At Wit's End...with anxiety!!!

[tnd]

In 2000, I overdosed on meth.  I IMMED. began having severe panic attacks. I believe my situation is different-I don't have panic attacks because I have "unresolved issues"-it's due to the damage from the O.D.  I have been on Serzone and Xanax for two years.  They have helped somewhat.  Recently, I began having severe abdominal pain.  I took Demerol, had severe panic attacks , thus switched my med.'s to Klonopin. Dr. said Klonopin was a better drug to be on. I tried Zoloft, to replace the Serzone, but it increased the anxiety.  I'm not taking anything to replace the Serzone or Zoloft at this time.  I have had endoscopy, CT scan, blood work, etc.--all normal. I was treated for Heliobacteria and blood in stool. Could this be due to a physical problem or is it the anxiety? I have also had upper chest pain and very high blood pressure (220/121) and 127 heart rate since changing med.'s. I've also had EKG's-all normal.  Could it be possible that I've had a stroke or other brain damage due to the O.D.? Could these symptoms I'm now having be due to withdrawal from Xanax. I abruptly stopped and substituted Klonopin-Dr. ordered.  The Klonopin does not help with the blood pressure, but Xanax did.  Also, I'm not taking a SSRI anymore.  Could the Klonopin seem to not be working because of this? Where do I go from here? Are there any tests I should take re: possible brain damage? The blood press. has to be dealt with ASAP. What recommendations do you have? Re: the other physical symptoms I'm experiencing (shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness, abdom. pain, confusion, etc.) could this be due to w/drawals, lack of a SSRI, or just the anxiety? How do I respond to this? What is my best course of action.  Please help!!!!!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

If you are worried about brain damage, then you should ask your doctor to arrange neuropsychological testing for organic brain disorder.  The blood pressure must be handled by your cardiologist as  your other cardiac symptoms.  It is very possible that everything is unrelated to a huge amount of internal tension and repressed, and boiling over feelings.  I don't know how old you are or what your life situation is like, but I would guesss eveything is going wrong for you, and that is stirring up an enornous tension.

You need some time out...some reflection time, to get your bearings.  You might think of a brief hosptial stay...or some sort of spiritual retreat.

Klonopin is the best, most straightforward medication for this from my point of view, but you must get that advice from your doctor.

[tnd]

Thank you for your reply, however I'm confused.  You said it was probably "unrelated" to the symptoms I'm having?  Do you mean "related"?  Also, could these symptoms be a result of not being on an SSRI or withdrawal from Xanax?  I am 34 years old, have a highly supportive family and really am not under a great deal of stress.  My wife recently joined the military and we have moved to a new town. Yes, this has been stressful but I don't feel to the point that it is causing these panic attacks.
Thank you in advance for all of your help.

[Dustin]

have you read the other posts in this forum?  Many others including myself have or had many similar symptoms as you  -- even without an overdose.  So it's probably not a unique or severe physical problem, however I wouldn't doubt that the meth incident plowed the way to anxiety.  If you search you can find many sites describing withdrawl symptoms of ssri's; they can become severe.  you're not alone.