Aa
New to forum. Not new to anxiety. Ativan. Klonopin.
Hello all.
I'm new here. I was on medhelp due to 2 days ago being diagnosed with chiari malformation of 7mm.
In 2002 I had my first panic attack. The night before a plane trip from LA to NY. It was not fun.
In 2004 I started having dizziness, nausea, vertigo, panic, anxiety, et al.
I have had Ativan and take only when needed. It used to be one every 3 months (I avoided traveling, elevators, etc).
I got started on Paxil in 2005. Stopped before 2006.
My PCP assured me my issues were ALL due to anxiety.
I have spent tens of thousands on drs, tests, homeopathic, etc etc.
In dec 2011 while on tour (yes, Ativan or klonopin for the flights) I had bad stomach issues and had to come home.
Gastronomic tests revealed not much.
Severe anxiety and panic since then. Daily.
Klonopin used to work great for me. But, maybe it's my body but recently not as well (.5 mg).
Ativan helps me to get out of bed without nausea, foggy, dizzy, anxiety, etc but don't want to get hooked so I take it only on days I have a drs appt.
A new psychiatrist offered me Seroquel.
Anyone on that? Eager to see if anyone has had luck wih it.
I'm facing a chiari surgery. Just typing that gives me sick feeling.
I just need strength to get out of this valley.
Any help is appreciated.
And if I can be of help, ask away regarding Ativan, klonopin, Paxil, ENT testing, hyperbaric therapy, traveling, etc.
Dallas
I'm new here. I was on medhelp due to 2 days ago being diagnosed with chiari malformation of 7mm.
In 2002 I had my first panic attack. The night before a plane trip from LA to NY. It was not fun.
In 2004 I started having dizziness, nausea, vertigo, panic, anxiety, et al.
I have had Ativan and take only when needed. It used to be one every 3 months (I avoided traveling, elevators, etc).
I got started on Paxil in 2005. Stopped before 2006.
My PCP assured me my issues were ALL due to anxiety.
I have spent tens of thousands on drs, tests, homeopathic, etc etc.
In dec 2011 while on tour (yes, Ativan or klonopin for the flights) I had bad stomach issues and had to come home.
Gastronomic tests revealed not much.
Severe anxiety and panic since then. Daily.
Klonopin used to work great for me. But, maybe it's my body but recently not as well (.5 mg).
Ativan helps me to get out of bed without nausea, foggy, dizzy, anxiety, etc but don't want to get hooked so I take it only on days I have a drs appt.
A new psychiatrist offered me Seroquel.
Anyone on that? Eager to see if anyone has had luck wih it.
I'm facing a chiari surgery. Just typing that gives me sick feeling.
I just need strength to get out of this valley.
Any help is appreciated.
And if I can be of help, ask away regarding Ativan, klonopin, Paxil, ENT testing, hyperbaric therapy, traveling, etc.
Dallas
Awesome! I see you posted in the Chiari group! Great!
Like I said, start a new thread over there, and provide a link to this thread
(just right click on the address bar when you have this page open and click "copy"...and in the body of your new thread, right click again, and choose "paste")
(Just in case you werent sure how to copy the link)
I'm anxious to hear what the CM folks have to say!
Like I said, start a new thread over there, and provide a link to this thread
(just right click on the address bar when you have this page open and click "copy"...and in the body of your new thread, right click again, and choose "paste")
(Just in case you werent sure how to copy the link)
I'm anxious to hear what the CM folks have to say!
I agree with remar completely.
And like I said, too, so many of the symptoms that you thought were attributed to the anxiety were really caused by the CM. Just feeling those sensations is enough to cause you anxiety...it's basically conditioning. That's why I'm wondering if some of that will resolve on its own. If you won't be experiencing those symtpoms after the repair, then you'll likely be much less anxious.
I agree that if you really want to try a new med now, I would recommend either just sticking with the Klonopin (with perhaps with a dosage increase) and Ativan, or would try another SSRI. IMO, Seroquel is kind of an "overkill" when it comes to treating anxiety. The situations in where I saw Seroquel be beneficial was in patients with more than one psych diagnosis.
If you haven't already, post in our Chiari group, and provide a link to this thread, and ask for their input. My knowledge about CM is very basic. There may even be some special considerations as far as antidepressants with CM, I wouldn't know. See what they have to say about the symptoms improving, and consequently, the anxiety improving as well.
Let us know when you posted over there, as I would love to read the replies. I'm going to peek in your posting history and see if you've found them yet...if not, I will post a link to that community for you.
And like I said, too, so many of the symptoms that you thought were attributed to the anxiety were really caused by the CM. Just feeling those sensations is enough to cause you anxiety...it's basically conditioning. That's why I'm wondering if some of that will resolve on its own. If you won't be experiencing those symtpoms after the repair, then you'll likely be much less anxious.
I agree that if you really want to try a new med now, I would recommend either just sticking with the Klonopin (with perhaps with a dosage increase) and Ativan, or would try another SSRI. IMO, Seroquel is kind of an "overkill" when it comes to treating anxiety. The situations in where I saw Seroquel be beneficial was in patients with more than one psych diagnosis.
If you haven't already, post in our Chiari group, and provide a link to this thread, and ask for their input. My knowledge about CM is very basic. There may even be some special considerations as far as antidepressants with CM, I wouldn't know. See what they have to say about the symptoms improving, and consequently, the anxiety improving as well.
Let us know when you posted over there, as I would love to read the replies. I'm going to peek in your posting history and see if you've found them yet...if not, I will post a link to that community for you.
I can only give you my opinion. I think Seroquel is not the best med for you to be on. It is a very potent med. There are several SSRI's to choose from. I know you've been on one so far. I'm wondering why your Dr is'nt trying you on a different one? We're all so different and can do well on one a med while someone else does not. I took Paxil myself and did very well on it for several years. I quit it because of weight gain and from being on it for so long it was starting to quit working for me.
Are you having problems with depression too? I'm asking because you may not need an antidepressant but to be on an anti anxiety med. Klonopin is usually taken a couple of times a day every day so it can build up in your system.
If it were me, I would really think twice about taking Seroquel and try another SSRI if you have both depression and anxiety, or if you can not get your anxiety under control with Klonopin and Ativan.
Are you having problems with depression too? I'm asking because you may not need an antidepressant but to be on an anti anxiety med. Klonopin is usually taken a couple of times a day every day so it can build up in your system.
If it were me, I would really think twice about taking Seroquel and try another SSRI if you have both depression and anxiety, or if you can not get your anxiety under control with Klonopin and Ativan.
Hello and welcome! I'm sorry to hear of your new diagnosis and upcoming surgery, I know that's a very scary thing to face. Have you found our Chiari Forum? Fabulous people there!
Besides the Paxil, have you ever tried another SSRI antidepressant? I would be inclined to recommend something like that before Seroquel. Some people have success with Seroquel, but in my own opinion, I think an SSRI is a more reasonable choice, for a few reasons.
Obviously, MANY of the symptoms you experienced that were attributed to anxiety, were actually a result of the CM. The plus side of that is, I would imagine a good bit of your anxiety will be alleviated once those symptoms are brought under control post-op.
When is your surgery? MAYBE it would be reasonable to hold off on starting a new med for anxiety until after your surgery is over, and you give yourself some time to adjust?
Do you take the Klonopin daily? How often? It could be that you just need a dose increase, as it's common to build a tolerance to it over time. I'm sure you're very anxious about the surgey, understandably...but like I said, maybe it would be best to try to continue managing the anxiety with the benzos (Ativan/Klonopin) until after you can reevaluate the anxiety after the CM has been repaired? Just a suggestion.
Glad you found us...we'll be glad to help in any way we can..know you're not alone! Either with the anxiety or the CM!
Besides the Paxil, have you ever tried another SSRI antidepressant? I would be inclined to recommend something like that before Seroquel. Some people have success with Seroquel, but in my own opinion, I think an SSRI is a more reasonable choice, for a few reasons.
Obviously, MANY of the symptoms you experienced that were attributed to anxiety, were actually a result of the CM. The plus side of that is, I would imagine a good bit of your anxiety will be alleviated once those symptoms are brought under control post-op.
When is your surgery? MAYBE it would be reasonable to hold off on starting a new med for anxiety until after your surgery is over, and you give yourself some time to adjust?
Do you take the Klonopin daily? How often? It could be that you just need a dose increase, as it's common to build a tolerance to it over time. I'm sure you're very anxious about the surgey, understandably...but like I said, maybe it would be best to try to continue managing the anxiety with the benzos (Ativan/Klonopin) until after you can reevaluate the anxiety after the CM has been repaired? Just a suggestion.
Glad you found us...we'll be glad to help in any way we can..know you're not alone! Either with the anxiety or the CM!
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