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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 Phyl on December 18, 2002, at 17:07:32
Can you explain difference between angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry, and how does one know when they need medication for it. I'm really not sure I should be on Lexapro at all. I do worry from time to time, and I am an insomniac. I think my sleep mechanism is broken, but I feel that the rest of me is pretty ok. Do you think there might be people who are prescribed Lexapro but might not really need it?
It's strange, but it does seem to help me fall asleep faster and that's about the only effect I have from it.
Posted by lrw on December 18, 2002, at 20:40:22
In reply to Definition of angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry, posted by Phyl on December 18, 2002, at 17:07:32
If your worry/anxiety doesn't affect your every day living, then I would say that you don't need meds for it.
Posted by FredPotter on December 18, 2002, at 21:17:18
In reply to Re: Definition of angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry, posted by lrw on December 18, 2002, at 20:40:22
I sought medical help 35 years ago for a nocturnal anxiety attack that redefined everything I thought I'd ever known about life. It was out of control, hellish and what's more I didn't know what I was afraid of. Nearly four decades later and I still don't know what hit me and continues to hit me, except it is something to do with insecurity. I was about to leave home then, and I still have this when I go away. That sounds so glib though. But I still have no control over it. Xanax is not really effective but I had no doubt that I had to have some form of medication
Posted by Ritch on December 18, 2002, at 22:40:57
In reply to Definition of angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry, posted by Phyl on December 18, 2002, at 17:07:32
> Can you explain difference between angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry, and how does one know when they need medication for it. I'm really not sure I should be on Lexapro at all. I do worry from time to time, and I am an insomniac. I think my sleep mechanism is broken, but I feel that the rest of me is pretty ok. Do you think there might be people who are prescribed Lexapro but might not really need it?
> It's strange, but it does seem to help me fall asleep faster and that's about the only effect I have from it.
There are a lot of anxiety "flavors", but mainly there are 1) panic, 2) excessive worry, 3) obsessiveness, 4)phobias. I found Celexa (the closest cousin to Lexapro), to work the best on the obsessive and phobic aspects. If you are a chronic "worrier", you might do better with Effexor or a combo of Effexor+Buspar, or a tricyclic like nortriptyline, or a benzo like Librium or Tranxene.
Posted by johnj on December 19, 2002, at 21:40:24
In reply to Re: Definition of angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry » Phyl, posted by Ritch on December 18, 2002, at 22:40:57
HI
Can I ask why you suggested nortryptline and tranzene? I take both, but recently the nort has been doing strange things to my body and I feel better if I raise the tranzene, but am scared to raise the dose. Thanks
johnj
Posted by Ritch on December 20, 2002, at 8:31:32
In reply to Re: Definition of angst/anxiety/acute anxiety/worry » Ritch, posted by johnj on December 19, 2002, at 21:40:24
> HI
> Can I ask why you suggested nortryptline and tranzene? I take both, but recently the nort has been doing strange things to my body and I feel better if I raise the tranzene, but am scared to raise the dose. Thanks
> johnjJohn, I mentioned the tranzene and librium because they aren't as sedative as valium and have long half-lives. I was on librium for many years and it worked rather well for GAD symptoms. The nortriptyline relates back to some personal experience with it at low doses (10-30mg/day). I have used it in two different contexts-one was with Zoloft to offset the diarrhea from Zoloft and for ADHD, and the other context was to offset some of the generalized anxiety associated with Wellbutrin. Also, I have previously heard it (nt) mentioned as a good alternative to SSRI-intolerant folks for GAD symptoms (usually with a benzo). I am really curious if Strattera will have any kind of anxiolytic profile similar to NT without the "body" side effects. I have to be careful with tricyclics mainly because of an old hiatal hernia that will act up when I take them.
This is the end of the thread.
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