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Avatar universal

PANIC

WHOH!!!! I can't take another one of them!

I wrote to this forum before offering advice on weaning off EFFEXOR XR slowly. Then I decided that I needed an antidepressant. A new psychiatrist perscribed me ARIMA 300 (which has a shorter half life, so I had to take two per day).

I couldn't handle the ups and downs associated with ARIMA, so I rushed back and asked him to put me back on EFFEXOR.

He reminded me of my complaint that EFFEXOR cut down my extremes of mood and I couldn't cry or laugh, and persuaded me to try LOVAN 20 instead.

I've been taking LOVAN for 7 days and it does ease my moods for 24 hours (not as much as EFFEXOR did).

However I have been waking up each morning to a shocking PANIC ATTACK that lasts until I get up. These are like lightning bolts and I can't stand them.

My next appointment is over a week away and I just can't have another one of those. I realize I have never had a real panic attack before this. They are horrific.

What on earth should I do?   Is the answer to go back on EFFEXOR?   I know he's going to give me another one to try, or simple say to give it more time, but I need to fix my life up ASAP!

LERRY
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Avatar universal
Hi,

No 'wave of sickening dizzieness' because they happened when I was still lying down.   No, I wasn't wakening from a nightmare. I'd be fully awake, and just laying there.   They'd ease as soon as I got out of bed.   My thoughts of failure and being headed straight for certain disaster were so strong that I realized I'd never really had one before.

I tried taking LOVAN about three hours later and haven't had one since, but I'm not sure if that was the problem solver or whether the medication just needed the time to start working properly for me.

Now that I've found a medication to make me think calmly, I will work with a psychologist at trying to improve my life.

LERRY
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please explain how your panic attacks begin. I want to know if they are like mine. You say 'lightening bolt', is it in your head? Does it feel like a surge or wave of sickening dizziness?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'll try taking one tablet later in the day tomorrow, but I've already had todays dose after breakfast so I'll guess tomorrow morning wont be good! I've tried sleeping on a higher pillow so the blood doesn't rush to my brain overnight, but I still had one.

It's as though all your negative thoughts and fears build up during the day like a dam, and then release themselves on your mind in one gush as soon as you open your eyes!   I never had any problems like this while I was on EFFEXOR.  I just complained about the tiredness and the dull moods (unable to laugh, unable to cry), plus I was contemplating trying for a baby. I guess I'll just have to give up on that dream, and sacrifice laughter.   My mother warned me not to let the doctors play with my brain chemicles, but I didn't listen!


LERRY
Helpful - 0
242532 tn?1269550379
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
One thing you might try is changing the timing of when yu take the Lovan so the maximum effect hits you during the hours you usually have panic attacks.  Drugs are not a quick fix...you have to fix up your life by making good life course decisions and make them happen.....
Helpful - 0

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