Matt_H
08-29-2008, 01:59 PM
I've had a history of anxiety/panic and depression for the past 3 or 4 years. A history that's longer than I'm willing to type right now. Anyway, I was on Prozac for about a year. It seemed to work fairly well. I did notice I didn't seem to be happy nor sad. Very.. complacent, if that's the right word. Well after I had realized I developed anorgasmia, I was weened off it.
Fast forward. I was weened off the Prozac for ~6 weeks or so. I experienced a major panic attack that ended up sending me to the ER. Well, they gave me some Ativan and said good luck finding a psychiatrist. So I went hunting for a psyciatrist.
In the meantime, I saw my GP because my anxiety was unbearable. Generalized anxiety throughout the whole day, with the occasional panic attack. I've had agoraphobia before, but thought I had overcome it. Well this new relapse of anxiety had me home-bound once again. My GP was nice enough to give me an Rx for Welbutrin 150mg, and Xanax 0.25mg.
We chose Welbutrin because since I had tried many SSRI's in the past, and most recently experiencing sexual dysfunction from the Prozac, another SSRI probably wouldn't be effective. I've also been prescribed benzo's at several different points through my life, so I knew right off the bat that 0.25mg wasn't going to do squat for me.
Well currently I'm on 150mg of Welbutrin 2x daily, and 0.50mg of Xanax up to 3x daily. I've been on the Welbutrin for just about a month now. No side effect's that I can tell, but no improvements either. I'm still taking at least 3 of the 0.5mg's of Xanax a day to manage my anxiety. My anxiety is so bad, that on one occasion I had to take 2.5mg at once just to bring it to a level where it was manageable. 2.5mg! Without ANY level of sedation. As a matter of fact, I believe I was awake for 22 hours that day. (Helping my girlfriend move)
So finally my question for you guys. Welbutrin being a mild stimulant, is this the best choice for my anxiety? I have a psychiatrist lined up for the 24th of September, and that's the earliest I could get. I don't want to wait until the 24th and have my situation get worse. The Xanax is barely keeping me together, and the Welbutrin doesn't seem to be doing anything.
Anyyyyy type of insight or commentary is appreciated. I just need some perspective here. Thanks
-Matt
Fast forward. I was weened off the Prozac for ~6 weeks or so. I experienced a major panic attack that ended up sending me to the ER. Well, they gave me some Ativan and said good luck finding a psychiatrist. So I went hunting for a psyciatrist.
In the meantime, I saw my GP because my anxiety was unbearable. Generalized anxiety throughout the whole day, with the occasional panic attack. I've had agoraphobia before, but thought I had overcome it. Well this new relapse of anxiety had me home-bound once again. My GP was nice enough to give me an Rx for Welbutrin 150mg, and Xanax 0.25mg.
We chose Welbutrin because since I had tried many SSRI's in the past, and most recently experiencing sexual dysfunction from the Prozac, another SSRI probably wouldn't be effective. I've also been prescribed benzo's at several different points through my life, so I knew right off the bat that 0.25mg wasn't going to do squat for me.
Well currently I'm on 150mg of Welbutrin 2x daily, and 0.50mg of Xanax up to 3x daily. I've been on the Welbutrin for just about a month now. No side effect's that I can tell, but no improvements either. I'm still taking at least 3 of the 0.5mg's of Xanax a day to manage my anxiety. My anxiety is so bad, that on one occasion I had to take 2.5mg at once just to bring it to a level where it was manageable. 2.5mg! Without ANY level of sedation. As a matter of fact, I believe I was awake for 22 hours that day. (Helping my girlfriend move)
So finally my question for you guys. Welbutrin being a mild stimulant, is this the best choice for my anxiety? I have a psychiatrist lined up for the 24th of September, and that's the earliest I could get. I don't want to wait until the 24th and have my situation get worse. The Xanax is barely keeping me together, and the Welbutrin doesn't seem to be doing anything.
Anyyyyy type of insight or commentary is appreciated. I just need some perspective here. Thanks
-Matt