Long term panic and anxiety disorder. I am looking for answers about medications.?

Question

I am now 60. 30 yrs ago I began to have nocturnal panic attacks. The Dr's I went to did not relate to what I was telling them. I wish they had sent me to a psychiatrist who would probably have recognized what was happening.

After a while, I began to have panic attacks during the day, also. This went on for years without any help. No one knew what was wrong with me & no one sent me to a psychiatrist. I didn't know myself that I should go to one.

After several years, having also developed agoraphobia, social phobia, driving phobia I was in so much pain, I no longer wanted to live. I decided to let myself go on to the next life. At that moment, it was as tho a part of me stepped outside of myself & said, "Go to a psychiatrist before you do that."

I called one the next morning and she put me on Trivial. For the first time in years my heart stopped hurting (I had become so used to it that I didn't even know it "was" hurting). Also the day time panic attacks went away.

I still had the nocturnal ones and extremely bad anxiety attacks almost constantly and all those same phobia but I was very relieved just to get rid of the years of day time panic attacks.

One doctor over the years put me on Prosac and over a year raised it to 80 Mg's. I almost felt normal.

Fast forward to now, 30 years later. I am on 40 Mg's of Prosac and take klonapan 3 times a day.

Left to my own devices, I get by. But sometimes when I am under a lot of stress which I can't control for several weeks, the medication I'm on stops working and recently I felt as tho I would have to go to a hospital I felt so sick from the hightened, longer term anxiety of several weeks.

I would prefer not to go on another daily medication, but would very much like to have a back up one that I could take when things in my outside world that I can't do anything about cause stress that is ongoing for several weeks. One that I could take as needed. I've used xanex but I've heard so many bad things about it that I'm not sure that is the answer. I don't want something new. I don't like playing guinea pig to new medications. I've tried the other ssri's and prosac works best for me personally. The klonapon also works well for me. I just need something extra that I can take "as-needed" for these kind of emergency times like the last few weeks.

This emergency just passed so I'm fine now with what I'm taking but I would like to never have to go thru something similiar again without knowing I have a back up to help me thru it so I don't become so ill.

Does anyone have any suggestions for prescriptions. I've done years of therapy including cognitive behavioral and it does help when I'm having lite to medium short term anxiety. I've tried alternative medication which can also work with light anxiety. Had I caught this early enough, it would probably never gotten this bad, but back then regular dr's didn't usually know enough about panic attacks like they do now. Now I'm sure someone now would give me medication or send me to a psychiatrist.

But I have to deal with what is my reality now. So if you have any suggestions that are about prescriptions I would so so much appreciate any help. Thank you so much.

Warmly, S

Answer 1

I suffered from that.  For the past 7 years i was put on "effexor".  I havent had one attack afterwards.  For the night-time, im on "trazadone", wich helps me big time on sleeping.

If it werent for the effexor, i wouldnt of gone to college, let alone get out of my house!  Give it a try, and be the voice to your doctor! Tell them what you want and need.  Good luck.

-mary

Answer 2

Hi,

If you feel a panic attack or feelings of anxiety creeping up on you then try this word repetition technique that I learned that helps me to quickly 'snap out' of my panic attacks:

I simply repeat the words 'cream cake' over and over in my head as quickly as I can without stopping.    You could use any word or words you like really but that's what I chose (because I like cream cakes).  It apparently works because it doesn't give your brain time to process the panicky thoughts and so helps you to relax again.  Seems strange I know ... but it works for me!

There's also a free ebook that I found really useful called 'Get Rid of Panic and Anxiety for Good'. If you want to take a look you can find it at: http://curepanicattacks.premiergold.info...    Even though I got it for free it has helped me absolutely loads!

Answer 3

You may want to talk to your doctor about this and tell him you want to try something as needed that might work. Ativan is often a good choice that you can take on an as needed basis.  If you are worried about the effects of a new medication, be sure that you try it when you aren't going anywhere. The biggest side effect you have to worry about is usually drowsiness.  

Answer 4

I know you don't prefer a daily perscription, but I've been taking paxil for social anxiety. Its really woks for me. Hope things go well for you!