Med Changes........Please Help

[takingit1dayatatime]

PLEASE HELP........ I am at my wits end dealing with anxiety attacks. It has literally taken my life away. I first had anxiety 19 years ago, that lasted about 2 years. I was good until summer of 2012. It will be 3 years since I enjoyed life. I can't drive, go to family functions, be involved in children's activities.......nothing!!!!  I was on Paxil and Klonipin for 2 years and finally gave up on the paxil. Still take the klonipin. My psych dr was changed and now the new dr wants me to try different meds. I am so afraid of medicine anymore as I take too many. I suffer from a lot of health issues including anxiety, fibro, RA, thyroid, and heart problems. New Dr prescribed me klonipin (same) , Topamax and Elavil. Has anyone taken these meds? If so, How was your experience? I have anxiety just thinking about taking them.........Please Help  .....TIA  By The way, I am new here so sorry if I mess up.....lol

[takingit1dayatatime]

I now have a therapist that I seen only once due to the high demand in mental health in my community. He seems nice but gave me a article to read about anxiety. I went to the endo but my tests weren't complete for the visit. Today, I got a call from my PCP stating my thyroid levels are ok but I have a vitamin D deficiency. Hoping my next visit with the endo with be more helpful. I go next week. Was wondering if my vitamin D deficiency has anything to do with my anxiety/panic attacks?

[takingit1dayatatime]

Thank you again. I'm trying to find a good doctor now. I have an appointment with a new therapist who doesn't prescribe meds but maybe can be helpful. I also go to an endo in September so we will see how it works out. I do know that panic/ anxiety attacks are a serious illness. I wish there was an easier way to deal with it but that's impossible. Thank You for your time and support, I am truly grateful. I will keep everyone updated as I go through this process.

[Paxiled]

I can't know, obviously, but thyroid problems are a main cause of anxiety.  There is a group of psychiatrists who call themselves functional physicians who decided that they needed to act as doctors and not just psychiatrists -- they try to thoroughly eliminate all possible physiological causes of symptoms before they label it a mental disorder.  Hard to find them, though, and they never take insurance, but it does go to show, you always have to eliminate the physiological possibilities first or you're missing the problem.  But again, I can't know what's true in your case, only that you're right to be doing your homework and do the best you can.  Good luck.

[takingit1dayatatime]

Thanks for your input Paxiled. I too thought all the meds my psych prescribed me were "off".  It was my first time ( and last) seeing him. I usually try not to read the side effects but I am glad I did on those. I didn't take any of the meds he prescribed me......I panicked just thinking about them. I am now home bound (agoraphobia) and panic is at an all time high. PCP prescribed Xanax until I see my endocrinologist in September. Do you think my thyroids could be causing my anxiety? I read your post about my physiological problems could be the source of my anxiety. I was wondering the same thing........I also had an earache for a looooong time , but my ear, nose, and throat dr said I was fine. But there is pain and burning deep within my inner ear. It's really hard to find a good, thorough doctor where I live. I get passed around from dr to dr. I'm hoping when I see an endo she can shed some light. First time appointments aren't open until September though.....UGH  

[Paxiled]

My concern would first be why the Topamax?  Do you suffer from seizures or migraines?  I ask because your doctor is piling on the medication instead of seeing if one will do, but also because you don't list the things Topamax is designed to treat, so either you just didn't mention it or your doctor is using it off-label.  If the latter, if you do decide to take the Elavil, I'd just take that and see if it works before adding on other meds.  The proper way to do what's called augmentation, which is adding to a medication, is that the medication works but not completely, so you add another medication to get a better result.  But if a medication doesn't work at all, you don't augment it, you stop it and try something else.  As for Elavil, I never took that one, but I did take a drug in the same class, a tricyclic called imipramine.  It worked pretty much as well as Paxil without the horrible complications, but it did stop working more quickly.  The side effects of tricyclics obviously vary by the individual, and by the drug, but the more common ones are dry mouth, constipation, and headaches.  The do seem easier to stop taking than ssris and snris.  But experience obviously varies.  One tricyclic, clomipramine, has more side effects than just about any other medication for anxiety and depression, so it just goes to show, even within the same class drugs differ wildly -- Paxil is exponentially more difficult to take and quit than any other ssri.  But I also would note that given the physiological disorders you have, several of them can also cause your mental problems, so they may be the source of your anxiety.  They might not be, but if they are no antidepressant is going to be enough for you as the problem is your physiological problems haven't been properly addressed yet.  Remember, some docs are a whole lot better at medicine than others.  Good luck whatever you do.

[takingit1dayatatime]

I completely understand. There's just something about taking meds that make me panic. I didn't even take the previous meds I mentioned. I just went to my PCP and explained that the panic is at it's highest level right now. She gave me back my Xanax. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist ( Thyroid dr) in September. Hopefully she can let me know what's going on or can help me. Hope your feeling better.......

[miche31263]

Thank you, you will be in my thoughts and prayers too.  My Psych wants me to go back on Paxil one more time since I'm only giving it 5 days each time.  Like I'm making my brain think it's evil and not giving it a chance.  So I took 10mg today, and I'm already panicking.  But I have to remember that I'm in a frozen state of panic always without the meds.  I just want to get better too.  Lots of prayers all the time.  I feel so tested anymore.

[takingit1dayatatime]

Thank you so much and hugs to you also. It's really a hard thing to deal with. And when you add on all the other health problems to anxiety it just makes it that much worse. I consider myself a loving person and sometimes question if I'm being "punished" of some sort. I just want my life back as I know you do too, as well as all the others here. If you ever need to talk, I will be here. ! Your in my thoughts and prayers!

[miche31263]

I just wanted to say hello, and tell you that I too am having the hardest time finding the "right" med.  I too have Fibro, RA, heart rhthm problems, among the GAD, panic, agoraphobia, ocd, ptsd.....I know I will never be "normal" but just being able to function would be nice.  I have no experience with the Topamax or Elavil, but I'm sure at some point it will be added to the regimen as my Dr. makes her rounds with the meds.  I am trying to find a counselor that does CBT, and am looking into other options too.  I am going through some huge major life events right now that have also thrown me through a loop.  Hugs to you.