Paxil CR and GAD

[janetlee1964]

After 12 years of being on Zoloft 200mg daily for my generalized anxiety disorder, along with varying dosages of Xanax and Buspar 15 mg. 2 x a day, I was switched to Paxil CR 25mg, because it was believed that the Zoloft had finally quit working, as I'd started having constant anxiety everyday again, sometimes for weeks at a time.( I was weaned with 100mg Zoloft and 12.5mg of Paxil CR for a few weeks, then totally taken off the Zoloft.) I started the Paxil CR 25mg on Oct. 12, 2006 and am also on 15mg Buspar 2x a day.(I haven't taken any Xanax since 10/20/06 without any withdrawal problems. I have always been very careful with it.) After about 2-3 weeks, it seemed as if it was helping me a lot, so I had a good 2 weeks or so. Then on 11/20/06, I awoke feeling anxious. On 11/21, the same thing, except it was a bit more intense. The same went for 11/22. Today (11/23) was about the same. All of these days I've managed to get through, but it is so hard! Why isn't the Paxil still helping me? Am I needing a larger dose? Does it need even more time to take good, full effect? I still have some Xanax, but try to not resort to it, though it's been tempting. I just don't know what to think and it has me very sad, scared, and worried. I am a 42 year old female and can't imagine living the rest of my life in constant dread and fear. I feel like I have butterflies in my stomach when I'm feeling like this and it drives me up the wall! Should I give the Paxil a bit longer or should I go ahead and call my psychiatrist? This has been a very hard year for me and I just want to feel better and have my life back. PLEASE consider ALL my questions and comment on them. I need guidance really bad.
Thank you!
janet

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

First of all, I think you should ask your psychiatrist about an increased dose.  More importantly, you should work with him or her, and yourself, on making your anxiety even worse by catastrophyzing, that is, projecting this way into the future. When you get so scared about your anxiety, and watch it so closely, you make it worse, and more importantly, you take the spotlight off of the cause, the hard year and whatever that entails, and focus too much on the symptom.  Your anxiety will abate when you look at what is really bothering you,and believe it, its not just the symptoms..

[janetlee1964]

I've had a bad year because my anxiety has been thru the roof. I will talk to my doctor, but as to "catastrophizing", I don't know...
janet