[mom2trips+1]

I am on wellbutrin, depakote, xanax, and abilify. No matter what dose increases we make, I still obsessively worry ALL the time. It is driving me insane. I worry so much I am driving myself crazy and wish I could escape from my own thoughts. I am slightly depressed and always anxious but not hypomanic or manic. I don't feel mixed either. Has anyone had success with a drug to help with this? I know Luvox is used for OCD and while I don't have OCD ( since there are no compulsions, just obsessions) I wonder if anyone has tried Luvox for obsessive thinking?

Thanks in advance!

Mom2trips+1

[*Laurie*]

Hi, I also have problems with severe worrying. Geodon has been somewhat helpful, better than any other med I've tried for the excessive worry/anxiety.

[vjdragonfly]

Honestly, I used to worry about EVERYTHING. If the worst could happen, my brain already went there. I don't know if my meds had any effect on reducing this, but therapy done wonders. Sometimes we have to be retaught how to think and look at things. I still worry when something is really bothering me, but I'm able to collect myself and change my way of thinking most of the time.

[Capriciousness]

When I was on Ability that is what happened to me. Maybe it is not adding something...maybe something you're on is causing it? Just a thought.

and that sucks bad. sorry man

[CopperStar]

Prozac is helping me with that issue currently. I take Symbyax which is Zyprexa and Prozac combined. Unmedicated I get really bad intrusive thoughts of the anxious variety (usually). That was still happening when I was just on Zyprexa, and then I switched to Symbyax and it has gotten noticeably better.

My pdoc would disagree with you on it not possibly being OCD just because there are no compulsive behaviors such as hand washing. She thinks my intrusive thoughts problem is OCD related, which is part of why she leaned towards trying Prozac. I wish I had the type of OCD where I was cleaning all the time and such, at least I'd feel somewhat useful lol. But instead it's stuff like always suddenly thinking I am going to fall down the stairs and then tensing up and gripping the rail the whole way down.

IME the downside with Prozac is that it takes a while to feel it working. Whereas I felt different within a couple days on Zyprexa, it took over a week before I started noticing improvement after the addition of Prozac. I've been on it a month now, though, and don't worry about stupid stuff nearly as much.

[raspberrytorte]

I'm not sure what med would help the most for obsessive worrying, but I used to overthink things a lot, a long time ago, which is the same or similiar, and I had to teach myself to stop overthinking/worrying. I wrote stop on an index card and hung it in my work area, and whenever I started overthinking I would look at the index card and stop myself.

This probably sounds silly, but it really worked! I was the worse overthinking worrier ever, until I taught myself to stop, and now I don't do it very much, if really at all.

Just an idea.

Hope you find something that helps!

[~Christina]

It's not realistic to think that a medication is going take care of much of the obsessive thinking. Sure they can help , but its more about changing how you think and react to things...

Have you worked on learning " Mindfulness" ? Its beyond helpful when being overwhelmed with worry about things you really have no control over at all.

Mindfulness can really help anyone MI or not .

Hope you find a way to feel better

[TheGoatKing333]

I worried a lot in the past and I all of a sudden stopped worrying so much. I worried about my class that I was taking and I don't really care about my classes that I'm taking now. I know I'll pass them.

Luvox worked wonderfully for my obsessions.

Welburtin sent me crazy- so check out one of your meds isn't causing it.

Luvox tore up my stomach so I had to go off it. Zoloft helps with my depressive episodes, PMDD, GAD and OCD...I think it's helpful for me. I take Xanax for Panic Disorder. And PTSD stuff.

Therapy, healthy relationships, good pdoc and self-care/coping techniques help a lot, IME.

I empathize. PM if you ever want to vent.

[mom2trips+1]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Hi, I also have problems with severe worrying. Geodon has been somewhat helpful, better than any other med I've tried for the excessive worry/anxiety.

I've tried Geodon but had severe akithesia on it. Thanks for responding.

[mom2trips+1]

Originally Posted by vjdragonfly

Honestly, I used to worry about EVERYTHING. If the worst could happen, my brain already went there. I don't know if my meds had any effect on reducing this, but therapy done wonders. Sometimes we have to be retaught how to think and look at things. I still worry when something is really bothering me, but I'm able to collect myself and change my way of thinking most of the time.

You're right. I have been in therapy on and off for years and tried CBT which should help with my worrying but I don't stop long enough to use the techniques. I need to do that. Thank you for your advice.

[mom2trips+1]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Prozac is helping me with that issue currently. I take Symbyax which is Zyprexa and Prozac combined. Unmedicated I get really bad intrusive thoughts of the anxious variety (usually). That was still happening when I was just on Zyprexa, and then I switched to Symbyax and it has gotten noticeably better.

My pdoc would disagree with you on it not possibly being OCD just because there are no compulsive behaviors such as hand washing. She thinks my intrusive thoughts problem is OCD related, which is part of why she leaned towards trying Prozac. I wish I had the type of OCD where I was cleaning all the time and such, at least I'd feel somewhat useful lol. But instead it's stuff like always suddenly thinking I am going to fall down the stairs and then tensing up and gripping the rail the whole way down.

IME the downside with Prozac is that it takes a while to feel it working. Whereas I felt different within a couple days on Zyprexa, it took over a week before I started noticing improvement after the addition of Prozac. I've been on it a month now, though, and don't worry about stupid stuff nearly as much.

Thank you for your response. I am glad the zyprexa is working for you. That is great! Our next idea was to add in a low dose SSRI like prozac for my ongoing depression and anxiety and PTSD so maybe this would help ( in addition to trying other techniques mentioned here like mindfulness. ) Thank you for taking the time to respond.

[mom2trips+1]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I'm not sure what med would help the most for obsessive worrying, but I used to overthink things a lot, a long time ago, which is the same or similiar, and I had to teach myself to stop overthinking/worrying. I wrote stop on an index card and hung it in my work area, and whenever I started overthinking I would look at the index card and stop myself.

This probably sounds silly, but it really worked! I was the worse overthinking worrier ever, until I taught myself to stop, and now I don't do it very much, if really at all.

Just an idea.


Hope you find something that helps!

I have been trying this technique today and it is working! Thank you!

[raspberrytorte]

Oh good. You're welcome!

Cogentin took away the akathesia side effect when I was on Abilify. That's a horrible side effect! Cogentin cleared it up so I was able to stay on Abilify, which helped me.

[Woolly Bugger]

I had chronic anxiety and obsessive thoughts that drove me crazy. My psychiatrist recommended that we replace the Abilify I was taking with Latuda. My anxiety and obsessive thinking have both been reduced dramatically since going on the Latuda. I would recommend it. I am just beginning to taper off the Abilify, btw. My doctor does things very slowly and conservatively.