I have tried Buspar,Paxel and then Zoloft. I had severe panic attacks once I took the Paxel and Zoloft. I had the first attack after just one paxel. and the second about 5 wks on the zoloft. I mean the kind of attacks that land you in the er at 3:00am. Anyway, I have been off medication all together since end of August and have been just working with a Therepist and Lucinda's book. Im working on getting the tapes.
Has anyone been able to keep going and not use meds.? Or how long does it take to get use to the meds and what does one do to live through the getting used to time. Im terrified to take any of those meds now.
Thanks
Dawn

I also started getting panic attacks with Paxil and I was only on it for 2 days. I struggled with taking medication, but it just got to a point where I had to admit I needed it, so I tried Luvox. My doctor gave me an anti-anxiety med, Klonopin, in a very low dose, to balance the initial jitteriness that an SSRI can cause, and that definitely helped. In fact, I'm not sure if what helped me was just the .5 mg. of Klonopin I still take, or the Luvox. In any case, I am feeling a lot better than I did when I started taking these mes in April. I still wish I didn't have to take them, but I feel I will get to a point when I will know I can quit... that is my goal.

I TOOK ZOLOFT FOR MANY YEARS. THE DOCTORS HAD ME CONVINCED THAT I MAY NEED THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I DECIDED TO GO OFF MY MEDS. AND TRY THE PROGRAM. WELL MIRACULOUSLY IM DOING WONDERFUL. I FEEL BETTER NOW THAN I HAVE IN MANY YEARS

I have tried Prozac once. After one week, I had the worst panic attack of my life. My heart rate was 160. That was it for me. Then several years later after my grandparents died I tried Celexa. After one pill, I was in bed all day shaking and panicy. I decided right then and there. No more pills. Just remember there is no magic pill. I decided to do it on my own. I am doing better everyday. I prefer my own feelings to any drugged out scary ones. Hope this helped.

That is exactly what I mean, I just can deal with the meds. I was on buspar 5 yrs ago with no problems. This time Im doing better without. I just need to get on the right track, Im glad to hear it can be done without meds. At this time the thought of meds is far more scarey than the thought of a panic attack. I feel more in control without the meds.

I think anti-depressants work for those whose primary symptom is depression not panic. All the forementioned drugs gave me panic attacks. After the docs finsh practicing they sometimes give in to Xanax.

Xanax has been approved by the FDA for panic attacks, yet they still hold back. "...because it is a controlled substance you know?"

So sad the docs keep preaching the, "Xanax can be very addictive...blah, blah, blah. I bet they'd shut up if they ever had a panic attack.

I vote for Xanax......I beleive that those of us who have primary panic attacks do well with it. Unfortunately, the docs are chicken. Xanax is nice to use while you are working the program.

I was off it for the first time about 3 months into the program.

------------------
Always Hopeful, Betsy H.
Marietta, GA (East Cobb)
Get out and walk...five minutes today, six minutes tomorrow...until you work your way up to 30-45 minutes and day and see how much better you feel in just a few weeks.

[This message has been edited by EastCobbGABetsyH (edited 10-22-2001).]

I think that meds can be helpful, but if you are coping without them, you are probably better off without them. You probably had the panic attack from the thought of taking the meds, and not so much as from the meds themselves. I work with several people who take these meds and they all say very good things about them. But, their primary problem is depression. Part of the disorder with anxiety is being afraid to take our meds. I've done this all my life with just about anything I've taken. I have to force myself to take meds I really need. I would be interested to know if you read about all of the side effects before taking your medicine. Good luck. Annette

Welcome to the forum and the journey!

If a pill was truly the answer to any of this, don�t you think we�d all be taking it?

The Life Extension Foundation reports: "Pills are not the panaceas we've been led to believe they are. Studies have shown that drugs are of no value in treating about 33% of depression cases. In another 33% of cases, the drugs were only a little more effective than placebos (sugar pills.)" What kind of written proof of effectiveness has your own licensed drug-pusher offered you to back up any claims they may make?

I would consider these drugs only as an alternative to being legally committed to a long-term care hospital. Hopefully I�ll never have such a decision, but even then the hospitalization would seem the better way!

The good news is: Mostly all of us sooner or later may find The Midwest Center Program, and others like it, offers more hope for feeling better nowadays than mistreatment at the hands of licensed drug-pushers.

The key to my own successes with The Midwest Center Program came directly from my own willingness to take responsibility and begin seeing this whole thing differently from what the licensed drug-pushers had been trying to sell me on.

By the way, the following thread on the forum contains some of the most helpful information I�ve found about using and more fully enjoying this forum. While online click on this link here: Look What I Found on the Forum

Again, welcome to forum and the journey!

Jack-agilty---
I too had horrifying side effects from paxil.And i too landed in the e.r. They immediately took me off and put me on lorazapam .5 mg 3 times a day. This has helped me more than anything. It is for anxiety and calms you down like xanax.(It only takes the edge off) With this med. I have learned to use it along with the program as a tool to control symptoms on my own. I don't know how long I will have to be on the med., but I have made a commitment to myself to not rush to get off. I know it will happen in due time. Please consider talking to your doctor about this drug and use the program in conjunction. I think this may be your answer.Please keep me informed..

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THAT CAN OVERCOME THIS WITHOUT BEING MEDICATED!!!

Diane

quote:

Originally posted by dl:
[b]CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THAT CAN OVERCOME THIS WITHOUT BEING MEDICATED!!!

Diane [/B]

I've been reading alot of replys and questions and the lot....I'm new here, and although we are ALL indivisuals, meds or no meds...the truth of the matter is, we all must find what works for ourselves....make sure you have a good Doctor, continue with this program...(can hardly wait for mine)...and believe in what your heart and your head are telling you, it's all too easy to try to get someone else to answer the age-old question: "to be medicated or not"...our indivisual bodies, our chemistry, and what is secondary as opposed to primary being depression or panic/anxiety are relevant...be gentle with one another, let's not try to send a "newbie" off into another panic ladden show.....honesty is good and I'm not suggesting being too passive, just allow the facts to be known and understand that we are all different, what works for one may not work for others.....blessings to all of you!

Sometimes when your unsure about using medication and afraid to take it, that fear itself will bring on a panic attack and not necessarily the med itself. Finding the right med is very important. I would suggest one med at a time and taking an SSri with Klonopin helped me through. Also don't feel bad about yourself for taking meds because there is a time and place for them. Be patient with yourself. The right medication can make a huge difference in balancing the anxiety and helping you to concentrate on the program.