anxiety, insomnia, panic disorder all due to post tramatic stress

[shallon]

Hi, I went through a trama where i was raped and the man tried to kill me. Well, i survived and see a mental health counsler (who i love) and she suggested to me to see a psychiatrist for medication. Before I saw a psychiatrist, my family doc. tried a couple different SSRI's???? and sleeping pills but the SSRI's didn't work at all and the sleeping pills put me out and i mean out (and i have a 4 yr old... not good). When I saw my psychiatrist she put me on Zoloft and Klonopin which doesn't seem to be helping at all and I have given it a month. The only change I see is that I seem to be angrier then i ever have been, straight out angry outbursts. I am driving my husband crazy. He says I seemed to be more like myself before these meds. I am not having much luck here. I just need something that i can take as needed which is always at night. This is when i have the majority of my symptoms and the only time i have panic attacks. My mother and law said I should ask for something called Zanacks (don't know how to spell that one, sorry). Can you tell me a little more about it and if it is something that is worth paying for an office visit to ask for???
thanks... Shy

[shallon]

thanks for the comments and advice... i am working with both a mental health specialist and a psychiatrist to deal with my now seemingly never ending issues. The good news is that i don't exhibit all the classic signs of PTSS anymore... i am getting better.!! The hard part is the sleeping. i don't need something that works all day.. i need something that hits me fast and hard but yet allows me to be able to wake up as needed. I hear that the zanax can do that for me. What i need is to hear peoples personal experiences with this drug. i am looking for something short term, 6 months or less because my husband and i want to have a baby and all of these meds can cause serious birth defects. I think what really kinda pisses me off is that (with my psych) she meets me for like 10 minutes and makes me feel like i am exhibiting some sort of "drug seeking behavior" which i do want something but only to get better, only to help WITH THERAPY... i kinda feel insulted considering i have never had an issue like that and she has all the police documentation of my event. ... to tell you the truth ... she knows more about what happened to me than i do...(blackouts)..... maybe that is part of the whole thing i am going through...paranoia!!!!  LOL.........................SHY

[JSGeare]

Be careful about medication window shopping on the forum -or anywhere at all outside the doctor's office. I would think that therapy with the shrink -perhaps more intense at first- would be a good idea. Meds are one thing, therapy another and together they tend to be very good. But you need time in front of that doc -so please ask for it. Heaven knows you've got plenty to be angry about and while the attack was something I'd never wish on my worst enemy, it may have stirred up some "old" stuff which, together with the incipient trauma, may now need to be addressed. Not an easy journey -but one well worth taking.

Oh, yes, and one more thing...stay with us, OK?

[cj29]

Sometimes finding the right combination of medication can be trial and error and I know it can be really frustrating.  SSRIs like Zoloft have helped me deal with anxiety and depression greatly, but that is me.  For example, I tried Celexa and it gave me the symptoms you were describing, but it works wonders for others.  Continue to work with your psychiatrist and express your concerns to him/her; by keeping open lines of communication, it will greatly help get you on the right path in my opinion

Xanax is a benzo which is in the same class as Klonopin.  It has a shorter half-life and works a little quicker, it is usually used more in the short term than Klonopin.  I have used both in the past and both worked for me, but again, we all are different.  Please keep us posted!