Benadryl for Panic Attacks?

As you all may or may not know I am trying to get pregnant but I am on Lexapro and Klonopin for my OCD and panic attacks. Well my Psychiatrist told me she would like to see my stop the Klonopin as it is unsafe in pregnancy instead she said I should try Benadryl for the panic attacks. Has anyone ever heard of this? Taking Benadryl for Panic Attacks? How does that help? What does it do? Anyone ever actually try doing this? Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

Jennifer

Ok so I tried the Benadryl in a situation that I knew would produce anxiety and it failed to suppress any panic. All it did was make me feel dizzy and tired. I will try once or twice more just to say that I gave it my best shot but as for right now it hasn't worked.

Jennifer

Hi-
Yes i have tried benadryl for panic attacks. it doesnt work as well as the med your taking or xanax but it defintely helps at least in my case. It just kind of makes you relax and makes you feel tired -it sort of calms the fight for flight reponse when your having an anxiety attack, just make sure you don't take too much of it at once, or you'll fall asleep...good luck!!

Ask your DR. about BuSpar {buspirone}. it is a fairly effective anti-anxiety drug that is very "clean". if you want to read more about it, I suggest medicinenet.com John

it makes my chest hurt. no fun. good luck.

Hello John,
Thanks for the suggest about Buspar. I read the information about Buspar and was initially encouraged by what I found about its safety in pregnancy. However, its says it takes 2 to 3 weeks to short working. I was trying to find a supplement to my main medication Lexapro. Since Klonopin is considered unsafe in pregnancy I am researching other medications that are considered safer to take during pregnancy and are short acting not an easy find I know but it is worth looking into. Does anyone have any ideas? By the way I tried the Benadryl the other night for a 2nd time and it did virtually nothing for my anxiety but it made me very sleepy.

Jennifer

There are so many drugs for anxiety..

Zoloft-- which i was on for 7 yrs
Celexa- Which i was on breifly, didn't work well, felt sick on it
Remeron- which I am currently on and it's helped me out greatly..

Yes they are anti-depressants but they do help with anxiety, there are alot more meds out there for anxiety, it's best to talk to you doctor. I've also been on lorazepam- which helped a bit and I was also on clonazapam-- which was terrible..

It is best to talk to your doctor about the right med, there are alot of options.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

Sundance,
When I talked to my psychiatrist she told me to get rid of the Klonopin and try Benadryl for anxiety. As klonopin is a Class D drug in pregnancy. This sucks so much. This was never how I pictured getting pregnant would be like decided between the safest drugs to take during pregnancy because of severe OCD. It depress the hell out of me!
Jenn

Jennifer

Some doctors perfer usually I think to just stop medication during pregnancy, but sometimes that cannot be the case. I don't know much about medication and pregnancy, I wish I could be of better help...


<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

I have talked to some many doctors regarding this issue and nobody seems to be in complete agreement except for a few things 1) you should be on ANY medication unless you have to and 2) The benefits of being on the med should out way the risks to the fetus. Well I tried going off my medication and slipped right back into severe anxiety and depression. I couldn't sleep, eat, or function at all. I literally had 5 to 7 panic attacks DAILY! I wish to god I could be off the meds but I can't I just can't and I feel incredible guilt constantly about this issue. The doctors aren't always supportive either. I actually had doctor say to me ......" do you want to have a deformed baby". Needless to say I stopped seeing him. Do I want to be on these medications....GOD NO! Do I have to be SADLY yes. I did choose this it choose me. I hate feel guilty about it!

Jennifer

Hi {{{{{{{{Jennifer}}}}}}}}}}

Me again .

Have you read these links on pregnancy and anxiety?

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Anxiety/women_13.asp



Heather

Hello Heather,
Thanks for the information regarding these websites I will check them out. Thanks again!
Jenn

Jennifer

I can understand that, I have to be on medication as well. I've tried to go with out and crashed miserable, I'm sure you will find something that will work and be safe for the baby.

Panic attacks- you dont HAVE to be on medication for this, if you know how to deal with them, talk your way out of them, think rationally ect then anyone can talk there way out of panic. It takes alot of practice, I can do that now, but with depression, that is mainly what I'm on medicaton for...

Good luck, I'm sorry you are having a hard time with this.

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>