panic attacks

[libbie123]

I have always been a very nervous person but i had my first panic attack 2 months ago. Then one month ago i got a bad sinus infection and went to a walkin clinic and the doc put me on a zpac, effexor for my panic attack. I was out of work for a whole week. I went back to the same clinic but another doc put me on xanax. They helped but as soon as the med wore off the panic was back. They told me then to try zoloft and xanax er. Which has not helped and i couldnt sleep. This last thursday my panic attack was so bad my heart was beating from 80 to 112 so my nurse friend told my husband i needed to go to the e.r. needless to say my blood tests are fine and so were my heart tests.    Just more bandaids and no solutions. This saturday i actually went to a family doc and he ordered thyroid tests switched me to prozac and klonopin. I still feel no better, once the meds wear off i start all over again. No relief except when im medicated and asleep. Im seriously at the end of my rope. I cannot eat and i dry heave. Has anyone  got any hope or advice.this has ABSOLUTLY taken over my life. I have a job and a family that needs me back

[libbie123]

The worst is it has stopped my life. Like dead in its tracks. I have an understanding work family but who knows for how long. Which as im sure you know adds  to the vicious cycle of worry and stress and anxiety.  I just hope and pray that i learn to manage this  bull****.

[libbie123]

I am scheduled to see a therapist and then the next week the psychiatrist. Yes the panic attacks have happened suddenly and i know the benzos are a bandaid. Im lucky enough that my husband put his foot down and i actually went to see a family doc who went straight to ordering the thyroid tests. I also understand the dependency that you can develope from these drugs. I didnt actually take but one dose of the zoloft because it make me unable to sleep as did the xanax er. I have been on the prozac and klonopin for 3 days and i have made the determination to stick with it. I dont know what else to do.

[Paxiled]

This is confusing to me -- you've cycled through three antidepressants, which only work after 4-6 weeks, in a very short time.  One, Effexor, isn't usually used for anxiety, since it's very stimulating.  Benzos are a temporary relief, because unlike antidepressants they don't stay at peak effectiveness in the system very long, even the longer acting klonopin.  These drugs are also very difficult to stop taking, so who knows what's doing what with all this quick switching around?  And it appears nobody first suggested you go into therapy, especially CBT, before trying meds to learn some relaxation techniques and see if there's some underlying reason for this (good on your doc for testing your thyroid, though).  Has all this really happened this quickly?

[CheerTheKid]

It can take weeks even months to figure out the medication that works best for you. My advice is to keep track of what you are on, how it makes you feel (not just if it helps you keep calm or not but also dizziness, restlessness, etc). Then talk it over with your doctor. It's best to stick with one for medications. Everybody always wants to try something different.

Another thing that might help is therapy. Seriously therapy with medication work a lot better. It will help you understand your triggers and how to cope with attacks better. Drugs like Xanax and Klonopin are good for when are having an attack. Not an everyday thing. You can start to become addicted.

Just my advice. Anxiety freaking *****. Hope things get better :)

[libbie123]

I take a .5 twice a day. As soon as the meds wear off im right back to my hell hole. I take one about an hour before bedtime and i am wide awake not even 4 hours later with anxiety,

[remar]

It can take awhile for these meds to start working so you have to be patient. I know it's so hard when you have anxiety and need relief right now. How often are you taking the Klonopin?