I need some answers, please??

[flordahboi]

I went to my doctor for help with anxiety and panic attacks and was prescribed Trazodone... I've been on it for a week now and I've only been sleeping 2 to maybe 5 hours a night. I use to sleep a good 7 or 8 hours. Is this normal? Should I have to tell my doctor about this, or will it go away by itself? I know they sometimes prescribe it FOR sleep, but I'm actually sleeping LESS. Also, does trazodone even help with panic attacks? I've read that it only helps with general anxiety disorder, not panic attacks... I need something for both. Almost over a year ago i was taking 300 mg seroquel with 20 mg of fluoxetine, but i stopped taking both of them because the Seroquel was making me too tired all the time and I just decided I didn't want to depend on drugs, but now its different because I'm trying to go back to school and I get panic attacks and anxiety in classrooms or basically just around large groups of people (social anxiety). It gets pretty bad though... constant sweaty palms, heart palpitations, sometimes i feel like i cant speak... and if i have to do public speaking my eyes start to water and i start shaking really bad and i feel like my hearts beating a million miles an hour and my stomache feels really tight like im gonna be physically sick and i feel like i cant speak or if i do try to speak, it comes out all messed up like i cant talk right.  Any help? I'd appreciate it.

[telmeto]

You said you have tried psychiatrists.  What about a psychologist, particularly a cognitive psychologist?  There is a be difference between the two.  I went to a cognitive psychologist for therapy and once to a psychiatrist for my prescription.  Finding a good psychologist is hard.  If you try it again I would recommend interviewing a few on the phone (usually free) before scheduling a visit.   During the interview process, I would give them a brief explanation of your situation and then ask them how they would approach helping you?  Then I would ask them if they have dealt with cases like yours and what kind of success they had.  I am sure they will say everyone is different, and when they do I would counter with I know.  I am just trying to get a feel for your approach and how you think.  Also, see how they feel about drugs.  If they are fans of drugs, then I would consider steering clear.  See what happens.  Then I would pick the one that feels good to you.  If you interview three and non of them feel good, I would interview another three.  A good psychologist is hard to find.  Unfortunately, sometimes the best ones are those that are not accepting new patients.  Good luck.

[flordahboi]

well, i've tried psychiatrists before, but they did nothing for me. i found it a waste of money and time... i've tried xanax (illegally) and it helped ALOT with my anxiety. its just very expensive and illegal to use without a prescription... but i dont really know if that would exactly be my best option... im definatly going to speak with my doctor about the trazodone though. im going to continue to take it as he told me though for the next 2 weeks and see if the side effects change or see if it helps with any of my anxiety. i've been having nightmares though also... nightmares i believe is another side effect.

[telmeto]

I would recommend you go back to your doctor and tell him about how you think Trozadone is effecting you.  I would never take a drug that had those types of adverse effects.

As someone who has learned to overcome my anxiety issues, I would recommend you take the following steps.

First,  work with your doctor to get you off a drug that sounds like it is making things worse than better.
Second, look for a doctor or life coach that believes in finding health rather than a drug to help you with your problems.  Though I am not a psychologist, I believe that many anxiety issues are the result of some kind of emotional imbalance (e.g., being in a relationship or job that is wrong for you, feeling guilty or ashamed about something, fear of something that is not real).  Hence, why I think it is best to find a health professional who shares this belief and can work with you to figure out what is triggering your attacks and then work with you to change your life to bring you back into emotional alignment and free of anxiety.  Your professional may recommend drugs to help you in the short term to allow you to focus on therapy, which is not a bad idea as long as you stay committed to finding the real source of your anxiety so as to become drug free in the long run.  This journey may take a long time.  It took me over a year, but you can do it.

I hope this helps.  Good luck.

[jakegorzen]

Yes thats normal, you sound like me...have you ever went to sleep....and just woke up out of nowhere, then feel kinda like your vibrating, then you have a worse time getting to sleep because your so worked up, then you "think" you fell back to sleep but its hard to tell.
When all this started with me...I would go one night without sleep, then finally my body broke and fell asleep the next....happened for about a month, I cant tell you how many times I went to the ER
Trozadone didnt do NOTHING for me, made my body tired..but that was it, when I woke up 2 hours later, it was worse because I fealt the drug...anxiety..plus the stress of not being able to sleep
if you have anything you wanna ask feel free to write me

[beentrying2quit]

I'm not a doctor but I've heard that Trazadone can actually act as a stimulant in some people.  It affected me that way.