anxiety

[Ryan76]

I have very bad anxiety and currently am in therapy to try to alleviate some of it.  I was taking 1mg xanax at night to rest but started finding that I needed it throughout the day to cope.  The therapist suggested klonopin .5mg at night and half that in the morning.  I feel irritable and just overall not caring about much yesterday and today so I called her back and she suggested Wellbutrin and take Klonopin until the wellbutrin kicks in.  I've gone through a lot of meds for anxiety and never really found one that worked.  I know I tried Wellbutrin before and stopped for some reason but I don't remember why so she says it must not have been a bad med to be on for my body.  Is it normal to feel this way on klonopin?  Does the dose need to go up higher?  I don't know what to do, I'm unappy and irritated and want to be left alone which is impossible with two children.  Help please.

[starr28]

Hi,

I am on wellbutrin and once it kicked in it worked great.  Unfortunately
it took a couple weeks for the benefits.  I took xanax during the startup
period to help me - hang in there, start up on these meds is very
difficult but it is worth it!

best wishes,
starr28

[kcdem]

you could be feeling like **** because of going off of the xanax in an improper way, i think xanax is a HORRIBLE drug and fries the mind. I am far from an expert but i hear on this forum that klonopin is superior. i would be very careful about adding wellbutrin right now until you get the xanax and klonopin thing worked out. i know thay mystruggle has much success with klonopin for his anxiety. i take klonopin myself on an as needed for anxiety and it is much cleaner and less harmful than xanax in my opinion. i was never prescribed xanax but i have taken it before (i am sober now no smoke or drink) and the xanax i thought was a nasty drug, kinda fun at the time but the next morning vey very foggy brain and memory loss.

My wellbutrin experience was jitters increased anxiety and No appetite. your doc may be leading you down the wrong road, i would wait till the other is handled. I hear many describe xanax withdrawal as excruciating,so that could be the problem.


kcdem

[JSGeare]

You can either juggle meds, try this and try that...or...

get some therapy going with the goal of getting rid of that pesky anxiety -and not needing meds (or not much of any) whatsoever.

There are reasons for the anxiety, and while the symptoms can be treated with medications, the REASONS must be treated with therapy. I'm talking about full-blown anxiety and panic here -not the occasional "Yikes!"  Just as your brain created the thoughts, self-concepts and mental adaptations that caused the anxiety, so also will the brain "unring" those bells.

No matter what medications deliver comfort, please consider therapy, to deliver the recovery.