Question:

Okay so I am on the last part of a prednisone taper.  After three days at the beginning, I was feeling pretty good (other than the side effects from the stuff)… I was off my albuterol and Robitussin and just taking the Flovent and Serevent.  Then Saturday I woke up with a nasty loose congestion in my chest and I have been coughing it up ever since.   To top it all off, my back hurts incredibly and I am dizzy a lot.   My peak flows (which were getting better) seem to be dropping again.  I took my albuterol this afternoon and I thought I was going to pass out. Need some input… Do I just have a cold?  Does it sound like something more?  I am so fuzzy headed I just can’t figure this out… Marina

Response:

: Okay so I am on the last part of a prednisone taper.  After three days : at the beginning, I was feeling pretty good (other than the side effects : from the stuff)… I was off my albuterol and Robitussin and just taking : the Flovent and Serevent.  Then Saturday I woke up with a nasty loose : congestion in my chest and I have been coughing it up ever since.   To : top it all off, my back hurts incredibly and I am dizzy a lot.   My peak : flows (which were getting better) seem to be dropping again.  I took my : albuterol this afternoon and I thought I was going to pass out. : : Need some input… Do I just have a cold?  Does it sound like something : more?  I am so fuzzy headed I just can’t figure this out… Sounds like you need to call your doctor. — Gordon    W5RED

Response:

Okay so I am on the last part of a prednisone taper.  After three days at the beginning, I was feeling pretty good (other than the side effects from the stuff)… I was off my albuterol and Robitussin and just taking the Flovent and Serevent.  Then Saturday I woke up with a nasty loose congestion in my chest and I have been coughing it up ever since.   To top it all off, my back hurts incredibly and I am dizzy a lot.   My peak flows (which were getting better) seem to be dropping again.  I took my albuterol this afternoon and I thought I was going to pass out. Need some input… Do I just have a cold?  Does it sound like something more?  I am so fuzzy headed I just can’t figure this out… Marina

It sounds like Acute Bronchitis. This can take a few weeks to recover from, sometimes 6-8 weeks. See: http://www.njc.org/medfacts/uri.html  URI (Colds) &  Acute Bronchitis http://home.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/hueston.html  Acute Bronchitis AAFP Ellis

Response:

Question:

i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

It sure sounds like yeast infection [candida]. You will need a prescription antifungal like Nystatin. Here are pictures: http://www.gastrolab.net/pa-047.htm Candia Oesophagitis due to Treatment with Inhalated Steroids Candidiasis (Cutaneous) To minimize future occurances, be sure to use an AeroChamber spacer with your Flovent MDI; rinse and gargle after inhaling and drink a glass of water to wash residue down. Ellis

Response:

Since you’re on inhaled steroids and have these symptoms, it’s a pretty good bet that you have thrush.  This is a fungal infection that can be fought with Nystatin mouthwash.  But why guess?  It’s worth a visit to your doctor.  Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

Sounds like it to me… It is very painful I hear… I’ve seen it only on my son so I couldn’t attest to that.  I would check it out with your doctor…there are some very good medications to get rid of it… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

Question:

I

am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to

the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon

I could be in trouble…. MAC Mac, didn’t you say you’re on 25 mg Zoloft?  I think this is way too much to start out on – no wonder you’re feeling panicky. Try cutting that pill in quarters and take one of those a day.  Then add one quarter per week.  Most doctors just don’t seem to realize how sensitive some of us are to meds.  That’s why so many people think they don’t work for them. Dot

Response:

Hi, Mac, I would assume it is a short-lived side effect of the antidepressant.  Don’t fret, just let the feelings pass and try to tell yourself it is just a side effect and will go away in a couple of days…   ((((((Mac)))))) smiles, Elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

Response:

Hey Mac, steady on.  It WILL pass!  Its just a sneaky SOB.  Can’t see it, can’t control it, damn it.  We all know the feeling! Just a question for you, when do you take which meds? I discovered that I cannot take the atenolol in the AM, I have to take it at night before bedtime. I go to sleep quicker and don’t notice any other side effect. If I take it in the AM I’m crashing –feel faint and dizzy, just like a PA– about 2 hours later.  When I take it in  the AM my pulse rate is about 60 at 11 AM, when I most need to be percolating at full steam and starting the restaurant workday. I know you said a few  weeks ago that the atenolol didn’t affect you anymore, but you might look at it again.  Sometimes just an increment of personal  control can shift our inner stabilizer  to a more neutral position. You can also take the zoloft at night, or now, as you wean on, take half in the AM and half at bedtime.  Zoloft is "splittable".  I did that for financial reasons in the past, 100 mg Zoloft costs the same as 50 mg, so my rx were written for 100 mg and take 1/2 daily, saved me a bundle of money when I paid out of pocket!!! YMMV yada yada but use what tools you have to accomodate this bump.  You’ll be on the other side of the hump soon! HUGS, Mac.  Hang ON! Sue

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

Response:

:I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust :went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this :worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC Dear Mac, "Sometimes" antidepressants can "temporarily" increase anxiety while weaning on them. Now…….I`m not saying that zoloft caused your panic, only your doctor could make that determination but he needs to know about this. Call your doctor!  Take care. Jackie ~*~As soon as you trust yourself you will know how to live~*~      ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe~

Response:

I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

MAC you are starting to get really boring. You are a smart guy. You have been told many times how the meds work, that they take time. I’m sorry you don’t have the time, but until the meds level off you are best to take a bedroll and park your butt on your docs doorstep. Or convince one of these ASAP types you are so fond of to come stay with you for a few days. I’m sure any number of them would like an expenses paid trip to Seattle.<g

Response:

Please call your doctor Mac!  You’ve been having extremely high anxiety because of this job situation.  I’m not surprised that you had another PA. Please call and get some assurance from him.  Try to breathe slowly in Di

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

Response:

I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

Yes what Jackie said is true.  I tried Prozac a year back without a benzo and quit REAL QUICK.  IT made my anxiety terrible.  so now I have gone a year without it and am getting ready to start a benzo.  I am thinking after being on a benzo for a month or so I might try an AD. Mac just know that it is probably the SSRI causing the extra anxiety and that once you get used to it and have the benzo for a back up you will probably feel better than you have in YEARS!  I like the idea of an SSRI long term but not until I get on a benzo and get calmed down.  I also have a big move coming up soon. Why I finally decided to get a benzo  :) Good Luck! Dustin

Response:

I am getting realy concerned – having another huge panic attack and Ijust went to the pdoc yessterday. On Zoloft and Ativan.  If I don’t get this worked out soon I could be in trouble…. MAC

Response:

I disagree with your response that a hallucinagen did NOT give a PA. Ever since a hullucinaginec triggered my first one, I have had them pretty bad for awhile. I never had one prior, and even though I have not used in over two years I still get them occasionally.

I thought the same thing for years – that a bad trip gave me years of anxiety and panic. At some point, though, I realized I had always been a "weird" kid, had nightmares all the time and a lot of fears. I think an intense drug experience can reconnect you to your primal fears, but it doesn’t change who you are. In fact, I’m more relaxed now than I was _before_ the drug experience, because I’ve faced some of the fears that I had tucked away in the back of my mind. Therapists have always told me that the bad trip didn’t really matter; maybe I’ve finally been brainwashed. But I remember obsessing endlessly for the first 2 years: "Why did I ever take that trip? I’m never going to be the same again!". That obsession fed my panic much more than any actual memory of the experience. I agree that there’s a certain trauma that we can go through as a result of a bad experience, but the mind can heal itself over time. This is why I think that PTSD may be different from panic disorder. I sure would like a real psychiatrist to clear this up for me!                                                               I am soooooo relieved that I am not the only person to feel likeme. It seems that no one else has residual effects. Also, I refuse to take Xanax, due to the fact that its addictive. Drugs have made me so paranoid to take anything including tylenol. I wish I could share my experiance with everyone so no one else has to go though it. Whoops, didnt mean to climb up a soap box, just happy to hear ( dismally ) that i am not the only one…

Me too. I didn’t know anything about PD for years; I just assumed that I had damaged my brain and was going to pay for the rest of my life. Thank God for the healing power of the mind. I’m still not sure that it matters whether we have our first PA while on a drug, in an exam, or on a plane – a PA is miserable no matter what triggers it! One more thing – like you, I was once very reluctant to go near ANY drug. I guess you only need to get burned once to stay away from the stove. BUT, looking back, I wish I had looked into meds, as they would have helped a lot (and did in later years). As long as you’re under doctor’s supervision, there’s no reason to fear Xanax or any other _prescription_ drug. YMMV, but I think most here will tell you that meds helped, rather than hurt them. Good luck! John S.

Response:

I disagree with your response that a hallucinagen did NOT give a PA. Ever since a hullucinaginec triggered my first one, I have had them pretty bad for awhile. I never had one prior, and even though I have not used in over two years I still get them occasionally. I am soooooo relieved that I am not the only person to feel likeme. It seems that no one else has residual effects. Also, I refuse to take Xanax, due to the fact that its addictive. Drugs have made me so paranoid to take anything including tylenol. I wish I could share my experiance with everyone so no one else has to go though it. Whoops, didnt mean to climb up a soap box, just happy to hear ( dismally ) that i am not – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Matthew, It’s not uncommon for a hallucinogenic drug to trigger a first PA. However, this doesn’t mean that the experience GAVE you panic disorder (which you may not even have). It’s important to keep the one-time drug experience in perspective, and not obsess about it. All I can say is, focus on how you’re feeling NOW, and forget about the initial trigger, which is by now inconsequential. Follow some of the great advice on ASAP. I would advise you not to tell the MD about the drug use, because he may not prescribe what you need. Doctors vary widely on this; I had one doctor who wouldn’t prescribe Xanax because I have been sober for 5 years (I quit drinking, so he assumed that I have a tendency toward addiction). BTW, your post describes my foray into panic disorder (in 1982) very well. Don’t let it get you down; you’ll survive this! Cheers, John S.

Response:

Matthew, It’s not uncommon for a hallucinogenic drug to trigger a first PA. However, this doesn’t mean that the experience GAVE you panic disorder (which you may not even have). It’s important to keep the one-time drug experience in perspective, and not obsess about it. All I can say is, focus on how you’re feeling NOW, and forget about the initial trigger, which is by now inconsequential. Follow some of the great advice on ASAP. I would advise you not to tell the MD about the drug use, because he may not prescribe what you need. Doctors vary widely on this; I had one doctor who wouldn’t prescribe Xanax because I have been sober for 5 years (I quit drinking, so he assumed that I have a tendency toward addiction). BTW, your post describes my foray into panic disorder (in 1982) very well. Don’t let it get you down; you’ll survive this! Cheers, John S.

Response:

        Hi, this is my first time posting here so please bare with me. I’ll start off by saying that I have no idea what is going on with me, and I’m looking for info, help, whatever you can give me.         I’m 21, male and untill now, pretty outgoing. about three months ago, I smoked some marijuana with a new workmate (something I never do) I had a very bad experience with it (I’m not sure what you’re supposed to feel like when high, but I’m sure this was not what it was supposed to feel like) well, I eventualy came down, about two weeks later, late at night, I’m readying myself for a shower, and BAM, I feel like I did when I was high that day, now I am going to have a hard time explaining what it feels like, but I’ll give it my best shot.         I feel like I can’t think, even know I can, concentration is all but gone, I feel real tence, like I can’t calm down, can’t even realy watch TV. I get mild heart palpitations, and sometimes I get this feeling of not being real, my vision is funny, but I can’t explain that, KIND of like double vision, but not realy. and sometimes I get this feeling that washes over me and is gone within say 5 – 10 seconds, like I am realy zoned out.         this has been going on ever since. a few weeks ago, it started to get better, and I was starting to enjoy life again, and do the things I once had, then this last monday, I got a migraine, it went away, the folowing night I got another one, and I took some migraine pain reliefe wich got rid of it, well, as the migrain went away, that feeling came back, and it’s been with me again ever since.         I went to the doctor shortly after I started feeling like this and he gave me recomendation for blood work, wich I couldn’t afford seeing as I have not been able to work since this started happening.         PLEASE don’t judge me for the drug use as it is something I do not do. any onfo or similar experiences would VERY much be apreciated. thank you so much for your time, Matthew.

Response:

I was just fine an hour or so ago.  But my life is way stressful right now.  I’m having chest pains and shortness of breath, thinking irrationally.  Well, at least I know I am thinking irrationally! Somebody please TELL ME I’M NOT DYING.

Response:

I was just fine an hour or so ago.  But my life is way stressful right now.  I’m having chest pains and shortness of breath, thinking irrationally.  Well, at least I know I am thinking irrationally! Somebody please TELL ME I’M NOT DYING.

Wendy – you are *NOT* dying! Really! What’s happening is that you are having a panic attack. I’d say "that’s all" but no one who has ever suffered one would underplay the vicious terror of these things. Please just hang on in there and, if you’re not, *get some treatment*…. Keep posting, keep reading – please let us try to help you. <hug — Gary Cooper

Response:

Somebody please TELL ME I’M NOT DYING.

My dear Wendy, As long as you are able to read this message, you are definitely NOT DYING! Get an ice cream, and go and watch the telly… try not to think about the fact that you are probably in the middle of a major (easier said than done, I know). If you are reading this message 24 hours after posting yours, then you know you got through it! Yours, PaNick!

Response:

I don’t think so

Response:

I am in another crisis, After 2 1/2 months on Serzone  I am realizing its just not working that well. I still get nausea, have a strange feeling in my head with some remaining dizziness and lightheadedness and these constant tension headaches! I have been communicating online with the "Panic Disorder Institute" and getting new information on things like how the PD links with the somatic symptoms and it certainly looks like I have an acid reflux condition from the panic and anxiety that causes my inner ear, sinus and throat problems and my digestive problems. This doc recommends Xanax and Carfate for this. But I’m scared again because I’m not sure about trying another benzo and getting to a high enough dose to do any good. But there are other AD’s. He puts Trofranil way up there as a good panic / anxiety medication. What do you think? Desperate, Melodee

Response:

Melodee writes:

<< I am in another crisis, After 2 1/2 months on Serzone  I am realizing its just not working that well. I still get nausea, have a strange feeling in my head with some remaining dizziness and lightheadedness and these constant tension headaches! Hi Melodee! I had a very bad reaction to Serzone, including constant headaches…my pdoc told me there is a small percentage of people who will react badly to this particular drug because of a liver enzyme that reacts to it. I don’t know if this is what is happening to you, but my pdoc felt that was the problem with me…at any rate, you shouldn’t be having constant headaches! I think it’s time to get off the Serzone… << I have been communicating online with the "Panic Disorder Institute" and getting new information on things like how the PD links with the somatic symptoms and it certainly looks like I have an acid reflux condition from the panic and anxiety that causes my inner ear, sinus and throat problems and my digestive problems. This doc recommends Xanax and Carfate for this. But I’m scared again because I’m not sure about trying another benzo and getting to a high enough dose to do any good. But there are other AD’s. He puts Trofranil way up there as a good panic / anxiety medication. What do you think? Desperate, Melodee I have read Dr. Shipko’s reserach with great interest, and, although I have not directly communicated with him, I feel that his approach and findings make a LOT of sense…JMO. I DO know that Tofranil is a good med for PD. I also, however, am a huge believer in Xanax…without it, no matter WHAT ad I was on, I had no panic relief. I take 4-5 mgs. of Xanax per day…many people feel that is a "high" dose, but it has worked consistantly for me for about 10 years straight. As you know, everyone’s mileage varies when it comes to dosing, but I believe Xanax is sure worth a try!!! I know trying new meds is scary, but suffering with bad side effects and/or panic is NOT necessary! If I were you, I’d try another med, and give yourself a chance to start feeling better!!!:) Hang in…you are not alone! Best, ~~Char*) "You’re just jealous because the little voices talk to ME!"

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am in another crisis, After 2 1/2 months on Serzone  I am realizing its just not working that well. I still get nausea, have a strange feeling in my head with some remaining dizziness and lightheadedness and these constant tension headaches! I have been communicating online with the "Panic Disorder Institute" and getting new information on things like how the PD links with the somatic symptoms and it certainly looks like I have an acid reflux condition from the panic and anxiety that causes my inner ear, sinus and throat problems and my digestive problems. This doc recommends Xanax and Carfate for this. But I’m scared again because I’m not sure about trying another benzo and getting to a high enough dose to do any good. But there are other AD’s. He puts Trofranil way up there as a good panic / anxiety medication. What do you think? Desperate, Melodee

 I had terrible results with Serzone too. Tofranil is known to be a good panic/anxiety med. Personally after years of different medication trials I take Nortriptyline, which is in the same class as Tofranil, with xanax (and a very small amount of Prozac) and it is the best combination I have ever been on and I will happily stay on it for the rest of my life is needs be. I have to say though..the xanax has saved my life and made me a free and healthy person finally..I know there are a lot of scary stories about addiction and blah blah out there but for a lot of us with this type of disorder it is a very very good medication. I also follow the PDI BBS and read what Dr. Shipko writes and I have a great deal of respect for his opinions and advice. I would give the Tofranil a try, with xanax in lower doses if you are afraid to go the higher dosage route with Xanax alone. Best of luck to you and please post how it goes!  May — "Every time I feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until it goes away."                 – Mark Twain

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am in another crisis, After 2 1/2 months on Serzone  I am realizing its just not working that well. I still get nausea, have a strange feeling in my head with some remaining dizziness and lightheadedness and these constant tension headaches! I have been communicating online with the "Panic Disorder Institute" and getting new information on things like how the PD links with the somatic symptoms and it certainly looks like I have an acid reflux condition from the panic and anxiety that causes my inner ear, sinus and throat problems and my digestive problems. This doc recommends Xanax and Carfate for this. But I’m scared again because I’m not sure about trying another benzo and getting to a high enough dose to do any good. But there are other AD’s. He puts Trofranil way up there as a good panic / anxiety medication. What do you think? Desperate, Melodee

Dear Melodee, I think you should certainly get off the serzone and try another medication. Medications don’t work the same for everyone, but Tofranil is an older and *well* tested medication that does work very well with PD for many people – myself included.  My life turned around when I combined Tofranil and Xanax together.  Until then I had tried numerous meds and lived a life of hell.  I slowly increased both dosages (with the help of my understanding physician) and now I have been at 150 mg Tofranil at bedtime with 4 mg Xanax per day for about 2 years straight.  This combo has worked well for others also. You may want to give it a try.  Hope you find relief soon and start feeling better.  You’re definitely not in this alone John L.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am in another crisis, After 2 1/2 months on Serzone  I am realizing its just not working that well. I still get nausea, have a strange feeling in my head with some remaining dizziness and lightheadedness and these constant tension headaches! I have been communicating online with the "Panic Disorder Institute" and getting new information on things like how the PD links with the somatic symptoms and it certainly looks like I have an acid reflux condition from the panic and anxiety that causes my inner ear, sinus and throat problems and my digestive problems. This doc recommends Xanax and Carfate for this. But I’m scared again because I’m not sure about trying another benzo and getting to a high enough dose to do any good. But there are other AD’s. He puts Trofranil way up there as a good panic / anxiety medication. What do you think? Desperate, Melodee

Although a certain amount of scepticism may be a good thing, I think you can safely regard Dr. S. at the PDI as a very trustworthy source of information. Often GERD and IBS are part of or at least comorbid with PD. I understand Shipko advised you to take Xanax and Carafate which seems to be a very good combo for this. As a matter of fact they are the meds he himself is on, being a sufferer too. Why are you scared about trying another benzo? It sounds like you had a bad experience with one? It’s an easy med to try. AD’s, on the other hand, have to weaned on slowly to avoid initial side effects and worsening of symptoms. As a matter of fact benzos are often used to help wean on an AD. Tofranil (imipramine) is a TCA (tricyclic antidepressant) which is an oldie but goodie. It’s stil often used for PD. It should be started at 10 mgs and then slowly raised up to therapeutic dose (which can be anywhere between 75-200 mgs and this can be verified by blood work). There is a third way and that’s combining Tofranil & Xanax (and Carafate can be added, this is more for IBS than for the actual Panic Attacks). Actually this is the combo I am on (Tofranil 150 mgs & Xanax 2.5 mgs). It works for me but YMMV. Philip

Response:

I have to agree with the rest of the group.  Tofrinil (imiprimine) and Xanax are an effective combo… I used both with 10mg. of Paxil.  It’s my understading that the SSRI (Paxil)  increases the serum level of imiprimine so you don’t have to take as much.  Warning:  the side effects from imiprimine can be wretched at first….NO saliva, constipation, daytime somnelence, etc… However, as with John L… the combo changed my life too.  I was on it for 4 years then DC’d and remained PA-free for 2 years. I’m currently on Zoloft…not as effective as the imiprimine, but I couldn’t handle the side effects anymore.   -VJ (another newbie to the group)

Response:

Excuse me… Please stop sending html to a newsgroup, please stop yelling and please stop pushing pot use in this group.  You may as well push coffee and other caffine drinks.

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I am on antdepressants and on Xanax, and still I am in a panic. my dad…who was half owner in my home, and only signed it over to me in July, is now after a stroke and all sorts of complications in need of nursing home care. I have been told, that the fact that he renounced claim in our home is immaterial and that before medecaid will pay for any help, they will take his half of the house…..and I the mortgage is already at my max of capacity. I am divorced and my two sons, 23 and 17 live with me….Mom and dad lived in the apartment downstairs….mom died two years ago.  neither has any money, dad makes 1300 a month between his pension and social seucurity. I don’t want to lose my home of these past 10 years, but don’t know what to do…I am in NY and NY is not much in the way of caring I am told….. HELP!!!!!!! Please…..I have been through 5 years of hell with the divorce, mom dying, my sons accident and now this…I can’t take any more please respond in email if you help I am in Orange County NY

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I am on antdepressants and on Xanax, and still I am in a panic. my dad…who was half owner in my home, and only signed it over to me in July, is now after a stroke and all sorts of complications in need of nursing home care. I have been told, that the fact that he renounced claim in our home is immaterial and that before medecaid will pay for any help, they will take his half of the house…..and I the mortgage is already at my max of capacity. I am divorced and my two sons, 23 and 17 live with me….Mom and dad lived in the apartment downstairs….mom died two years ago.  neither has any money, dad makes 1300 a month between his pension and social seucurity. I don’t want to lose my home of these past 10 years, but don’t know what to do…I am in NY and NY is not much in the way of caring I am told….. HELP!!!!!!! Please…..I have been through 5 years of hell with the divorce, mom dying, my sons accident and now this…I can’t take any more

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Hi, Ok.Try to relax a second.It is a really rough time.One of thoses definig lifes moment. I would confer with a GOOD lawyer.This can be worked out,Gov Pataki did the exact same thing with his mother having her sign property over to him.Somebody in social sevices might also be able to help.You must put up a good fight or they’ll beat you for sure.They’re are caring folks out there.My wifes bes friend is a person who has some pull with social services.What part of NY are you in?We also live in NY.EMail me back your info.In times like these your medication is working hard to keep you stablized.Do not panic.You have to convince yourself that there is a way to work this out.Nobody wants to put anybody on the street.See a lawyer ASAP                              Peace    JMiles

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yes, i too have to focus on something else..TV doesn’t work because you still focus on what you are feeling, and reading a magazine is too hard when my head is jumbly….actually that is why i love the computer now…before i didn’t use it much , but whenever i have an attack i get online….but not to look up panic stuff, because you want to get it out of your time….catch up on your email or surf some new sites…something not too hard but it helps me….i tried to do the positive thinking thing, but you are still focused on yourself, you have to find some distraction…..try the computer, works wonders for me (along with popping a xanex of course!) jana

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Janet, I have also found that when I am very focused on myself my anxiety attacks get worse.  I usually do some breathing exercises if I think of it.  But when you are in the moment it’s hard to focus on anything productive, I’ll be the first to admit this.  Stay strong and I hope your doctor appointment goes well. Raquel I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas? Hi Janet, when i used to get bad general anxiety attacks at home i tried to keep as busy as i could. Even if i really did’nt feel like it i’d find some painting or gardening to do. Anything so long as i was’nt just sitting there focusing on myself all the time.                     There were times when i thought i was dying so i know how frightened you feel at the moment but if they found nothing wrong when you had the tests three weeks ago then try to trust that and focus on something outside of yourself. Easy for me to say i know but i felt the same as you this time two years ago.                     Sorry you feel so bad at the moment, best wishes.                                             Ken.

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It sounds like the doctor doesn’t think the arythmias are dangerous.  Maybe he just wants to control them because they interfere with your panic control? Anyhow, something I find useful in my self-talk is to ask  myself, "will thinking about this right now help?"  the answer is usually no.  someone posted here that all prroblems can be divided into two groups, those that can be solved by worrying about them, and those that can’t.  Right now the arrythmia is in the second category.  You have made plans for the next thing to do about them, which is to see the doctor next week.  Until then, when you can get more information about what is going on, there is nothing else to do.  so try to keep shoving those worries into the second category, and keep them from giving you more trouble. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas?

Response:

Janet, I have also found that when I am very focused on myself my anxiety attacks get worse.  I usually do some breathing exercises if I think of it.  But when you are in the moment it’s hard to focus on anything productive, I’ll be the first to admit this.  Stay strong and I hope your doctor appointment goes well. Raquel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas? Hi Janet, when i used to get bad general anxiety attacks at home i tried to keep as busy as i could. Even if i really did’nt feel like it i’d find some painting or gardening to do. Anything so long as i was’nt just sitting there focusing on myself all the time.                     There were times when i thought i was dying so i know how frightened you feel at the moment but if they found nothing wrong when you had the tests three weeks ago then try to trust that and focus on something outside of yourself. Easy for me to say i know but i felt the same as you this time two years ago.                     Sorry you feel so bad at the moment, best wishes.                                             Ken.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas?

Hi Janet, when i used to get bad general anxiety attacks at home i tried to keep as busy as i could. Even if i really did’nt feel like it i’d find some painting or gardening to do. Anything so long as i was’nt just sitting there focusing on myself all the time.                     There were times when i thought i was dying so i know how frightened you feel at the moment but if they found nothing wrong when you had the tests three weeks ago then try to trust that and focus on something outside of yourself. Easy for me to say i know but i felt the same as you this time two years ago.                     Sorry you feel so bad at the moment, best wishes.                                             Ken.

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Janet: A few years back when we had an extremely tragic and stressful situation with one of our kids, I was having the same symptoms as you. My doctor put me on a portable EKG thing for 24 hours and it showed irregular heartbeats. It felt to me as if a large bird was fluttering madly in my chest, trying to break free! — or a fish flopping for its life.  This sensation took my breath away and was pretty frightening, especially all night as I tried to sleep. Unlike your doc, however, my family doctor diagnosed stress and anxiety, and immediately put me on Xanax to calm me down. It worked like a charm. The second day after beginning the med, I simply stopped having the palpitations. (I’d had them for about 3-4 months, getting worse all the time.) Do talk to your doctor about the possibility of some anti-anxiety medication to break this anxiety cycle. Good luck, and let us know what happens. Best, Anne —

Response:

Whoops! janet, I just re-read your posting and see that you *do* take Xanax. Perhaps you need an increased dosage; talk to your doctor, and if he’s not helpful, seek out a psychiatrist. Sorry I was asleep when I replied! – Anne —

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas?

I’ve been through the positive thinking route and found it’s effectiveness to be very limited. (when one is feeling well it really works!) I’d see a psychiatrist and get on the proper meds to control your anxiety. You sound like you need a higher dose of Xanax and/or another med. If the cardiologist told you to come back in one week, he couldn’t have been too concerned about a serious arrythmia. If he was, you would now be in the hospital being treated for it. Hope this helps, Chip Before you buy.

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arrythmias.

big word little consequence unless you have underlying pathology like elctrical conduction problems or clogged arteries-from a medical standpoint what you are experiencing is tantemount to a hiccup or burp- they are uncomfortable only if you define them as awful or life threatening-the stimulating hormones your body is secreting at such high levels all the time are expressed evrywhere like in faster peristalsis of your gut or flutters of your heart these are benign symptoms of anxiety even if your anxiety attacks are controlled you understand you have a proclivity to experience stress and worry so you still are and are expressing it physiologicaly instead of emotively-meds can ease the cardiac contractions or mellow out the conduction time if needed so don’t freak out you aren’t going to die or go crazy. The very worse that will happen if these burps are bad enough is you will pass out and this is the very worse is rare if you are youngish and is still controlable with meds. re read and listen to her stopping scary thoughts tapes and don’t do the what ifs or imagine yourself having a cardiac arrest-once under the care of a cardiac doc you will be fine. LM

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I just found this newsgroup and I hope someone out there has experienced what I am now going through and can help me. I’ve been living with panic disorder (on and off symptoms) for almost 20 years.  My greatest breakthrough was 2 years ago when I finally found the Midwest Center and went through their 15 week program.  It helped tremendously.  However, I’m experiencing a set back and am having trouble coping. To make it short, I had learned to calm myself down with positive self-talk (i.e., it’s only my anxiety, I’m not going to die, I’m not going to go crazy, it will pass, etc.).  3 weeks ago, I experienced some very unusual, fluttery feelings in my chest, racing heartbeat, etc. and went to the emergency room.  By the time I got there, the feelings had stopped and they didn’t find anything wrong but suggested that I follow-up with a cardiologist.  I did and had an exercise stress test.  The test revealed that I’m having arrythmias.  My doctor wants me to wait 2 weeks before trying medication and if I’m lucky they’ll just stop.  Welll, 2 weeks are up and I’m still having them everyday.  My anxiety and panic disorder is now full blown.  I’m listening to my tapes, taking xanax, and trying not to freak out.  But, it’s hard to believe my positive self-talk when, in fact, there really could be something wrong with my heart.  Before, I would assure myself that there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.  How can I do that now?  Has anyone experienced a similar circumstance?  What did you do to help yourself. My next doctors appointment isn’t until next week and I feel like that’s an enternity.  I also have a job interview today which I might have to cancel. Can you imagine me sitting there,  checking my pulse, holding my breath, spaced out and disoriented at a job interview?????  Some impression I’ll make, huh? Please, please anybody….any enouraging words or helpful ideas?

Response:

Margrove, Thanks for your reply to my post. You may recall that I talked about Seroquel and Zyprexa and you mentioned that Seroquel was more dose dependent. Could you explain what is meant by that. I was on 5mg Zyprexa and now 100mg Seroquel. Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m desperate! In order for my career to go ahead I need to take a whole program of study in the next year and that amounts to a very heavy load each quarter. I haven’t been well, so I don’t know how I can do this. I just turned 50 last year and about three years ago came down with panic/anxiety disorder. I take medications, but none of them work that well. I did OK for awhile on Zyprexa. But now I’m on Seoquel because of the weight problem with Zyprexa. But I’m not sure if the Seroquel is going to work as good. My pdoc also just put me on Depakote about two months ago. It never felt quite right so I’m coming off of it. I don’t feel so good. Could there be some withdrawl symptoms from the Depakote? I was on 1000mg and then went down to 750 for about a week and now I’ve just reduced it to 500mg yesterday. Please help! Dee

Hi Dee! Wish I could help you with the meds, but I don’t know anything about them. Just wanted to give you a hug.  You sound like you need one.  {{{{{{{Dee}}}}}}} Di

Response:

Hi, I’m desperate! In order for my career to go ahead I need to take a whole program of study in the next year and that amounts to a very heavy load each quarter. I haven’t been well, so I don’t know how I can do this. I just turned 50 last year and about three years ago came down with panic/anxiety disorder. I take medications, but none of them work that well. I did OK for awhile on Zyprexa. But now I’m on Seoquel because of the weight problem with Zyprexa. But I’m not sure if the Seroquel is going to work as good. My pdoc also just put me on Depakote about two months ago. It never felt quite right so I’m coming off of it. I don’t feel so good. Could there be some withdrawl symptoms from the Depakote? I was on 1000mg and then went down to 750 for about a week and now I’ve just reduced it to 500mg yesterday. Please help! Dee Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m desperate! In order for my career to go ahead I need to take a whole program of study in the next year and that amounts to a very heavy load each quarter. I haven’t been well, so I don’t know how I can do this. I just turned 50 last year and about three years ago came down with panic/anxiety disorder. I take medications, but none of them work that well. I did OK for awhile on Zyprexa. But now I’m on Seoquel because of the weight problem with Zyprexa. But I’m not sure if the Seroquel is going to work as good. My pdoc also just put me on Depakote about two months ago. It never felt quite right so I’m coming off of it. I don’t feel so good. Could there be some withdrawl symptoms from the Depakote? I was on 1000mg and then went down to 750 for about a week and now I’ve just reduced it to 500mg yesterday. Please help! Dee Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

there is a slight rebound activity that occurs with tapers off depakote-like all psychoactive meds it requires a slow taper-your brain will readjust withina short time to its lack of presence-seroquel works differently then zyprexa and is much more dose dependant both being very respectable meds you may find your responses different as with all medicaments and individual chemistries-as for your course load-push the envelope and as the great zen of nike said-just do it. the worse that will happen is you may succeed. If not so what. LM

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Thanks for all your support. Raquel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

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I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel

Dear Raquel, As much as you don`t feel like it right now, there is much left to live for. You have a wonderful husband, and you also have Somer, I know how precious he is to you. I know moving is a stress right now, but think of how it may help improve your health in the long run? Has your depression worsened lately? I can`t recall the meds you are on for your asthma, if you are on prednisone, it could be exacerbating your depression. You might want to call your doctor about that. Please hang in there, it will get better. Love Jackie ~*~The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in

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Dear Raquel, I’m so sorry you are feeling down right now.  You have a lot going on at once and it does feel overwhelming.  Try to tackle one thing at a time.  And then find ways to be kind to yourself and to tell yourself that you are going to get through it.  Find ways to have little successes, then you can build on them.  I hope you feel better soon.  Don’t give up. I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

– Jeannie "On the other hand….you have different fingers." Before you buy.

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I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel

Maybe it would be a good idea to break down this accumulation of problems into more manageable parts. – How is your asthma coming along? Do the new meds work?  -Maybe you would like to tell us some more about your anxiety problems etc. and how they are treated… I think you should look for a good CBT-therapist.  -And what’s with the appartment? How is Brian? He is always so supportive….are you two OK? Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Before you buy.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

Look for Something just anything that grounds you in the present. (((((((Raquel)))))) Sue

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Hi Raquel Just hang in there and go with its flow and try to keep your chin high  up. Be extra good for yourself  . This bumpy road will stop and things will pick up, its all a matter of time! Keep posting and let us be with you in your hart! Love Jeannette

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

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I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

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Sweetie…. You have plenty to live for… Maybe this move will be one that energizes you.  The other issues are hard to rid yourself of, but you know what?  There is NO REASON you can’t enjoy life anyhow.  MSN is a joke…I tell you what…we signed up for a free month, when we called to cancel (all 6 times) they gave us another free month.  Tell them you have a beef and they usually suck up.  Find another internet company.  We are using prodigy and it was simple as could be.  Also I know Juno offers free web service or their ‘premium’ service for only like 10 bucks a month.  Not to worry about the news servers….go to deja (as much as I HATE deja) or newsone.com…that is where I posted when my email server wouldn’t work right.  Just breathe sweetie…it will all get better. As for your asthma, what meds are you on?  I had a lot of trouble with mine until I tried Singulair and it has made a world of difference. They put me on Azmacort (a steroid inhaler) and I never even use it now.  I did right after my accident, but then when I stopped I noticed the singulair was going so good I didn’t really need to go back. During the move, take care of yourself.  Take long baths after packing, light some candles that smell like your favorite flower and don’t forget to pamper yourself.  It does wonders I promise I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

Robin

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I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel you have alot to live for.  Are you ok?  You have god and your husband.

 Be positive. donny Confess your sins.  Turn from your sins.  Believe in your heart.  Ask Jesus to save you.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel you have alot to live for.  Are you ok?  You have god and your husband. Be positive. donny Confess your sins.  Turn from your sins.  Believe in your heart.  Ask Jesus to save you. hI RAQUEL, you can download juno at juno.com and acess the newsgroups with

deja.com.  You have alot to live for.  Think of the people that would be affected if you werent around.  will PRAY FOR YOU. donny Confess your sins.  Turn from your sins.  Believe in your heart.  Ask Jesus to save you.

Response:

Raquel, Life is worth living…  You are just experiencing a lot of problems at one time.  Try to deal witheach one individually ad it does take some of the stress off your shoulders. smiles, elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not doing to good right about now.  Between having to move because of problems with my apartment, anxiety, depression, asthma, fibromyalgia and Hellish problems with MSN, who is charging me Double and doesn’t support any news servers for me, I am about to go insane. Not much left to live for. Raquel Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Website Hoax on Killer Virus Triggers Hong Kong Panic Tue April 1, 2003 08:55 AM ET

so???? — Mvh / Regards -=< Christian =- What capital has 164 letters in its name? See my web page to find out. http://www.cmnielsen.dk     ICQ: 25308942 " If something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing. Homer J. Simpson"

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms: 1: Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003 Apr 1;167(7):958-61 Drug-induced Pneumonitis and Heart Failure Simultaneously Associated with Venlafaxine. Drent M, Singh S, Gorgels AP, Hansell DM, Bekers O, Nicholson AG, Van Suylen RJ, Du Bois RM. Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Maastricht, Two cases of interstitial pneumonia with cardiac failure developing in patients treated with the new antidepressant venlafaxine are presented. A strong relationship between the development of the patients’ illness and the initiation of venlafaxine treatment was identified.  The cytochrome P (CYP) 450 system is involved in the metabolism of venlafaxine, suggesting that alterations in the drug metabolic clearance might be, at least in part, responsible for the development of drug-induced damage in these cases. This might occur either as a consequence of a genetic factor or concomitant drug therapy with an inhibitor of the related CYP system.  After identifying the causative agent in the first case, withdrawal of the antidepressant together with corticosteroid treatment led to a favorable outcome. In the other case, the multiorgan failure became fatal.  These cases highlight a hitherto undescribed association of an adverse lung reaction and heart failure due to venlafaxine. PMID: 12663337 [PubMed - in process]

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms:

Yeah, world’s first contagious drug reaction.

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms: Yeah, world’s first contagious drug reaction.

Is it SARS or is it a reaction to the drug Effexor? Effexor is now being agressively sold in China by Wyeth who claims on its website that it has "superior safety". Yet PubMed shows several reports of severe and fatal Effexor side effects — which at this point mimic symptoms of SARS. Patients taking Effexor need to know.

Response:

Question:

I was on Serzone for only a week…If you have any suicidal thoughts it increases them dramatically….It scared me so I stopped taking it… Mandy

Response:

The SSRI never worked for me. I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Celexa, & more that i can’t even remember. I was not ablbe to tolerate those meds. I am on xanax, which help with the symtoms. But, I still suffer from panic attacks & agoraphobia.

none of those worked for me either. then my doc gave me anafranil and buspar and it worked like a charm. "I’ll let you be in my dream, if I can be in yours" cadre rock! http://cadre.iuma.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Geez I have now tried Tofranil, Elavil, St. John’s Wort, Prozac, Celexa, Valium, Effexor, Welbutrin, and four other medicines I can’t name.   At least three of them have given me terrible side effects at normal dosages (catatonia from 40 mg Prozac, convulsions from 200mg Welbutrin that had my wife in tears, and a horrible reaction to 225 mg.  Effexor.)    I have stopped drinking.  I still can hardly leave the house.  The SSRI’s give me a little relief at dosages I can handle, but not much. My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic. — Mason Barge "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like."        – Abraham Lincoln

the trick with any antidepressant is starting at very low doses and slowly increasing them over time-you still have options of other medications that are available to you-not knowing the other 4 you tried and not knowing the side effects specific to what med and the dose you experienced them there is protriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine, clomipramine, doxepin, sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, trimipramine, amoxapine, maprotaline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine. mitrazapine, within a few months Lexapro a refined version of celexa will hit the market and although I don’t advocate trying brand new meds-this is a safer version of citalopram using one isomer of the compound-Lilly is seeking approval of its cymbalta a multi targeting ad med like effexor, for release within a year-and the vaulted underused benzos and other meds may play a role  in  finding some relief-being on a med merry go round is no fun for sure, but sooner or later a med will be found that is tolerated and useful. I hope serzone works for you-it has some merit for agitated type depressions demonstrates a weaker activity then other classes of meds and less so then remeron which is in the same class, but again the idyosyncratic nature of our bodies and these drugs belies any anecdotal observations-it would not be my first choice, but that has little meaning if it works LM

Response:

The SSRI never worked for me. I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Celexa, & more that i can’t even remember. I was not ablbe to tolerate those meds. I am on xanax, which help with the symtoms. But, I still suffer from panic attacks & agoraphobia. Doc the Rocker

Hi Doc, (what’s up?) ) What is your total daily dose of Xanax? Chip (Bugs)

Response:

Geez I have now tried Tofranil, Elavil, St. John’s Wort, Prozac, Celexa, Valium, Effexor, Welbutrin, and four other medicines I can’t name.   At least three of them have given me terrible side effects at normal dosages (catatonia from 40 mg Prozac, convulsions from 200mg Welbutrin that had my wife in tears, and a horrible reaction to 225 mg.  Effexor.)    I have stopped drinking.  I still can hardly leave the house.  The SSRI’s give me a little relief at dosages I can handle, but not much. My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic. — Mason Barge "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like."         — Abraham Lincoln

Response:

Geez I have now tried Tofranil, Elavil, St. John’s Wort, Prozac, Celexa, Valium, Effexor, Welbutrin, and four other medicines I can’t name.   At least three of them have given me terrible side effects at normal dosages (catatonia from 40 mg Prozac, convulsions from 200mg Welbutrin that had my wife in tears, and a horrible reaction to 225 mg.  Effexor.)    I have stopped drinking.  I still can hardly leave the house.  The SSRI’s give me a little relief at dosages I can handle, but not much. My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic. — Mason Barge

Serzone can be effective for panic disorder and depression. What are all of your diagnoses? Looks like you haven’t been on any high potency benzodiazepines (Klonopin, Xanax, etc). Is your doc afraid to prescribe them? Chip

Response:

Hi Mason, I am on 450mgs of Serzone. Have been on it for 1 year and 3 months. I have experienced a substantial reduction in my free-floating anxiety. I still use an occassional ativan for situational panic/phobia. Serzone is losing any favor it had due to liver problems that developed in a small percentage of its users. I get a liver function test routinely as a precaution, and it always comes back fine. Serzone does have sedating qualities. I am more sluggish than before, but I also feel more even…not so high…not so low. Weaning on the side effects were mild constipation and dry mouth. Sex and sleep have not been disturbed. I seem to be in the rare population that is benefitting from it. I hope you find something soon. Peace, John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Geez I have now tried Tofranil, Elavil, St. John’s Wort, Prozac, Celexa, Valium, Effexor, Welbutrin, and four other medicines I can’t name.   At least three of them have given me terrible side effects at normal dosages (catatonia from 40 mg Prozac, convulsions from 200mg Welbutrin that had my wife in tears, and a horrible reaction to 225 mg.  Effexor.)    I have stopped drinking.  I still can hardly leave the house.  The SSRI’s give me a little relief at dosages I can handle, but not much. My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic. — Mason Barge "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like."         — Abraham Lincoln

Response:

My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic.

that was the first med I tried. it didn’t do much for me really. but everyone is different, so it may work well for you. "I’ll let you be in my dream, if I can be in yours" cadre rock! http://cadre.iuma.com

Response:

I seem to be in the rare population that is benefitting from it. I hope you find something soon. John

Hi John, Why do you say that a rare (or small?) population benefits from it? Chip

Response:

Hi Chip, An armchair observation leads me to believe that many people are not successful on it and that is rarely prescribed, especially now with the liver problem thing. I think I indulged myself in a moment of self-pity. I’ve always tended to feel like the odd-man out. Even with meds. Hope your day is going well! Peace, John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to be in the rare population that is benefitting from it. I hope you find something soon. John Hi John, Why do you say that a rare (or small?) population benefits from it? Chip

Response:

Hi Chip, An armchair observation leads me to believe that many people are not successful on it and that is rarely prescribed, especially now with the liver problem thing.

My impression is that it is effective for both panic disorder and depression. Although the trend seems to be to prescribe the SSRIs first. I can see why getting periodic liver function tests is a drawback. I used to take a med, Pemoline, for depression, and that med now requires serial liver tests. I think I indulged myself in a moment of self-pity. I’ve always tended to feel like the odd-man out. Even with meds.

((((John)))) Chip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hope your day is going well! Peace, John I seem to be in the rare population that is benefitting from it. I hope you find something soon. John Hi John, Why do you say that a rare (or small?) population benefits from it? Chip

Response:

The SSRI never worked for me. I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Celexa, & more that i can’t even remember. I was not ablbe to tolerate those meds. I am on xanax, which help with the symtoms. But, I still suffer from panic attacks & agoraphobia. Doc the Rocker

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Geez I have now tried Tofranil, Elavil, St. John’s Wort, Prozac, Celexa, Valium, Effexor, Welbutrin, and four other medicines I can’t name.   At least three of them have given me terrible side effects at normal dosages (catatonia from 40 mg Prozac, convulsions from 200mg Welbutrin that had my wife in tears, and a horrible reaction to 225 mg.  Effexor.)    I have stopped drinking.  I still can hardly leave the house.  The SSRI’s give me a little relief at dosages I can handle, but not much. My pdoc has my trying Serzone now.  Has anyone had any experience with it?  I am trying to stay optimistic. — Mason Barge "People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like."         — Abraham Lincoln

Response:

Question:

Effexor Withdrawal Causing Crackling Sounds in the Brain Antidepressants  "Thank God for this website." I had a nervous breakdown six years ago and after being on other

anti-depressants without a problem, my psychiatrist felt that Effexor had less of an effect on the heart, and so switched me to Effexor. I have tried unsuccessfully to quit on many

occasions, even though I only take 37.5 mgs per day. The extreme lethargy I feel when I have tried to quit, the tingling in various parts of my body, the weird dreams and most

troublesome of all, the crackling, electric sounds in my head have caused me too much distress to ever be successful.

Hi, I think that you have to think about all these  side effect problems. Maybe they are not side-effect, maybe they are only telling you that you are stressed, and you need to fix your problems, otherwise the side-problems will be forever with you B

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Effexor Withdrawal Causing Crackling Sounds in the Brain Antidepressants  "Thank God for this website." I had a nervous breakdown six years ago and after being on other  anti-depressants without a problem, my psychiatrist felt that Effexor had less of an effect on the  heart, and so switched me to Effexor. I have tried unsuccessfully to quit on many  occasions, even though I only take 37.5 mgs per day. The extreme lethargy I feel when I have  tried to quit, the tingling in various parts of my body, the weird dreams and most  troublesome of all, the crackling, electric sounds in my head have caused me too much distress to  ever be successful. Hi, I think that you have to think about all these  side effect problems. Maybe they are not side-effect, maybe they are only telling you that you are stressed, and you need to fix your problems, otherwise the side-problems will be forever with you B

I thought cross-posting to and from different kind of newsgroups was not the reason why they started alt.support.schizofrenia. Btw, is it not forbidden in the FAQ ? Berty

Response:

Effexor Withdrawal Causing Crackling Sounds in the Brain Antidepressants  "Thank God for this website." I had a nervous breakdown six years ago and after being on other

anti-depressants without a problem, my psychiatrist felt that Effexor had less of an effect on the heart, and so switched me to Effexor. I have tried unsuccessfully to quit on many

occasions, even though I only take 37.5 mgs per day. The extreme lethargy I feel when I have tried to quit, the tingling in various parts of my body, the weird dreams and most

troublesome of all, the crackling, electric sounds in my head have caused me too much distress to ever be successful.

Hi, I think that you have to think about all these  side effect problems. Maybe they are not side-effect, maybe they are only telling you that you are stressed, and you need to fix your problems, otherwise the side-problems will be forever with you B

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Effexor Withdrawal Causing Crackling Sounds in the Brain Antidepressants  "Thank God for this website." I had a nervous breakdown six years ago and after being on other  anti-depressants without a problem, my psychiatrist felt that Effexor had less of an effect on the  heart, and so switched me to Effexor. I have tried unsuccessfully to quit on many  occasions, even though I only take 37.5 mgs per day. The extreme lethargy I feel when I have  tried to quit, the tingling in various parts of my body, the weird dreams and most  troublesome of all, the crackling, electric sounds in my head have caused me too much distress to  ever be successful. Hi, I think that you have to think about all these  side effect problems. Maybe they are not side-effect, maybe they are only telling you that you are stressed, and you need to fix your problems, otherwise the side-problems will be forever with you B

I thought cross-posting to and from different kind of newsgroups was not the reason why they started alt.support.schizofrenia. Btw, is it not forbidden in the FAQ ? Berty

Response:

Question:

On Sun, 13 Jan 2002 00:56:49 GMT, Glenn <g…@mindspring.com

wrote: It was HORRIBLE for me. It kept me awake and made me feel as though I had taken an entire box of Sudafed before bed.

The usual complaint about Effexor is that it goes down… it comes back up. It’s something like 40% that report at least some nausea. On the other hand, my internist prescribes me Biaxin (an antibiotic), even though it makes her throw up. I’ve never had any trouble with that… when she asked me about antibiotics I’d taken, I mentioned "no problems whatsoever with Biaxin" and she made a face like she had been sucking on a lemon.

The worst med ever for me.

Prozac probably gets that award for me (overstimulation), with an honorable mention for penicillin (GI upset, but of the "flow-through" kind).

Response:

Charles L. Perrin wrote in message

Prozac probably gets that award for me (overstimulation), with an honorable mention for penicillin (GI upset, but of the "flow-through" kind).

i call that a tetley tea bag meds……… unique flow thru system

Response:

I just gave up on Effexor XR as it kept me awake. I am taking Remeron and now I cant wake up!!! "Cathy12253" <cathy12…@aol.com

wrote in message

news:20020109180552.13137.00000577@mb-cs.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

I am on effexor xr also (75 mg 2 times per day).  I was taking 2nd dose at bedtime and came to the conclusion that it was not helping my insomnia.  I

just

started taking the 2nd dose, today, at 1pm to see if that helps.   I also

read

an article that said effexor xr was an "activator" anti-depressant so that

it

could antagonize your insomnia.Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it

any

good and when is the best time to take it? I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake

Response:

On Sun, 13 Jan 2002 18:21:02 -0000, "sgreen1234" <sgreen1…@yahoo.co.uk

wrote: I just gave up on Effexor XR as it kept me awake. I am taking Remeron and now I cant wake up!!!

Keep working with your doctor… there are a significant number of antidepressants, and they vary as to whether they’re stimulating or sedating. I’m no doctor, but I"ve been doctored… and I’d make a wild-eyed guess that what they call Lustral in the UK (sertraline generically/Zoloft in the USA) might be the happy medium. But, then again, it might NOT. It’s all rather unpredictable (with the exception that Remeron patients do sleep).

Response:

"sgreen1234" <sgreen1…@ntlworld.com

wrote: Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any good and when is the best time to take it? I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake but that may just be the anxiety I am suffering from anyway. I took it a few years ago and I think it got me back. I never lost any sleep anyway! Any advice would be welcome.

Venlafaxine (Effexor) can be energizing and can certainly cause insomnia. One of the advantages of the XR form is that it’s intended as a once-daily medication. It’s fairly unusual for people to take it twice a day (although that was the standard regimen with original Effexor). The only people I’ve got taking multiple doses are those who for some reason couldn’t tolerate or didn’t benefit from once-daily.

Response:

It was HORRIBLE for me. It kept me awake and made me feel as though I had taken an entire box of Sudafed before bed. The worst med ever for me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -sgreen1234 wrote:

Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any good and when is the best time to take it? I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake but that may just be the anxiety I am suffering from anyway. I took it a few years ago and I think it got me back. I never lost any sleep anyway! Any advice would be welcome.

Response:

I am on effexor xr also (75 mg 2 times per day).  I was taking 2nd dose at bedtime and came to the conclusion that it was not helping my insomnia.  I just started taking the 2nd dose, today, at 1pm to see if that helps.   I also read an article that said effexor xr was an "activator" anti-depressant so that it could antagonize your insomnia.

Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any

good and when is the best time – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

to take it? I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake

Response:

On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 20:14:35 -0000, "sgreen1234" <sgreen1…@ntlworld.com

wrote: Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any good and when is the best time to take it?

Well, it’s effective for many patients… although guideline writers aren’t generally sure whether to call it a "first-line" or a "second-line" drug. Anyway, it sells $1.2 billion at the manufacturer’s level.

I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake but that may just be the anxiety I am suffering from anyway.

I remember it as being mildly stimulating when I first started taking it (fairly soon after it came out). I also remember Elavil (a very sedating antidepressant) being quite sedating when I first started taking it. However, both tended to go back towards normalcy out over time.

I took it a few years ago and I think it got me back. Any advice would be welcome.

If you have past experience with it working, it should work now. However, it seems that it invariably takes a several weeks for most antidepressants to take hold, despite the fact that the blood levels reach steady-state much sooner than that (Effexor particularly, as it metabolizes quickly).

Response:

Made my heart race like crazy, was not a good match for me

Response:

hi there, i was on effexor, for a year, it made me very pyschotic, i kept overdosing on it, didnt do me much help, but its different for people, it might help you, it might not, only by taking the medication, will you know, whether its any good for you or not! i hope it helps you i was on 225mg a day, btw michael

Response:

I don’t know how quickly it metabolizes, but it is very difficult to stop taking. It took me three months of gradual dose decreases to stop it and I still had withdrawal symptoms. In addition, if you miss it one day or are very late taking it, you can feel like crap. That was my experience. Now take Celexa. "Charles L. Perrin" <c.l.per…@worldnet.att.net

wrote in message

news:2mmk3usnkffpmsdb34q03md662svpvm78p@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 20:14:35 -0000, "sgreen1234" <sgreen1…@ntlworld.com wrote: Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any good and when is the best

time

to take it? Well, it’s effective for many patients… although guideline writers aren’t generally sure whether to call it a "first-line" or a "second-line" drug. Anyway, it sells $1.2 billion at the manufacturer’s level. I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake but that may just be the anxiety I am suffering from anyway. I remember it as being mildly stimulating when I first started taking it (fairly soon after it came out). I also remember Elavil (a very sedating antidepressant) being quite sedating when I first started taking it. However, both tended to go back towards normalcy out over time. I took it a few years ago and I think it got me back. Any advice would be welcome. If you have past experience with it working, it should work now. However, it seems that it invariably takes a several weeks for most antidepressants to take hold, despite the fact that the blood levels reach steady-state much sooner than that (Effexor particularly, as it metabolizes quickly).

Response:

Anybody on or been on effexor XL. Is it any good and when is the best time to take it? I take 75mg morning and night. So far I think its keeping me awake but that may just be the anxiety I am suffering from anyway. I took it a few years ago and I think it got me back. I never lost any sleep anyway! Any advice would be welcome.

Response:

Question:

I have been on Wellbutrin SR 150mg x 2 for 2 months now.  I have not noticed any difference.  Perhaps I am not really depressed or Wellbutrin isn’t the drug for me.  Anyway, I go to my doctor next week and I am wondering if I should tell him to take me off the Wellbutrin.  I don’t know if I should ask for another anti-depressant.  I don’t want to try any of the evil SSRIs so that would leave Effexor as one of my few choices.  But I heard it is very addictive.  What if it doesn’t work either and I have to withdraw from it? Diablo

Response:

Hi, Have your friends/coworkers/family members noticed any differences in you? I didn’t notice much of a change in me either until my friends started commenting that I didn’t seem as nervous as I used to. Good luck, Amanda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been on Wellbutrin SR 150mg x 2 for 2 months now.  I have not noticed any difference.  Perhaps I am not really depressed or Wellbutrin isn’t the drug for me.  Anyway, I go to my doctor next week and I am wondering if I should tell him to take me off the Wellbutrin.  I don’t know if I should ask for another anti-depressant.  I don’t want to try any of the evil SSRIs so that would leave Effexor as one of my few choices.  But I heard it is very addictive.  What if it doesn’t work either and I have to withdraw from it? Diablo

Response:

        Effexor is known to be ONE of the hardest ADs to ween oneself off of… If you want to call THAT addiction, so be it. It can be done quite well, but you need a good doc’s help to do it right or the advise of people here who have done it well. I’m only repeating what I’ve gleaned around these boards. The consensus seems to be that it’s a very good antidepressant, generally helping more people than Wellbutrin, which helps some very well, and many not at all. My opinion.. (my "test", if you will) is that if you FEEL depressed, you ARE depressed…(Ask yourself "Am I depressed?") If you answer "hell, yes" or even "yeah, sorta most of the time", then continue to seek an AD that "fits" you. Effexor is in actually an "SSRI-plus"…. by that I mean it functions as an SSRI but ALSO affects norepinephrine, which some of us seem to need for relief. Go for it, IMHO.

Response:

I’ve been on Wellbutrin for over  a yr, my pdoc switched me to Effexor. After 3 wks I still feel too sedated compared to Wellbutrin. I’ve even added a 150mg does of Wellbutrin to counter act the effexor. I’ve reduced toe effexor to 75mg daily with some relief. Personally, I liked the combo of Celexa and Wellbutrin, will consider this next visit. I’m very afraid of the withdrawal side effects with Effexor, that’s enough of a depressing thought to think about. Wellbutrin you come andgo with NO withdrawals. Just my 2 cents.Good Luck Den Dennis D

Response:

I’ve been on Wellbutrin for over  a yr, my pdoc switched me to Effexor. After 3 wks I still feel too sedated compared to Wellbutrin. I’ve even added a 150mg does of Wellbutrin to counter act the effexor. I’ve reduced toe effexor to 75mg daily with some relief. Personally, I liked the combo of Celexa and Wellbutrin, will consider this next visit. I’m very afraid of the withdrawal side effects with Effexor, that’s enough of a depressing thought to think about. Wellbutrin you come andgo with NO withdrawals. Just my 2 cents.Good Luck Den Dennis D

   Hi dennis,      How did you like the celexa and wellbutrin combo. I have a problem with bad mood disorder with constant racing thoughts? any side effects geno

Response:

I am on Effexor and Wellbuterin. Recently my pdoc was weaning me off Effexor. He tried Wellbuterin….totally bombed alone. He said it is not meant for major depressive episodes. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor, if you are not honest with him  how can he help you… And yes Effexor has some bad withdrawal. I just went through it and it was nasty. So nasty I bottomed out in depression, plus other affects. I had to have all my meds rearranged. It was quite the experience I care not to repeat. I went back on Effexor. Don’t let that stand in the way of your recovery. I would rather be on Effexor than any other AD. Why? Because it works. dd

Response:

The Celexa is slight sedating for me and personally I liked it until the Rx ran out and my doc changed it to Effexor. He also mentioned uping the Celexa to 40-60mg, that 20 was just too low. I’m also gewtting headaches from effexor. I’l give it a try for another month and then asked for the combo, but this time at 40mg Celexa. I was only on 150 of Wellbutrin (sometimes twice a day) Dennis Dennis D

Response:

Whats wrong with the SSRIs?The SSRIs are great, few hassles and easy to use. Who told you Effexor is very addictive? Thats total bullshit.

I don’t want to sound like Andrew, but I believe that SSRIs turn people into zombified Prozakians who go on shooting sprees.  After monitoring this newsgroup for many months I notice that people complain the most about SSRIs.  And several people have complained that Effexor is addictive. If I were to even contemplate an SSRI, what would be the best choice.  I already have made up my mind against Prozac and Paxil.  Luvox was what Eric Harris of Columbine had been taking and Zoloft is what Phil Hartman’s wife was taking when she shot him.  You can call these isolated instances but I have yet to see Wellbutrin implicated in any murder sprees. Diablo

Response:

Whats your dx Diable?

I originally went to the doctor because of an extended manic episode I had been having.  While manic episodes can occur by themselves, it is very rare to not have them accompanied by depression.  In retrospect I can recall extended periods where I seemed extremely depressed.  If I am bipolar, then the cycles are very long. I’m not even sure if I am depressed right now.  I wanted to try an a.d. to see if it would lift my mood.  And if I am bipolar, then eventually I will go into the depressive phase and will need an anti-depressant anyway. My doctor originally put me on Risperdal and clonazepam for the mania and they worked very well.  After a few months I asked for Wellbutrin.  I have felt no difference.  Perhaps Wellbutrin isn’t right for me.  I want to give another anti-depressant a try before giving up.  Effexor usually gets good reviews here but I am worried about its addictiveness. I did try Prozac once.  My mother stopped taking it and I snacked on her leftover pills for a few weeks.  I didn’t like the way it made me feel. The first time I took it it induced an LSD flashback.  Later I tried taking 4-5 pills at once and it made me feel very weird. Diablo

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Despite my desperate post of today, I still believe Effexor is a great med. Twice in my life I tapered and stopped Paxil under a doctor’s care, and several months later each time, came the closest to being hospitalized after getting so depressed. When I had to go off the Effexor, I was depressed because it was working so well,and I knew what I was in for with the SSRIs. For what it’s worth, I had no problems stopping Effexor. I suffer from panic disorder and depression, and found Wellbutrin alone intolerable- I wanted to smash things,and it gave me panic attacks. Wellbutrin with Paxil seemed to alleviate some of the more disturbing side effects of the Paxil- my doctor said it was because chemically, that combination is most like Effexor. Good luck with whatever you decide!

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In the future, I hope you specify WHY you have attitudes like you do about SSRIs. Someone with unipolar major depression or anxiety problems might read your posts and get terrified of taking SSRIs and stop them, while they very well may need them badly. SSRIs dont have the problems you mentioned in the unipolar depression and anxiety disorder populations, if anything its the exact opposite of what you earlier described.

Part of my attitude toward SSRIs comes from media reports.  Before I had even checked out these groups I would see constant media reports about some violent incident in which the perpetrator had been taking an SSRI.  I realize the majority of people taking them do not react this way (yet) but the long-term effects of them are still unknown.  I already mentioned Phil Hartmann’s wife (Zoloft), Eric Harris (Luvox), and that school shooter in El Cajon had also been taking some sort of anti-depressant.  Most disturbing is the fact that the media has done virtually no reporting on this connection.  Since we can assume the media is in the pocket of the powerful pharmaceutical industry, this lack of reporting is very suspicious. Diablo

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Diablo lamictal might be a good thing for you to try if you are bipolar yet in the depressive phase. Lamictal is developing an excellent reputation as mood stabilizer, yet has antidepressant qualities to it.

Thanks, I’ll ask my doctor about it.  Is it addictive and what kind of side- effects can I expect. Diablo

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You are first person i know of who found no effect on Wellbutrin though.  Lots of undeprssed people use it to quit smoking and they report lots of effects too.

Maybe I’m not really depressed.  But I really do not feel anything from it. No "energizing" effects.  The only thing it does is make my urine smell really bad.  I have been depressed in the past and a diagnosis of mania without depression would be really unusual.  Oh well, I’ll give Effexor a try and if that doesn’t work I’ll just give up for awhile. Diablo

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if i were you id be asking bout mood stablizers,,, lot of lay people see my up swings in mood as manicy, and when mood stablizers arent suggested, it is effexor comes up a lot as suggested for me, whether my up swings seen as manicy or PTSD.

My doctor didn’t think a mood stabilizer was necessary.  I do not seem to suffer from rapid mood swings.  The Risperdal did the trick for the mania and now I want a happy pill.  I knew someone on Lithium and he was very slooooow.  Depakote has too many side-effects, including hair loss which I really don’t want. Have you ever seen the Kids in the Hall movie, "Brain Candy"? Diablo

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Have you ever seen the Kids in the Hall movie, "Brain Candy"?

Not yet, but I’m a big "Kid’s in the hall" fan.

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Have you ever seen the Kids in the Hall movie, "Brain Candy"? Not yet, but I’m a big "Kid’s in the hall" fan.

The movie is about a pharmaceutical company under heavy pressure to develop a new drug, so they release an anti-depressant before it has been properly tested.  The drug locks on to a person’s happiest memory but its side effect is that after several weeks the person turns into a zombie with a big grin. The moral of the story is that people aren’t supposed to be happy all the time. Diablo

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exactly what effexor does..  cause a grin on myy face that i cant stop and is VERY painful after an hour or so. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have you ever seen the Kids in the Hall movie, "Brain Candy"? Not yet, but I’m a big "Kid’s in the hall" fan. The movie is about a pharmaceutical company under heavy pressure to develop a new drug, so they release an anti-depressant before it has been properly tested.  The drug locks on to a person’s happiest memory but its side effect is that after several weeks the person turns into a zombie with a big grin. The moral of the story is that people aren’t supposed to be happy all the time. Diablo I saw an episode of one of the Trauma shows one night and some guy was in the ER after taking was he said was "street valium" and he had this big ol’ grin on his face and he couldn’t stop grinning.  In the ER he was telling the Doctors to "make it stop!" and the Dr’s were trying so hard not to laugh at this guy, but it was pretty funny.  Eventually after an hour or so I think the drug wore of and the guy was able to stop smiling and he left there none too happy.  But the ER staff was roaring with laughter.  I don’t know what the real drug was that he took, but nothin’ would wipe the smile off that guy’s face and his voice sounded like he was in pain.  Amazing reactions people have to drugs sometimes.

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Question:

I’ve noticed, and maybe it is bogus until next years allergy season comes around, but since I switched to water and not much else in May, I’ve had virtually no problem with allergies, not even when I flew to Houston in July. My breathing is WAY better than it used to be. Now, I don’t always have a lot of allergies in summer, but slightly stuffed up is not unusual for me. But I’ve not been all summer, except for one head cold. So I can see that yes, it might help asthmatics. Anyway, if anyone is an allergy sufferer, it may be worth a try. I should know more next spring… Cynthia G – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For info, read http://dietchef.ecorp.net/articles/health/water.htm <snip I also just read that adequate hydration during exercise makes you able to breath much more efficiently.  In fact,  asthmatics who drank water while exercising cut way back on rescue inhaler use. If you are trying to lose weight, you should drink 64 ounces and then 8 ounces for each 25 pounds over weight you are. Once I actually made myself drink it, I find I crave it now. — claudia 565/355/157 To email me remove the potatoes Tipletter Writer for Dieting CyberTip4theDay Subscribe today:  http://www.CyberTip4theDay.com For hundreds of free low-fat recipes and info visit Claudia’s Corner http://dietchef.ecorp.net Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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Many in this newsgroup are more knowledgeable as to why we need to drink more… and I’ve often heard it said you should drink 64oz minimum PLUS an extra 8oz for every 25lbs you wish to lose.  Someone else suggested that you half your weight and drink that many oz’s daily…. Drink up.. You’ll be glad you did.

here is the link: http://www.classicx.com/html/2super.html   THE WATER QUESTION i not more knowledgeable than others, just great at grabbing links! rosie

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I go through 2-2 litre pitchers a day.  I think most people here drink more than that, but I remember a time when I thought drinking a 32 oz tumbler of water was a huge acomplishment! I found, the colder the water, the better. Lisa B. 243/223/160 "There is more to life than increasing its speed" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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For info, read http://dietchef.ecorp.net/articles/health/water.htm An average sized person who is a total couch potato and not trying to lose weight should drink a minimum of 64 ounces a day.  If you are more active and/or trying to lose weight you need to drink a lot more.  When you don’t drink a lot of water, you lose weight much more slowly.  Weight loss occurs as your liver breaks down fat deposits and flushes them out of your body. But when you don’t drink enough water, your kidneys can not do their job and there fore your liver stops or slows metabolizing fat and helps the kidneys do their job.  No matter what, your body will always by default make sure that you remain a live as long as possible.  What your kidneys do is essential to survival, so by default the liver will take over some of it’s work. I also just read that adequate hydration during exercise makes you able to breath much more efficiently.  In fact,  asthmatics who drank water while exercising cut way back on rescue inhaler use. If you are trying to lose weight, you should drink 64 ounces and then 8 ounces for each 25 pounds over weight you are. Once I actually made myself drink it, I find I crave it now. — claudia 565/355/157 To email me remove the potatoes Tipletter Writer for Dieting CyberTip4theDay Subscribe today:  http://www.CyberTip4theDay.com For hundreds of free low-fat recipes and info visit Claudia’s Corner http://dietchef.ecorp.net

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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I like drinking water.  I also have a weakness for soda.  I drink about 6-8+ glasses of water today.  I tell ya.  I have known 4 people who have had kidney troubles this year.  I’m not certain what caused it in each of the women, but I know I’m gonna drink my water! Denise http://www.chistell.com

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I drink 100 oz./day…this is fairly new for me (only a week) but it is getting easier. Good Luck, Renee

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Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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brenda, although i follow the recomendation you mentioned below, my water intake is roughly 1/2 of my weight, ounce wise…..just a strange coinkydink with me Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Allen… I was one of those who rarely ever drank water, but I decided it was one of the things I was going to give an honest try this time around.  I started out with what’s considered minimum water intake for everyone..8 x 8oz glasses per day or 64ozs.  Within days, I had doubled it to 128ozs and it’s been the easiest change I could have ever made in my WOE.  It helps to curb my hunger; it makes my entire body function better…and I feel much better.  I now consider it one of the most important elements of my WOL. Many in this newsgroup are more knowledgeable as to why we need to drink more… and I’ve often heard it said you should drink 64oz minimum PLUS an extra 8oz for every 25lbs you wish to lose.  Someone else suggested that you half your weight and drink that many oz’s daily…. Drink up.. You’ll be glad you did. Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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Hi Allen… I was one of those who rarely ever drank water, but I decided it was one of the things I was going to give an honest try this time around.  I started out with what’s considered minimum water intake for everyone..8 x 8oz glasses per day or 64ozs.  Within days, I had doubled it to 128ozs and it’s been the easiest change I could have ever made in my WOE.  It helps to curb my hunger; it makes my entire body function better…and I feel much better.  I now consider it one of the most important elements of my WOL. Many in this newsgroup are more knowledgeable as to why we need to drink more… and I’ve often heard it said you should drink 64oz minimum PLUS an extra 8oz for every 25lbs you wish to lose.  Someone else suggested that you half your weight and drink that many oz’s daily…. Drink up.. You’ll be glad you did.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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I like a good night’s sleep, so I usually don’t drink much water after about 9 PM unless I go for a walk later than that.  I go to bed pretty late (midnightish) so that’s usually plenty of time so that I avoid having to pee all night. Katie 183/168/163 Y4K:  568  /4000 — To reply by e-mail, take out all the x’s.

I drink a ton of water everyday on everyone’s advice.  But I try not to drink too much too late after one night a few nights ago waking up 3 times having to pee something terrible!  LOL! Desert Wind 296/291/125 Please visit my website

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i know about those late nite potty visits. my biggest problem is getting my eyes to open up enough so i don’t trip over the dogs!! lol-janzbug

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Hi Desert Wind, The nights when I have to get up and pee during the night is one I cherish. That usually is followed by a woosh the next morning Michael I drink a ton of water everyday on everyone’s advice.  But I try not to drink too much too late after one night a few nights ago waking up 3 times having to pee something terrible!  LOL! Desert Wind 296/291/125                      Please visit my website

– 214/197.5/190 Lowfat/Lowcal since Aug 26

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I drink a ton of water everyday on everyone’s advice.  But I try not to drink too much too late after one night a few nights ago waking up 3 times having to pee something terrible!  LOL! Desert Wind 296/291/125

Please visitmy website

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Water!!!! I drink it when I read ASD, every time I see the word "water, drink, drank, or drunk."  (It’s the ASD Drinking Game. Other than that, I drink *at least* 64 oz. per day, plus extra glasses in little "water rituals" such as the ASD Drinking Game, whenever I’m waiting for food to cook in the microwave, or whenever I’m in class or studying. Claudia’s right about asthma too – I’ve had fewer problems breathing since I’ve been fully hydrated (which in turn cuts down on my essential tremor because I’m not taking my inhaler as much). Basically, water is just *the* thing.   Ambrosia.  The Elixer of Life. Live well, — soma 180/17?/135 Y2K 60/2000

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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…..and a catheter! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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Yep, I do think there is a relationship. I’ve been bad about drinking for two days now and I’ve noticed I am stuffier. Gotta go fill that water glass! Cynthia – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cynthia, I noticed the same thing.  All the more reason to drink that water. I’ve noticed, and maybe it is bogus until next years allergy season comes around, but since I switched to water and not much else in May, I’ve had virtually no problem with allergies, not even when I flew to Houston in July. My breathing is WAY better than it used to be.

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Cynthia, I noticed the same thing.  All the more reason to drink that water.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve noticed, and maybe it is bogus until next years allergy season comes around, but since I switched to water and not much else in May, I’ve had virtually no problem with allergies, not even when I flew to Houston in July. My breathing is WAY better than it used to be. Now, I don’t always have a lot of allergies in summer, but slightly stuffed up is not unusual for me. But I’ve not been all summer, except for one head cold. So I can see that yes, it might help asthmatics. Anyway, if anyone is an allergy sufferer, it may be worth a try. I should know more next spring… Cynthia G For info, read http://dietchef.ecorp.net/articles/health/water.htm <snip I also just read that adequate hydration during exercise makes you able to breath much more efficiently.  In fact,  asthmatics who drank water while exercising cut way back on rescue inhaler use. If you are trying to lose weight, you should drink 64 ounces and then 8 ounces for each 25 pounds over weight you are. Once I actually made myself drink it, I find I crave it now. — claudia 565/355/157 To email me remove the potatoes Tipletter Writer for Dieting CyberTip4theDay Subscribe today:  http://www.CyberTip4theDay.com For hundreds of free low-fat recipes and info visit Claudia’s Corner http://dietchef.ecorp.net Hi: How much water do you all drink?  I have been trying to do about 50-60 oz. Is that enough? Perhaps we can setup intravenous water HAHAHAHHA thanks allen

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Question:

I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

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Hi Erin, I have anxiety and panic attacks and depression. I just started about a month ago on Effexor XR. So far it has been working well without any bad side effects for anxiety. In fact very few side effects at all. I’m also on a low dose of Xanax. I’ve never taken Wellbutrin so I can’t help you there. Your feelings of being run down and achy could be coming from the fact that you’re depressed. Finding the right doctor and the right meds can be tough. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Don’t give up! Best wishes, LInda

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

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Hi – I’m like you Erin- also had horrible time coming off Paxil – so I’d hate to repeat that. I took Wellbutrin about a year ago. Started out w/ one 150mg each morning. (about a week) Then doc wanted me to take 1 in a.m. and 1p.m. Had to stop this as it made me very jittery and could not sleep at nite. Did fine on just the one 150mg each a.m. Then I went to one every other day- Didn’t really help me w/ anxiety. Then went to Serzone- Serzone helped me somewhat but I had to stop as it gave me heart palps and an unexplainable rash ! (heart palps- I guess it didnt help w/ anxiety after all). Now I am trying Celexa- very drowsy right now in the first wks – so if you feel run down, you may not want to try. Have you been checked for thryoid problems ? I was just diagnosed w/ hypothyroid and symptoms are no energy, depression, inability to tolerate cold (to name a few). simple test in doc’s office- and treatment relatively easy- med (that is very inexpensive). good luck, kim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Erin, I have anxiety and panic attacks and depression. I just started about a month ago on Effexor XR. So far it has been working well without any bad side effects for anxiety. In fact very few side effects at all. I’m also on a low dose of Xanax. I’ve never taken Wellbutrin so I can’t help you there. Your feelings of being run down and achy could be coming from the fact that you’re depressed. Finding the right doctor and the right meds can be tough. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Don’t give up! Best wishes, LInda I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

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