I’ve been on some medications in the past, none of them cured me only made things a little bit more managable and I was curious if anyone had a great success with any.
Its a medical problem for me, it has nothing to do with "stress" or "worry", I’ve had the condition for the past 12 years or so. Sometimes it seems worse than others and I can get by with out Meds, but unfortunalty now I’m in a bad time.

I was having a panic attack/anxiety attack/whatever and I couldn’t breathe and I kept crying and I just ran out of my klonopin (but even that isn’t meant to treat ATTACKS, it’s got a longer half life) and i knew i had some Librium around so I took that. It’s 10 mg. I just took it about 2 minutes ago so I’m not feeling anything.
Since the medication is about 7 years old, has it "gone bad"? Should I take more?
I have a few other meds around but I can’t remember what they are.

And please, do not suggest that I go to the emergency room or call an ambulance unless you are ready to pay the bills for it.
The crying had stopped at the time I took the medication but I still had a lot of trouble breathing.
Within about 20 minutes all the symptoms completely disappeared. Could be placebo effect or just natural ending of the episode, who knows. I think it was probably the librium though.
I am dizzy and tired now though, but more relaxed. I may even be able to sleep.
Thanks for those who took me seriously.

I have been treated over the last several years for anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I got on meds and over time things seemed to get better. Until about two weeks ago. I had to be put on an antibiotic for a sinus infection and for some strange reason I just freaked out. I was terrified to take the medicine. After my husband finally convinced me to take the medicine, later that night I woke up with a panic attack. Since that night I am having them daily. I am so exhausted. Physically and mentally. I feel like I am choking constantly, my heart is racing, I can’t seem to focus on anything, all I can think about is having another attack. I’m absolutely terrified. I called the doc ans she increased my dosage on my depression med and gave me klonipin for whem I’m having an attack. How can I deal with this? It’s drivng me crazy. I can’t eat or sleep because I’m so worried. I;m convinced there is something physically wrong with me, but everyone keeps telling me it is all in my head. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can overcome this. The meds don’t seem to be working and I cna’t see a therapist until the end of September. I’ll be crazy by then.
I have tried doing the breathing exercises and talking myself through it, but nothing is helping. My chest feels so tight, and literally sore because I have hyperventilated so much this week.

My Dr. has been treating me for anxiety,depression,panic attacks,etc.,for almost a year.He has tried many different kinds of meds,but nothing is working.Lately my main problem has been panic attacks.Frequent,sometimes violent,and getting worse.Right now I’m on klonopin,and he just gave me samples of zyprexa yesterday.Anyway,he also suggested an in patient mental facility for treatment.I was wondering if anyone has been to one of these,and what to expect.

Ive had anxiety and panic attacks ever since i was little. Im finally being treated for my panic attacks with "clorazepate" 3.75 mg. (half at bedtime). i movedup to one full one but was making me have crazy dreams and wake up in the middle of the night not remembering what i was doing the next morning.
today i had a mini panic attack for about 30-40 seconds. i was stressing about a math test now and doing homework and i feel a fluttering in my chest. this happened several times. heart palpatations? i also felt like a twitching in my left leg. i dont think this is a side effect of the meds. could this just be stress? or should i get it checked out? i had a friend who recently died of a heart condition a month after having a baby (which stressed her heart) so now i am paranoid. am i over reacting?!?

I had been in therapy for two years in a different state and moved here, during my pysch meetings we tried drug after drug after drug.

(I had a mental break down prior to the therapy sessions and was diagnosed with PTSD, acute anxiety disorder, panic attacks, night terrors or panic attacks whilst sleeping and borderline personality disorder)

At the end of treatment I was finally on meds that fit me well. 225 mg effexor xr daily, Xanax 2mg one in morning, 1 in afternoon, 2 at night for the extreme night terrors, and trazadone ( I forget the mg)

Well I became pregnant and was weaned off my medication for the babies safety of course.

After the birth I became extremely more depression and detatched and was placed back on the same medications. Unluckily though we lost our health insurance and could not afford the therapy sessions, nor the meds

I found a Family Practice Dr. who was very kind and since we had moved out of state called my former therapist and followed her previous medications, the problem was, all I could afford was the xanax- So we had to change the anti-depressent which was in the 800$ range(effexor xr 75mgx3) there is no generic, so we went back to cheaper zoloft, which I hate, It takes away my sex drive to the point of noexistence at the dosage I need to be on (150-200mg range) and it really isnt cheap at that dosage either running me about 75-100$.

SO the doc decided to try some older meds which he knew would be much much cheaper and put me on Pamelor (I dont know dosage off the top of my head) but its 3 a day. Im also on Haldol.

So all in alI am on Pamelor, Xanax, and Haldol.

But recently my best friend died and I have taken it very hard and my depression medication is just not cutting it, I havent taken the Haldol in a few months due to muscle spasms, and I have a bad back to begin with.

So being on the poor side I started self-medicating- first with alcohol. I was bad for about 2 weeks, I blacked out approx. 5 times in 2 weeks and went to the hospital once, because i drank a whole 5th of jack alone. (Please be aware I usually dont do things like this and I take my meds as prescribed, I was just EXTREMELY depressed)

Well let me be the first to tell you alcohol does not help, it just makes it hurt worse- cause you wake up feeling ashamed, disgusted with yourself, imbarrassed, worried of how you maintained yourself AND STILL Depressed.

So my friend said he had some methadones and told me to try them, I looked on the internet, and found the were used for pain managment, herion or drug withdrawl symptoms but they are doing studies on depresion treatment and methadone – check it out here http://opioids.com/antidepressant/index.html

So I bought some and tried them, at this point I was desperate to feel relief from all my anxiety and depression. He had 30 mg tabs and I broke them in two, took one half in morning one half in afternoon and a whole one before bed. This with my Xanax, well it was an amazing feeling (and I dont mean I got high, I didnt take enough methadone to even feel a difference) I could get up in the morning and actually get out of my pajamas, put on makeup- Make a full breakfast for my kids and husband. Make a full lunch for the kids, Play games outside, and inside, CLEAN MY HOUSE DAILY!! (if you have major depression you know how much an accomplishment this is) Have dinner ready for the old man when he got home, get the kids ready for bed, read bedtime stories, have sex SLEEP. Its like I can live for the first time in 5 years *Tears*

I need your opinions, because I found a new Psyc. and an appt coming up on the 26 and I kinda want to bring it up to her, but I am scared of what she will think of the degree of the drug, but Im also scared if I dont tell her, I will be living in fear and depression for the rest of mylife.

HELP!

I recently had a bladder infection, and because of this I developped an anxiety/panic disorder. I fear going anywhere where I don’t know if there’ll be a bathroom. I can’t sit in school, or a car because sitting in a closed place makes it worse. Home is ok because there’s a bathroom. But, I’ll get really warm and feel a panic attack coming when I’m faced with these situations. I haven’t heard of many attacks like that, but my doctor said some people get them like I do. I’m on meds now, but can anyone help with a way to relieve the anxiety I feel? Thanks.

My boyfriend has quite bad anxiety/depression.
It really upsets me that I don’t know how to make him as happy as he could be.
On top of that I have quite a few problems with stress and anger and I lash out quite a lot.
He’s so nice and would never ever say or do anything to hurt my feelings but I can’t help trying to pick little arguments, not bad ones.
I know he would be better off without me, but I really don’t want to loose him.
Half of the time I have no idea what I’m getting angry at and I just seem to take it out on him. I really don’t want to do it but I can’t help it.

So does anyone have any ideas how I can make him happier, or try and control my anger around him before I muck everything up!?!

Thanks in advance.
I forgot to mention, he already is on anti-anxity meds, and does see someone about his anxity. He’s been on them for years and slowly getting the dosage lowered.

I have had anger management and didn’t feel it helping, but I am starting it up again within the next couple of weeks.
Annddd

It’s a long distance relationship.
So I don’t see him nearly as much as I would like anyway.

Catch 22 – I have panic disorder to the point of not being able to go a mile from the house. I’ve grown a resistance to my meds and they do not sedate me. I have an appointment this wednesday to have a new med program prescibed, but I can’t make it to the doctor to get it. What do I do? Getting there will just have me be seen, but there is nothing that can take care of immediate attacks that occur en route or at the doctor. Just a slip of paper, "try this" and good luck making it back home, freak. My anxiety is high, my temper is bad and I’d almost prefer being shot than making this appointment.

I do prefer answers from people that understand or have experienced panic disorder as most that have no idea just say "be a man and take it." Not helpful in this situation.

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 don’t understand why doctors in my area refuse to adequately treat anxiety. I lost my mom a little over a year ago and have developed well-documented case of PTSD, anxiety and depression since then. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also an anxiety disorder. I had a breakdown in April, and two months later nobody will prescribe me anything other than a SNRI (antidepressant) for my anxiety.

I guess there is a lot of drug abuse where I live but I am one who plays by the rules. I live in chronic pain and have been on the same meds and in a pain management clinic (VERY STRICT) for 7 years. Why won’t doctors give me anything for the days when the panic and anxiety attacks are really bad (2-3 times a week) at least for a couple of months while I’m in the worst of it???? What are they so afraid of?
I am in counseling with a psychologist… I see a psychiatrist. I can’t work because the anxiety has been so bad as to affect my ability to sleep, work, and usually drive.

Has anyone here dealt with a Hyperthyroid? I have been having very bad anxiety attacks, and like these real rushes of heat that run through my body, and my hands and feet get real clammy feeling. At first I was diagnosed with GAD and started seeing a therapist who put me on a few meds. The meds help as far as calming me down during these episodes, but she also recommended I get a thyroid panel.

Could all of this suffering of anxiety, also fatigue and lack of sleep be related to an over active thyroid? I’ve even noticed that my hair has become somewhat brittle, as well as my nails. I eat a lot, but don’t gain weight, but don’t lose any weight either.

I have an appointment with my PCP tomorrow, and will request a thyroid panel, but I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this.

I am going to be so ticked off if I’ve been seeking therapy for something physical all this time. It’s been hell!

And if it is an over active thyroid, how do they treat that? Does it go away with treatment, or is it controlled with meds?

Thanks Everyone for your feedback..

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.

Can anyone tell me why is it that you work so hard to get over a panic disorder only for the panic attacks to start all over again out of the blue? I developed a panic disorder when I was 20 years old. I was having anxiety attacks constantly; over everything. I worked really hard and managed to live a somewhat normal existence after about three years ( having an attack Only about every six months or so) and stayed that way until very recently. I am 35 now and I’ve started the attacks daily again over simple things: like driving three miles to work or when the wind blows or for no reason what so ever. Should I go back on the meds that I have done without for five years. I know I am rambling, but I am so tired inside of not being able to control this fear of fear that I have going on.

I have really severe panic attacks and I really dont want to leave my house I feel like something bad will happen when I leave. I have over come alot of it and they are slowing down I actually get out and run around now. I want to know a good way of getting rid of them besides meds and phychiotris. I need a good home remedy I am a poor girl.

I have social anxiety and have just started having some panic attacks in social situations which is making my anxiety even worse which I’m scared is going to make me panic more. My parents don’t want me to go to a professional counselor or get on any meds. I’m 18, but I’m still living at home with no car of my own so if they won’t take me to get professional help I can’t get any on my own. So I’m wondering what are some things that can help me deal with my anxiety and panic attacks without going to a professional for help?

I have tryed soooo many things and cant find any thing that helps besides presciption meds and cant afford.Please help

I’ve always suffered from depression and anxiety, but my anxiety attacks started getting out of hand when I was working at my last job. After I got laid off in 2008, the attacks grew worse and more frequent. After I got settled into my new job which I’m currently at, the attacks subsided. Recently, due to stress and pressure at work as well as financial problems in my personal life, the anxiety attacks have returned. They occur mostly at work, thereby affecting my performance. Is there anything I can do prevent this??

P.S. I’ve been in therapy but I’ve never been on meds. I would love to return to therapy but I can’t afford it right now, even if my health insurance will cover a portion of the bills.

I’m currently on Effexor XR 150mg, Vistiril 50mg 3 times a day and Xanax ER 2mg. Is this a common mixture of Meds to treat Panic attacks? I feel better than I did before the treatment but I still have attacks from time to time. Is there a better combo of scrips to consider?

I have heard everything from you are born with it to because you have sinned too much to its from processed foods to its from the hormones in the milk! Why is it so common! If you are going to tell me that it isnt a real disorder, I will beg to differ with you! If you have some helpful info, then I would be greatly appreciative. Has anyone here suffered extreme dibilitating panic, been on meds, and successing found a way to come off? I’m sorry there are sooo many unanswered Q’s here.
Nicole,
Yes I am suffering from panic attacks. Its been close to 4 yrs since the first debilitating one, and they still sneak up quite often. I take 12.5 mg Paxil daily, and am considering Xanax for those debilitating attacks. I believe that my attacks surfaced due to the amount of stress I was under. I was 20 y/o, married w/ a stepson, and just gave birth to my second son, (3 sons total- at that time). My baby was very ill, and was deaf. We were getting ready for him to have cranial surgery. I was very weak from a traumatic birth,(he was born in the car during a thunder storm), and was having to travel 300 miles to the childrens hospital frequently. I lost my pregnancy weight in about 3 weeks. Then the attacks hit me hard. It was a nightmare! I deal with them very well now, but the trembling is unbearable! Thank all of you who have taken the time to leave an answer.

I have panic attacks whenever I attend a big event such as funerals and graduations.I’ve been on meds for 3 years..I suffer from GAD,OCD,major depression and panic attacks.I was doing better but it seems that now that I’ve gotten use to these meds , the symptoms are starting to get worse again. I take Effexor Xr,Abilify,Remeron,and Ativan…Can someone please give me some advice on what to do? (Thanks)

I have recently begun treatment with a new psychiatrist for depression and anxiety. I’ve been on wellbutrin for years but quit when i got pregnant. i ended up having a miscarriage and was feeling alright until around 5-6 months later. My old psychiatrist retired ( who i hadn’t seen in years) so i’ve started with a new one. We resumed the wellbutrin and short term treatment with xanax since i had used it previously with my other doctor for a few months. What i didn’t realize was the start dose he put me on was very low. .25-.5 mg three times a day. This hadn"t been effective when i last used it so i ended up taking one extra pill daily. ( at night for sleep problems). well i ran out obviosly early and tried to call in the refill thinking there wouldn’t be a problem only asking for half the prescription because i had a upcoming check up with her. The pharmacist refused and it was over the week-end. I had a full blown panic attack. this scares me. I called the doctor on call and felt like an idiot but explained exactly what i’d been taking. I will call monday but I’m concerned that the reaction I had means I addicted even though it’s only been 2 weeks on the meds. Any advice? I am scared and am still experiencing a hard time breathing. Please, what would you do?

I have suffered from anxiety attacks for over a decade now and I am on a variety of meds for it. I still have attacks and I wish I could lessen their impact. When I try to meditate or physically relax, I actually get worse. My symptoms start out as very physical and then spread to uncontrollable mind racing, etc.

I am 36 years old and have suffered with anxiety attacks for the last 15 years. I have been on numerous anti-anxiety drugs and have had several therapists to help me with this. Currently I am off all the meds. except for Xanax which I only take when needed. It seems like I have most of my attacks at night when I am trying to sleep. During the day when I feel an attack coming on I can usually get my mind off of it because I am busy at work or doing other things. But, at night is when the attacks are uncontrollable. They wake me up out of a sound sleep. My heart is racing , I have trouble swallowing and the heaviness and pressure in my chest is just awful. As of now, I am up due to another attack and have to get up in less than 5 hrs. to go to work. I have tried special breathing exercises to control this (which is what all the therapists tried teaching me) they don’t work at all. I have read self help books but nothing, absolutely nothing helps. The chest discomfort and trouble swalling is the most uncomfortable symptoms out of all the other anxiety attack symptoms I have to deal with. Does anyone have this same problem and how do you deal with it? I will not go back on any of the drugs. The Xanax does cause some relief but, I don’t like to take it. My mind just races with all of these "silly" worries and concerns that I don’t have any control over. I just don’t understand why it wakes me up out of a sound sleep at night. Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

I have GAD and currently in the process of changing my meds. and have been having panic attacks everyday. im just wondering if these symptoms are normal for panic or if there something else. I get heaviness that radiates from my face, to my shoulders to my legs. it feels like these body parts get so heavy, and ive never expierenced that before. i dont want to call the doctor just yet, because im such a hypochondriac. so pleas anyone who has had these symptoms, or if you think its something worth going and getting checked out. thanks