antidepressants...tell me what you know
 

I have been having issues with anxiety. TONS of it! I do this when I am in a flare. It seems that after each flare, the anxiety doesnt completely leave me. With each flare, its like a new layer gets left behind.

My MD said that anxiety is the flip side of the coin from depression. Its depression inside out. He said that there are meds that can not only handle depression, but help prevent anxiety attacks from forming in the first place.

He mentioned Celexa.

I am not big on adding any more meds to my handful that I have already, but its gotten to the point that I may entertain listening to him on Wednesday when I go.

anyone on celexa? Can you tell me about it? Are you on a different drug? can you tell me about it? You know I am miserable if I am considering adding a drug, but I want my life back. I have stopped doing things that give me pleasure, and have become a slug.

Tell me what you know.

Just wanted to add that I take Xanax as needed. he will give me as much as I want up to 4 mg per day. After that, he said he will ask me to switch to something else.

I do yoga, meditation, and I walk. I eat well, and have a good support system. I am NOT in danger. I am just sorta stuck.

I use tryptophan for anxiety. I had a lot of it this summer on vacation. I take 500mg at night. It is a bit sedating at first, but it really works for me. I use NOW brand.

One should not take tryptophan with SSRIs however. Tryptophan increases serotonin synthesis, if one's is low. It works in conjunction with B6 and magnesium.

Celexa is a mild one. I think it is the mildest of the bunch.

Another thought is Buspar. Many people find it useful too.
Buspar is not a benzo and therefore not habituating.

First, I don't know much of anything about ADs or anxiety. MS has introduced severe depression in my life which is very much out of character for me. We determined that interferons are out of the question in my case.

They started me on Zoloft +/- 20 years ago and it up and quit working for me at about the 10 year mark. Then they switched me to Paxil and I've been on it since, it does fine.

My doc Rxs me higher dose pills that I cut in half most of the time but have carte blanche to adjust doses up and down as needed.

I was on Zoloft and Effexor and amitryptelene all at once. Started with the Z which did nothing then switched to E again with no result, then they combined the 2 which helped take the edge off but made me jittery, then they added the A to help me sleep. The A turned me into a zombie, and the other 2 really didn't do much by way of stopping the panic attacks.

The one I am on now, Cymbalta works great on stopping the panic attacks. The problem is, I refuse to take it every day, because I don't feel that I need it every day, and after taking it for about a week I tend to be a real "B" for 2 days after stopping.

Some ADs help with both depression and anxiety. At one time I used Lexapro and at a higher dose it did wonders for my anxiety as well as the depression I was dealing with. I have never used Celexa.

As mrsD mentioned, Buspar can be helpful for anxiety as well as Paxil.

Many doctors will say depression and anxiety go hand in hand. Not always true. I deal with anxiety/panic attacks but there is no sign of depression and hasn't been for several years.

I have not done well with ADs, many actually increase my anxiety. My Doctor and I stay with what works best for me with little to no side effects...Klonopin. I use it as needed, sometimes not using it for weeks at a time. Then there are times, like now, I use it more often and at a higher dose.

The challenge will be finding the right med(s) that help you...trial and error :Sigh:

Buspar and Paxil were my anxiety lifesavers, as well as wiping out my tag along depression. I was on buspar, then paxil for 6 yrs, until the top dose of paxil stopped working.

My PCP switched me to 40mg of Prozac per day, which seems to maintain my good mood.:)

Let's see -- I was on Paxil for one week -- lost 10 pounds and spent all of my time staring at the ceiling. I then tried cymbalta -- was so nauseated. I think I lasted about 10 days on that one. Next up was Wellbutrin (spelling?) -- three days -- resulted in hand tremors that took about a week to go away after I was off of it. I think the next one my doctor wanted to try was either celexa or lexapro, but I said no way.

Anti depressants just made me even more depressed and sick. I do occasionally take .25 mg of clonazepam -- mainly at night for increased spasticity. Doctor will only prescribe 10 (.50 mg )for a 30 day period.

As you may have noticed, everyone reacts to different meds in different ways. It's pretty much trial and error. For me, Paxil took all my emotions away (wierd, I know). Cymbalta made me sick. Lexapro worked for a long time, but needed a change after a while. Effexor worked really well, but since my COBRA is no longer in effect, I had to switch all my meds to generic or stop taking them. Right now I'm taking a generic for Celexa. It works OK.

I never had anxiety attacks before this MS thing took hold, and I quickly discovered I don't like them very much (duh). I hope you are able to find a med quickly that works for you!

I've tried Marinol for pain, water intake, food intake, drive, and smiles.
It achieved all the above but cost is $12.80 each 5mg. Comes in 2.5 for 1/2.
2.5 twice a day or even once mightve done it but the heck with it. So expensive.
Trying 10mg of Prozac now. Been 2 weeks. I was never really depressed, just looking to laugh more. If Alferon (oral in trals for HIV, injection is no longer produced) would get tried for healing MS, We'd probably all get off anti depressents.