i cant get control of my panic attacks

[tina0214]

Im 24 yrs old, after having our 9 month old my panic attacks that i used to have when i was a teenager have surfaced again, alot of things have changed and im assuming that has triggered my anxiety with having all the stress, i went to my doctor and im now taking lexapro 5mg, it has helped a little but i still get very anxious, especially at night. There are times i wake up in the midle of the night with the shakes, i get the chills and in worst case scenario it sometimes feels like im going to jump out of my skin or have a seizure, just that feeling of losing control. Im also a hypocondriac which doesnt help my anxiety. I see a councilor every other week, im on medication, i dont know what else to do! im afraid of these symptoms being more then just anxiety and possibly being something more serious. I dont know?

[tina0214]

Thanks so much for your comment, a few family members now have said i need to up my dose, i just hate the side effects i get from lexapro which is weird bc ive been on it before and it was wonderful? ive been on it now since july, after having our 9 month old we moved in with my in laws and about a month after i started getting my panic attacks. I believe its all temporary, hopefully lol im just emotionally exhausted! i hate feeling like im going to die or something! The thing about medication is with my anxiety it freaks me out to even take tylenol? i know it sounds insane but its my hypocondria, im terrified of everything! i just cant believe less then a year ago i felt totally normal and all of a sudden my life has turned upside down...

Thanks again

[Julie359]

Yeah 5mg is the minimum i think to take so maybe an increase to 10mg may be a plan of action.  Go back an see ur doc and expalin that ur still feeling bad .... also think about trying another drug ontop of Lexapro called Propanalol or Inderal, I am curently taking 40mg x 2 times a day and i can honestly say this has been a blessing to me... I use to get severe shaking and unconrollable anxiety n thought i would have seizures etc...n my heaqrt would pump so hard n fast i thought i would die but after going onto this drug all that has stopped.... My GAD has become minimal... however it doesn't stop my phobic anxiety so if i go into a crowded area i will get a panic attack but i can honestly say it has helped me alot.

Hope this has been of some help......

[remar]

You have had a lot of changes in your life recently and your probably right about this triggering your panic attacks.
How long have you been on the Lexapro? You may need an increase.
You also may want to talk to your Dr about running some tests on your thyroid and hormone levels. Both of them can become unbalanced after having a baby and cause anxiety. If that all checks out alright you may want to think about adding an anti anxiety med. Take care. Remar