Posted by handmemymidol on February 24, 2003, at 16:14:13
In reply to Re: Hey EGR, how's the Wellbutrin mix going? » Sadsack, posted by handmemymidol on February 24, 2003, at 15:45:04
First let me say that I know everyone is different and I don't know why each of you are on the meds to begin with, but I thought perhaps I could share my experience with you and maybe you could take something from it.
I was had my first panic attack while I was in college. I thought I was going to die, that I had some sort of brain tumor or something. I was in school full time, worked full time, had a husband and three kids. Doc says take these pills and when you graduate and have less stress, they will likely go away. Well duh, I graduated but the stress nor the panic went away. If you're alive, you have stress. Just different kinds, then it was career instead studies. Needless to say, I went on a downward spiral. I eventually developed agoraphobia due to having the attacks whenever I left the house. After several medication changes and a couple years of counseling, things leveled out. The panic was controlled by the meds and I went back to work and regained most of my life sans the husband. (Sometimes I wonder if living with him is what caused them in the first place lol)
Anyway, my counselor told me that I would likely be on the meds the rest of my life, that due to my serotonin levels being wacko, going off the meds would probably make the panic come back. I wasn't too happy to hear this, I didn't want to take the meds forever.
A year ago, after my divorce and move to another state and a new life (one without my pdoc or counselor) I weaned myself off the serzone. And things were fine. I understand completely everyone's desire to find out what it feels like to be "real" and not on the meds. In all honesty things were really good. I maintained. Every now and then I would have a little twinge of the panic, if I was out of my element or in a restaurant. Restaurants have always been really hard for some reason. But in the past few months, those twinges began happening more and more. Enough to scare and worry me. Nothing full blown, but enough. I went and saw the family practicioner and he put me on Lexapro. I am not thrilled to be feeling drugged again, but I wanted to do something before it got out of control like before. I never want to go there again.
Just please know yourselves and know your signs. And don't ever feel like going back to the meds is a failure. We all need a boast every now and then. Good luck to you all!
poster:handmemymidol
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030224/msgs/203438.html