[anxietygirl]

Are psychiatrists reluctant to give patient's anti-anxiety medications such as klonopin? I have a prescription for klonopin but the dose is .5mg and I am still having panic attacks and anxiety and alot of jerking before I fall asleep. How can you find out how the psychiatrist feels about prescribing medication? I can't rely on my doctor anymore, he just tells me to relax and take a warm shower before bed or to breathe deeply.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by anxietygirl

Are psychiatrists reluctant to give patient's anti-anxiety medications such as klonopin? I have a prescription for klonopin but the dose is .5mg and I am still having panic attacks and anxiety and alot of jerking before I fall asleep. How can you find out how the psychiatrist feels about prescribing medication? I can't rely on my doctor anymore, he just tells me to relax and take a warm shower before bed or to breathe deeply.

I don't understand.
Do you see a psychiatrist currently (the person who prescribed the Clonopin), or is that a GP?

The way to know is to ask. If my doctor prescribed me a medication that wasn't working well I would tell him and see if the dose can be increased or a different medication prescribed.

The best thing for anxiety disorders though is TALK THERAPY with a psychologist. Have you given talk therapy a try?

[anxietygirl]

Originally Posted by Simcha

I don't understand.
Do you see a psychiatrist currently (the person who prescribed the Clonopin), or is that a GP?

The way to know is to ask. If my doctor prescribed me a medication that wasn't working well I would tell him and see if the dose can be increased or a different medication prescribed.

The best thing for anxiety disorders though is TALK THERAPY with a psychologist. Have you given talk therapy a try?

No my GP gave me the klonopin but he says it is addicting and that I should try to not take it. My mind races with thoughts all night when I try to sleep and my body jerks when I am trying to fall asleep. Tuesday I had a panic attack. I have been on klonopin before at 1mg for 6 years and weaned myself off in a week when I was starting school bc I thought I didn't need it. My mom was killed in a car accident. I am now having anxiety and panic attacks, insomnia, racing thoughts, a really hard time concentrating, depression, not wanting to do anything but stay home. I am afraid that something is going to happen to my kids, when I see a wreck on my way home from work, I think maybe its my husband and my kids. If my son goes outside to play and I cant find in quick I think he has been kidnapped. I haven't slept a solid night through in over 2 years.

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by anxietygirl

No my GP gave me the klonopin but he says it is addicting and that I should try to not take it. My mind races with thoughts all night when I try to sleep and my body jerks when I am trying to fall asleep. Tuesday I had a panic attack. I have been on klonopin before at 1mg for 6 years and weaned myself off in a week when I was starting school bc I thought I didn't need it. My mom was killed in a car accident. I am now having anxiety and panic attacks, insomnia, racing thoughts, a really hard time concentrating, depression, not wanting to do anything but stay home. I am afraid that something is going to happen to my kids, when I see a wreck on my way home from work, I think maybe its my husband and my kids. If my son goes outside to play and I cant find in quick I think he has been kidnapped. I haven't slept a solid night through in over 2 years.

Why aren't you seeing a therapist if I might ask?

Most people would have a really hard time with what you are dealing with and need some help. I know I would.

[phoenix7]

it sound slike you are treating the symptoms but not dealing with the problem - I tried that - it didnt work - I see a psychologist now and she is helping me deal with what is going on - mdeication can help along the journey - but i really hope you find a T to talk this thriough with P7

[Simcha]

Originally Posted by phoenix7

it sound slike you are treating the symptoms but not dealing with the problem - I tried that - it didnt work - I see a psychologist now and she is helping me deal with what is going on - mdeication can help along the journey - but i really hope you find a T to talk this thriough with P7

Why do you and I think this way, and many people do not?
It is very disheartening to hear this story repeated time and again due to reliance solely on medications that give only partial response (if any).

People place way too much trust in medications and white coats.
I think medications used as the sole modality absence real therapy make for a recipe for an eventual spiral, side effects from medications, and even more medications down the line.

They need to be used as adjunct to real therapy rather than the sole modality. There are no magic pills. Medication is only one part of the answer. To only take medications is to short-stack yourself on your support through a difficult but manageable problem.

The difference between dealing with the source vs. what seems to be poor symptom management is that she isn't coming to terms with the cause of the anxiety. This avoidance of the issue only enables the anxiety and makes one reliant on medication that doesn't entirely address the problem.

A specialist in psychology is a therapist, not an M.D. whose toolbox is comprised of medications to treat symptoms, which usually are partially effective at best and have side effects. I would argue therapists who are psychologists are far superior to psychiatrists in their knowledge of psychotherapy and psychology.

I hate when people suffer needlessly.

[emilyjeanne]

Psychiatrists don't like to give out benzo's like klonipin because they are very addictive.

[phoenix7]

Ok - so this is it - I went down the same road as you for different reasons - I took anti-depressants to help with my symptoms and ended up Si and then progressed to having su thoughts - my dr was/is great - she tried another anti-d then suggested I saw a pdoc - I took the new drugs but didnt see the pdoc- they sedated me - but eventually my body got used to them and the thoughts returned - I see a T now who is helping me with those thoughts and feelings - I figure if I can get rid of them I can stop taking any meds - in the meantime _ I have an appt with a pdoc to see if that can help too

I think we need to be open to help from any place that it is offerred - meds alone didnt work for me - its like pressing on a wound - you can stop the bleeding until you take your hand away then it starts again - for me meds are an aid not the cure - my T is helping me find the cure - I hope and I hope you find something that works for you

[DoggyBonz]

Originally Posted by anxietygirl

Are psychiatrists reluctant to give patient's anti-anxiety medications such as klonopin? I have a prescription for klonopin but the dose is .5mg and I am still having panic attacks and anxiety and alot of jerking before I fall asleep. How can you find out how the psychiatrist feels about prescribing medication? I can't rely on my doctor anymore, he just tells me to relax and take a warm shower before bed or to breathe deeply.

This is going to be a repeat of what has been said but more often than not meds work best with therapy. First, ask your therapist - make sure he knows what you are dealing with and the intensity of the panic and stress. Both meds and therapy are tools and medication for what you are dealing with is best used with therapy. If the amount that has been prescribed for you is not enough then tell him, it does not mean you will always need more but right now you do.

It sounds like you are dealing with a lot and the panic attacks are a natural reaction to the stress in your life. I would really urge you to find someone to talk to. From what I know meds are not going to solve this, they might calm you down but you have some really big PTSD and trauma to deal with. Please take care of yourself.

[madisgram]

i agree a lot with what's been said. when i sought help my therapists and pdoc said for me this was the formula:
THERAPY...MEDICATION....AND COMPLIANCE WITH MEDS.
they told me take out one of the components and i'd end u back where i started or worse. this formula has worked very well for 18 years...i wouldn't consider changing it for anything.
i do take klonopin for panic attacks. i have remianed on the same doseage from day one. i contirbute that to really working my therapy and taking ownership for my therapy. on a very, very rare occasioon the panic attack broke thru....but only once in all that time.
hope you get the help you need.

[Slippers]

There are a lot of meds you can take on a daily basis for anxiety which are not benzos. For some people, that will lower their anxiety threshold enough to prevent or significantly decrease panic.

See a good psychiatrist and talk it out with him/her.

Slippers

[kittykins9]

Hi AnxietyGirl,
Yes anxiety meds that are benzodiazepines are addictive and you can become dependent on them, but that doesn't mean that you can't go off them carefully at a later point if you need. I find that GPs are much more reluctant to prescribe these, especially long term and especially at higher doses. However, pdocs often prescribe them on a long term basis for patients, especially klonipin which is one of the longest acting ones.

Meds and therapy combined can really help, and I think you're describing a very serious condition and need some extra help from a pdoc. There are also meds that aren't addictive that may help with anxiety. GPs tend not to be as sure with this stuff, and may not be the best source. You might want to do some research if you can't see a Pdoc, and take that with you to a GP-- but I think most people dealing with the kind of anxiety you describe benefit most by a combination of therapy and meds.

It is possible to get off the more addictive meds-- but be careful, you don't want to stop taking them quickly as this can be dangerous.

Hope it helps, and I am sorry you're dealing with such a difficult time.

kkins9

[SpottedOwl]

(((anxietygirl)))

I agree with the other posters that talk therapy can be really helpful, and life-changing in a positive way. It seems strange to think that just talking will help the anxiety when in the past you have used meds, but it really can work.

My mind races with thoughts all night when I try to sleep and my body jerks when I am trying to fall asleep.

The body jerking as you go to sleep is totally normal. It is called a 'hypnic jerk'. Doctors don't know exactly what causes them, but some people think it is the body's transition from the waking world to sleep. You may see them more frequently if you don't have a regular sleep schedule.

It happens to me sometimes too, and it is nothing to worry about.

[ECHOES]

It depends on the psychiatrist and the patient. The psychiatrist is a medication expert and may feel some other kind of medication is most suited for your symptoms.

Benzos are taken by many people. They can be taken regularly but they become less effective because one builds up a tolerance. So, a higher does becomes necessary to achieve the same effect.

I was prescribed Xanax on a kind of trial basis. I am open about my drug past and I have no desire to be in that place again. I was not sure I even wanted to try Xanax but after quitting smoking my anxiety was very interfering in my daily life and my work and was not letting up. So, my doctor (I don't see a psychiatrist) prescribed a small amount to see how it would go. I found that taking less than the prescribed amount worked well for me, and taking it only when needed instead of regularly throughout the day worked best for me also. So that initial one-month prescription lasted me several months and the next one did also. So now I get a refillable Rx (1 refill) and it sometimes expires because I take it so rarely. I began therapy since the time I was prescribed and that has helped my anxiety tremendously.

So, each psychiatrist/doctor is different as is each patient and I think this is one thing you will have to wait and see. It isn't something you can know ahead of time.