also since '97....it's just constantly lurking but waiting to have "episodes" that come up and make it worse, now being one of those times.

The add insult to injury, as much as I love him, my husband thinks it's all in my head and/or I can use my mind to stop of all this.   Yep, you read that right.   He believes meds are contributing only to corporate america, are harmful to the people that use it and are a crutch.   No, that wasn't a typo either.   I love him dearly but he doesn't have a clue.

So....I'm here.

I guess that's why we're here...  People who don't have these things don't understand the toll this takes on my mind, much less your life.

I have had panic disorder, gad and depression.  I had ptsd so many years ago, I'm sure that's when the depression first reared it's ugly head.

I hope you are able to ignore your 'tuff guy' husband and get medicated for your disorders.  I wouldn't suffer with these things untreated because it doesn't go away on it's own.  I tried to tell myself that I didn't need to worry about not being able to sleep, and had to take 6weeks off from work with a panic disorder because I was no longer able to drive without having panic attacs.  Had lots of depression over this, too.  It took 6weeks till I felt well enough on meds to attempt this.  It was still a struggle, but I fought it all the way.  Two years later, and I'm still on meds, so I can sleep at night and continue dealing with the stressors......

I've been gone from here for awhile, but it's time to return.  I was doing so very well, until we lost our son.  We were so happy to be pregnant, then the 15th week came around and we lost him.  It's a hard road and just need to talk sometimes.  Each day is different.  Sometimes I wake up and feel normal again, others I just wanna hide from the world and do nothing.  We haven't even got the lab reports back from the doctor yet.  That might help ease our minds some.  We go this Thursday for an appt. so maybe we'll hear them at that time.  I just feel so empty.  Just last month I had this baby growing inside.  I could feel him and we heard his heart beating.  Now I'm just a woman again, no baby, no tummy.  No life inside of me.  The only upside is that my fiance and I have grown even closer together and we're getting married sooner.  And we're going to try for another baby in a couple of months.  I think I'm done rambling for the day.  Thanks for your ears!

I lost a baby I carried full term, years ago, and I still grieve at times, especially around the anniversary.  It's a very difficult thing to deal with, and I'm sorry you are going through this. Finding out may answer some questions, which is important if you want to have another child.  It was very difficult for me to hear, and was something that can happen, and is treatable, now.  They didn't know what to do for it back in the late '70's.

I just tried to get my life back in some kind of order after about 4wks and went back to my old job.  It saved my sanity.  I was too busy to think about it 24/7.  Talk about it all you need, or pm me.

Take care.    :hearts:                                 Love, Jackie

Thanks.  I've been back to work which is a bit difficult since I do work in a grocery store.  There are babies and expectant mothers everywhere.  And yesterday being mother's day wasn't very fun either.  One day at a time, yes, baby steps.  Each day I will continue to wake up and try to smile.  Someday I'll have a real one on my face again.

I felt haunted for awhile when the loss was fresh, but the pain does reduce, and you do learn to go on.  I shed lots of tears for awhile, and that was more therapeutic than anything else.  I also learned that I wan't the only one that this happened to, it seemed that few talk about it until they find out it's happened to you.  You form some friendships with peole who tell you what they went through.  It's a different kind of understanding...

Thank you for your kind words. Each day does get a little better.   :)