Posted by Alan on February 21, 2002, at 14:07:54
In reply to what meds work best for Anxiety?, posted by Terese on February 21, 2002, at 8:14:08
> I've been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. aside from occasional panic attacks, I feel extremely nervous and uncomfortable most of the day. I had this 3 years ago and was treated for about 8 months and then was "normal". now it came back! Three years ago, I was on Paxil which worked well but I put on weight, zoloft but had sexual issues, and serzone which I wasn't on long because I started to feel better. so after about 8 months, discontinued meds and life was good.
>
> A few weeks ago, the anxiety and panic attacks came back. This time around, my doctor first suggested Serzone but I am worried about the liver warnings. So, he put me on Effexor XR one week ago. I know these take some time to work but I'm worried about some of the things I'm reading on the forums. Such as weight gain and withdrawal. I've read some positive things about WEllbutrin.
>
> For Anxiety, what has been your best experience? The 2 items I cannot tolerate are weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
>
> thanks,
> Terese
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Try reading this webpage:http://bearpaw8.tripod.com/pd.html
The BZD's alone are what sounds like you need to try. Scroll down to the med treatments if the whole page is too long (it's great, crystal clear reading though - well worth reading it all if you want to understand what you're dealing with!).
Some people (like me) do not need an AD at all and there is no reason to not consider BZD monotherapy long term (or short) if you have no history of drug abuse...the section on BZD's is very clear about this and gives good reasons why this is so.
My pdoc - a specialist in treating anxiety disorders was so impressed with this link that I forwarded to them that they forwarded it to their entire staff to read as a primer and as something to give to patients that were interested.
More and more patients and doctors are not buying the necessity of polypharmacy in the area of anxiety disorders when BZD's work and have worked so well for so long for so many.
If your doc doesn't listen to what you are telling them, then seek a second opinion from a pdoc that specialises in the anxiety disorders that know this med and how to diagnose, prescribe, and manage them properly.
I went through 10 years of going from doc to doc (4) until I found someone that listened to what I felt best on. I've been on BZD momotherapy for several years now and regret never having given them a try on equal footing with the AD's...I was never given the chance because the rage being the new ssri's were going to be the wonder drug.....no withdrawl. Poppycock! Every med psychotropic or not has a tapering process, not just BZD's.
Remember, YOU are the boss, your doc is your employee. Don't feel better and are not provided options? Go elsewhere. Second opinions and third opinions are given and sought out every day in medicine as you know.
Best,
Alan
poster:Alan
thread:94903
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020215/msgs/94959.html