Anxiety or PTSD

[ManicPanic247]

Hi everyone,
I have never had anxiety until i took an antidepressant for depression a few months ago. It was really really really bad at first i went to the hospital multiple times because i was having severe panic and it gradually went away since i stopped the antidepressants but not all the way. I havent had any panic or panic attacks, but i suffer from bad anxiety. From the moment i open my eyes in the morning, then comes the chest pain and shortness of breath.  I just can't take it anymore. I dont know what to do  beacuse im scared to death to  try another antidepressant (ssri) beacuse the same thing may happen again. Do i have this Severe anxiety from The medicine itself (i was only on celexa and prozac for 6 days) or could it  be PTSD from the bad experience i had from the adverse reactions? What would you do. I cant deal with this anymore i want to enjoy life and my family.

[aheart]

I just posted above about meds causing anxiety, then I read down the page and found your post. So meds can cause anxeity. I suggest you & your doctor experiment with different meds until you can find one that don't give you the bad reactions. I have a couple of friends with PTSD and they had to find the right med also. I never realized before that meds could cause anxiety, but it makes perfect sense. Good Luck to you, you will find that balance, God Bless

[cassieks]

I know how you're feeling.  I took only one 10mg dose of Lexapro in mid November and I'm still struggling with the side effects from the adverse reaction I had.  I never had anxiety prior to taking the pill, but after only one I feel as if I now have anxiety.  I believe it will get better in time.  Your body just needs to re-balance itself and normalize again, which can take time.  My doctor (who is great) told me I will go back to 'normal' self, but it could take a few months.  If you really want to try another medication (which I would avoid) make sure you find a doctor you get along well with.  
I do have some days that are great and I feel fine, but there are others that I feel anxious and panic all day.  I've started acupuncture which has helped, I'm eating healthy and taking all my vitamins which I've been told can help.  I also take Klonopin at night sometimes to help me sleep which is a great help.  I was told by my dr. that I'm suffering from PSTD from the reaction I had, so it sounds like you may be suffering from that as well.

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I know it's a terrifying feeling, but it should get better with time.  

[jdtm]

My mother had the same reaction when her doctor increased her dosage of her SSRI.   It was simply too much too fast.  With antidepressants, the rule usually is "go low and go slow".   I'm wondering if your dose was far too high and also, why both prozac and celexa?  It sounds to me as if your medication was wrong - the incorrect dose, increased or decreased far too fast,  or perhaps even the wrong medication.  Have you stopped both medications?   You need to revisit your doctor again (or maybe choose another more experienced in psychiatric medications.