Help, I have suffered many years on and off with anxiey/paniac and many other symptoms of PCOS.I hate to take meds but my dr gave me Xanax.My question is has it help any of you out ther if so how much and how often?I also have high cholesterol and he started me on Zocor took it two nights and it gave me extreme palpitations.Any one else have this problem if so what did you do and what do you take? Thanks
I personally have tried all of those: Xanax, Valium, Ativan. They are all extremely habit forming with some wicked side effects and should only be taken during a panic attack.
Not a long term solution.
I take Elavil now (a tricyclic) anti-d that has helped enormously with my anxiety and panic attacks (and as a plus my IBS). I take only 10mg (that was all I needed)!!! Most people take between 25mg and 100mg. Remember that the drugs won't take away all your issues they will just help you cope with them. You need to be doing behavioral therapy and other forms of learning to calm yourself down.
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Xanax is an okay drug for sudden onset severe panic attacks, because it hits the bloodstream and takes effect within minutes.
But, those same qualities make it even more addictive than the other benzoapadines (valium, ativan, etc.)
Right now, I take Atavan on an as needed basis for panic attacks, it works well, and doesn't leave me groggy like Zanax which makes me very tired.
If you're taking any of the benzos, in my opinion, you should keep track of how often you're taking them, and if you feel like you need them more often, or need a higher dose, or find yourself taking them more often than you and your doctor discussed, you should let your pyschiatrist know right away.
There are a number of good drugs to be taken daily that work on GAD that don't risk addiction--have you tried other medications?
__________________ -diagnosed 1/2004
-treating with diet and exercise
-mom to 5 furkids, Patrick the greyhound, Gretta and Samantha the rabbits, Sophie and Rosie the guinea pigs, and 4 guinea pigs waiting at the Bridge.
-working on a PhD in American History
Thanks Bethann for responding.I haven't taken any other drug before.Actually my gyno gave me Xanax because he knows I wasn't sleeping well and having lots of anxiety.As far as being groggy I haven't felt good in about a month still trying to fin out what is wrong w/me.I have had chronic fatigue in the past.This sucks so bad.How does atavan work?I am not a pill taker so I am careful of how I am tking them.I have neede about 1 aday for a week.Low doesage I think .025 if that sounds right.I also have had horrible heart palpitations I think I am falling apart.Thanks for listening to me vent.
First off, I'm NOT a doctor, just someone with a lot of history with psychiatric drugs who does a lot of research. So take what I say with that in mind.
The entire class of drugs, benzodiazepines, work similarly. They are all central nervous system depressants. Here's a link to a general overview of the drugs. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dru...ation/DR602809 It specifically addresses valium initially, but generally gives a lot of useful information.
Atavan works similarly to Xanax, only it takes longer to enter and leave your system, making it potentially less addictive, and also more affective over a longer period of time. Doses of each of the benzos depends on the drug--a good pyschiatrist will know how much to give you of one based on how much you took of another.
The problems are that they all tend to be very sedating, and they can all be addictive if used regularly for long enough. The risk of addiction is particularly high in people with alcohol problems, since they work on similar recepters in the brain.
That said, they can play an important role for patients. I am currently using ativan daily because it makes the horrifying suicidal images and thoughts go away. My psychiatrist thinks that once I get the full affect of adjusting my mood stabilizer they will go away, but that may take a month (I'm bipolar).
They're fairly good drugs for occasional panic attacks, but personally I would be concerned about using them for general anxiety issues. Other drugs that are commonly used include the SSRI's (prozak, lexapro, etc.), Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, and those are more appropriate for daily use.
A gyn really shouldn't be prescribing psychiatric drugs except in the case of an emergency--you really should ask for a referal to a psychiatrist assuming that's financially a possibility.
I know this is long, but I hope you find some of it helpful.
__________________ -diagnosed 1/2004
-treating with diet and exercise
-mom to 5 furkids, Patrick the greyhound, Gretta and Samantha the rabbits, Sophie and Rosie the guinea pigs, and 4 guinea pigs waiting at the Bridge.
-working on a PhD in American History
Try this site out it really changed my way of thinking- stresscenter.com. I still have some anxiety all my anxiety is obsessing over my health and being afraid of the doctor LOL. But................since we are ttc I have to get over this. deep breathing and my faith has helped me. Also when you feel like your about to have a panic attack just say ok bring it on, I want to have one!!! Sounds wierd I know but it works everytime. Remember panic attacks can't hurt you You can work through this, I promise! I get a racing heart as well, sometimes I feel like my heart is going to pound right out of my chest. Since we have this we are sensitized to being aware to every little thing wich makes things worse. Your heart is a very strong muscle!!!!! It can handle over 200 beats per minute for days without any damage! So just try and relax, take a bath, read a book, do deep breathing. I hope this help, let me know how your doing
Thanks Doitafraid I will check out that.I am not ttc I have finally said I am done.I now have 3 children but suffered for mny yrs trying and also miscarriages.If you need any advice regarding that let me know.My problems now are dealing with anxiety/panic its always something with PCOS.Thanks again good luck to you.
I do actually have questions LOL>
You have three babies?? How did you coupe being pregnant with anxiety? Also were you overweight? I have both and my doctor keeps telling me to try and let nature take it's course. Easy for her to say LOL!
Doitafraid the answer is yes I am overweight ugh and actually when I was pregnant especially with my first I never felt better.I think all the hormones were where they should be.I have also read of others feeling the same.I tried to privated message you but it wouldnt let me.Just in caseyou wanted to chat more.How long have you been ttc?
Toriana,
I don't know how to private message either lol. We just started trying a couple weeks ago! When we made the decision to start my anxiety all came back, even though I want a baby so badley! I feel a little better now. I guess I want to be in control and know what's going to happen, so I just need to let it go I am overweight, I have lost 67 pounds and still lossing, my doctor wants me under 200 and I'm at 229 but she said for me to go a head and start trying. I am VERY exited I just hope like you said I will feel better pregnant than not. I have white coat syndrome so I freak out when my blood pressure is taken and obviousley when your pg you have to do that a lot. Do you have this? How was your delivery? And are you feeling any better since your first post?
Alos Toriana I wanted to tell you that when your having your heart palps and anxiety try and put a cold water bottle or ice cubes on the inside of your wrists. I know it sounds strange but it actually works Maybe it will help a little-
Doitafraid, I figured out how to private message but it said you have to have 30 posts first.Wow how did you loose 67lbs?I actually was around 200 with my first and 210 or so with my other 2.Weight its so hard to loose.As far as the whitecoat thing I do get that from time to time.It would happen sometimes while I was pregnant and they would have me lay on my left side and usually bp would go down if it was just nerves.They can tell if its nerves or highbp.Yes you get checked every time you go and weighed.My first delivery I had naturally no drugs.It was ok.My second I ended up getting an epideral but they ended up have to turn it off as soon as they gve it to me because it was time to push.(The fun part)LOLMy third I have a csection because my middle child was 9.5lbs.They didn't want me having another big baby.Each one was different.I feel alittle better since my first post thanks for asking.Yes the ice thing helps I have done that before.So how did you loose weight?It is so hard I think even harder for us w/PCOS it sucks.
Ahhhh Toriana natural child birth LOL.....don't know how you did it!
It sounds like you felt better during your pregnancies. That gives me some hope! My PMS is bad I get it for almost 3 weeks during the month and I think that's waht gives me my anxiety feelings. As far as the weight loss goes here's what I did; Started weight watchers and made sure I was eating more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. This diet really helps and works! I swear by it. It's a way of life for me know my stomach has shrunk so I'm not as hungry anymore. Plus you can have anything you want just use portion control. I also bought a treadmill and I TRY and walk about 4-5 a week. I go to a natural doctor as well and he has me some herbs that work out great for me. If you have a Costco near by there this herb drink called Hoodia and it's SAFE to take, it really curbs hunger, and speeds up metabolism. I weigh about 225 now, I loose every week Now my thyriod's out of wack so I have to go get retested for that. Oh all the joys of PCOS LOL. All I can do is try and laugh it off because the worrying isn't doin me any good! There are times when I am so at piece with getting pg, and than my PMS comes and I'm freaking out with worry. My poor husband hehehe I drive him nuts!
Hope your having a great day!!!
doitafraid be at piece with getting pregnant.It really is great being pregnant.My pms has gotten worse the older I get and I have started with migraines when I get my period.That Hoodia does it make you jittery.I can't even have reg coffee I get jittery sick feeling.Only decaf people laugh at me so why do you drink coffee without getting caffeine.I stopped drinking reg coffee when I first got pregnant and I just became sensitive to it.On the ohter hand I can probably eat my weight in chocolate and that doesn't effect me (except puts on the lbs) but i know caffeine is in choc.I can't figure it out.Now is your thyroid always been a problem for you?Have a good day if its easier I will give you my email toriana@snet.net. Thanks Gina
Does Xanax help with paniac n anxiety? 
You can work through this, I promise! I get a racing heart as well, sometimes I feel like my heart is going to pound right out of my chest. Since we have this we are sensitized to being aware to every little thing wich makes things worse. Your heart is a very strong muscle!!!!! It can handle over 200 beats per minute for days without any damage! So just try and relax, take a bath, read a book, do deep breathing. I hope this help, let me know how your doing
