Severe Side Effects

Hello... I am a 37 yeard old man with several Anxiety Disorders / Agoraphobia. I completely understand that my Psychiatrist is the only person to make changes in my medications. I have tried Prozac, Celexa, Lamictal, Neuronton, Paxil etc.. and I have suffered all side effects that come with, especially having ZERO sex drive. At this time I am only using Wellbutrin, waiting for something better. I still have ZERO sex drive, extreme urinary hesitation and frequently at odd times, dizziness, night sweats. Nothing seems to help my Agoraphobia, so I spend 90% of my life inside and I can hardly make my appointments. I still worry constantly and at times feel sad for no reason. My Doctor is puzzled, if you ask me. Please, could you give me any medication names to run by him? Thank you, Jim

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Have you and your doctor tried Klonopin.  It is a very effective and safe anti-anxiety drug. I hope that you are also getting psychotherapy to get to the source of your fears.

[lukin4answers2]

I hate to give you this one but it may help.  Klonopin.  It is very addictive but I have also suffered all of those side effects and can't take anything but Klonopin.  I also take Donatel for IBS.

Through the help of my counselor and myself, I have gotten past the agoraphobia.  Mine was not too severe.

I started on little projects around my house, outside, that I have been putting off forever.  

Then I went from there to going to the mall, walking in the middle, if you look up you can see that it is big and there is nothing to be afraid of.  Don't back yourself into a corner that you can not get out of.  

My mother also saw a hypnotist.  It worked for her.

Everyone is different.

I think you are doing the right thing by posting and talking to other people about their personal experiences, apply it to your situation and see what works for you.  DO NOT PUSH YOURSELF.  You will end up worse.  ---says my shrink...and I say that lovingly.  

Take baby steps!!!

Good Luck.

Kim

[anxiety-sufferer]

I would highly recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy in addition to any meds.  It was the ONLY thing that got me over my agoraphobia even once the meds began to control the panic attacks.  I went to a clinic in Boston which was amazing 3 years ago.  I think it is becoming much more common now.  I am still having problems finding a med that manages the anxiety without bad side effects though :-(

[pggasman]

Hello am new to this panick attack stuff i have always been a what if thinker i was on paxil for a few days that freaked me out and lorazapam did not really help i started out with alprazolam now am back on it the alprazolam between both in a 3 week time i have taken tops 30mg thay have me at 0.5mg once or twice a day my big fear now is all this meds i was on can i have anyside affacts coming off by just stopping that i have not been on long and did it efect me will i lose my mind or some thing from being on this stuff thats my fear that i will become a freak now help me with this

[buddy1]

i can sympathize with you.
one thing you should know, a common symptom of anxiety /panic disorder is fear of all medications.
i am currecntly strugglingm with this.
i have benn given prescriptions for prozc, zoloft and a beta block within the last four months, and they are all sitting in my drawer untouched. the fear of side effects or long term damage by taking them is paralyzing.
i am back with a tharapist, trying to get through without medication and the sad thing is , they only thing that has ever helped was when i was on paxil four years ago.
i took it for a year and then decided to come off. at the time i did not know that there could be bad withdrawals. and they were bad.
i swore i would never take anything again.
now that the anxiety is back i am in a dilemma.
i would say that you should probably try the xanax along with paxil, since it did help me alot. if you can. and try to go to therapy to get over your fear of medication. i am not able to take anything yet, but i hope one day i can

good luck and hold on!

rae