Posted by jeffrey on October 27, 2003, at 11:42:44
Hi everyone,
I have been reading the postings regularly since my current episode of anxiety. I have found great info from this community and would appreciate any advice. I have had ruminating thoughts and obsessive worry about low risk health issues for my pregnant wife. ie. she had an x-ray while pregnant and I cant get it out of my head that the baby will develop cancer. I worry daily that I will not be able to enjoy the baby and child as it grows and will worry forever about the xray. I was ready and excited for my wife to get pregnant.
I have had previous success on Zoloft 150 mg and Effexor XR at 75 mg for health related worrying and obsessing over HIV tests. I used xanax, ativan and klonopin as needed during these episodes. After finding out I was not HIV positive, I would ween of the SSRIs and other drugs and experience life very normally drug free. I have been in remission from any mood disorder without medication for 2 years until this pregancy/x-ray thing. I thought my problems were over.
Anyway, I am currently on 225XR Effexor and .5 klonopin 2x daily and have had some improvement but I still have excessive worry and feel the physical symptoms of anxiety (shallow breathing, heart racing) and have developed depression as the medication is not working well enough. I have been on the meds for 2.5 months and a month at Effexor 225xr. I am about 40-50% better. I can function but am nowhere near feeling like "myself" and every free moment I worry about this unborn baby/x-ray/cancer. I do not enjoy the things I normally enjoy and feel uneasy at all times. My sleep had been pretty good but feel tired alot and have trouble waking up. I still work but can take a leave from work for a month sometime soon for medical reasons.
I would appreciate any advice related to whether I should contiue with these meds or whether a change is in order. This has been particulraily frustrating because I responded so well to effexor xr before at a much lower dose 75 mg.
I am in Canada and understand that we do not have lexapro yet? Any confirmation/thoughts on when it will be available would also be appreciated.
Sould I consider augmenting the Effexor with Wellbutrin or neurontin or switch SSRI's (maybe Celexa?). I am seeing a new PDoc this week. I would like to discuss a strategy with him. Previously I have only seen my GP.
Any help, advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciate. Best wishes to everone struggling with overwhelming anxiety and depression.
poster:jeffrey
thread:273926
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031025/msgs/273926.html