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View Full Version : Anxiety at work that requires medication and loss of appetite.



nikkabean326
06-10-2013, 10:29 AM
I tried posting last week about new medication that I'm on but the post never appeared so.. I'll try again.

I'm new to anxiety medication. The main reason for the anxiety is my job. I work at a very high volume call center and the customers we deal with on a continuous basis are animals. Anyway I went a week without going into work (with no personal/sick time left) because of the anxiety. I finally made the trip to the doctors to have the issue looked into. The doctor prescribed me Xanax and Effexor.

After starting the Effexor I did a bit of research on it and heard absolutely nightmarish things about the discontinuation of them. From what I can tell people just weren't weaning themselves off of it properly. I'm not too terribly concerned about it.

The Xanax has been a life saver. She gave me .5mg and I take them every day that I'm working. Most days I'm taking two pills. I'm not sure if I should ask her about upping my dose or not. I take one pill when I get to work and start to feel shaky and then about five hours later (our SUPER busy time) I take another one. It's been a major help in getting me to this job everyday. I would really hate to depend on medication to get me through. Apparently many people at that job rely on some type of anxiety meds to get them through the day.

Some people have suggested leaving this job if it causes me so much anxiety. I just can't do it. The pay is excellent, they offer overtime constantly, the benefits are astounding, the rate in which they promote people from the inside is unheard of and I genuinely do like the job. I think I'm really good at it. I just need to figure out a way to deal with it.. anyone else have these problems?

I've also had a loss of appetite. I've done research on the loss of appetite and these medications but most people gain a good amount of weight on the Effexor. Not sure if that's normal or not.

Anyway, that's all from me today. Just a few questions lingering openly in my mind. Today is day two of my work week. Mondays are normally the busiest. Here's hoping I make it through unscathed!

alankay
06-13-2013, 09:46 AM
I think your on the right track with keeping on the effexor. Yes if you want to stop it just taper off it slowly. Simple as that. You can ask for ativan which will last longer or Extended Release xanax. I like the ativan option but the doc would have her thoughts on that.
In any case give the effexor time to help more and you might find you can do with less xanax or days where you can skip it(best bet down the road). I bet you doc is hoping that will happen(the effexor helps you use less xanax). Alankay

kroozer
06-14-2013, 11:00 PM
careful w the xanax, its real easy to like it a lot, and slowly depend on a little bit more...you can become addicted and not even realize it till you try to go off--I'd try 1/2 xanax and see if it helps---less is more, withdrawel is a bear!!