![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bluesilvy on October 5, 2003, at 21:57:27
For about the last 2 or 3 years I have always had a fear of P.A.'s. Sometimes while driving by myself or when I am alone at home I would would get that fear feeling that doesn't seem to go away and comes from absolutely nowhere. Well, while at my doctor for a regular checkup I decide to tell him about these fears. He gives me Lexapro and Klonopin wafers. He says to take the lex daily and use the klonopin if I feel like I am going to have an attack. I figure I'll give it a try. Well, my girlfriend and I went on a small roadtrip after taking the Lex for a week. Twenty minutes into the drive, my fingers start to tingle. Then my toes start tingling and now I'm getting worried! I start breathing heavily and all of a sudden my stomach tightens up so hard I can't breathe. I'm gasping for air and I honestly think I am going to pass out. I actually tell my girlfriend to call 911. While waiting for the ambulance to get there my stomach finally unclenches enough for me to breathe. I didn't know what was going on. When the paramedics get to me they tell me I "it was just" a panic attack. They send me on my way and 5 minutes later, it all happens again. "What the hell is going on here" I think to myself. Ten minutes later I get the feeling that another one is coming on. We go to the nearest hospital which happened to be extremely close and the doc loads me up with Ativan. WOW what a lifesaver. I don't remember much after that. My girlfriend said I was awake and coherent but I don't remember a thing.
For everyone that has read this whole thing - here is my question. Is it possible that Lexapro could have actually helped bring on these panic attacks? Also, I accidently forgot to bring the Klonopin wafers with me on that trip but do you think it would have helped?
Thanks for listening!
Posted by John1022 on October 5, 2003, at 22:14:20
In reply to Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by bluesilvy on October 5, 2003, at 21:57:27
My ex-girlfriend apparently had very good luck with Zoloft for her panic attacks, general day to day anxiety and bulimia.
Lorazapam works wonders for me when I have seretonin depletion induced insomnia and anxiety. This time the depletion and insomnia are not going away with use of Effexor like it had in the past and I am growing a serious tolerance to ativan where .5 is not knocking me out at night or helping with anxiety.
I am trying my best not to go up to 1 mg at night of Ativan and want to look into another benzo that I can't build such a quick tolerance or dependance on.
Anyone have any suggestions for that until I can get my seretonin issue in balance and my sleep back to normal? (which it has in the past and everything goes back to normal out of know where)
Good luck
Posted by galkeepinon on October 6, 2003, at 1:57:30
In reply to Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by bluesilvy on October 5, 2003, at 21:57:27
Wow~I'm so sorry you had to go through that!!!
>>>>For everyone that has read this whole thing - here is my question. Is it possible that Lexapro could have actually helped bring on these panic attacks?
I take Lexapro and I have never had a 'panic attack' on it. You may have had a reaction OR it was a real panick attack. Your post indictaes that you were given Klonopin and that you have PA's.
>>>>Also, I accidently forgot to bring the Klonopin wafers with me on that trip but do you think it would have helped?
I think since the 'panic attack' came on so fast and so quick AND you felt those feelings again, the Klonopin may have helped, but Ativan acts faster. Klonopin has a longer half life from what I know, but it could have worked as well as the Ativan did for you. I did have a panic attack once and immediately took a Klonopin and it helped.
I'm glad you felt better after taking the Ativan.
If you want, keep us posted, I'm interested if you change to Ativan or continue the Klonopin.
Hang in there and good luck!
Kristen
Posted by Viridis on October 6, 2003, at 2:00:38
In reply to Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by bluesilvy on October 5, 2003, at 21:57:27
Klonopin is unbeatable for panic disorder. I haven't had a single panic attack since starting it daily 2 1/2 years ago at 1 mg/day. Plus, I haven't had to increase the dose, nor do I have any side effects.
I hate SSRIs and found that the ones I tried increased the frequency of panic attacks and generally made my life miserable (haven't tried Lexapro, though). Sensible doctors will give benzos like Klonopin long-term (probably the safest of all these meds), but sensible doctors can be hard to find.
Posted by Harvester of Eyes on October 6, 2003, at 8:57:00
In reply to Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by bluesilvy on October 5, 2003, at 21:57:27
Drugs like ativan and Klonipin are at those most brilliant when they are used to rebuild your confidence in the face of a panic disorder such that you no longer feel loss of control. In other words, just having the drugs in your pocket is reassuring. I think the fact that you forgot the Klonipin on your trip is telling.
The best part about drugs like ativan is they work almost immediately. Knowing you have an instant treatment in your pocket is very reassuring, and can give you the resilience to overcome panic attacks for the long term.
Many of us who find ourselves on benzo type drugs on a daily basis come to a point where we would like to scale back or eliminate the use, because of issues such as dependency or side effects. I recommend that your first step be trying to use them as needed, when you feel something coming on. Gradually learn to ride it out for a few minutes before medicating to build confidence. Eventually you may find you rarely need the pills.
I am not qualified to comment on the Lexapro except to say that it overstimulates some people. I think the absence of your Klonipin on the trip was probably the key issue.
Hey -- panic attacks feel like hell. But at least it's an easily treatable, non-fatal condition.
Posted by bluesilvy on October 6, 2003, at 9:44:53
In reply to Re: Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by Harvester of Eyes on October 6, 2003, at 8:57:00
Well, I'm taking everyone's advice. I've decided to keep some Ativan and klonopin with me at all times. I put some of each in a contact case and will carry it around everywhere I go. I have found that since the major panick attack(s), I constantly have a discomforting feeling in the back of my head. I don't think about it as much when I am at work or with friends, but anytime I am alone or driving by myself, it is always in the back of my head. Both my Klonopin and Ativan are 0.5mg. I'm not sure how many mg's of each I should take if another P.A. comes on again. Does anybody reading this take these meds for instant relief only and how many mg's of each do you take? Thanks everyone.
Posted by El on October 6, 2003, at 16:53:19
In reply to Re: Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by bluesilvy on October 6, 2003, at 9:44:53
I hear you bluesilvy and I have tried Lex and I couldn't stay on it for more than a week because of the intensity, severity and frequency of panic attacks I had while on it. I truly believe it caused me to have nonstop panic attacks for days especially while I was driving. I esperienced the tingling, stomach tension, heavy breathing, and I clenched the wheel so hard my hands hurt afterward. My panic attacks don't usually last that long and I had a three day staight attack on Lex and another on Paxil. My doc won't give me Klonopin or anything addictive, but I am on BuSpar and it seems to be helping. Good Luck with yours, at least you have something for immediate gratification, I have to suffer through mine, unfortunately my insurance doesn't allow me to pick my doctor, but I am okay for now.
Let me know if you stick with Lex and if it helps?
El
Posted by Sabina on October 7, 2003, at 8:24:27
In reply to Re: Newbie - My first panick attack - Lex Ativan ?'s, posted by Harvester of Eyes on October 6, 2003, at 8:57:00
dear sir or madam,
i know this is off meds topic, but i don't know if you check the social board or not. anyhoo, excuse me for butting in, but i am both curious and slightly unnerved by your moniker. are you just a big blue oyster cult fan or is there another, more obscure meaning? again, just wondering, not knocking you at all.
kindly yours,
sabina
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.