Posted by aphex on October 23, 2003, at 10:42:03
I'm a 24 y/o male. On the week of September 15th, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I also have compulsive habits, including substance abuse. I've always been extra anxious, and felt physical symptoms of panic almost everytime I went to work or school, or into a social situation. Just about 3 years ago I started drinking sometimes when I got home to cope with the stress I couldn't cope with when I was going to work/school etc.
I had been seeing just a psychologist for half a year, and was against medication because I had tried Effexor and didn't like it. When I saw my psychiatrist, he suggested I research 4 medications, and see which one sounds best. Gabitril sounded best to me, since I read some about it being a "benzodiazepine alternative", and my psychiatrist is very against prescribing benzos. In January I had a PNR prescription for alprazolam, and that made me feel and function like I hadn't in years, so I figured since I coudn't try therapy with a benzo, the Gabitril is the best choice.
I've been on it for a month, and I started to feel beneficial effects(with some side effects) after 2 weeks when I had just started the full dose. Then a week later, I felt no effects at all, except for minor side effects. The anxiety came back even worse than I had ever experienced it, since I was no longer using alcohol and other compulsive habits to deal with stress, and the medication stopped working.
My question is whether or not the Gabitril is a good choice, and if it is common for it to work, then stop work, then work again once I have been on a constant stream of it long enough. Also, how common is it for doctors to be very against benzos? Should I just ask the doctor about Paxil?
poster:aphex
thread:272269
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031021/msgs/272269.html