![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by johnj on May 4, 2002, at 19:39:06
I was first treated after a panic attack sent me into a deep depresssion. About 2 years ago I dropped my benzo(tranzene in half to 7.5 mg), but I have started to have sleep disturbance and anxiety. I haven't had a full blown panic attack since that first one, just anxiety. I keep hearing benzo's can cause depression so I wonder what the hell do I use with an AD? Does monotherapy with just a benzo work? There is a lot of confusing info out there so what has worked for you all?? The anxiety definately impairs my sleep. I am on nortryptline and recently started adding imipramine. I couldn't take remeron---too sponged headed on that one. What is your experience? Thanks
Johnj
Posted by Rathrbfishn on May 4, 2002, at 21:46:43
In reply to Depression/Anxiety..what works?-confused and dazed, posted by johnj on May 4, 2002, at 19:39:06
From your post it sounds like to me you need to get an appropriate diagnosis. If you have depression secondary to anxiety then you need to treat the anxiety. I know most docs like to add AD's when a patient presents with anxiety. But if you had anxiety first you should treat that and see if the depression doesn't remit. My experience with AD's has been that they ALL enhance my anxiety. I prefer tranxene, but my pdoc say's the best med for anxiety is xanax. And xanax has been proven to have some AD affects. I have pd and am on monotherapy with xanax. It works well for me. I have no depression, though my pdoc wanted me to try all the AD's at first, and I tried most. I have insomnia as well, not anxiety based, but usually just put up with it. Occasionally I take a small dose of doxepine, a sedating TCA. I try not to take it unless I just have to get good sleep, because I pay for it the next day with increased anxiety. 7.5mgs of tranxene is not much if you have an anxiety disorder. When I visit my pdoc he always asks how the anxiety is. Sometimes it's fine and others not so good. His response is that if I'm having anxiety, take more xanax. When the anxiety calms down, I taper slowly back down to my maintenance dose. Slow tapering of any psycotropic drug is the key to avoiding withdrawal problems. Good luck with your decision.
Posted by rainbowlight on May 4, 2002, at 22:47:37
In reply to Depression/Anxiety..what works?-confused and dazed, posted by johnj on May 4, 2002, at 19:39:06
I have chronic anxiety too. First I took Remeron and Lamictal, both treated the bipolar and depression. But I still had the really bad anxiety. I tried most of the benzos, none of them made me feel great and they both seemed to temporarily bring the depression back, which I didn't need. I then tried both Luvox and Paxil, too sedating for my taste, and depressing too. Now my pdoc has me on Zoloft, and from day one it REALLY got rid of the anxiety and cut my OCD way down. It has been a miracle drug for me. I would try some of the SSRI's that are prescribed for anxiety, such as Paxil, Luvoz, Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft. I didn't realize just how bad my anxiety was until I got rid of it. It has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Keep trying, you will find a med combo that works for you, don't give up, because when you finally are rid of the anxiety it will make all the med trials worth it. Good luck to you.
Posted by polarbear206 on May 5, 2002, at 11:46:17
In reply to Re: Depression/Anxiety..what works?-confused and dazed, posted by rainbowlight on May 4, 2002, at 22:47:37
Posted by omega man on May 5, 2002, at 14:05:58
In reply to Anxiety is an underlying symptom of DEPRESSION (nm), posted by polarbear206 on May 5, 2002, at 11:46:17
thats one aspect but there are many...genetically prone to excitement...amagdyla problems...IBS...startle response..dislike of environment frustration etc etc etc..
Posted by Cecilia on May 7, 2002, at 0:57:41
In reply to Anxiety is an underlying symptom of DEPRESSION (nm), posted by polarbear206 on May 5, 2002, at 11:46:17
Everybody is different, but I think for many people severe anxiety/chronic stress cause depression. For me, when I have something I`m particularly anxious about it worsens my depression. Cecilia
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.