• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

any1 with anxiety disorder/attack or paxil experience?

R

RealScurred

Junior Member
ok this has never happened to me before but i think stress and other factors took their toll.

this morning on the way in to work i had an anxiety attack. car heater was on cuz it was cold, then before i knew it i startred sweating and couldn't breathe. i puleld over and opened windows so i could breath...too bad i didnt' have a bag or something. then i turned around and went to my doctor. beena while since last checkup and my doctor has left he practice, so i saw another doctor. he took my blood pressure, my weight, other basic stuff, then asked symptoms. i told him what happend and mentioned the headaches i've been having (last 2 weeks mild heaadaches morning when i wake up and evening after work.) he then asked about anxiety, stress at work etc then he threw some free paxil at me (1 month) and told me to come back in a month!

im really scared about anti-depressant drugs cuz i htink they may be habit forming (addictive). I want second opinion..called uncle hwo is doctor and he said just take one for today...but the dosage says its neesd to be consistent (1 a day, package is all labeled by days.) Can anyone help me? I don't know what to do, who to trust (haven't told family, only told one person at work.)

edit: Please PM me if you do not wish to discuss publicly on forums
 
If the tests are okay, then go and see a specialist in this area. A one time panic attack is just that one time. If it becomes an everyday occurence then you need to find a doctor who deal with this and knows about all the medications. Most medications need time to build up. A quick fix would be something like Xanax or Valium. That will work right away and they are habit forming. Not all the drugs are habit forming. With most you most slowly raise the dose to the correct level and then trail off before stopping.
 
umm, how would i go about finding specialists? what are they called (general psychaitrist?) do i find them through my insurance provider? doctor's office im affiliated with now is not very helpful...thats why i dont trust his diagnosis. yes i have been stressed out with issues but nothing that suggests i need 30-day regimen of drugs! stuipd doctors just take all the perks from pharm companies and now just throw the free drugs at you to solve the problem...they don't care to make thorough diagnosis. healthcare in this country sucks but we don't want to admit it.
 
A buddy of mine took paxil for a while along with a few posts i have seen on the forums.
It takes a while and alot of pills to take effect, and the withdrawl symptoms are pretty bad from what i heard......
If i were u, i would try to get another kind of medication...
 
You can probably find a doctor through your insurance. Look up Mental Health or something along those lines. Call a few and ask about their experience in with anxiety.

You may just want to try reducing your stress at home and work and see how you do. There's no reason to take pills unless it starts to affect your home/work life.
 
It sounds stress related. Anxiety attacks are scary, and the main thing is getting through them. The first step is realizing what is happening, and focusing on understanding it.

Second, work on reducing your stress.
 
Originally posted by: Azraele
It sounds stress related. Anxiety attacks are scary, and the main thing is getting through them. The first step is realizing what is happening, and focusing on understanding it.

Second, work on reducing your stress.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have put it better myself. I'd stay away from Paxil personally, I've heard and read about lots of horror stories with it.
 
Stress is what triggered my anxiety attacks last summer. My ex-wife had just left and was being a complete psycho and using my girls against me. It was really messing me up and work was getting stressful and it just started hitting me one day. I'd feel disconnected from my body. My heart would be racing but I'd feel numb and confused.

Went on Paxil and after about 6 weeks felt great. Lost my job about that same point but it didn't bother me. I kept staying in a great mood. But, after about 6 mos., I started weaning myself off of it as I didn't want to stay on it forever. I knew I was having a normal reaction to some very stressful situations but I don't know if I could have coped completely w/o it.

 
i have anxiety problems but paxil just made them worse (ie: 10 hour panic attack)
now im on lexapro and (occasionally i take a) lorazepam
 
Originally posted by: PatboyX
i have anxiety problems but paxil just made them worse (ie: 10 hour panic attack)
now im on lexapro and (occasionally i take a) lorazepam
Click to expand...

That's part of the problem with these medications. Since it takes 4-6 weeks to have an effect and then you figure evaluating it for a month and then a few weeks to come down off of it if it's not working and then trying another medication until one does work can take a long time.

Xanax certainly helps for the short-term (immediate effects) but it's a very addictive drug.
 
Damn, i'm really mad at the doctor now. seems he just increased my stress by not explaining stuff and leaving me all indecisive. paxil sounds like a dangerous drug to be casually tossing to patients and suggesting "come back in a month". I just read up on it by looking at posts (thanks yellowfiero) and at WebMD...lots of reactions and stuff to watch for. I already took one today after uncle's advice but I think I will stay off drugs and try to focus on what caused it. any simple exercises or breathing techniques recommended for stress reduciton?
 
Originally posted by: RealScurred
Damn, i'm really mad at the doctor now. seems he just increased my stress by not explaining stuff and leaving me all indecisive. paxil sounds like a dangerous drug to be casually tossing to patients and suggesting "come back in a month". I just read up on it by looking at posts (thanks yellowfiero) and at WebMD...lots of reactions and stuff to watch for. I already took one today after uncle's advice but I think I will stay off drugs and try to focus on what caused it. any simple exercises or breathing techniques recommended for stress reduciton?
Click to expand...

I have found that basic meditative practices, like counting your breaths and focusing for 15-20 minutes a day really helps me. I highly recommend the book "Meditation for Dummies". Even if you're mildly interested, it is one of the best written books out there - whether you end up meditating or just want some insight as to what the benefits are.
 
any simple exercises or breathing techniques recommended for stress reduciton?
Click to expand...
Exercise in general is a great stress reducer. Exercise tends to release endorphins, which make you feel good. 🙂

You could also try some relaxing/meditative exercises. Lie down and get comfortable. Close your eyes. Start at your feet and tense your toes, taking a breath as you do so. Relax them, and release the breath. Tense your whole foot, relax. Then your calf. Relax. Thigh, etc, on up your body, finishing with tensing your whole body. When you finish, don't open your eyes just yet. Listen to the sounds in the room. What do you hear? What do you sense? Focus inward and picture your muscles unwinding.
 
I take Paxil.....please don't take it though. You will indeed become dependant on it. Ive been on 30mg a day for 5 years now and wish that I had never started on it. I tried to back off to 20mg one time and just about lost it.
 
As an alternative to medication, you can go talk to a counselor/therapist. I agree, you really shouldn't get on Paxil after just one panic attack. I've been on Paxil for OCD and depression for the last year. It has worked well, but lately I've felt like driving my truck head on into a telephone pole.

As for breathing, you can inhale deeply for 4 sec, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly, and repeat. Perhaps Buddhist meditations could help. 😛

 
I've been having anxiety attacks for the past 4 years so I can relate. I have been seeing a pyshiatrist for it for awhile and it does help. The past 4 months the Dr. gave me a newer medication called Lexapro. It seems to work great now. I went from a average of 8 anxiety attacks per week to about 1 or sometimes none. This is of course in combination with Ativan for emergencys. Like others said, most of these medications take at least 4-6 weeks to start working, but so far Lexapro has been more helpful for me than Paxil or anyother. The downside is no drinking alcohol, but oh well.
 
Been on Paxil for six years.

Tried about nine different anti-depressants before settling on Paxil. My advice... Don't take them if you don't absolutely have to. They are a bit*h to come off of, and after all the physical bullsh*t of coming off, you get bounceback depression. I tried to quit paxil and ended up convulsing, and hemmoraging from the nose and mouth. Now I am weaning myself off, over the last six months and will take another three before I am done with it.

Try St. John's Wort. For every one person who says it is crap, there is another who swears by it.

jmho.
Good Luck to you, whatever you decide!!
🙂 KarenMarie
 
Originally posted by: RealScurred
Damn, i'm really mad at the doctor now. seems he just increased my stress by not explaining stuff and leaving me all indecisive. paxil sounds like a dangerous drug to be casually tossing to patients and suggesting "come back in a month". I just read up on it by looking at posts (thanks yellowfiero) and at WebMD...lots of reactions and stuff to watch for. I already took one today after uncle's advice but I think I will stay off drugs and try to focus on what caused it. any simple exercises or breathing techniques recommended for stress reduciton?
Click to expand...

Forcefully slow deep breathing helps when you are in a state of panic. If you start taking short fast breaths that will only help bring the attacks on.
 
I suffer from panic/anxiety attack and have tried many many drugs, and the only that has worked for me is Paxil CR. It really helps and made me feel alot better. Paxil is not habit-forming and yes you need to take it everyday so it can help you. I would not recommend Xanax, that was the first med i was put on, and its horribly addicting and i was taking it up three times a day. Its better to treat it with therapy and a medication like Paxil then relying on a quick fix from Xanax that doesnt last very long. Along with Paxil CR i do take Klonopin when needed. Its a benzo but its a longer lasting one then Xanax so its easier not to get addicted to it. I hope this helps, good luck and i definetly recommend Paxil CR! 🙂
 
lol, my doctor gave me paxil. I got curious and took a double dose. I tripped for hours. It was the most amazing body high. After that, I never took it again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top