I suffer from OCD and depression. Will going on birth control make this worse or better? You see, my life has been a living hell: I graduated college last May in graphic design and have a job that’s only seasonal, I only work from April till November at Six Flags as an assistant manager doing airbrush art, so I’ve been stuck looking for a better paying job, full time in graphic design for the past three months when my current jobs closed for the winter. I’ve gotten to the interview stage in some instances, however, no luck. I even followed up and did just fine in the interviews, so that must make me a bad person for some odd reason since I didn’t get the jobs. I’m also starting my own biz with my friend. I still live at home with parents who help me out–but that makes me feel like a total loser since I still need help. I’ve been saving moneys like crazy. My college degree is a piece of sh*t, so I burnt it since I haven’t gotten my dream job yet.
So because of me being temporarily out of commission, my anxiety attacks have gotten worse–this is seriously having a negative impact on me and my boyfriend. My boyfriend complains to me cause I can’t slow down in life and have fun. Since I’m dating and we want to have sex in the near future, I’m going on the birth control pill. I’m on Lexapro antidepressant now and the people at planned parenthood said there shouldn’t be any interaction while taking the pill, but I’m still nervous that it won’t fully protect me against pregnancy cause I read in the pamphlet how it can lose effectiveness if taken with certain meds that are used to treat mental illness. I’m starting the pill this Sunday, so will it make my anxiety I’ve been having about my life worse, or will it actually help? I wonder if I’ll get mood swings? I’m sick of my boyfriend complaining to me about being a total nutcase, so I’m hoping that being on the birth control pill will actually benefit and reduce my anxiety symptoms?

I have put on quite a bit of weight in the last year and am constantantly working out, eating right with no results. I’m guessing that it’s because I am on Lexapro to treat my anxiety attacks. I’m wondering if there is any diet pills out there, safe one’s only of course, that don’t give you that nervous energy feeling that would possibly create a panic feeling for me. Anyone know?

On going for about a yr. & getting worse. Not getting straight answers. What is the difference from anxiety attack & hypoglycemic attack? today got home from work, felt cold, off balance, nervouse, nauseaded, felt like almost gonna pass out, I get this all the time. Last wk end rushed to hoptial sugar was 50, got glucose iv. I’ve know to have hypoglycemic but my dr. keeps treating me for anxiety. Not on any pills except for xanax which I only take if these episodes happen. 2nite it last 4 hrs. sick to my stomach, off balance, sick stomach. I ate chicken, noodles & baked beans, put some sugar in some apple juice, but also took 0.25 xanax. Which could it be? driving me crazy can’t go on like this, ate every 3 hrs. today at work. Someone please help me! Use to be on zoloft, lexapro, wellbutrin throughout 3 years & didnt’ like them & gained weight……..who can I go see? Saw family dr. yesterday & just gave me strattera for add, (i am 42 yrs. old) to concentrate.

I recently had a "breakdown". I had a lot of negative stuff hit me all at once. My husband took me to the e.r. and they monitored me for about 9 hours and released me advising me to seek mental health. I contacted my local mental health board the following work day and spent a few days in a wellness center (not a mental health hospital). I was medicated with Lexapro but it is costly. I don’t have an appt with mental health again for some time and even then it will just be an intake interview. My delimma for the time is are there any effective "home remedies" for panic attacks. I suffer from tightness in my chest, heart beating fast and nervousness. I had a panic attack yesterday an took a 0.5 xanax but I would prefer not to take something like that. I recently lost my job (another major stressor) and don’t have the money to see my family physician at this time. I just need a few pointer to help with the panic attacks until I can see someone at mental health to hep with medication…

I have been on Lexapro for about a year and a half, and I have gone from 10 mg to 20 mg, for various reasons including not sleeping, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, and so far I have had no problems, and my doctor is really good about upping my dose if needed. I have had no problems at all, and overall I have been very satisfied with the difference it has made in my life, but now that I have moved to a new city for school, I am living by myself, and I have noticed a few monsters creeping their ugly heads out again. I have been having massive panic attacks without warning or being caused by anything, being really "low" and depressed for no reason, having more thoughts about hurting myself and acting on those thoughts (after about a year of being SIV free). I have also had a few issues concentrating, staying focused and finishing things. I want a few ideas of different drugs I could suggest to my doctor, and I’d like to know what the medicines do and how they effect you (pros and cons, please).

I tryed St john’s wort, but stop taking it cuzI was going to try lexapro. So i did not see if it worked, cuz i know it takes 6 weeks to notice anything!!! I take a B-complex, and i know that helps with stress. Lexapro, is making my sinus worst, so i’m stopping it!! But, anyone who knows of anything, holla!!! Thanks

I’ve had panic attacks for 10+ yrs. Have been off Lexapro for about 3-4 weeks. Now getting bad headaches. Feel a lot better since I’ve been off the meds. I feel one coming on once in a while, and natural remedies that work? I stay away from caffeine, work out and try to eat decent. I don’t want to go back on medicine. I felt too out of it when I did. I was only on 10mg then down to 5mg before I quit. Any suggestions?

I have been having panic attacks for over a year now. Although I have not had a panic attack for a while because I have been on medication specifically lexapro. I have been dealing with anxety problems off and on as well. The medication has helped a lot but I really don’t like how it affects some things in my life, like my sex drive. I wanted to see if anyone knew of an alternative way to help me so I can discontinue the meds.

Every time someone hears about my attacks, I get useless and banal "advice" on overcoming them. People with no real psychological education other than reading self help books and watching Dr. Phil. My favorite is "suck it up" and "be a man." So anyone out there with panic disorder get this often or notice this? Does it bug you? How do you cope? It’s bad enough to have an illness that has you by the throat, but to endure constant ignorance is just salt in the wound.
10 years with panic disorder (agoraphobia on and off) Have been on Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, etc.

Tested for bi-polar and manic depression..hade neither, but was given Depikote "just in case" and it reacted badly.

8 years for constant therapy, psychotherapy, CBT, meditation and relaxation techniques, feedback related techniques and very little progress with most. CBT is still current and on going.

Does anyone know what the most amount of time a person can stay on disability while being treated for anxiety and panic attacks is? I was out on disability for a gallbladder surgery I had. I developed anxiety and panic as a result. My doctor has started me on Lexapro for 6 months. I was suppose to return to work next week, but he extended it for 2 weeks. If I am not ready to return to work how long can I keep asking for an extension?

Please tell me how long you were are out and receiving disability before you returned to work.

Thank you for your answers in advance!!!!
6/13 Saw my Dr. today. Seems he subscribes to the theory that my new release day is 2 weeks in the future, then I have to return to him for him to determine if I can have an extention for another 2 weeks! The system is driving me crazy, why can’t he just give me 3 months at time?!
Thanks Whatever!

I was diagnosed with panic disorder a few years ago. I started out on Effexor XR. While it was excellent in keeping the anxiety and panic attacks at bay, the side effects were unbearable. My doctor switched me over to Lexapro, which worked at first, but now does nothing for me. I even started taking 20 mg as opposed to the 10 mg I was prescribed. I have an appointment with my doctor next week and I wanted to get a general idea of the best medications out there.

I’ve suffered from panic/anxiety attacks for about a year now. They are brought on by aches and pain, or stress at work (I’m a retail manager). Those who have suffered from attacks before understand that even though you know you are fine, your body tells you something different and it’s so hard to calm down. I want some natural alternatives, rather than taking medication. I don’t have money to go to a pyschologist, so I’m searching for other methods of keeping calm. Any suggestions/sources, especially from those who have personal experience, would be great. I need ideas to prevent them, and ideas to treat them when I have them. Thanks for your help. Serious answers only please.
BTW- I was on lexapro for 6+ months and took klonopin when needed, but I don’t want to go that route again. I don’t want to be on medication

I can only describe the smell as a chemical smell, not alcohol but almost a sterile type smell. I was working on the computer, then I just smelled something funny and had a rush of panic set in. I was numb, weak, shaking and my heart was racing ( all typical anxiety symptoms) except, the intense smell……… What happened to me?
It was definitely not coming from inside my office and no one was sitting around me. Did my brain release something or what……. also, what does this mean…..is it serious? ……can it happen again.
Is this a sign of something unrelated to my panic attacks? Please let me know asap. I am taking Lexapro and the occassional valium.
TY
CARLA

I have just started to have really bad panic attacks and my doctor put me on lexapro. I have not taken it yet but I just want to ask if anyone knows if this drug really works for panic attacks or not?

I have been having panic attacks and I was prescribed lexapro. I have not taken it yet but before taking it I just want to know how long does it take for the drug to actually work for panic attacks?

Can someone please tell me what are the symptoms of anxiety attacks?
Does Lexapro help with anxiety?
Do Anxiety attacks go away on there own?

I had a Really bad Migraine awhile ago. I had numbness, vision problems and slurred speech. Eversince then I panic when a glare of light hits my eyes or someone takes a picture with a flash. I also feel like i see white spots when I glance at something fast. It makes me so scared that I begin to panic and sweat and get really scared. I hate feeling like this. Has anyone else ever had a migraine like that? I also worry about everything! I was given Lexapro not sure if I should start a medication or not!
I did go to the Dr. thats why I got the Lexapro. I had a tramatic event the day before my migraine and since then I’m scared of another one.
I went to a counsler and she says i’m fine but because I’m so anxious all the time and worry about everything maybe I should try meds.

I have anxiety and panic attack disorder. I don’t take any meds for it after 2 horrific experiences with prescription anxiety meds. Anway, I had to go to the hospital today for a minor injury and felt fine aside the simmering panic inside me. However, when my temp was taken, I was at 99.9. I’ve been home for a few hours and my temperature is much lower than the norm now, although I still feel like I have the low grade fever.

Do you think this all anxiety caused? I checked the net and couldn’t find anything about fever and anxiety attacks. Thanks for the input.
I’ve been on Effexor (worst ever with withdrawal), lexapro (nasty side effects) and paxil (2nd worse) that have all scared me from meds. Period. Both effexor and paxil plateaed at high doses and doc took me off them slowly, which resulted in being bedridden and unemployed. I’m not going there again!

Because I am constantly stressed and anxious, I have developed TMJ and need to take Solpadeine for the pain. Is it ok to take Lexapro and Soladeine together or is it dangerous?

I have had panic attacks since June, 2008. Something scary happened. Then more stress happened a few months later and I Started getting them regularly. I tried 2 meds – lexapro and adivan. They scare me and don’t seem to help. I try books and videos. I am feeling much better, but still nervous enough that I don’t do things I enjoy anymore. I have less major panic attacks, they are shorter. I want to know if anyone has ever beaten them? Can they be completely cured? I am very frustrated about this.

I was diagnosed about 2 years ago with having anxiety/panic attacks. I was on Lexapro which really helped, but then got pregnant with my 3rd child and got off medication. After I had my baby I didnt feel even a 1/4 of how I felt when I started on meds, but lately I’ve been feeling kind of crappy again. Im a smoker and occassional drinker, and have recently decided to quit smoking and limit my drinking even more, since I know both of these things dont help with preventing attacks. My symptoms of an attack are feelings of blood rushing to my temples and like something is going to pop. I dont get it in the chest like others say they do and I was just wondering if anyone else with attacks have symptoms like mine?
I also get some numbness in the temples.
Yes, I’ve had a catscan, and a ekg, they’ve taken my blood pressure, and tested me for blood infection, everything came back normal.

I have been on lexapro 20 mg for almost 2 years because of depression, but recently I have been feeling like maybe its not working??? i am wondering what actions to take to get on a good reliable medication that will treat these symptoms:constant tension, worry, (i also have been diagnosed with adult add)-the lack of concentration and drive to do daily activities, low energy, some days i will only get 2 hours of sleep while others I could sleep all day and still wake up tired as hell. I am always tired, and lately i think i have been having panic attacks…in a stressful situation-mostly when i interact with other people. I get this like paranoid feeling that I doing something stupid (maybe i am who knows, i sometimes care…sometimes i don’t) or that other people are thinking that I am crazy by the way they look at me or talk to me. i know its wierd. But the anxiety is really start to eat away at me here lately. I don’t understand why this happens, i used to be the cont’d…….
I used to be such a sociable interactive person…but the medication just is not working. I have heard of some medications to take this edge off (or chemically balance?) me, but what are some to recommend to talk to my doctor about?