Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 05:13:03 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772946
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 424
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 382
Total: 384

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Anxiety Attacks  (Read 5585 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline NycJoe

  • Member
  • Posts: 252
Anxiety Attacks
« on: August 02, 2011, 08:03:52 pm »
I have had anxiety attacks off and on for years.  Lately it has gotten much worse.  Years ago I took Xanax as needed and it always worked.  I stopped taking them after a while as the anxiety attacks lessened.  The Dr I have had for years does not like xanax as she feels it's addictive which I understand though I never had a problem with it.  So in the last year she has tried me on Lexapro, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin all of which I hated and did not work.  I am not depressed (of course panic attacks after a while get one there) so what kind of anti anxiety meds does anyone out there take that work for them?  I'm going to see her tomorrow and just beg her to give me something that works.  I'm tired of the heart palpitations, cold sweats, short of breath feelings.  Yes I have had my heart checked, stress test etc so good to go there.  It feels like a heart attack though!  Almost daily.... Which is driving me fucking nuts.  I start a new job in Sept and can't afford to have these at work.  Any insight much appreciated.

Joe

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2011, 01:00:49 am »
Moved, as promised.
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2011, 05:49:33 am »
Lorazepam
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2011, 07:37:50 am »
Zyprexa.  Actually psychiatrists are using this more for anxiety, even though its original use was as an anti-psychotic.
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline NycJoe

  • Member
  • Posts: 252
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2011, 02:22:54 pm »
Thanks for the responses guys.  Always like to learn what others are taking and what works for them.  My doctor gave me Xanax and propranolol.  Hopefully these will help!  We shall see....

Joe

Offline David_CA

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,246
  • Joined: March 2006
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2011, 08:17:22 am »
Fairly soon after diagnosis, I started having anxiety attacks.  I'd never had them before, and they came as an unpleasant surprise, to say the least.  I took Prozac for several months, and they helped a lot; I felt really good and had no anxiety. 

One day, soon after taking my dose, I felt weird.  I can't explain it, but it's like the Prozac turned on me or something, and I never took it again.  At any rate, I've only had maybe one or two anxiety attacks since then (late '06).  When I start to feel anxious now, I try to recognize it for what it is, breathe deeply, etc... all the things one's supposed to do to to relieve anxiety.  This generally works.  When I need something stronger, I'll take a Klonopin (Clonazepam).  My Dr. will give me a couple prescriptions per year of them (30 each time).  When I ask for things like this, I'll say "with no refills; I'll call you if I need more".  He never seems to have a problem with it. 
Black Friday 03-03-2006
03-23-06 CD4 359 @27.4% VL 75,938
06-01-06 CD4 462 @24.3% VL > 100,000
08-15-06 CD4 388 @22.8% VL >  "
10-21-06 CD4 285 @21.9% VL >  "
  Atripla started 12-01-2006
01-08-07 CD4 429 @26.8% VL 1872!
05-08-07 CD4 478 @28.1% VL 740
08-03-07 CD4 509 @31.8% VL 370
11-06-07 CD4 570 @30.0% VL 140
02-21-08 CD4 648 @32.4% VL 600
05-19-08 CD4 695 @33.1% VL < 48 undetectable!
08-21-08 CD4 725 @34.5%
11-11-08 CD4 672 @39.5%
02-11-09 CD4 773 @36.8%
05-11-09 CD4 615 @36.2%
08-19-09 CD4 770 @38.5%
11-19-09 CD4 944 @33.7%
02-17-10 CD4 678 @39.9%  
06-03-10 CD4 768 @34.9%
09-21-10 CD4 685 @40.3%
01-10-11 CD4 908 @36.3%
05-23-11 CD4 846 @36.8% VL 80
02-13-12 CD4 911 @41.4% VL<20
You must be the change you want to see in the world.  Mahatma Gandhi

Offline Basquo

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,385
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2011, 01:24:33 am »
Lorazepam

I'll second that. It's not as strong as Xanax, the pills split easily by hand if you want to take half or a quarter, and it can be taken sublingually which means faster effects.

Offline BJS2011

  • Member
  • Posts: 62
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2011, 08:22:36 am »
I'll second that. It's not as strong as Xanax, the pills split easily by hand if you want to take half or a quarter, and it can be taken sublingually which means faster effects.
[/quot

Acturually klonopin is stronger than Xanax and valium. One of the strongest benzos there is. Trust me I have been on them all. Klonopin works the best!!e]

Offline Basquo

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,385
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2011, 09:04:49 am »


Acturually klonopin is stronger than Xanax and valium. One of the strongest benzos there is. Trust me I have been on them all. Klonopin works the best!!

Correct. I suggested Lorazepam (Ativan) for the reasons I stated above. Sublingual, it's extremely fast acting but it's also mild enough to take during the day and still lets you be function. If I were to take Xanax, Valium or Klonopin it would most likely knock me out. I haven't had one of those in years.

Offline Miss Philicia

  • Member
  • Posts: 24,793
  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2011, 09:06:18 am »
It's only stronger if you mean "longer half life" which, indeed, klonopin has a much longer half life than xanax. So if your anxiety is general and occurring regularly (like daily, and/or several times a day) klonopin is the more useful benzo-class drug. Xanax is good for specific anxiety, like taking before having laser surgery up your butt hole.

I always like to add that, while these drugs do indeed work, you're only going to solve this issue long term by cognitive behavioral therapy. Think of the medication as more of a band-aid until you get to the point through therapy that you can be weened off of them.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline GSOgymrat

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,122
  • HIV+ since 1993. Relentlessly gay.
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2011, 09:31:35 am »
I always like to add that, while these drugs do indeed work, you're only going to solve this issue long term by cognitive behavioral therapy. Think of the medication as more of a band-aid until you get to the point through therapy that you can be weened off of them.

I agree. Benzodiazepines have their uses but the psychiatrists I work with prescribe them judiciously. They are not approved by the FDA for longterm use. Both psychological and physiological addiction can be a problem and there is evidence that prolonged use can cause cognitive problems. Cognitive behaviorial therapy is effective for treating anxiety.

Offline NycJoe

  • Member
  • Posts: 252
Re: Anxiety Attacks
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2011, 11:07:26 am »
I agree about behavior therapy (which I have had) and not using something like xanax regularly.  I have been on xanax a few times before and always only for a months supply which in the past has lasted me anywhere from 3-4 months or more  I just take as needed.  Not daily. However, when it is needed, wow does it work well.  At least for me.  Which comes in handy when I am at work or on an airplane so I don't look like some kind of freak that is sweating, out of breath, and  holding my chest.   

Joe

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.