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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alison on April 6, 1999, at 0:47:30
I am 25 and living in Australia. I suffer from panic attacks
and a constant feeling of dread in my gut.
I have been experiencing this gradually worsening over the last 5-6 years.
I have previously been on Aropax (paxil) for approx. 1.5 years.
And I found the improvement excellent .... except for the shocking weight gain
and tiredness beyond belief !!! I then proceeded to get off these (20mg) and
was feeling good
the weight just dropped off me and I was finally able to feel awake !!!
I then experienced a bad patch of stress and the attacks came back worse.
It got to the point where I could hardly leave the house due also to agrophobia.
I was put on xanax and this caused me to get depressed to the point of suicide attempts.
I was so desperate to get out of this, what I thought was impending INSANITY !!!
I then changed Doctors and was prescribed Zoloft instead. Which has
gradually increased to 200mg daily. I am getting some relief from this,
it has been approx. 3-4 months now. I still feel quite panicky but at least the
depression hes lifted. I am now having feelings of unreality all the time though,
I find this to be absolutely terrifying. It is hard to judge whether I am
dreaming or not.
Please could someone offer some advice? Would counselling help me?
I am at the end of my patience with this !!!
Posted by Mare on April 6, 1999, at 8:10:40
In reply to panic and depression !!, posted by alison on April 6, 1999, at 0:47:30
Hi Allison. I don't know much about the drugs you have been on, but I CAN tell you that *talk* therapy would definitely help you. I was recently diagnosed as being clinically depressed, and my psychiatrist insisted that I do talk therapy along with drug therapy. Please give it a try. The important thing is finding a therapist that clicks with you. Good luck.
Posted by Terry on April 6, 1999, at 10:55:42
In reply to panic and depression !!, posted by alison on April 6, 1999, at 0:47:30
Dear Alison: A drug called Klonopin is approved for panic disorder in the U.S. and works quite well. The generic term for it is clonazepam. It's a benzodiazepine, so it does cause CNS depression, but probably not as much as other benzodiazepines such as Xanax. You might try another SSRI other than Paxil such as Prozac, Zoloft, Serzone, or Luvox. Some people are helped by anticonvulsants such as Depakote. Don't give up and keep trying new medications if you need to! Something will work for you and it's not hopeless. Lots of people have panic disorder and are helped by some type of medication, either alone or in combination. Terry
Australia. I suffer from panic attacks
> and a constant feeling of dread in my gut.
> I have been experiencing this gradually worsening over the last 5-6 years.
> I have previously been on Aropax (paxil) for approx. 1.5 years.
> And I found the improvement excellent .... except for the shocking weight gain
> and tiredness beyond belief !!! I then proceeded to get off these (20mg) and
> was feeling good
> the weight just dropped off me and I was finally able to feel awake !!!
> I then experienced a bad patch of stress and the attacks came back worse.
> It got to the point where I could hardly leave the house due also to agrophobia.
> I was put on xanax and this caused me to get depressed to the point of suicide attempts.
> I was so desperate to get out of this, what I thought was impending INSANITY !!!
> I then changed Doctors and was prescribed Zoloft instead. Which has
> gradually increased to 200mg daily. I am getting some relief from this,
> it has been approx. 3-4 months now. I still feel quite panicky but at least the
> depression hes lifted. I am now having feelings of unreality all the time though,
> I find this to be absolutely terrifying. It is hard to judge whether I am
> dreaming or not.
> Please could someone offer some advice? Would counselling help me?
> I am at the end of my patience with this !!!
This is the end of the thread.
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