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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Vera on March 24, 2004, at 21:02:54
I was changed from Wellbutrin to Pamelor. I'm at 75mgs of the Pamelor, but had no improvement from depression or anxiety. My Pdoc says to continue with it, but has now prescribed Lexapro AND Ativan to take in addition. He had given me a prescription for Xanax previously, so I asked him if I should then discontinue the Xanax. He stated that I could take a Xanax (1mg) if I had an exceptionally bad and stressful day. I couldn't believe it!! Can this be OK?? I fear I will be near comatose with all this in my system! (Ativan, 1mg, 1-2 a day, and Lexapro,10mg, twice a day, are what he has prescribed!)
Does anyone have any opinions on this? Also, since I still haven't started the Ativan and Lexapro, can anyone please tell me if they have had this combination therapy, and what side effects, if any, they have had? ANY info would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by Sad Panda on March 24, 2004, at 23:19:30
In reply to Pamelor, Lexapro, Ativan and Xanax?????????, posted by Vera on March 24, 2004, at 21:02:54
> I was changed from Wellbutrin to Pamelor. I'm at 75mgs of the Pamelor, but had no improvement from depression or anxiety. My Pdoc says to continue with it, but has now prescribed Lexapro AND Ativan to take in addition. He had given me a prescription for Xanax previously, so I asked him if I should then discontinue the Xanax. He stated that I could take a Xanax (1mg) if I had an exceptionally bad and stressful day. I couldn't believe it!! Can this be OK?? I fear I will be near comatose with all this in my system! (Ativan, 1mg, 1-2 a day, and Lexapro,10mg, twice a day, are what he has prescribed!)
>
> Does anyone have any opinions on this? Also, since I still haven't started the Ativan and Lexapro, can anyone please tell me if they have had this combination therapy, and what side effects, if any, they have had? ANY info would be very appreciated. Thanks.
>
>Lexapro + Pamelor sounds like an excellent combination of AD's, you may need to get blood levels done for Pamelor to get maximum benefit from it.
Taking Ativan with the occasional Xanax for tough situtaions is OK too, it means your doc trusts you with your own medication.
If the AD combo works for you, you should be able to lower your benzo intake with time.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 16:32:35
In reply to Re: Pamelor, Lexapro, Ativan and Xanax????????? » Vera, posted by Sad Panda on March 24, 2004, at 23:19:30
Hi Vera,
I take Lexapro with the occasional Xanax, Klonopin or Ativan. I've had no problems with the combo. Try taking the Lex and Ativan for a few days and see how your body reacts. If you don't like it, you can always stop taking it. Best of luck!
K.
Posted by Vera on March 27, 2004, at 11:26:16
In reply to Re: Pamelor, Lexapro, Ativan and Xanax?????????, posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 16:32:35
Thanks SP & KL for your info! There's one other big concern I have - I've heard that these meds are usually only for short-term usage, about 4 months on average. But I have heard many people are on them for years, so I don't understand?? If my Pdoc decides I have to be taken off of them in a few months, what then? I mean, I've had anxiety & depression for years, so why would they think I'd be fine in a few months? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
Vera
Posted by Sad Panda on March 27, 2004, at 13:18:43
In reply to Re: Pamelor, Lexapro, Ativan and Xanax?????????, posted by Vera on March 27, 2004, at 11:26:16
> Thanks SP & KL for your info! There's one other big concern I have - I've heard that these meds are usually only for short-term usage, about 4 months on average. But I have heard many people are on them for years, so I don't understand?? If my Pdoc decides I have to be taken off of them in a few months, what then? I mean, I've had anxiety & depression for years, so why would they think I'd be fine in a few months? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Vera
>Drugs affect different people in different ways. If you don't suffer from the side effects of Benzos & you don't need to increase your dose to maintain their effectiveness, then you could probably stay on them for long periods. Some people, however, need an ever increasing dose(tolerance), or suffer from side effects, these people need to get off them. Also, if you use Benzos for sleep, they will degrade the quality of your sleep & you shouldn't use them for sleep for any longer than is necessary. For me, I have found that my AD's are greatly reducing my anxiety & I have little use for Benzos, I only use them when I change the dosage of my other drugs. I also find Benzos cause me depression.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Vera on March 27, 2004, at 17:35:23
In reply to Re: Pamelor, Lexapro, Ativan and Xanax????????? » Vera, posted by Sad Panda on March 27, 2004, at 13:18:43
Hi Panda -
Thanx again for input. I have yet to start the Ativan nor Lexapro as I was hoping for more commentary from people. Many are concerned about Benzos, I'm finding - but I have taken Xanax on an as-needed basis before and never suffered any ill effects. Quite the opposite, actually, and I've always been VERY careful to only take them when absolutely necessary. However, this is the first time I have been on daily therapy, so....I'm still quite apprehensive, especially as they'll be combined with TWO AD's. Yikes! This still seems like the equivalent of killing a fly with a sledge hammer!! I just have no experience with this sort of thing, and being that I don't like to take more meds than necessary...and that I have so much anxiety as it is, this is just creating more anxiety!!
Sleep isn't a problem - Pamelor, and Wellbutrin before it, knock me out as it is so I have been taking them at night. Oddly, tho, neither did anything for anxiety - Wellbutrin made it worse, actually. Do you mind if I ask what AD you currently take that has helped with anxiety? I have tried several and had some...er...bathroom problems, with all of them except Wellbutrin and Pamelor, (Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil, Elavil...and one other, I've forgotten now)so I had to quit taking them before I noticed any improvement in depression/anxiety. So, I like to keep my options open, and now I have to worry about Lexapro causing this problem, too. If it's not one thing, it's another!! Thanks again!!
Vera
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