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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
Hello everyone:
Well, after 7 months off of an AD I will have to be going back on something. My pure "O" OCD is better but the anxiety is killing me. After 7 months of 5 or so hours of light sleep I am going downhill. I am a walking zombie at work and am coming to terms that I need something.
Tranzene made me depressed and lunesta gave me weird anxiety. The truth is I am very, very scared. I am so afraid of an ssri making me suicidal or homicidal I have resisted taking them (thanks OCD!) Remeron made the OCD worse. So, I struggle every day and this is not an enjoyable life at all. Just existing and going through the motions.
I am terrified of starting and ssri and having the anxiety get worse. I have no idea if the start up anxiety will go away but I desparately need sleep. Thanks for listening I don't know what to do but the current situation is intolerable.....god give me some peace please.
johnnyj
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2007, at 21:17:41
In reply to OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
Have you tried luvox? An SSRI but the most sedating only one I can take. Can you add a benzo for a while? To get some sleep. Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry1 on January 11, 2007, at 4:37:30
In reply to OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
Yeah, I hear ya. I'm in the same boat as you. I know I need something, but I'm terrified of them all for the same reasons you are. Each day is very hard. Something has to be done.
It sounds too simple, but have you tried benadryl for sleep? I find it as effective as the sleep meds but it is friendlier to me. No rebound daytime anxiety from it. The sleep meds like lunesta and ambien just caused all kinds of daytime problems for me.
Not sure what your experience with the benzos is. Xanax or diazepam could calm things fast.
I guess you aren't sure where to go from here. As far as myself, I'm not sure where to go from here either. I just wanted you to know you aren't alone.
Posted by cgd092 on January 11, 2007, at 10:36:09
In reply to OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
Yeah, get that anxiety under control and then you will be able to think clearer. Anxiety is so good at making one's thinking all hosed. I know plenty of people that take plain old benzodiazepines and have for a long time, and they are helped. If you go on an SSRI, start slow and go low. Otherwise they can seem to activating and hence seem to cause anxiety, although after you're on them for awhile, they really can help with anxiety. I like Celexa. I tried going off it after two years on it (because I was feeling good; how classic) and it let me see exactly how it was helping me with anxiety because anxiety came back. I see *no* problem with using doctor prescribed pharmaceuticals to help one through life. My counselor agrees and says "medicines are you friend."
-Katy
Posted by Crazy Horse on January 11, 2007, at 11:18:52
In reply to OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
My first thought is you need a benzodiazapine such as Ativan or Zanax to get your anxity under control, which could actually help your OCD a lot as well. Anxiety adds fuel to the flames of OCD. Have you every tried a Tricyclic antidepressant? Sometimes they work better than the ssri's, and one in particular (Anafrinil) is approved for OCD. Get into your Pdoc asap and let him know you need help NOW. I hope you are feeling better very soon.
-Monte
Posted by nolegirl23 on January 14, 2007, at 22:20:31
In reply to OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by johnnyj on January 10, 2007, at 20:18:41
> Hello everyone:
>
> Well, after 7 months off of an AD I will have to be going back on something. My pure "O" OCD is better but the anxiety is killing me. After 7 months of 5 or so hours of light sleep I am going downhill. I am a walking zombie at work and am coming to terms that I need something.
>
> Tranzene made me depressed and lunesta gave me weird anxiety. The truth is I am very, very scared. I am so afraid of an ssri making me suicidal or homicidal I have resisted taking them (thanks OCD!) Remeron made the OCD worse. So, I struggle every day and this is not an enjoyable life at all. Just existing and going through the motions.
>
> I am terrified of starting and ssri and having the anxiety get worse. I have no idea if the start up anxiety will go away but I desparately need sleep. Thanks for listening I don't know what to do but the current situation is intolerable.....god give me some peace please.
>
> johnnyjI take Lexapro (40 mg's) and I find that it helps a great deal with my OCD and anxiety.
Posted by johnnyj on January 16, 2007, at 17:52:57
In reply to Re: OCD/Anxiety meds, posted by nolegirl23 on January 14, 2007, at 22:20:31
Thank you, I just noticed your response. Did you have start up anxiety? Any other side effects when you started? Have you ever tried luvox? Thank you.
johnnyj
Posted by nolegirl23 on January 21, 2007, at 13:04:13
In reply to Re: OCD/Anxiety meds » nolegirl23, posted by johnnyj on January 16, 2007, at 17:52:57
> Thank you, I just noticed your response. Did you have start up anxiety? Any other side effects when you started? Have you ever tried luvox? Thank you.
>
> johnnyjIn addition to 40 mg's of Lexapro, I also take 4 mg's a day of xanax XR.
I was on luvox while I was inpatient at a treatment facility (anorexia/bulimia) and I HATED luvox.
I couldn't sleep, I feel hot and flushed all of the time, and the depression was awful.
When I was released from the tx facility, my pdoc put me on the 40 mgs of Lexapro.
No start up anxiety, as a matter of fact, lexapro made me feel more calm almost immediately. I love it.
Lexapro + xanax + lamictal seems to be a good combo for my Eating disorder, OCD and BPII.
hope this helps!Nolegirl323
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