Medication for 'Panic disorder'

[laza999]

Hi,

46 Male, 2 kids, had depression and anxiety for nearly 20 years, tried all forms of prescribed medication, and years and years of therapy.

All this was going on while running my own company.

5 years ago my GP retired and had to find another one. She looked at my meds and my history and shook her head. It took about a week to be weaned off my old AD's and I went on Effexor (150mg nightly). She also put me on 10mg Neulactil to help with sleeping.

That first week I had the best night sleeps that I could remember, and after about 3 weeks the Effexor kicked in and it was about 3 months after that the anxiety/panic attacks evaporated.

In that three months, my depression represented itself, but at a milder level. My GP increased the dosage to 150mg nightly, where I have stayed ever since. My neulactil is 2.5mg nightly, and I have tried several times to come off them but, but as yet no success.

In summary, I cannot remember the last time I've had a panic attack. Its been years. My quality of life has turned around so much that my family and friends cannot remember me being so 'normal' for so long.

My fear of relapse is a distant memory.

After 20 years with this, all I can state is that not every medication is right for the same person, it takes patience and a will to work out the right combination. It also takes an experienced GP to assist.

Good Luck

[vegebelly]

hello! i've been suffering panic attacks for the past few years, they are absolutely shocking. i have those along with generalised anxiety disorder which is also really not a nice experience. i've been taking lexapro the past few weeks and i have still had some panic attacks but they are definitely becoming less regular. i'm 35 weeks pregnant now,really didn't want to be taking this medication but i called mothersafe and it seems to be fine, the baby may be hard to settle at first that seems to be the only problem. along with this i also have gestational hypertension so half the time i'me confused whether i feel terrible because of mental health problems or physical ones because as you would know anxiety and panic attacks present themselves in such an intensely physical form, leading you to believe you have a physical health problem. has anyone else felt like that?? i've been so convinced i've had so many different illnesses yet dr's keep telling me it's just the anxiety and panic. sooooo so frustrating. but hopefully this medication works for me. initially it made me yawn all the time but it was only temporary. take care, good luck!

[Baburun]

Hi!
I may as well add my experience
I've had bad anxiety and panic attacks for the last few years, I found most of the SSRI's to have heaps of crummy side effects and not much benefit (tried Aropax, Lexapro and Zoloft). However I thought Effexor was pretty great in comparison, minimal side effects and a real positive change.
I've also used and still use benzodiazepines (mostly Xanax), which I find so much more effective and helpful! But docs are very reluctant to prescibe them compared to AD's because they have the potential for addiction and abuse, but I found them great for when things got really really bad and also now that I'm generally alot better so can just take Xanax when needed rather than an AD everyday.

But yeah, there's heaps of different drugs out there and all affect people differently, I hope you easily find something that helps for you!

[Baburun]

hello! i've been suffering panic attacks for the past few years, they are absolutely shocking. i have those along with generalised anxiety disorder which is also really not a nice experience. i've been taking lexapro the past few weeks and i have still had some panic attacks but they are definitely becoming less regular. i'm 35 weeks pregnant now,really didn't want to be taking this medication but i called mothersafe and it seems to be fine, the baby may be hard to settle at first that seems to be the only problem. along with this i also have gestational hypertension so half the time i'me confused whether i feel terrible because of mental health problems or physical ones because as you would know anxiety and panic attacks present themselves in such an intensely physical form, leading you to believe you have a physical health problem. has anyone else felt like that?? i've been so convinced i've had so many different illnesses yet dr's keep telling me it's just the anxiety and panic. sooooo so frustrating. but hopefully this medication works for me. initially it made me yawn all the time but it was only temporary. take care, good luck!

Yes I've felt like that! I've gone to the doctor thinking there's something wrong with my heart and lungs, coz my chest hurts, I can't breathe, I get dizzy etc...
and yeah, its all just from anxiety and panic, even when I dont consciously realise that I'm feeling anxious!
thats great that the Lexapro's helping you, hope it keeps getting better!

[vegebelly]

i'm off to to see my GP this arvo to see if i should try increasing my dose of lexapro. i've had panic attacks the last few days which are driving me crazy, it's really limiting my ability to relax and enjoy life right now. i'm only taking 5mg a day as he wanted to start me ona low dose but i am really feeling that there is no hope right now that my panic disorder will ever leave me alone. having a bad day. i should be feeling all happy and excited about our baby arriving in 4 weeks but i am just scared i won't be able to be a good mum cos of the panic attacks. frustrated!

[lau]

Ive been on AD's for years now, and they work wonders - for anxiety.
Have been on Efexor the whole time. Zoloft is another good one.

Efexor is great as once you get over the initial week or so that you start them, there are no side effects like drowsiness etc

Good Luck

[cheezelz]

Ive been on Lexapro for PND for 5 months and it is great. I feel fantastic in comparison to what I was like just after giving birth. I was so anxious and depressed I coulnt leave the house. I am on 10mg daily. I started on 5mg and made my way up over a week.

[EsSjAy]

A huge thankyou for everyone that has replied to my thread.... It's been a while so i wanted to jump back on and tell you whats been going on.....

i have been on Cipramil for 4 months... initially 20mg and then at the at the start of the year it was increased to 30mg..... I am feeling brilliant compared to what i was like..... After seeing my doctor we are trialling a reduction to 20mg.... so far so good and it's been almost 4 weeks.... I have had the odd panic attack but i am able to control them now and they are not as bad as they were... Sometimes i need to take a serapax but only when im really feeling the physical effects.... I dont want to be reliant on medication but that's not to say im against it.... if i need it, i need it.... i am just wanting to see what i am like without it....

There are so many things i have done to eliminate my anxiety also... such as meditation, relaxation massage... detoxing (safely) and diet also.... Taking in good amounts of omega 3, magnesium, and essential daily vitamins and minerals have been the key for me.....
Keeping up my electrolytes also has done wonders.... I think this is something people forget to do....

I am a new person... and i treat my body with so much respect now that i'm called a tree huggin' hippy....lol..... As far as i'm concerned my body was trying to tell me that physically and mentally there were issues i hadn't addressed, and with the help of a psychologist a great doctor and natural therapies i'm getting there..... I will always have anxiety issues..... I have recognized that and accepted that.... I'm just not letting it control me.....

Thank's again... x x