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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 11:56:49
Ok, so I saw my Psych. Dr. today, and she is adamant that I get off my 3 mg. of lorazapam a day, and on some sort of SSRI. I have been on lorazapam for 7 years, and it has always helped me....I am so scared to be taken off of it. Let me say I have tried every SSRI in the book except Cymbalta, and Prozac, and could not tolerate any of them. They made me sick, and more anxious, because I felt sick. I am overweight, and fight hypothyroidism, and don't need the weight gain, either......I am so upset, and don't want to do this. What I want to know is: what if any do you guys know is a more mello SSRI, that I won't be throwing up on, or feeling light headed, and sick. I tried Buspar and Paxil years ago, and don't remember anything about them, and haven't done prozac or cymbalta.....so I need some serious advice, I am so depressed now, it is even worse, because I did not want to hear this news. She said I should think about it, and let her know, and that I would go off the lorazapam very slowly, after the other medicine started to take effect.....will the other really help me as much as the lorazapam has????? please, I need advice, I am freaking out. thanks
Posted by Racer on May 9, 2006, at 12:31:50
In reply to HELP, I NEED ADVICE, posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 11:56:49
Cymbalta might be worth a try, as it did seem to reduce my anxiety while I took it -- for about a year and a half. It wasn't a great AD, though. It did reduce physical pain a bit, but that effect faded for me.
Paxil would be my first choice of an SSRI. It seems to be the most anxiolytic of the bunch. Or you could talk to your doctor about Remeron, with maybe a Topomax chaser to deal with weight issues.
Hope that helps.
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 12:47:56
In reply to HELP, I NEED ADVICE, posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 11:56:49
Why does she want you off a med if it's working well for you? No abuse issues I'm assuming. Did she give a reason other than using it for seven years why she wants you off it? Benzos have a safe track record as long as they are not abused. And as for me only I've never had an SSRI work for me. The one I can tolerate is luvox. Love Phillipa
Posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 13:09:45
In reply to Re: HELP, I NEED ADVICE, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 12:47:56
Hi Phillipa, she said she is worried about addiction, she said, will three mg. have to lead to four, and to five eventually, I started at two, years ago, and am only on three now.....and SSRI's I just hate, and cannot tolerate.....why do these Dr.'s always have to want to mess with something that is working, it has me so depressed, all I want to do is cry.
Posted by blueberry on May 9, 2006, at 18:19:55
In reply to HELP, I NEED ADVICE, posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 11:56:49
I don't understand why if something is working why a doctor would want to change it. That is, unless they are looking out for their own rear end more than your wellbeing. I mean, you are at a responsible low dose, especially after 7 years. What's the prob with that? How often do you have to raise the dose? I don't get it. If it aint broke, ya know.
In situations like yours there are three options. One, find another doctor. Two, do exactly what the doctor says. Three, compromise with the doctor...for example, start an ssri but don't change the loraz at all until you've been on the ssri for at least 6 weeks. It will be too confusing and uncomfortable to know what is going on if a new med is going up and a longtime med is going down at the same time.
For anxiety, I've tried them all, and I would personally go with lexapro. It does have the nausea stuff like they all have, and it does have start-up anxiety like they all have. But after a few weeks it mellows out well for about 78% to 86% of people who make it that far. It generally has far fewer sexual side effects than the others. Paxil is a good choice for anxiety, except for its notorious sexual dysfunction and difficult withdrawals. Effexor is good, but has strong nausea and the worst withdrawals. Prozac can work, but it does have nervousness and anxiety as a side effect in 20% of people who try it. Zoloft is fine, but has a record of poopout and sexual dysfunction. Overall, all things considered, lexapro is the safest bet in my opinion.
But no ssri will ever feel as good as a benzo. Apples and oranges. Benzos win hands down, and with far fewer side effects. Heck, they are even good for your brain longterm. I doubt ssri's are.
All that being said, I think it is a stupid idea. I say stay with loraz and leave well enough alone. Unless you feel you really need something else. Don't let the doc stear you in a direction you don't want to go without a very very good reason.
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 19:34:37
In reply to Re: HELP, I NEED ADVICE, posted by tjeffries on May 9, 2006, at 13:09:45
Same thing happened to me when I moved to Charlotte and got a new pdoc and asked first if they use benzos they said yes. I started with a therapist there who handed me a form to fill out on addiction. Things like crack, heroin, meth. Some things I'd never heard of. And I've been on a benzo for over 30 years. Take less now then I did in the beginning. But the form freaked me out and now my anxiety is worse than before. I had a bottle of old xanax in my drawer a year old and I'd been happy on l5mg of valium for years. Since the form the last three nights I've added lmg of xanax too. And I was fine with my dose before they made me feel like an addict. And the ad's don't work even when I took the l0mg of paxil I still needed xanax. Love Phillipa Ps that worked and I gave up the paxil two years later. But the doc said cause of my high anxiety to still with the dose of benzos
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 20:45:14
In reply to Re: HELP, I NEED ADVICE » tjeffries, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 19:34:37
Some people just require benzos for life so what? Others need an AD so what? Do what works for you. No one can created a magic pill that will help everyone. It looks like you have tried a lot of the SSRI's and someone said after three go to something else. Hate to say the word but it was MAOI. Love Phillipa ps that's why I'm following the EMSAM. The patch
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