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Anxiety worsening
I was taking wellbutrin sr for 1 1/2 years. I felt it was not being effective. I get IBS symptoms when nervous and have hard time leaving the house. My doc stopped the wellbutrin and prescribed bentyl as needed to stop colon spasms. The medicine has been great. I have felt normal for the last 2 months. I had a daughter graduating from High school and a party to plan, a huge july 4th party to plan, the other kids are off from school and my work schedule has completely went off track.My hair started falling out several weeks ago. This happened once before when under severe long term stress. I had bouts of crying and exhaustion and felt so off. After stress passed the hair loss stopped. When my hair loss started again this time, my body felt good. I had been off the wellbutrin and i never cried or anything. I thought things were great.
The day after the graduation party I was sitting on the couch and my heart started to pound hard and fast. My heart rate at rest was over 100. It is usually aroung 70. I felt hot all over especially up the back of my neck, I was nauseus and felt like I was trembling on the inside. It was very scary. My doc called in clonazepam to use until I could get in. It will be 2 more weeks. That med makes me tired, no appetite, and my resting heart rate has slowed to 52-56. Is this okay? I am afraid to continue the medication. Why would the panic return that way? Please help.
The day after the graduation party I was sitting on the couch and my heart started to pound hard and fast. My heart rate at rest was over 100. It is usually aroung 70. I felt hot all over especially up the back of my neck, I was nauseus and felt like I was trembling on the inside. It was very scary. My doc called in clonazepam to use until I could get in. It will be 2 more weeks. That med makes me tired, no appetite, and my resting heart rate has slowed to 52-56. Is this okay? I am afraid to continue the medication. Why would the panic return that way? Please help.
For benzos, clonazepam is the one usually given for long term use. But there are other classes of meds, and sometimes just therapy is enough, and some people find natural remedies to be enough, so this is all individual, and there's no one answer for you.
I got my appt moved up to this Wednesday. It's with a different doctor at the same place. Do most docs leave you on clonazepam or is there something else? I am assuming my doc will switch me since this med was supposed to be used till I could get into the appointment. What is a good medication to take long term?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Wellbutrin is for depression, not anxiety. It is known to cause anxiety, since it's a stimulant. As for the klonopin, if you keep taking it, you'll probably get over it making you tired. You get used to it after a while. As for whether it should be taken all the time or as needed, psychiatrists seem to differ on this, so who knows what the right answer is? It probably depends on the individual, like all the rest of these nutty meds.
Honestly, you would be better off taking 1/2 of a pill in the am, and the other half at bedtime. Klonopin has a long half life and for it to be the most effective, has to build up in your system to allow for a steady stream of the medication to remain in your blood.
You could even try to take a third of a pill twice a day. Also, there is typically a period of adjustment, so the tiredness you feel will most likely improve over time.
Just try to remain patient, as hard as that is to do...when we are anxious it is SOOO hard to wait it out...we want it gone NOW.
You are not alone, as you can see by this forum....there are a lot of us fellow anxiety-sufferers out there. It takes some time...but once you find the right treatment, you will be able to beat it.
"I think I take on so much at once and my body seems like it just couldn't take anymore. "
Aint that the truth? OUr daily stressful lives are the worst thing for anxiety. TRY as hard as you can to eliminate as much stress as you can. Some things are unavoidable...but some of the daily stresses we can share with our loved ones.
You could even try to take a third of a pill twice a day. Also, there is typically a period of adjustment, so the tiredness you feel will most likely improve over time.
Just try to remain patient, as hard as that is to do...when we are anxious it is SOOO hard to wait it out...we want it gone NOW.
You are not alone, as you can see by this forum....there are a lot of us fellow anxiety-sufferers out there. It takes some time...but once you find the right treatment, you will be able to beat it.
"I think I take on so much at once and my body seems like it just couldn't take anymore. "
Aint that the truth? OUr daily stressful lives are the worst thing for anxiety. TRY as hard as you can to eliminate as much stress as you can. Some things are unavoidable...but some of the daily stresses we can share with our loved ones.
The Bentyl is awesome. I know my heart rate because I have a monitor I wear when exercising. I started checking it when I felt it beat so fast.
I take the clonazepam twice daily as needed. It is .5mg. I started off at twice per day, but I was sleeping on and off all day. I can't take care of the kids that way. So, I have been trying once per day. My mother is on the same medication but hers only makes her tired. I have no appetite at all. I need to lose some weight, but not like this.
I did wean off the wellbutrin slowly so I don't think it would be that.My final dose was in April. I think I take on so much at once and my body seems like it just couldn't take anymore. So a severe panic attack made me stop. Thanks for the support. I definitely need it.
I take the clonazepam twice daily as needed. It is .5mg. I started off at twice per day, but I was sleeping on and off all day. I can't take care of the kids that way. So, I have been trying once per day. My mother is on the same medication but hers only makes her tired. I have no appetite at all. I need to lose some weight, but not like this.
I did wean off the wellbutrin slowly so I don't think it would be that.My final dose was in April. I think I take on so much at once and my body seems like it just couldn't take anymore. So a severe panic attack made me stop. Thanks for the support. I definitely need it.
If the Wellbutrin was stopped abruptly....your symptoms are likely due to discontinuing it without a taper, which is really important with these types of meds.
Also, a rebound panic attack isn't uncommon....and from what you describe....your symptoms sounds like a classic panic attack.
How are you taking the Klonopin? Is it being dosed twice daily, or just "as needed"? Taking Klonopin "as needed" isn't very effective, as it really needs to build up in the system in order to be therapeutic. A med like Xanax is more appropriate to take "as needed", as a rescue med in the event of severe anxiety or a panic attack.
Those are definitely things you need to discuss with your doc when you have your appt. In the meantime...if your anxiety is better controlled with the Klonopin, then continue taking it till you get to your appt. Your heart rate is fine. Normal pule is approx 60-80, but of course there are variations for all kinds of reasons....from meds, to diseases, etc....everybody is different. My resting heart rate, for example...is between 90-100.
So, to answer your questions...your panic most likely returned due to the cessation of the Wellbutrin (one factor anyway). As far as why it returned "that way"? That is a million dollar question. There are no "norms" when it comes to PA's...even amongst people who have had them for years. They are very inconsistent in their timing, and the characteristics.
Best advice I can give you is TRY not to dwell on it....try to put it out of your mind. The more you focus on it, the more you will worry about it, and possibly trigger another. The side effects you describe from the Klonopin are pretty common, and while they are probably bothersome, they are not harmful. You have to decide what is most important right now....if the Klonopin seems to be harnessing the anxiety...then you have to decide if you'd rather try to endure the side effects until you meet with your doc...or if you'd rather stop taking it b/c of the side effects...but then you're running the risk of increasing your anxiety. That's a call only YOU can really make.
But, the side effects you describe are not going to harm you. You may want to try taking half a pill instead of what you are Rx'ed...that may lessen the side effects. Lastly, if you are taking it as needed, or once a day...consider asking your Pharmacist about perhaps splitting the dose to twice daily. Example...if you are Rx'ed 0.5 mg "as needed"...try taking 0.25mg in the morning and at bedtime.
Best of luck, hang in there.
Also, a rebound panic attack isn't uncommon....and from what you describe....your symptoms sounds like a classic panic attack.
How are you taking the Klonopin? Is it being dosed twice daily, or just "as needed"? Taking Klonopin "as needed" isn't very effective, as it really needs to build up in the system in order to be therapeutic. A med like Xanax is more appropriate to take "as needed", as a rescue med in the event of severe anxiety or a panic attack.
Those are definitely things you need to discuss with your doc when you have your appt. In the meantime...if your anxiety is better controlled with the Klonopin, then continue taking it till you get to your appt. Your heart rate is fine. Normal pule is approx 60-80, but of course there are variations for all kinds of reasons....from meds, to diseases, etc....everybody is different. My resting heart rate, for example...is between 90-100.
So, to answer your questions...your panic most likely returned due to the cessation of the Wellbutrin (one factor anyway). As far as why it returned "that way"? That is a million dollar question. There are no "norms" when it comes to PA's...even amongst people who have had them for years. They are very inconsistent in their timing, and the characteristics.
Best advice I can give you is TRY not to dwell on it....try to put it out of your mind. The more you focus on it, the more you will worry about it, and possibly trigger another. The side effects you describe from the Klonopin are pretty common, and while they are probably bothersome, they are not harmful. You have to decide what is most important right now....if the Klonopin seems to be harnessing the anxiety...then you have to decide if you'd rather try to endure the side effects until you meet with your doc...or if you'd rather stop taking it b/c of the side effects...but then you're running the risk of increasing your anxiety. That's a call only YOU can really make.
But, the side effects you describe are not going to harm you. You may want to try taking half a pill instead of what you are Rx'ed...that may lessen the side effects. Lastly, if you are taking it as needed, or once a day...consider asking your Pharmacist about perhaps splitting the dose to twice daily. Example...if you are Rx'ed 0.5 mg "as needed"...try taking 0.25mg in the morning and at bedtime.
Best of luck, hang in there.
Wellbutrin made me nervous, too. I have IBS and can only sing the praises of bentyl. Is that stuff great or what? So soothing. I'm not very knowledgeable but I wanted to reply so you don't feel 'lost'.
I'm so impressed you know your heart rate! I only know when mine is very slow or shooting up to the point where I can feel it in my neck. Sorry I'm notmuch help but check back often for better replies. Others here are very smart, very helpful and will reply to you as soon as they can. This is a very supportive forum!
I'm so impressed you know your heart rate! I only know when mine is very slow or shooting up to the point where I can feel it in my neck. Sorry I'm notmuch help but check back often for better replies. Others here are very smart, very helpful and will reply to you as soon as they can. This is a very supportive forum!
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