Nothing Seeming to Work

[Buffalo1]

Hi there--

New here, and just wanted to hear about others experiences with medication.

About last September, I started having some serious panic attacks and anxiety. After trial and error with a variety of meds, I am currently taking a combination of Xanax XR, Mirtazapine (Remeron), and Escitalopram (Lexapro). After a few weeks of feeling better, things are starting to get bad again. It seems like I've tried every med in the book, and nothing seems to work.

Previously, I've tried Xanax (regular), Klonopin, and Lorazapam (Ativan), and nothing seems to work. It's been really difficult when nothing is seeming to work. Has anyone else had issues like this? Have you tried any other medications that work well?

[Enduronman]

That's quite a few good ones there friend, at least good in the sense that others here seem to do ok with them..What about Prozac???

E-Man...:)

[needtogetwell]

Hi there-- New here, and just wanted to hear about others experiences with medication. About last September, I started having some serious panic attacks and anxiety. After trial and error with a variety of meds, I am currently taking a combination of Xanax XR, Mirtazapine (Remeron), and Escitalopram (Lexapro). After a few weeks of feeling better, things are starting to get bad again. It seems like I've tried every med in the book, and nothing seems to work. Previously, I've tried Xanax (regular), Klonopin, and Lorazapam (Ativan), and nothing seems to work. It's been really difficult when nothing is seeming to work. Has anyone else had issues like this? Have you tried any other medications that work well?

Well if I remember correctly the meds you are talking about are SSRI's and Benzos. Anyone please jump in if I am wrong.

It may be time for you to try one which is a SSRI and SNRI. A med like Effexor XR. This med works on 2 different neurotransmitters in the brain.

I has great success with it when nothing else would work. But, if it does work you should be willing to stay on it for quite a long time. This is not a short term med.

Also, coming off this drug is probably one of the most difficult. Some people have no trouble but they are few and far between.

Lots for you to think about and discuss with your doctor.

Hope this helps
Pam

[jessed03]

Well if I remember correctly the meds you are talking about are SSRI's and Benzos. Anyone please jump in if I am wrong.

It may be time for you to try one which is a SSRI and SNRI. A med like Effexor XR. This med works on 2 different neurotransmitters in the brain.

I has great success with it when nothing else would work. But, if it does work you should be willing to stay on it for quite a long time. This is not a short term med.

Also, coming off this drug is probably one of the most difficult. Some people have no trouble but they are few and far between.

Lots for you to think about and discuss with your doctor.

Hope this helps
Pam

One NASSA - Mirtzapine :)

Gosh I feel anal pointing that out. Everything you've said though I agree with! There have been some people here who have responded well to trying an SNRI. It's something to think about. Sadly there's no way concrete to judge which neuros are to blame.

Another thing - and I'm just throwing it out there - is your mental process may not be working in your favour.
That's a possibility.
Meds as we all know are partly a band aid. If you don't develop good cognitive coping mechanisms, there's a good chance that at some point, the panic or anxiety will break through the med stack.
If that's something you've already worked on, or thought about -- you can ignore that.

Welcome to the forum Buffalo!

[needtogetwell]

One NASSA - Mirtzapine :) Gosh I feel anal pointing that out. Everything you've said though I agree with! There have been some people here who have responded well to trying an SNRI. It's something to think about. Sadly there's no way concrete to judge which neuros are to blame. Another thing - and I'm just throwing it out there - is your mental process may not be working in your favour. That's a possibility. Meds as we all know are partly a band aid. If you don't develop good cognitive coping mechanisms, there's a good chance that at some point, the panic or anxiety will break through the med stack. If that's something you've already worked on, or thought about -- you can ignore that. Welcome to the forum Buffalo!

Jessed, you bring up such a good point about mental processes, wish I had thought of it!

Buffalo, I too bid you a warm welcome. Many many people here with great information, somewhere the bits and pieces from all of us will help you piece together exactly what is right for you!

[Dahila]

I think you should try some kind of relaxation; could be even yoga. Even the best med will not work if we are shaking like leaves on slight wind.
I can not take any of that meds both groups. Unfortunately theyd do not agree with my BP..... The meds I am on help a bit. but I honestly believe that meditation helps me a lot...a lot.

Buffalo welcome to the forum:)) stick with us you get the info and support :)

[Kabukicho]

I am a strong believer in therapy. If you can find a good CBT-based, anxiety-focused therapist (and they're not cheap), you might see some great results.

Some people (and I'm one of them) don't really need the meds so much as they need to adjust their thought processes.

Of course, this is coming from a guy who takes 1.0 mg Xanax a night to sleep at the moment, so...I too still have some work to do.

But antidepressants have failed me so far and I'm still making progress with my anxiety via therapy.

[anxietycat]

I am a strong believer in therapy. If you can find a good CBT-based, anxiety-focused therapist (and they're not cheap), you might see some great results. Some people (and I'm one of them) don't really need the meds so much as they need to adjust their thought processes. Of course, this is coming from a guy who takes 1.0 mg Xanax a night to sleep at the moment, so...I too still have some work to do. But antidepressants have failed me so far and I'm still making progress with my anxiety via therapy.

How often do you do therapy? I'm going once a week and I just can't tell if it's working or not.

[anxietycat]

One NASSA - Mirtzapine :) Gosh I feel anal pointing that out. Everything you've said though I agree with! There have been some people here who have responded well to trying an SNRI. It's something to think about. Sadly there's no way concrete to judge which neuros are to blame. Another thing - and I'm just throwing it out there - is your mental process may not be working in your favour. That's a possibility. Meds as we all know are partly a band aid. If you don't develop good cognitive coping mechanisms, there's a good chance that at some point, the panic or anxiety will break through the med stack. If that's something you've already worked on, or thought about -- you can ignore that. Welcome to the forum Buffalo!

You are so right ... I keep waiting for a magic pill to just poof and make me feel miraculously better, but your thought processes and attitude are a big part of it too. Mine need a lot of work. It's a constant struggle.

[Kabukicho]

I go to therapy once a week, but I get "homework" assignments that I try to do basically every day. Some of these are actual journal-based activities, where I take a negative thought and turn it into a positive one (or at least a more realistic one). For example: "I am going to fail at my new job and be miserable." --> "Stop predicting the future! You're a hard worker, you were selected from all the other applicants to do this job, and you'll be fine. Take it one day at a time. Enjoy the experience!"

Other times I keep journals of my sleep for my therapist to review (sleep is a big issue for me).

My therapist also has done a good job of pointing out a lot of my personal attitude problems. I tend to think of the world as a scary, untrustworthy, unfair, cruel place most of the time. And that philosophy just isn't helpful. It makes me too anxious and cautious, it makes me too prone to trying to "control" everything. So that's kind of my big, long-term project--moving from a judging, fearing, controlling mindset to a more accepting, relaxing, and enjoying mindset.

[anxietycat]

I go to therapy once a week, but I get "homework" assignments that I try to do basically every day. Some of these are actual journal-based activities, where I take a negative thought and turn it into a positive one (or at least a more realistic one). For example: "I am going to fail at my new job and be miserable." --> "Stop predicting the future! You're a hard worker, you were selected from all the other applicants to do this job, and you'll be fine. Take it one day at a time. Enjoy the experience!"

Other times I keep journals of my sleep for my therapist to review (sleep is a big issue for me).

My therapist also has done a good job of pointing out a lot of my personal attitude problems. I tend to think of the world as a scary, untrustworthy, unfair, cruel place most of the time. And that philosophy just isn't helpful. It makes me too anxious and cautious, it makes me too prone to trying to "control" everything. So that's kind of my big, long-term project--moving from a judging, fearing, controlling mindset to a more accepting, relaxing, and enjoying mindset.

you sound just like me. I also have issues sleeping too and get so down on myself for having to take a pill to sleep.

i also do the same homework assignments and see my therapist once a week. I have been going for 5 weeks now- how long have you been going?

[Kabukicho]

I'm about 7 weeks into a 16 week course. I have also been to therapy in the past.

This time has been better than any of the previous times, I've made some real progress in regards to changing my life-outlook. It's no silver bullet, but it's a good tool.

[acetone]

Other than the newer ADs(SSRIs and SNRIs) there are also older meds(TCAs and MAOIs) to try.