Panic Attacks

As you all have seen, I had to get off of Xanax or loose my job, yes I know there's a legal issue there, but do I really want to pursue it, I know I should.  However, does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do for Panic Attacks, and I am talking Clincally diagnosed panic attacks.  I'm open to any and all suggestions, I can't handle this feeling much longer of wanting to crawl out of my skin because the world is getting ready to crash down on me - group I ask your help.

[SmokethisVette]

Hi there and welcome to the forum...
     I am not sure I can truly help you, but I have some things I would like to share with you!! Back in the year of 1999...I suffered 2 panic attacks...back to back...within a week of each other!! Up until that day I have never been depressed or anything like that!! They were brought on by a major breakup from a relationship that went on for 5 years. I was fine...then one day the attacks occured? I know for a fact that I had no warning signs of it coming nor (like I said already) was I depressed...at least I didn't feel it!! I may have had all these emotions in my sub-conscience? Who knows? Anywho...I was diagnosed with what is called Irritable Bowel Syndrome...and the panic attacks (according to the doc) was the start of all fof this? She was crazy herself...LOL....
     So anyway you say you must stop your meds in order to keep your job? Now I have a few questions...maybe it could help me and others understand you a litlle better....First WHY? What is it that you do that you are being threatened to get fired if you don't stop taking your meds? I want to say that I think that is crazy....!!!!! If you are being prescribed these meds for a TRUE medical reason...then NOBODY...I mean NOBODY should be telling you to quit them or you will lose your job!! That is why I am asking what you do and what your situation is? I need a better feel of where you are going with this so called "job" you have...and you need to evaluate the situation...I know I would if I were you!!
     Ok...first things first...does this job mean that much to you that you would sacrifice your HEALTH for it? I know if I was being threatened like you are being threatened..I would QUIT...but that is just me!!
     Secondly...Do you have a doctor to write a letter for you stating that you NEED to be on these meds or else you will have these attacks? Your "boss" needs to look at it THIS way...if you STOP taking the meds...you could have attacks and other things happen causing you to HAVE to take OFF work? Doesn't he/she realize THIS?????
    Last I just wanted to say that this WHOLE situation needs to be RUN by YOU...not anyone else!! YOU need to think about what is BEST for you and you alone!! Like I said earlier...is this job worth being SICK? I mean is it worth NOT taking the meds...or is YOUR HEALTH more important to you? That's a silly question...cause you should be the most important thing in your eyes...not some stupid job that is threatening to fire you if you don't quit your meds....
     Oh and by the way "quitting" Xanax can and IS a harmful thing...you could DIE if it is not done properly!!! There are a couple of people on this forum who have first hand experience with Xanax....I hope they show their faces to this question!!!                                                           Lostfree....I hope I have opened your eyes a little bit to the situation you are facing...sounds to me that you are thinking of this stupid job before you are thinking of YOURSELF...I maybe wrong and I hope I am!!! Please keep me posted as to what is going on....and please write me back telling me what the exact deal is with this situation...I am dying to know!!! If you so please...by ALL means...email me at ***@****
My name is Christine by the way....and I am a 25 year old female........What is your deal? Your age...and all that good stuff...Well looking forward to hearing your story....and good luck to you in making the right decisions!!! God bless you and keep your head up high!!!
Laters...
Christine

[Sugarbeens]

I haven't read anything about your story if there is more in other posts, but, many people work who are on all kinds of medications that doctors perscribe for mental illnesses and physical illnesses.  The only job I can think of that would not allow you to take your Zanax as perscribed would be possibly if you were driving clients, etc.  And the reason would be that the effect the drugs may have, the side effects such as drowsiness.  If you want to keep your job you should check with someone such as a disability lawyer/attorney into what your rights are. You could also ask your doctor.  Good luck.

[hippy]

hey there, i have read your post the last few weeks.
any way untill someone comes up with a great idea.
ypi might want to look into yoga ,and mostly the BREATHING
ASPECT OF IT., find a yoga instructer thst can teach you breathing , learning to breath on a conscience level
can do wonders for panic attacks.
i used to get panic attacks when i was in my early twenties whenever i was in
a very public place.
like one time i went out to eat
with my wife and they sat us at a little table right in the middle of the place.
i just freaked out  on the inside and had to run out of there.

i have always been a in the dark, in a booyh in the corner
type of guy , i guess.
good luck.  

rember slow deeep breath
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hippy]

hey there, i have read your post the last few weeks.
any way untill someone comes up with a great idea.
ypi might want to look into yoga ,and mostly the BREATHING
ASPECT OF IT., find a yoga instructer thst can teach you breathing , learning to breath on a conscience level
can do wonders for panic attacks.
i used to get panic attacks when i was in my early twenties whenever i was in
a very public place.
like one time i went out to eat
with my wife and they sat us at a little table right in the middle of the place.
i just freaked out  on the inside and had to run out of there.

i have always been a in the dark, in a booyh in the corner
type of guy , i guess.
good luck.  

rember slow deeep breath
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LostFree]

Thanks to all for suggestions.  Alot have commented on the fact about my health and my job.  Yes my health is priority one, however while I'm in the process of taking my employer to court and getting the case together I have to go along with "their" way of doing things, so I have to stop medication, and that leaves me with panic attacks.  It's not easy, but I have to do it until I take them to court.

[fishman59]

I would NEVER stop taking prescribed meds,case pending or not,but if you do stop the meds throw in a few million for pain and suffering!!!

[luvgordo24]

This is the Thomas recipe:

L-Tyrosine 8 500mg capsules, on an empty stomach
B-complex
Hot baths to help with muscle aches
Valium to help with sleep, but be careful to not take it too long or you will get addicted to it.
Multimineral tablet that includes zinc, magnesium, and manganese, as well as calcium.

Here is mine:  (I consulted with a dietician about it)

Prenatal Vitamins, 1 daily  (You can find a generic kind at Walmart, these are the BEST but if you can't find prenatal then just get a multi like Centrum)

1 Extra Vit A tab - 8000 IU
1 Vit C/Echinacea tab - (500mg Vit C/100 mg Echinacea)
1 Extra Vit E tab - 200 IU
2 L-Tyrosine tabs 500 mg
1 B-Complex tab (should include Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B-6 and Panto)
2 Cranberry tabs
1 Extra Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tab

The following herbs are also VERY helpful but should NOT be taken if you are currently on an antidepresant or taking Xanax or Valium (there could be BAD side effects):

KavaKava (as directed on bottle)
Sam-E - very expensive but VERY helpful for depression and leg cramps
5-htp - a little expensive but good and works a lot like Sam-E

I added 5 htp and SAM-e, that help with the depression quite a bit.

Of course hot boths work great, and Immodium for the diarrhea.

[Bodymechanic]

You should speak with your doctor.  If you are taking xanax for anziety or panic attacks there are other medications that you can use. Bubar and paxil will both do the same thing without showing up on your drug screening.


Bodymechanic

[zoe1]

I don't have a problem with addiction so I don't have any experience to share in that area.. but I DO know about panic attacks.  I've always been a little high-strung.... last year what used to be a little anxiety turned into full-blown panic attacks.  There were times when I thought I was having a heart attack or something - it was awful.  I just wasn't capable of dealing with various presures in my life and the attacks were the result.  My dr prescribed xanax.  It helps but I REALLY don't like to take it... I've seen the affects of addiction on others in my life and I've come to hate drugs.  

So, I made some other changes... I try to avoid caffeine except for a cup of coffee/tea in the morning.  I started yoga.  I attend support group meetings that help me to take the focus off of the rest of the world and put it back on me (for me, Al-Anon).  I go to bed at a reasonable time and even if I don't sleep, I rest.  I did research on deep breathing exercises and try to use them daily.  I got a dog and play with him regularly.  I *force* myself to call friends and ask how they're doing rather than just sit home and feel sorry for myself.  I started eating healthy foods and walking in the evening for exercise.  

I still have my "bad" moments, but they're less frequent and I haven't had a full-blown attack for months.  

Just some ideas that have worked for me...

[mismike]

Hi hun, I have panic attacks also, my doctor put me on Vistril for the attacks which was caused by withdraw. I am not sure if this is addictive or now, i dont think it is but i am going to surf the net and find out, I hope all goes well for you.
Peace be with you,
Mis

[Autymn]

Anxiety attacks are very scary and very real alot of people do not understand them and will just tell u to stop it and make u feel worse cause they think that u can just control it..doesnt work that way..they come on at any time for no apparent reason, u can get chest pain, tachycardia (rapid heartrate 120 and over) shortness of breath, fear of dying or losing control, shaking, dizziness, flushing, hyperventilation, numbness and tingling and several other symptoms everyone is different..They have medications for this disorder, they have the short acting benzodiazipines like valium, adivan, klonipin (klonopin), and xanax its best to not to half to take these meds since they are highly addictive so they are for temporary use until your doctor puts u on an ssri medicine these usually take about a month to start working and get into the blood stream..these work to prevent the attacks so they might prescribe the short acting one with the long acting until the long acting one starts working and then wean u off slowly of the benzos, u dont even want to stop these meds cold turkey u have a high risk of seizures so try not to take them if u dont have to..its better to go with the antianxiety meds some of them are prozac, paxil, zoloft and celexa these are not addictive...they do have some side effects and it may take time to find the right one that works for u..Some natural things u can do if one comes on, breathe in a paperbag to prevent u from hyperventilating and grab the end of your left pinky and pinch the end of it as hard as u can for three seconds and repeat and this will slow down your heartrate its called reflexology..also take a warm bath to relax u, breath in through your nose and out through your mouth, tell yourself im fine im just panicking this will pass, if u get dizzy put your head down between your legs below the heart, try to get someone to give u a massage to relax u, or go out and get some fresh air, u can get a natural relaxant at the health food store to take every day called valarian root, or calms fortfe, try drinking some stress relaxant tea they sell in the stores, They sell a little device in special stores that have sounds of the ocean, stream, woods etc to listen to relaxing sounds and also have aroma scents with it...lavendar scents are suppose to help u relax maybe light a lavendar candle, or use lavendar bath beads in your warm bath, take both hands and put them together and put your fingers in between each other and squeeze as  hard as u can for seven secs and release and repeat a few times its suppose to release some tension using reflexology, sometimes chiropracic care helps with panic attacks. Take vitamins daily like vitamin c, b-12, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and if u have trouble sleeping use melatonin a natural sleep aid over the counter..They have panic hotlines I dont know the number off hand but they have a tape and some method that people have been cured medicine free..I believe it shows it often of infomercials If I can find the number I will post it for u..I understand these because I also suffer from them they are scary...If anyone has anymore questions just ask and I will be glad to answer them..good luck to all of u that suffer from anxiety...autymn