what to use for anxiety and panic attacks

Six months ago I had acoustic neuroma surgery (translabyrinth approach from the ear)  Surgery was fine, tomor totally removed.  I have minor facial palsy.  I have been very stressed for the last year also.  I have used on my own lorazepam very infrequently, sometimes 0,5mg per day, sometimes 0,25 mg for 2-3 days only.  Then I have taken same dosage after a week.  Then after 3 days.  Si I have used it infrequently over 1 year, sometimes 2-3 months without taking any.  Recently I have taken about 2 weeks 0,25 mg in the morning and the last 2 days 0,5 mg in the morning.  It seems to help my anxiety and inner trembling and state of mental fog, but these last 2 days I have felt real closing of my throat.  I have not felt this for the first time.  After surgery I have felt my ears air-blocked.  I have had to swallow often to releive my ears and my throat has been irritated often.  I burb often and my food seems to stay up my throat.  I do not know if I should continue to use lorazepan and if it is affecting my throat.  Should I use lorazepam at all and how long does it take to use it to become dependent on it?  Is this situation related to my surgery.  HAve my nerves been shocked to the extent that I am feeling all this?  MRI and Cat -Scan show very good results of surgery.  There is scaring of course.  I am concerned about controlling the anxiety, but I am also concerned about becoming dependent on a drug.  Anything more than dependency that this drug may cause?  I know this is a difficult situation and a long question, but I appreciate your advice very much.  Who is a good specialist I can see for more of this?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The specialist you should see is a psychiatrist who prescribes psychotropic medication.  The amounts and frequency of what you have taken so far is not a problem, but too frequent and consistent use of benzodiapine drugs like this should only be done under a doctor's supervision.

There are better medications to control anxiety and the symptoms you describe, so ask your doctor about Paxil or other antidepressants in that family, and think about a limited time trial, like 4-6 months, to get this under control.  It would be even more useful to address your stress and anxiety directly by looking at whatever unsolved problems are bothering you.  You can start to do that  online at www.masteringstress.com.

[TANO]

Thank you very much.  I will speak to my doctor.  Hope Paxil has no dependancy issue to think of.  God bless you for what you are doing.

[anairhoads]

Tano,

Paxil is highly addictive and one of the most worrying medications I have come across. Please reconsider taking this medication if you can help it. It will make your anxiety worse, not better.

Please visit:

http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/ssri/paxil/Injunction/press_release_injunction.htm

Text:

Representatives of a Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Ask Federal Judge to Pull Television Ads from Nation’s Airwaves that Contain Claims that Paxil is Non Habit-Forming

Prominent Psychiatrists Testify that Paxil Maker, SmithKline Beecham, Should Cease and Desist False Advertising Claims
          
Los Angeles, July 2, 2002 - - The representatives of a nationwide class action lawsuit claiming that the antidepressant drug, Paxil, causes dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms in a high percentage of patients who attempt to stop taking the drug, are seeking a court order that would require SmithKline Beecham to pull from the airwaves certain of its television commercials that claim Paxil is non habit-forming and its promotional brochures from doctors’ offices that make claims that the drug does not cause dependency and causes only mild side effects.
          
The cease and desist request, technically known as a “preliminary injunction,” has been sought on behalf of thousands of Paxil class members as well as individuals who might be persuaded by the commercials and brochures to take Paxil in the future. The injunction is supported by two renowned psychiatrists, British psychopharmacologist, Dr. David Healy, author of the highly acclaimed book “The Antidepressant Era” and the recently published “The Creation of Psychopharmacology,” and Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, a Harvard psychiatrist and author of the bestseller “Prozac Backlash. In addition, a Los Angeles area clinician, Stuart Shipko, has come forward to share his first-hand clinical experience with patients suffering from Paxil dependency and withdrawal problems and to voice his concerns over SmithKline Beecham