[amoeba86]

These past couple of weeks have been hell, been having panic attacks almost every day and have been getting a sudden increase in my anxiety overall. I've been off the SSRI's for about 4-5 months now. I've been taking my ativan on and off for the past month almost every day and been sick yesterday due to withdrawals and nausea. I guess not being on an SSRI is the bad life.

[avlady]

I accept the meds i'm on i would probably be a mess without them

[BLUEDOVE]

You probably won't like this,but it is my experience.
Ativan is highly addictive,so are ssri's. Dropping the dosage of any of them will produce withdrawal
symptoms,hence panic attacks and nausea.As long
as you take these you will be as dependent as a
hard drug addict. Sooo,first thing,take the weight
and condemnation OFF yourself; it has nothing to
do with you the person,it is the drugs.
If I were you
I'd see doc and tell him you know this--then ask
him/her if they would cooperate with you to be
drug free.And to that end,you would like him to
prescribe Valium to act as a buffer to come off the
other 2. Yes I know it is another drug,but compared to the others it is easier to come off,but
only when you have got rid of the others. It is tough stuff I know,but it is either that,or be dependent the rest of you life.Remember, it is NOT
you the person creating these symptoms. I shall
say a prayer that you will have the courage to look
after YOU.
Deepest Respect,
BLUEDOVE

[Mustkeepjob32]

I know that I've gone off SSRIs in the past years ago and my anxiety/depressive symptoms would always eventually come back. I'm on SSRIs now and while everything is not perfect, I am much better.

[IndieVisible]

SSRIs are not addictive. But coming off them could cause some uncomfort as your body adjusts to the change. Some people experience nothing but joy coming off them. I hated all SSRIs. Ativan would not be my first choice either. Xanax is better IMHO. But not alone. You need more then just a benzo. Ask your doctor if u can try Wellbutrin. I wish I was offered Wellbutrin years ago, it would have saved me many years of bad experiences with antidepressants. It is by far the best antidepressant I ever tried. I love it. It works entirely different then SSRI's, so you won't experience any of those nasty side effects from SSRIs like sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, constant yawning and always feeling tired. It acts more like a amphetamine but relax, it's not really a amphetamine but it thinks it is. It is a mild stimulant that activates more dopamine in your brain, that's used as a reward system and is what makes us feel good. You will feel like your on a Monster energy drink all day without crashing. You will feel more energetic and normal for a change! It also works great with low doses of benzos.

I have to be fully functional and constantly alert for my job. I can't feel drugged or tired. Ask your doctor if you can try Wellbutrin, the best kept secret.

Almost forgot. Wellbutrin will do nothing for your anxiety and could even add to it. A price I gladly pay for the benefits of feeling normal. Some people swear it reduces anxiety too. I don't find that to be true in my case. But with the xanax as needed, perfect combo, I'm normal Joe Six Pack

[amoeba86]

Man I tried wellbutrin before with effexor and the welbutrin just didn't help me I don't know. I never gain any weight on it but it wasn't as effective as an ssri. Ativan just sucks hard after a while i'm going to see my family doc tomorrow maybe he can give me some diazapam to counter act these nasty withdrawls. I'm only taking 0.5 a day too if not less what a horrible drug.

[Mustkeepjob32]

I tried Wellbutrin once but I think it just made my anxiety worse, which is a known side effect. But I understand some people don't like SSRIs for some reason. For me, they've helped but I do believe they lose their effectiveness after a long time, at which point it is good to switch over to another antidepressant.

[amoeba86]

Originally Posted by Mustkeepjob32

I tried Wellbutrin once but I think it just made my anxiety worse, which is a known side effect. But I understand some people don't like SSRIs for some reason. For me, they've helped but I do believe they lose their effectiveness after a long time, at which point it is good to switch over to another antidepressant.

I'm alot more anxious than depressed it didn't help me there.

[IndieVisible]

Wellbutrin certainly will not help anxiety and yes, being a mild stimulant Wellbutrin can and does increase anxiety some times, which is why I like to take a low dose benzo with it. Counters pretty good.

SSRIs just slow me down too much and I feel tired all the time.

[charley49]

I am trying to rid myself from SSRI use. I was having panic attacks and extreme anxiety, when about to finish school in 2002. Went to my doctor who prescribed 10 mgs of Paxil after two months. I was feeling much better and able to function. Going forward through the years, because of the cost. I ended up taking Zoloft and then Lexapro, Prestiq. for 2-4 months on each. .
I recently went to psych doc and went back on Paxil starting at 20 mgs, made me very sleepy. Lowered the dose to 10 mgs for 2-3 months and then started a weaning myself off the drug took .25 mgs for two weeks and now I am not taking any Paxil. Been off the drug for two weeks. Feeling slight anxiety, malaise, lethargic, not my normal self. I believe I did not taper slow enough. Should I go back on the drug?

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Honestly, I never found SSRIs to be all that helpful for the anxiety, nor my OCD, like they claimed would happen. Have you tried any therapy, or counseling? I've just started therapy for my OCD, and hoping it will lower my anxiety, 'cause I struggle a lot with that, too.

[amoeba86]

Originally Posted by Akuma

Honestly, I never found SSRIs to be all that helpful for the anxiety, nor my OCD, like they claimed would happen. Have you tried any therapy, or counseling? I've just started therapy for my OCD, and hoping it will lower my anxiety, 'cause I struggle a lot with that, too.

Just started therapy last week, I'm working with my therapist using CBT techniques.

[amoeba86]

Originally Posted by charley49

I am trying to rid myself from SSRI use. I was having panic attacks and extreme anxiety, when about to finish school in 2002. Went to my doctor who prescribed 10 mgs of Paxil after two months. I was feeling much better and able to function. Going forward through the years, because of the cost. I ended up taking Zoloft and then Lexapro, Prestiq. for 2-4 months on each. .
I recently went to psych doc and went back on Paxil starting at 20 mgs, made me very sleepy. Lowered the dose to 10 mgs for 2-3 months and then started a weaning myself off the drug took .25 mgs for two weeks and now I am not taking any Paxil. Been off the drug for two weeks. Feeling slight anxiety, malaise, lethargic, not my normal self. I believe I did not taper slow enough. Should I go back on the drug?

It's very possible you didn't taper slow enough. If there's one thing not to mess with it's the proper taper of the drug. Take your time it's not a race you've been on those drugs for years a few more months/weeks won't do much. I remember when I couldn't get off the smallest dose of effexor my doctor prescribed me only 2 pills of prozac for it's long half-life. Which helped.

[avlady]

About the welbutrin, i had bad experiences with it, although we are all different, but i almost lost my mind on it.

[fadedstar]

Wellbutrin definitely made my anxiety worse

[amoeba86]

Originally Posted by Zwangsstörung

Honestly, I never found SSRIs to be all that helpful for the anxiety, nor my OCD, like they claimed would happen. Have you tried any therapy, or counseling? I've just started therapy for my OCD, and hoping it will lower my anxiety, 'cause I struggle a lot with that, too.

My psychiatrist told me that higher doses of SSRi's are what helps OCD.

[Mustkeepjob32]

yeah Wellbutrin wasn't good for me either, but it's not recommended for people with anxiety usually anyway.