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SSRI's and anxiety

Posted , 2 users are following.

Guest
Guest

I've been on Paxil-20 mgs/day-for over 25 years, since they diagnosed me with chronic depression when I was 39. Paxil does a good job controlling depression, but isn't very effective with anxiety. Do any of you have similar experience?

When I get into a phase where I'm suffering from anxiety attacks, I have to see my Dr. to get him to prescribe Xanax or some other tranquilizer to help me with racing thoughts and to help promote sleep at night.

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • jj07521
    jj07521 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Phil, yeah I can totally relate to this, but I think 20 mg is a small dosage especially as you have been on it for 25 years (They can proscribe up to 60mg). Maybe you could ask if you could up the dosage? Also I would recommend looking at Propranolol. Propranolol is a beta blocker but also works great for anxiety and is prescribed for anxiety. Propranolol is not as good as Xanax, but it's a medication you can take daily and as you probably know Xanax can be really addictive and has side effects. I hope this information helps you xxxx Best wishes

    • Guest
      Guest jj07521

      Posted

      Thanks for the heads-up on Propranolol, jj. I'll look into it.

  • Jasper1375
    Jasper1375 Guest

    Posted

    Please please so not go down the road of Xanax ... it will feel great at first and feel like a fix...

    But when tolerance comes, your anxiety will be nothing compared to what it will be. There is a huge group of benzo suffers, meaning benzodiazepine class struggle.

     but when tolerance comes, your anxiety will be nothing compared to what it will be. There is a huge group of benzo suffers, meaning benzodiazepine class struggle. 

    I was put on pack soul and got an anxiety attack real quick. But SSRI drugs do not work on me at all.

     For some people those drugs do work, but not meant to be for long term. The drugs are supposed to help us fix the psychodynamics so we can come off of them and not suffer the side effects. 

    • Guest
      Guest Jasper1375

      Posted

      I hear your warning on Xanax, Jasper. I take only a very small dose when I'm going through a period of intense anxiety. My doctor prescribed .25mg/day, just enough to help me get to sleep at night. I'm very attuned to the concern about the problem with withdrawal and get off it as soon as I can.

      Per Paxil, I was 38 before I was diagnosed with chronic, debilitating Depression. Had a couple of serious Depressive sessions with thoughts of suicide prior to being diagnosed. I distinguish between folks who suffer occasional, situational depression with those of us with chronic depression. 20 mg/daily is a light dosage of paxil and I've been on it for 25 years. It keeps me on an even keel for the most part. If I get off the medication for a few days I start to feel a 'downer' coming on. At 63 I don't know if I'll ever get off Paxil in my lifetime, we'll see. Maybe retirement will be less stressful and I can consider it, we'll see in 3 years when I retire.

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