Anxiety Issues

I have been taking Effexor XR 75mg for approx 5 or 6 yrs now. They have really helped me not to have as many panic attacks, and I have felt good. Last Friday, I was in the Mountains in Gatlinburg TN for a vacation and had a major panic/anxiety issue. I thought maybe it was from being on a winding road cause I was so nauseous too. But, here I am 3 days later AND back home, and still having issues. I take my meds in the morning, always have, and I have started waking up feeling jittery, nervous, nauseous and can't quit worrying about the anxiety issue. By evening, I start feeling almost normal. My thinking is possibly that my meds have started not working as well and I need an increase. My doc office is not open until tomorrow. Does anyone have an opinion on this or had the same issue? Thanks!

[mammo]

It's very common for your meds to stop working especially after this amount of time.  This happens to almost everyone, so keep taking them until you can speak with your doctor, who will either tweak the dosage or change medications completely.  I think we have all been thru this as our bodies build up a tolerance to the medication, so at least you're not alone! LOL  Hang in there until tomorrow and take care.

[MMahon]

I have always been 'set off' when going on vacation.  Yeah it is sad and destroys one's self esteem.  Yet it is understandable to those of us with anxiety disorders.  Good events are more stressful then bad ones.  Therefore the simple act of going on vacation could very well have had the impact you are experiencing.
Anxiety/depression is frequently worst in the early morning and gets better as the day wears on.  If you don't find your symptoms easing soon then contact your doctor as mammo suggested above.  Good luck and be well.

[Kristi517]

Thank you soo much for answering me! I am going first thing tomorrow to the doctor - I am sooo tired of feeling like this. And its only been 4 days.  I am just worried about when I go to work Wed. I have felt less jittery today, but have been really sleepy and kind of in a fog. I have been able to do all the laundry, clean the kitchen and take down fourth of july decor... so that makes me happy. My main scare is I am supposed to go to Cali in two weeks to pick my step kids up from their mom. I have never had an issue on vacation, and now I am scared I will. I was really looking forward to this vacation too.

[dirty_dancin1966]

Hiya, following eachother around now... my anxiety is at its worst if i am about to go travelling or about to take a holiday somewhere.  I always find though i am at my worst in the couple of days before and the day of travel... usually as soon as i am there the anxiety calms back down again and i can begin to relax.  Maybe you might be the same and you just have to push through that initial panic.  I know i know it feels like your being forced to jump off a very tall building, but i think especially if you've been looking forward to travelling somewhere then you will enjoy if once your there!

[Kristi517]

hello! I have never had issues before or during travel, so this is new to me. Mine has been controlled with my medicine. I think now it is time to increase, I have been on almost the smallest does possible for 5 years. I want to get these sudden spells under control before I go. So I have two weeks!! LOL. I felt really jittery this morning, started feeling a little better this afternoon, but really tired and dazed, and am hoping to feel even better this evening. It seems I feel better in the evening, almost normal. It is so strange to me.

[Kristi517]

Well, I got a dr appt for 1110 this morning. It wasn't with my doc, cause he was booked, but it was with a doc in his group and he is there to consult. I seem to have spells this morning where I feel better, but then the panic sets in again, cause I worry about getting sick again. Plus, I didn't sleep well last night. Had to take my daughter to the er because she had a nosebleed that would not stop. So I got home and fell asleep around 2 and got up around 6. I have already been sleeping bad, so I am sure this didn't help. Hopefully tonight I can sleep earlier and better, and hopefully the docs can up my meds and it will help. Will post later.

I do have a quick question... I have woken up the last 3 mornings anxious and nervous. nauseated, tingly jittery.. and don't feel better til late evening. This morning, I woke up less anxious and nauseated, but am still having spells. I wonder if this means my anxiety is starting to calm down? Of course, while I am feeling ok other than tired, I am worried about when I will feel bad again. Nice huh? Plus I am sure I am exhausted.

[MMahon]

Your symptoms are quite typical for anxiety and depression.  You don't necessarily have to even feel anxious or depressed...you are experiencing their symptoms.  They almost always fluctuate in severity, from hardly noticeable to crippling.  Events in one's life frequently trigger a change in their severity whether we like it or not.
It's good you made the doctors appointment and hopefully things will get pointed onto the right track. You have good command of your situation and a lot on your plate.  
Let us know what the doc tells you and feel better.

[Kristi517]

First, let me say, I feel MUCH better today. I have still had moments of nervousness and anxiety, but not as severe as the last few days. The doc has put my meds up to 150mg instead of 75mg, which she wants me to start taking immediatley. ( tomorrow morning, I have already taken my 75mg dose for today ). So heres hoping in the next week I start feeling normal again! Thanks so much for all your help and input, and if you guys need anything even just to talk, cause that helps ALOT sometimes, send me a message. :) Will let you all know how I feel once the new meds start working.

[Kristi517]

I think I may have spoken too soon... panic / anxiety setting in...

[AJ39]

I am so glad you posted your feelings, the exact same thing is happening to me. I have tears running down my face knowing I'm not alone or crazy. thank you! thank you!  

[Kristi517]

Wow! I am glad I posted my feelings too. I really had a bad panic spell earlier. I had to have my mom come pick me up and bring me to her house. We laid down on the bed and she held my hand and talked me thru a relaxation routine that actually did help. I feel better now, not perfect, but better. I am VERY tired, because I haven't been sleeping much lately, and my arms and legs feel like jello, which I am sure is a side effect of the anxiety panic attack. I still occasionally experience a twinge of anxiety in my arms and legs as well. Hopefully, these will pass soon.

[Kristi517]

I took my first new dosage pill about 30 minutes ago. Has anyone ever experienced a difference the first day? Just asking cause I am hopeful. :) Is it even possible to feel better the first day?

[Kristi517]

Quick question - again.. LOL.... does anyone have any advice on how to help pull myself out of this along with the medicine? Should I get out more and go to work and try to be normal, I know staying in makes it worse. Has anyone ever tried to continue to function normally and has it helped? I have noticed that when I am out I tend to feel better than when I am at home dwelling on it.

[Kristi517]

I hope everything is going well for you today. I have been on my meds for two days now, the side effects are brutal, but I am handling it, especially if it will help in the long run.  I have noticed a couple of things today that I hope are positive, while I am still having occasional anxious/nervous moments, I am not having as many, and my depression seems to have gone from " go away I don't care" and not being able to cry, to crying frequently and still wanting to talk to people on the phone. Last night I felt almost normal. I hope this is a sign the meds are working and not all just wishful thinking on my part.

[MMahon]

I'm sorry you are having the bad side effects but it sounds like you are handling them well and  seeing some improvement.  If they don't begin to subside shortly then you should give your doctor a call and discus them.  They should diminish as time goes on.
It sounds like your symptoms are easing. You should see improvement as time goes by little by little and before you know it this will be all behind you.  
Yes you should try to continue your life as much as you can, as if there is nothing wrong.
Do what you can, go to work, socialize as much as much as possible.  It's not good to keep yourself squirreled away worrying about yourself and how you feel.
There is nothing wrong with wishful thinking..positive thinking anyway.  Be positive and it can only make things better.  I think before long you'll be back to your old self and ready to go on vacation again!!   Take care.

[Kristi517]

Well, today was day 3 on the meds. Last night was AWFUL. I cried and paced until I wore myself out. This morning I woke up just as anxious, and after I got to work, I started to feel better. I felt really good. Now that its 114 and I have 2 hours left, I am starting to get shaky. Not sure if that is a side effect of the meds or my nerves. I am tired of ups and downs. I want to get up and stay that way. This waiting is hard. :(

[remar]

You might want to give the new dose a couple more weeks. If they don't help after that talk to your Dr about trying a new med. I took Effexor myself for 5 years and when it quit working I had the same symptoms your having. I did have to start a new med because the Effexor just stopped working.  Remar

[Kristi517]

Thank you for your input. I have overall had a much better day today than yesterday. I am still having moments of anxious nervous jitters and some crying, but nothing like I did yesterday. I hope that is a good sign. :)

[Kristi517]

Has anyone ever taken Xanax or Pristiq? They switched my Effexor to Pristiq this morning and gav me xanax to help inbetween times. How have these drugs affected anyone who has taken them?

[MMahon]

Hi.  Boy they switched your meds already?  Quess your side effects were really bad.
I never took pristiq and don't know much about it.  But I have taken xanax for over 20 years.
I don't take a lot but it really helps with the anxiety and should help you until you find a anti-d that helps.  The anti-d should really help the most with the anxiety once it kicks in but the xanax is good for those times when it really starts to overwhelm you or interfere with your life.
Try limiting taking xanax to only when you really need it.
Get better soon!

[Kristi517]

My mind wouldn't quit racing and i couldn't sit still. I felt like I was jumping out of my skin. I was pacing the doctors office. The xanax is .25milligrams. The smallest dose possible.

[MMahon]

Perhaps the doubling of your dosage was just too  much at one time.  Maybe bringing it up by 25mg every week or two may have prevented the effects you had.  However, sometimes the meds that help us lose their effectiveness over time and we need to try something else.
I could never understand why that is, but how they even help is poorly understood.
,25mg of xanax should be fine.  I used to even break these in half for relief without the drowsiness.  Whatever works for you.  

[Kristi517]

Thanks for your input. I have always been a really nervous pill taker ( imagine that!! ) I have always steered clear of things like xanax because I don't want to feel "high" or doped up or out of it... I want to feel able to function and stuff. I can handle drowsiness, just nnot knocked out.

[Kristi517]

anyone ever switched from Effexor XR to Pristiq? I am taking the first pristiq tomorrow, and the doctor told me to totally stop the effexor, since they are similar. Anyone have any input?

[Kristi517]

Does anyone understand how morning anxiety works? Apparently this is a problem I have. I have never had this before until now. I wake up every morning with my heart racing, and the need to pace and cry. I feel better around 6 or 7pm. Does this happen to anyone else? I go crazy looking things up online, calling pharmacies to see what meds will help and so on and so on... I completely obsess over it. Is this a normal anxiety issue as well? Once I find a med that works for me will this go away?

[AJ39]

Changing meds is so frustrating. but from what i've read that anxiety is usually the worst during am and tends to lessen after dinner. I've been following your comments on the forum and they have been so helpful for me. thank you.  I've been on zoloft since november 50mg, okay depression not terrible, but not happy very much.  I was placed on abilify and it about ruined me, but for heavens sake i wasn't depressed practically manic (which i have never been before) weaned myself off abilify - last dose on june 18 - I have been constant panic ever since, sobbing episodes, pacing, no appetite, etc.  2.5 weeks ago I saw a psychiatrist for the very first time. He increased my zoloft to 100mg. even though symptoms are lessening it is still so difficult to function!! he said it will be a good 3-6 weeks for it to kick in- arghhh!!  I am here for you. it's been 5 days since your last post. So, I am hoping the med is helping you. Keep posted.

[Kristi517]

Hey! I just got back from a trip to California to pick up 3 of my step children who have been with their "womb donor" for the summer. I am feeling better, although still not myself. I have been on the meds for 3 weeks almost, 20mg celexa at night and .5mg risperdal at night also. The morning anxiety has almost stopped, I do still get occasional anxiety during the day, but nothing like I was before. I still have some mild depression, but nt severe, I think the meds are starting to help... however I am SO TIRED all the time! Hope your meds are helping you!

[Kristi517]

Anyone still out there? I went back to my psych doctor yesterday and he took me off the risperdal because it was supposed to help me sleep and it hasn't really changed my sleep pattern at all. He also upped my celexa from 20mg to 40mg, I told him I was feeling better, but still not myself. I took my new dose of celexa last night, and skipped the risperdal.... today I am crying, sick to my stomach and jittery..... wonder if I should start the risperdal back up?