Panic attack, anxiety & depression. Nothing seems to help. Got no one but my therapist and psychiatrist to talk about it. No one understands. Feels like you're dying, crying for no reason, the heartaches. It's terrible. The Zoloft or Trazodone is not helping and my MD will not prescribe Xanax. HELP.
I'm taking Zoloft for panic attacks but it's not helping. What do you suggest?
Question posted by migdaliarsd on 10 July 2010
Last updated on 19 May 2022
33 Answers Page 2
Have you tried deep breathing, visualization and possibly Lexapro? This works for some. Sometimes theatine can work wonders.
Hi there! :) I so understand!!! I can not take depression meds..make me feel really bad!! I do not know how old you are... makes a slight difference. there are great doctors and psychiatrists who will help you..I found that alprazolam(xanax) and busbar help..with a good therapist..good things will happen! :) If you are really young and drinking... meds like zoloft or any others will send you into a deep dark place you do not want to go. Hang in there!!!
hi there, i also suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, this then leads to depression. in the past i have been on zoloft and it didnt really help me, in saying that my sister is on 150mg of zoloft per day and seems to be doing well on it, my doctor tried me on several different drugs but im in australia so not sure if they are the same over there ( maybe different names ). i am currently taking xanax 1mg tablets when i feel the need , normally 2 per day ata night and also an anti depressant called avanza ( mirtazapine ). if zoloft isnt working for you, ask your doctor to switch u to something else and ask if u can at least have xanax in the meantime, a lot of doctors here in oz wont prescribe it either but its the most effective pill for me. i cant function even leave the house without it somedays... hope u can get a hold of a good doctor that might work with you in trying different pills till u find the one that best works for you . good luck tony
I can sure relate you your dilema, I've gone throught the same thing, I also have severe muscle spasms, when my doctor added Valium, this also helped my Zoloft, and now my problems with the zoloft is better and also working much better for me, althought they have a plethora of medications that they can add with zoloft to help balance you out. I wish you all the luck in the world. My ((hugs)) to you my dear. I hope you find the help you so deserately need. bless you
midwestma, you are so very kind! You give great advice too.
I recommend many different opinions and trying new things. i have a lot of anxiety and depression and possible bipolar. It feels wierd as only 4 years ago i used to be different. i have a friend who has GAD and takes 100mg of zolaft and it helps her. I know that not all medications will work the same. Get more opionions from different professionals if you are in doubt. I once voluntarily committed myself because of alcohol dependency and they found out i was on the wrong anti depressant called ciprimil (citalophram). I was on it for 3 years longer than i should of been. They have me on prozac now, not that it's doing any better. I feel so disconnected to the world. I exercise, which is my past pleasure to keep me sane from anxiety. I try to stay busy reading, or socialising. I have a irrational attitude. i actually believe life is tough enough without having to work full time, buy a house and start a family.
i do want these things but i doubt i will ever have them now because of how i have changed. A good thing to look up is Cognitive behavioural therapy. My psychologist uses it on me, and i also have been to psychology as uni (unfinished and deferred for 9 years), so i am familiar with it. I did obtain a diploma in counselling later on cause i wanted to help people. So i hope something i have mentioned might spark some new ideas. In times of feeling trapped i know personally you need something new to try. good luck
R.J
xanax is the best thing u need to convince him/or her tell him tryed and it seemed to work ask for a chance to see if it helps ive been on them for 15 years for panic attacks and it dose work... see if hell compromise and itleast let u try for a month... good luck
i think 15 yrs of panic attacks means there is an underlying disorder that needs to be addressed, but then of course you don't have them anymore because of the Xanax. This is the reason i have problems with drugs that are so very addicting, and i myself am taking one, so not pointing fingers, it just sounds odd when someone says they have been on a med that is for short term use for 15 yrs. and i shudder to think what would occur if you had to get off. I know, as i decided not to be a slave to Xanax after 3 yrs. and that was 20 yrs. ago and i went through hell until i finally got off the correct way. But it's as addicting as heroin, so i do not recommend to anyone unless it's for short term and i mean REALLY short term. Can you see the irony in your answer?
migdaliasd, First of all you are seeing the wrong kinda of Dr. for panic attacks, Regular MD's are not quaulified in this field. Go see a physciatrist, he will better be able to help you, there are several things he could put you on, but make them listen to you about what you go thru and you have to have good communication and if they won't listen. MAKE THEM. panic attacks are not fun but xanx is the best but very addicting and you yourself have to take them exactly as perscribde or you will run out and be back where you started. i hope i have helped in some way. remember to be open and make them listen to you.
honestly I have Bi Polar and I have had it for years and Zoloft is for depression. I have been on Ativan and Xanax but non of them worked as good as Vistaril, which was shocking to me because its like benadryl but they now use it for anxiety and it really help with the pain in my chest panic attacks. A little bit goes a long way. Good luck and keep up with it. As for the rest of your moods maybe if you get the panic attacks under control it will help but I liked Zyprexa when I was on it but ended up with weight gain. the Dr. is now giving me risperidone and it is really helping. We are our own advicits and if we don't speak up for ourselves than we won't get anywhere. Tell them the medicine isn't helping and that you need to get off of it and try something else. If it makes you suicidal plus go to your neares ER. Zoloft can do that at times. Good luck and if you ever need to talk I am here for you.i will pray for you to get threw this.
I suggest you ask your Dr. to prescribe something to help you with anxiety that is going to work, ie. a tranquilizer of some kind, if you put it that way, the Dr. may give you a low dose of something like Ativan and see if it's enough to help. If you are seeing a psychiatrist, he/she should really be the one that is prescribing medication for anxiety for you. Zoloft is an anti depressant and will not have ANY immediate effect on anxiety and trazodone is also an anti-depressant that Dr.'s often prescribe for sleep, i find it to be awfully strong and not something anyone should take except at bedtime and for sleep. It's been around for many many years. Anyway, try speaking w/your psychiatrist, they are Dr.'s and can prescribe medication, and if no help there, then try asking your Dr. what he/she recommends in the way of a mild tranquilizer to help your anxiety and panic attacks.
No one should ever have to go through panic attacks, but asking for Xanax right off the bat might have been part of the reason you did not get it, although it's a great drug for bad anxiety, it's also one of the strongest and if you are not taking anything, it's unlikely a Dr. is going to start you off on the strongest of medications, especially a benzodiazapam that is an addictive drug. If neither psychiatrist or Dr. are willing to rx you something other than Zoloft or trazodone you had better look for another Dr., as neither of those medications are going to help with your anxiety or panic attacks. As far as anti-depressants go, Paxil is the one that is most helpful for long term anxiety, in my humble opinion, but even that is not going to give you the relief you are seeking. Do you have insomnia? If not, I would ask why you are taking trazodone? The only way that would help your anxiety is to knock you out for awhile. I don't think that's the best treatment. Good luck. Dede
You didn't mention you were already taking Clonazapam, it sounded as if you were not taking any kind of benzodiazapam. I take 2mg. and it has a long life, maybe you need your dosage adjusted. I am able to get a rx for Xanax if I want one and occasionally have, but for the most part, the Clonazapam works fine and I have already experienced withdrawls from Xanax 20 yrs. ago, so choose not to go that route unless really necessary. If you are taking 1 mg., see if you can up it to 2mg. and take more often than currently prescribed?
i know how you feel i have panic attacks bad There was a time in my life i couldnt even walk to my mail box or i would have an attack xanax valium an clonopin or all 3 good for panic attacks i am on disability for my attacks becaise i was pretty much home bound for alot of years i left it untreated because i couldnt find a doctor to help me my attacks turned into social phobia.Im taking valium now but in the past i have took xanax an clonopin you just have to find a doctor that will give you these meds i have been to so many doctors an they give you what THEY want to give you keep looking an you will find a good doctor who will listen an care about what you are going through. let me no what happens ... good luck ... there is help out there
Have you tried cipralex or have a look on a site called "no more panic"
My doctor put me on Xanax. Mostly so I don't jump myself awake at night, but it seems to work very well for the daytime panic attacks. I usually only use it at night for sleep, but she said I could use it when the panic attacks are bad too.
HI Migdaliarsd, zoloft is an antidepresent that can help anxiety too. But it doesn't do much for the panic attacks alone. I'm on klonopin for anxiety and it works with panic attacks too. Ask for the klonopin, it is not so addictive as xanax as that is probably why he won't prescribe that drug, though I was gonna suggest it. 1 mg of klonopin should help a panic attack when it comes on.
I know I'm on it for almost a year, and now my panic attacks are bad, My appt. is on the 27 of this month, so until then my md. prescribed at atarax. Said it takes over 2 wks to work. Aren't I lucky, lol
You take care and thanks.
oh please I hope you don't have the same reaction as I did. Atarax(Hydroxozine) actually made me worse. I had a reverse side effect to it.(as well as ativan... good for panic attacks) When I didnt have a psychiatrist my old medical doctor prescribed that to me too. It will take shorter than 2 weeks to kick in I don't know why he said that. Its just a strong antihistimine, yes its suppose to help with anxiety, but theres a difference between anxiety and panic attacks. I was on 2- 50mg at bedtime he was giving it to me to help me sleep and kept increasing it and I didn't realize it was the drug that was making me restless. Please let me know how you are in a week , ok.
Dear Migdaliarsd:
In my opinion, your doctor is being cruel. Nobody should feel the way that
you do for an extended period of time! If you have been on the Zoloft for over 3 weeks and at at least 100 mg. it is NOT working well for you, obviously.
I hope you are seeing a Board Certified Psychiatrist, not just and M.D.
This is ridiculous, and I have been through it. We want to live our lives, not just suffer through them!
See another doctor -- and at least get some paliative relief with a benzodiazapine such as diazepam (generic valium) or Ativan.
Problem with Xanix is its short 1/2 life, which makes it more addictive. It will work fast, but then leave fast, so beware of it! I know! Getting off is a pain.
If the SSRI's are not working, you can try Wellbutrin, which increases dopamine, or one of the SNRI's like Celexa.
Let us know how you do. Your situation is heartbreaking. All the best..
Judy
Currently on 20 mg. of diazepam daily (2 doses)
50 mg. Zoloft
150 mg. generic Wellbutrin
Thanks so for your advised, is much appreciated. You take care of yourself..
Migdalia
Do not try Wellbutrin, it is the worst anti-D for anyone that suffers from anxiety!! I know this from personal experience, and the best shrink in my state told me that it only aggrivates anxiety. Perhaps an snri might help you.
(serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)
Best o' luck to ye!
This is a great post..your physician is being cruel by at least not giving you Xanax until the Zoloft kicks in
Actually..Celexa is an SSRi..to be picky! Effexor acts like an SSNRi at high doses..Cymbalta is another SSNRi
try pristiq (anti-depressant) and valium (anxiety) works really well as for as I'm concerned. Try it for awhile I'm sure you'll be pleased I really was... Good Luck
Thanks, much appreciated. Stay safe...
Related topics
xanax, zoloft, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, trazodone, anxiety and stress
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