[AnxiousOne]

Hi! I'm new here. I am 28, and I have been suffering from panic attacks for 14 years. They have gone away, sometimes for a couple years, but they have come back. I was on Wellbutrin 300 mgs once a day. About 2 months ago, I had one of the worst panic attacks ever, and since then, I have been feeling afraid of the next one. I'm sure you guys know what I am talking about.

I have been extremely anxious. My OCD has gotten worse, I am afraid to go out for fear of a panic attack, etc.

I finally got the nerve last week, to tell my Doctor all about it. He is a great Doctor. He's a family Doctor, but when I go to him, I really feel at ease, and 90% better than before I saw him. He is so understanding of my situation. He sometimes says the things I want to say, before I say them. Its great. He knows where I am coming from

I was on celexa, I gained a LOT of weight, like 100+ pounds. He stopped me from taking them almost immediately, when I started going to him. He found out I have sleep apnea, he knew it right away.

(Sorry for jumping all over the place here.)

Anyways, when I told him I was having bad anxiety, he decided he wanted me to try Prestiq, (Pristiq). I took the first one yesterday, and I had a horrible nights sleep. I was waking up every 20 minutes or so. I felt drugged and out of it when I first got up. It was weird...so I googled Prestiq. (Again). I found this website, and another lady was feeling the same things as me, and she went ahead with taking them, and now she feels much better. I was gonna stop taking the Prestiq until I talked to my Doctor, but I think I will just stick with it, until I get to see him on Monday.

The Prestiq is 50mgs. The Wellbutrin was 300mgs, but now just 150mg, for another few days.

I feel hopeful that this is going to work, and before I found that ladies posting on this site, I was not hopeful at all, and I was working myself into a bad state of anxiety. That's just me. I don't want that to be me, though. I want to be "normal". Is that possible?

[Karin]

Hi, Anxious!

Welcome to the Board!

I am not that familiar with anxiety attacks, or with the meds you use, but some smart people will be along shortly who will know all about it!

Just wanted to pop in to say hello and good to meet you!

[bluelikejazz]

hi, welcome!
I'm glad you managed to talk to your doctor.
I totally understand what you mean about fearing the next attack, it's really common.

I think that therapy was much more helpful for me in dealing with the panic attacks. Especially learning to control your breathing and address the thoughts that you have during the anxiety moments. Do you think you having even a couple sessions of therapy would be a possibility?

With SSRIs, there sometimes are side effects that subside after two weeks or so.

[tryp]

Hey there,

Welcome to CrazyBoards. I have anxiety issues too, and I've gotten lots of good help and support here. Hopefully you will too.

I'm glad you were encouraged by someone's Pristiq post. What Blue says is true - lots of drugs like Pristiq have crummy side effect at first, but they often go away after a few weeks. Usually you have to stay on these meds for 4+ weeks to see the full improvement, though, so hang in there.

I also second Blue's thoughts on therapy - it can be really great for anxiety.

Looking forward to seeing you around.

[AnxiousOne]

Thank you guys for replying to my post. I'm having a bad night tonight. I feel really hot, and anxious. I almost had a panic attack, but I didn't. I don't know if my mind is playing tricks on me, or what, but I do know that I can work myself into panic attacks at times. Not intentionally of course, but it's usually more controllable than this.

Seeing a therapist is a possibility, but I don't want to be on too many meds at once. I want to be as drug free as possible. I know I can probably never be on nothing, but I don't want to be on 10 different things, and I don't want to be some Doctors experiment either.

Until I can get to see a therapist, which can take months around here, (Canada), then I need to talk with people that know what I am going through. I am afraid I am going crazy. I don't want to be a burden on my fiance. I want us to be happy. I want to feel ok. I want to live life normally, and not be worried to go out in public, for fear of a panic attack.

Why is it so hard? I feel so helpless sometimes. I am trying not to talk myself out of taking my wellbutrin tonight. My mind is telling me I shouldn't take it, but I know its ok....sigh. Any thoughts or encouragement?

[tryp]

I'm sorry you're having a rough night

I hope you find a way to get started on the seeing a therapist process, but we're always here to listen, though we're not professionals.

I hope you take your Wellbutrin tonight. I know taking meds can be scary/frustrating/just plain annoying, but you have to give them a chance to work, and given that it takes weeks, sometimes you just have to stubbornly stick it out.

I'm sorry - I wish I could be more helpful, but I'm a little crazy tonight myself - just wanted to let you know I'm here and listening.

[AnxiousOne]

Thank you for being there, and responding to me. It really means a lot. I will take my wellbutrin. I just need to get through this. I have been through worse. I know you guys are not Doctors, or anything, but you guys know at least some of what I am going through, and thats what helps me most.

I hope to be able to report soon that I am feeling normal again.

[tryp]

I really hope your new drugs work out for you.

Keep us posted - as you said, there are lots of us here who can relate to what you're going through. I know I've found it really helpful to be able to rant and vent and whine to my heart's content knowing that the people listening really DO get it.

[AnxiousOne]

Thank you again. My night didn't turn out as bad as I thought. My sleep was horrible. I woke up every few minutes. I didn't have a panic attack though. I have a dull headache since last night too. But, all in all, I would rather this, than a panic attack. I will keep everyone posted.

[tryp]

AnxiousOne, on May 23 2009, 11:31 AM, said:

My night didn't turn out as bad as I thought.

Glad to hear it.

Sorry about the sleep problems - I have 'em too, and they suck monkey balls.

[AnxiousOne]

Last night was a bit better again. I was having some weird thoughts, that were just so strange to me, but then I was ok after a while.
I slept a bit better, and today things are slightly better than yesterday. I have to see my Doctor tomorrow, so I will let you all know what happens.

[AnxiousOne]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing a lot better now. My Doctor told me that I had such bad side effects, because I was coming down off the Wellbutrin, and going on to the Prestiq. I had the side effects from both. I am so much better now. I feel normal again.

[essential oil]

Very glad to see you from recovering..
Best wishes..