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Time to increase??

Posted , 6 users are following.

graham69986
graham69986

I am half way through week 9, been on 20mg since the start but have still not really made any progress, my health anxiety is still really bad and in fact sometimes feels worse as i am now afraid to look at my skin as every mole, freckle or blemish has me worried even little tiny dots on my hands.

I saw my dr last week and she wanted to increase me to 40mg but following advice on here i decided to give my current dose more time but now i am wondering if i need to increase?

Thanks

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • ashley92970
    ashley92970 graham69986

    Posted

    my health anxiety is up also, i am so nauseated and have lost 10 pounds in 6 weeks so now he wants to do an ultra sound on my abdomen but all my blood work came back normal so i dont undertanad why. do you still feel anxious and nauseated

    • graham69986
      graham69986 ashley92970

      Posted

      I think weight loss is normal on these meds, ive lost a stone whilst on them but still eating normally just lost appitite in the first 2 weeks

      Ive not got the nausea anymore that went in the first couple of weeks but my overall health anxiety is still really bad. At the moment i cant even look at my own skin without worrying, even tiny freckles or blemishes scare me.

      Hope you start to recover soon as health anxiety is awful, what does yours focus on?

  • randall28657
    randall28657 graham69986

    Edited

    hey Graham,

    I'm in 10 weeks today on 20mg. As we have discussed I've had a lot of the same health anxiety you have and a lot of the same physical symptoms. I didnt think it was ever going to end. However, I'm happy to report that the last week or so has actually been pretty decent. Little by little I'm seeing improvement and the symptoms are letting up. I hope you too will see some improvement soon. All the best and keep on pushing forward my friend.

    • graham69986
      graham69986 randall28657

      Edited

      Thanks Randall hopefully next week ill start to see an improvement as well then fingers crossed.

      Ive been really bad last few days even worrying about little freckles, blemishes and tiny blood spots on my hands as well as the usual worries about my other moles etc

      Maybe I just need to give the 20mg at least 12 weeks before increasing

  • sue74917
    sue74917 graham69986

    Edited

    Hi Graham, give it until 12 weeks, this kind of medication nearly always makes things whole lot worse before it makes it better.

    depending on what you are taking it for, the anxious have panic attacks that they didn't have before, the depressed feeling even lower and, as in your case, those who suffer with health anxiety are convinced they have some incurable, it's going to kill me within months, illness, I myself was convinced that I had HIV, even though I am a mature female, who does nothing to warrant catching such an illness, I laugh about it now but oh boy at the time it was not amusing at all!

    You are doing well, your side effects are beginning to disappear and I am sure you will start to see some improvement regards your health anxiety in the coming weeks

    • graham69986
      graham69986 sue74917

      Posted

      Thanks Sue i will take your advice on board and give it 12 weeks before speaking to my doctor about increasing.

      My health anxiety is pretty much focused on skin cancer and i worry about every mole, freckle or blemish even though my moles have been checked by my doctor. Its got that bad that i am afraid to look at my body and even looking at the back of my hands sets off my anxiety

  • randall28657
    randall28657 graham69986

    Posted

    It's definitely a tough road my friend. I still wake up anxious and have good and bad days, but the good days are getting better and the bad days more mild.

  • graham69986
    graham69986

    Posted

    Just to provide an update, I saw my doctor today as i needed more propronolo which i take alongside this and i spoke to her about increasing and she wants me to go up to 40mg as my health anxiety is still really bad. I said id rather increase slowly and go to 30mg but she wants me to only go to 30mg for a week then up to the 40mg

    She wanted me to start the 30mg straight away but as im working away next week im going to stay

    on 20mg for another week as dont want side effects whilst away

  • randall28657
    randall28657 graham69986

    Posted

    hello again bud,

    I dont know the side effects of increasing dosage on account I have never done it. I've heard it can be pretty intense though. How are your abdominal pains and all that doing? Mine subsided for a while, although last night I felt them come back on a bit...and I had a bit if heightened anxiety yesterday and this morning. I am becoming used to this, affectionately refer to it as riding the waves. I definitely dont prefer these days where it shows its ugly face, but i am seeing some progress and we just have to take the little wins one at a time as they come.

    As usual, all the best my friend and good luck

    • graham69986
      graham69986 randall28657

      Posted

      Hey the abdominal pains have pretty much gone away now and only occasionaly feel them although i do still get some discomfort in my groin and testicles

      My overall anxiety is still bad though with constant worry over anythink i see on my skin and im afraid to look at my skin still at the moment.

      Really happy for you that you are making progress and are able to deal with the anxiety better now

    • rob37052
      rob37052 graham69986

      Posted

      hi graham

      im sorry your struggling mate

      upping the dose isnt always the answer, 9 weeks in is still very early to call whether the dose is right for you or not.

      it takes an awfully long time for your brain to settle, these meds work very slowly,

      i was on 20 for nearly 6 months & i felt it was too strong so ive dropped down to 10 over 6 months & going to stay there for a while.

      There are good people on here that have given me sound advice regarding.

      hope it help mate

      rob

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