Anyone Know About Paxil And/or Effexor For Ptsd / Anxiety?

[Lionheart]

With all due respect Lion, I think you're doing far to much thinking and not enough management or coping?

I agree with you Alba. I do tend to overthink and need to brush up on coping skills and begin using them more. Thank you for your honesty!!!

 

[The Albatross]

Would suggest you look through your content for the last couple of months and maybe write about it.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@Lionheart777 When I was put on Cymbalta, it was a "relatively" new drug on the market. Can't remember but it was sometime around 10 yrs ago. I was told then that the highest dosage they could put me on was 60mgs, and that any higher was NOT recommended. I know many drs today do prescribe 120 mgs, I would be extremely cautious on going up that high..

I agree with @The Albatross that doing, rather than thinking about doing, might me more effective. Also, have you tried to pin point where the anxiety is stemming from, well, other than the obvious.... PTSD!!!!!!

Also, you speak of some of the drugs that you are taking, for a few different disorders... just how many drugs are you taking???? For all conditions, inhaled steroids included in the equation... there might just be something that just isn't agreeing and causing you anxiety.

I just took myself off ALL inhaled steroids for the COPD and OMG, no more anxiety. I can't believe it took me going on Advair on top of Symbicort and the rage/anxiety setting in before I figured everything out. No steroids, no anxiety. So it may be meds causing you anxiety. Might not, but it's worth looking into.....

 

[Lionheart]

I will definitely be extra cautious about anything above the 60mg of Cymbalta.

I am doing, but I agree that I am also over-thinking and 'rusty' on my coping skills. I bought the light box, started getting out of the house, began exercising, eating right, cutting back on the cigarettes, vaping oil rather than smoking. etc., so I am doing, still, a lot of the things I mentioned in the previous post that I can do for anxiety, I was not practicing as I should've.

Oh my gosh @She Cat let me count the meds.....umm....there are 17. Two of which are inhalers.:confused: They recently placed me on a rescue inhaler and I am not sure if it contains steroid medication or not, so I will look into those inhalers as a possible culprit.

I have agoraphobia and social anxiety so getting out of the house around others is anxiety-provoking for me, (especially when it is a new place or a new face). Stopping smoking tends to make me anxious. The neighbors fights are triggering me and is highly upsetting to me. I am anxious and worried about my mother's new situation and anxious about my sister's illness. And there are times when I am anxious and don't know what the triggers are.

I am thankfully less anxious about my health now that I've had good lab reports from the doctor and am having the vitamin D supplemented as well as educating myself more about Sleep apnea.

 

[The Albatross]

You are Lion, rather health (or the lack of it) focused... and I would really like to see you do more with your mental/emotional coping skills than to see you putter around with your pharmacology for your chronic conditions.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@Lionheart777 HOLY CRAP!!!!! 17??????????? You must be popping pills all day long. Crap that's a lot of meds. Yes, your rescue inhaler is a steroid too. They ALL are. I am going to suggest that you speak to your Pharmacist, NOT your Dr. Why??? Because pharmacist KNOW meds and how they can interact with each other, Drs actually know shit about meds, it's not their thing. They treat ailments WITH drugs, but they ally don't know much about meds. Your Pharmacist will, because that's what they are trained in. Go have a talk with him/her and see if anyone of these meds, could be causing the anxiety. It's a place to start to try and figure out, or to eliminate where the anxiety is coming from....

 

[The Albatross]

Yup agreed with She Cat, I think I'd be doing a med review with a pharmacist and each of your physicians.

 

[Lionheart]

@Lionheart777 I am going to suggest that you speak to your Pharmacist, ......Go have a talk with him/her and see if anyone of these meds, could be causing the anxiety. It's a place to start to try and figure out, or to eliminate where the anxiety is coming from....

I agree with you that I am on a lot of medicine and that I should speak to my pharmacist. I will do exactly that!!!

I did not know that inhalers had steroids in them. I am allergic to some steroids and have had adverse reactions to some of them as well, so I won't delay this!!! I will set it up right now.

Thank you @She Cat

 

[The Albatross]

I did not necessarily agree with She Cat, although I have a respiratory history and had issues with steroids. I had to stay on them til I could do my respiratory rehab and blow normal on tests. But as with diabetes, hypertension/high blood pressure... it is/would be easy to think that what you are feeling might be anxiety or depression. Is that true? Possibly... do I advise you to go off your meds... not with COPD I don't.

NOT without a med/RX prescription review at any rate.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I was on Cymbalta, it gave me sweats and made me manic. I came off easily. I was on Paxil for years, and had no withdraw problems when I switched to Zoloft. Zoloft and Paxil are supposed to be the best for PTSD if you can tolerate them. I also take Buspar, since the anxiety part of PTSD is so high.

 

[The Albatross]

People can often (though most don't) get to a place where they recognize that chronic discomfort is better in their longer term circumstances than symptom relief. It is not better exactly, nor easier - very hard to explain.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@The Albatross I NEVER suggest that @Lionheart777 stop taking any of his meds. I suggested that he look into a possible issue with that many drugs possibly affecting him. Also I suggested that he speak to his Pharmacist. Making intelligent informed decisions about ones medical treatment is always advised.

I came off of my inhaled steroids because I can not tolerate ANY form of steroid now. Inhaled, injected, pill form, eye drops, all of them cause me anxiety. Personally I think my body just built up an intolerance over the yrs. Up until last yr, they never bothered me, and now the anxiety is just way too much for me to handle.....

@Lionheart777 After discussing with your Pharmacist, if you have concerns, then by all means speak to your Dr. If you feel that it possibly could be the steroids after all of this, maybe with your drs you could try a few days without, and then see how the anxiety is??? Under your drs care of course!!!!!