Chemical Imbalance

[Smiles22]

About 6 years ago I passed out in mt parents house when I was in the bathroom, after feeling very hot and my heart racing... They came and took my by ambulance... they checked me abd everything was fine.. I went home and tried to continue normally... but i just didn't feel right.. I felt funny in the head not dizzy but just off... I didn't want to leave my room from it.. so I stayed home all the time.. I didn't want to drive any more and could not go in walmart and stores simliar... We then went to my doctor and she dignosed me with anxiety/panic attacks... I didn't think I was going to be able to go back to college but I did and graduated while working too jobs I ended up just going to one job bc I think I was draining myself.. The meds were helping but I think went to a cousler... they really didn't help..maybe a little... Time went by and everytjing was going ok... My queston is Is a chemical imbalance which they say people have when they are on these meds.. is it something that will never go away... bc I was told that the meds don't really correct anything they just help you get through what you are going through.. My pharmist told me that I know what is wrong and when I firgure it out and get through it I should be able to get off the meds... which know are wellbrutrin 150mg and clanazpam .5 when needed... usually twice a day but not all days... I believe since this happened once I started college that it was due to how close I was with my mom she had 3 kidney transplants throughtout her life and we have stayed close through everything... I am know married and trying to get off the meds but I don't know if this is a head game and I can or if I have a chemical imbalance that won't get better and I need to stay on the med... Can you explain at all???

[franceslee]

I  have heard the same thing as you.  I am not on any meds but my anxiety is getting to the point where I think im going to have to start.  I did hear that once you start taking the meds it can be from here on out.  Surf the net, there are some really good sites about anxiety.

[Smiles22]

I have trust me.. I think it honestly depends on the person and the story behind their situation but I don't know... Well I can tell you one thing if I was you I would try anything to not go on meds... I would exersice... relax... try breathing tech. etc.. then if you need to go on a nerve pill.. But that is my advice!

[franceslee]

Do you ever feel like your not normal and just feel funny in your head?  I have that feeling often and I dont know what to do??

[mrworryguts]

"Do you ever feel like your not normal and just feel funny in your head?  I have that feeling often and I dont know what to do?? "


Very often, aand it comes and goes in phases. I hate it.  It's a sort of dizzy/lightheadidness, but then again it is'nt. I can't really find words to describe it accurately.  I don't like it.

[franceslee]

do you soetimes feel like your going to pass out, or like your having vision problems?

[mrworryguts]

I don't usually feel i'm going to pass out, but on the odd occasion i seem to feel as though i could if i let things get out of hand and get myself too worked up about it. Fortunately, i hav'nt passed out yet.

I can't say i've ever had vision problems from it.  

[Smiles22]

Ya I have that Its not that you are dizzy but it feels like it! Ya my eyes also have trouble adjusting to light changes... I hate it too...

[Smiles22]

When you feel that off balance dizzy feeling... just focus your mind on something positive direct your thoughts to somethin gelse and know that you are ok..

[Smiles22]

I have felt like i was going to pass out before i believe it is bc you are not breathing right.. I think i kind of hyperventalate... If you get grash of your self and breathing i think it will be ok... they say that you don't pass out from aniexty and panic attacks but.. i dunno... It is alot easier to say stay calm then to stay calm though so...

[Mark TX]

You will have to decide whether to take meds.  But you are correct.  Drugs don't 'cure' anxiety or panic.  The most common anti-anxiety drugs, benzodiazepines, are potent TRANQUILIZERS that sedate you.  The effects are hypnotic (causing sleepiness), anxiolytic (reducing anxiety), amnesic (disrupting memory), and muscle relaxing.  While in the prescribed dosages these effects should not have much impact on your normal functioning, they are there, nevertheless.  And with prolonged use you will almost certainly become dependent.  Which means you will not be able to simply quit cold turkey.  The withdrawal effects are real and can be severe if the drug is not tapered very slowly (over the course of months.)  Withdrawal effects can include depression, heightened sensitivity, muscle tension and cramps, insomnia, derealization, increased panic, headaches, and in very severe cases, psychosis and hallucinations.  A patient who is unaware of these severe withdrawal symptoms (not uncommon, just read these boards) is at risk if the medication is abruptly cut off.  (Say your bag is stolen while traveling overseas and you don't have convenient access to a pharmacy.)  A long term benzo user who suddenly loses his or her supply of pills will not immediately go into withdrawal... but the psychological impact alone is tremendous.  I can assure you from personal experience.

Some will downplay these issues.  Perhaps they should be downplayed if the immediate goal is to relieve severe and possibly debilitating anxiety.  

But then, one wonders if anti-anxiety medications are so effective... why are there so many posters coming to this board who have not had satisfactory relief of their symptoms?

Drugs can be very beneficial.  But they are no cure-all.  Read carefully.  And read the bad as well as the good.   When you see words like dependency... read addiction.  And discontinuation syndrome = severe and possibly dangerous withdrawal.

Good luck!

mark

[Smiles22]

Thank you for your reply...  I have tried to go off of the meds beofre and aftre a month had to start them up again... My doc. has known this and even when I got off of them gave me a high five... But not more then a month I had to go back on.. I first tried effexor and then zoloft, paxil and wellbrutrin along with clonazapam (nerve pill) ... I have been wanting to get off of the anti depressant.. which is Wellbrutrin 150 mg.. and just take the nerve pill as needed while getting off of the drug... I am out of college now.. have gotten married and believe that I really want to try and get off of the drugs... I think some of the anixety is seperation anxiety and I plain worry to much adn don't relax.. So I ws going to cut my dose in half making it 75 mg and take that for a month or two and see how that goes and then move to every other day and such.. When my doctor took me off paxil when I asked and put me on wellbrutrin that is kind of the way we did it... Paxil was a little rough to get off of but I did it.. but I was on another drug so... Anyway Any advice on if the 75mg is ok and so on with getting off of the wellbrutrin?

Thanks so much for all your advice it means alot... You said from experience have you been there before with anxiety and panic attacks?

[Mark TX]

Yes... I've had both anxiety and panic (which I clearly differentiate.)  My panic attacks sound similar to yours... I have a feeling that I'll pass out, though I never have... which leads to racing heart, dizziness, difficulty breathing, etc.  Fortunately, I haven't had a full blown panic attack in over a year.  I have come close several times this year after consuming caffeine.  I should know better.  =)

mark

[Mark TX]

I hesitate to give any specific advice about getting off any medication or what doses you should or can safely use.  I will tell you that I got off Welbutrin relatively easily within 2 weeks.  I'd have to go back and check what does I was on.  I might have had a very mild depression in the month afterward... but that quickly subsided.  Other than that, no ill effects.  I've been on klonopin (chlonazepam) for 10+ years.  There is no easy way off a benzo for most of us after that long.  I've just found a new doctor who is familiar with benzo withdrawal and proper tapering.  I'm stabilizing my dosage now at .25mg tid until I meet with her in a couple weeks.

Good luck!

mark