Should I call the doctor?

[Sean117]

Alright so the came to the house last night and put me on these 3 pills Ativan Paxil and some kinda beta blocker what I don't know the name of, but the only thing I've been taking was Ativan cause it's the first one I've taken and trying my best to take the next pills which is the Paxil but the other pill the beta blocker I only take at night but didn't even take but my problem right now is I've been takin the Ativan twice a day for the past 3 days so far but it seems like it's not helping all that much I mean it calms me down when I take it when I'm eating breakfast still feel my heart pounding. I don't if I should call the doc and ask if he can put me on xanax cause that was the one that helped and worked?

[Paxiled]

Then here's the thing.  Certain meds have a reputation for being very difficult and some for being easier, some for working better for anxiety, some less so.  A psychiatrist usually starts with the least problematic ones and only goes to the more problematic ones when these don't work.  Zoloft is a good one for anxiety by reputation, and if you look at this board it's the one most people seem to do best on.  Paxil is also difficult, though everyone is different, so I don't think 23 days of Zoloft was much of a test.  They all have start-up side effects, but you do get used to most of them or they go away over time.  Some don't, such as sexual side effects of weight gain, but others do usually, such as sedation.  Beta blockers are usually used for people with heart side effects and for social anxiety and fear of public performance, not for other anxiety situations.  Usually.  My advice isn't worth more than anyone else's, but I encourage you to wait to see a good psychiatrist before you do this.  A little more time would be nice.  The ssris with the best reputation for the least side effects are Lexapro and Prozac.  Paxil and the snri Effexor are the very worst by reputation, so why start there?  Just my opinion, again.  The above is correct -- it takes 4-6 weeks to notice if it's going to work, but side effect begin immediately.  Bummer that, but it is the way it is.

[Sean117]

Yes paxiled my first time on a antidepressant well my old psych did put my on zoloft which I didn't know it was but was on it for 23 days due to bad side affects and stopped it but this meds he wants me to just take it and said to me if any problems to give him a call not like the psych where he hangs up on me. Not seeing a psych cause still looking for a new one but can't seem to get one cause I'm on a waiting list which is 1 to 4 months long

[Sean117]

The doctor was a primary care doctor. The doctor came to the house and wanted backround info on me when I was young from serve lead poisoning which I was in the hospital for 2 years for cause it was that bad, when I had my first panic attack  how I coped with it without meds before and told him I worked which was good before I was on any of these meds not  but I know 3 different meds  I have to take everyday is hard you know and also said to the doctor that I've got a fear of taking pills and the xanax it took me a while to get use to but after I had no problem taking afterwares now I've only been taking the Ativan twice a day for 2 days now but I feel as if it's not working cause it doesn't seem to be doing anything for me so I might call the doctor tomorrow and tell him I know you told me that I have to take these pills but trying my best here and taking small steps but first taking one med for 3 or 4 days than start taking the Paxil next as for this beta blocker the doctor said its meant to be taken at night for sleep and keep u calm and relax.

[LRon]

It's unclear in your note who prescribed the meds for you. But in my humble opinion (I'm not a doctor!), being given three different meds to take at the same time as a result of a house call is a bit much based on a limited consultation. The Ativan is fine for settling you down in the short term, then continuing as needed. The Paxil is intended as an ongoing longer-term solution. It may take 2-3 weeks before it takes effect, and during that time you may have some minor side effects as your body adjusts. Once that happens, you should be able to taper off the Ativan and use it only for "breakthrough anxiety." Regarding the beta-blocker, it would be helpful to know if it's a time-release version so it's always in your system, or the "regular" kind that acts for a few hours and then tapers off. I agree with Paxiled that starting three meds at once will make it difficult to determine what effect each one is having on you. I suggest getting an appointment with a psychiatrist who can give you some expert guidance on medications. I hope that helps!

[Paxiled]

I'm reluctant to get involved here because you have such issues with medication, but my question would be, have you tried any antidepressant before?  These would be my concerns:  Paxil is one of the most difficult of all the antidepressants to stop taking, so it isn't a good place to start, it should be a last resort med, not a first resort.  I also wonder why you're being put on a beta blocker and an antidepressant instead of seeing first if the antidepressant alone might be all you need.  And are you seeing a psychiatrist, or a regular doc?  There are a lot of meds out there if that's the way you're choosing to go, and a lot of ways to do this, but I always say caution is the safest way and the best way to see whether a particular med works or not -- kind of hard to tell if you're starting three meds at once.  But it is your decision to make, and I hope I've given useful info, not made it harder.