Reading throughthe bookstore i notice that one doctor says that he thinks benzodiazapines may add to the problem of anxiety and may extend it. When I was small (8) my family doctor put me on phenobarbitone (different family?)as I had a teacher who would throw her watch at the wall if it didn't work and would shout all the time at something or other (Batty was her name - duh). My Mum went to see her and she replied"Well I don't shout at her", me being a quiet thing then. I found it upsetting and didn't want to go to school. I had lots of tummy aches! After I had my daughter I was put on 5mg diaz as I had agrophobia as I didn't want to go out but they just knocked me out. I wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway. I managed to overcome it myself. The problem again reared it's head after Dad died and husb had a heart attack, on 5mg again but I'd halve it. I had very bad nerves but managed to pull thru after a couple of weeks on pills and forcing myself to go out. Still a bit shy I'd cope and we went on loads of holidays (with me crying in the car for part of the way). I've had some diaz for 2 years and am down to one left but am too nervous to make a doctors appointment to get more So take each day as it comes and try to push myself, which is much harder when you don't have to leave the house to go to work, or see anyone- unless I go to the shops. So I can see a bit of a cycle here. What do you ladies think about prescriptions for panic, do you think they help in the long run?

I find the benzos, meaning anything that ends in a pam, poop out. Used, "as needed," I think they're fine. Then again, it depends on the individual. I also never found them difficult to kick if I weaned off, or used them short term. According to the PDR, short term usage is suggested. Basically benzos affect the same neurotransmitters as alcohol. Easier on the liver, however. I had those tummy aches, too. Likely because I was bullied. Oh, some of those nuns were gems, as well. Plus, I had seperation anxiety. Yikes, I think I had anxiety since emerging from the womb. Still, pre-peri it wasn't so consuming. Feel better.

Phenobarbital is a barbituate. Much more dangerous than the benzos. Benzos replaced barbituates when they arrived on the scene.

Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea for me to be prescribed them in the first place. Glad you got some sleep Carol. We'll get you in some fluffy PJ's yet!

You can't take back the past, so don't worry about that. I still take Effexor, which has essentially pooped out. Just wean off slowly if you've been using it regularly. Actually, Valium is easier to wean off of then say, Xanax. Man, I have to get something done. Ask the doctor for a weaning schedule, if needed. Sleep, so sweet. Well, time's a wastin'. To market, to market. Hope that nasty anxiety dies down, Alice

I'm just curious......if a person takes a prescription for anxiety,does it just mask the symptoms or does it help one deal with the symptoms?I have considered taking something....but what happens when you no longer take them?don't you eventually have to deal with it,learn to overcome it and face it eventually?

When one is totally overwhelmed medication can be useful. I just find they don't work, forever. Plus, in peri I find they poop out really quickly. Good question, Jade.

Jadebear, i am currently on Paxil Xr. Just started it in June of this year with 12 mg for two weeks, now on 20mg. After a couple of days, I felt more anxiety, then feelings of depression. Currently I have been experiencing more nightmares and headaches upon waking. But I cannot say this part is from the Paxil. Now I do not feel as anxious as I did in the beginning. Even though I have a lot of challenges; dreading going back to grad school next month,dealing with a hormonal pre-teen plus two other kids younger than her, a crazy ex, bills to pay, etc, I do not wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety attacks worrying about what I have to do and what I have not done. My mind does not race on ten million things like it use to before I took them, and I am thankful for that. I do plan to get off of this stuff before my dr prescribes a higher dosage,as I have heard some adverse stuff about it. I am not use to taking prescription medications. I know I have to wean off the Paxil slowly. So i do not know yet how I will feel once I get off of it, but I will keep you posted. Good luck in your decision;) I know that this site has helped me tremedously in the short time i have been a member.

Regarding stopping meds, Paxil and Effexor are equally difficult. I kicked Effexor, but I take it. Unfortunately, I took the SSRIS, since the PMS scared my pants off. Effexor affect more than the SSRIS. If I was going to start the SSRIS today, Prozac would likely be my choice, as it's clearance makes it easier to kick. If it works, however, don't mess with it. These drugs can always be kicked.

Effexor affects norepinephrine, serotonin, and it affects dopamine, slightly. Hope I spelled it right. Yawn, menohead.

Plus, studies have shown SSRIS essentially work the same. Studies have shown they work as well as placebo. If I read one more study, I'LL SCREAM!!!! Chill Chris.lol:D:D

I also pick my psychopharmacologist's mind for our 20 minute slot!!!!!

I agree with Chris - if you're struggling, go ahead and take it if it helps. In the early part of my depression, I needed the Ativan daily (small doses I took as felt necessary). By the second month on my antidepressant (Lexapro), I was using only 1/4 of 1 mg. of Ativan maybe twice a week. Last night I took my first 1/4 dose in two weeks (went out with friends & partied a little too hearty, so needed help falling asleep). I feel no side effects from the medication, and while I'm on it, I feel like myself, only a tad more mellow and sleepy. Claire Weekes (are you all sick of hearing me recommend her books?) says that people often try to cope without the help of anti-anxiety med too quickly after depression, as if they are proud of "not needing" the help. I am grateful for an approach to helping with the terrible shaking and panic I was feeling. I wish all my meno-sisters trying to cope with this some relief SOON. P.S. I've been kicking around in some of the old posts from 2 years ago, and don't know virtually any of the names in there. This has to mean they are feeling better, right? How encouraging!

It's strange isn't it JJ that when you talk to people about anxiety they usually say I got something from the doctor but I only took one or two. I have no problem with taking anything if it helps (never do with cold remedies or things for headaches tho) as long as it doesn't exchange one problem for another. I just wondered what people thought of this doctors opinion. I still think 8yrs old is too young to be prescribed phenobarbitones though Chris!

Hi jollie - I started posting two years ago and I am definately feeling much better than I was then....but I'm still here - great community to be part of.

Hey, Jimi, Thanks so much for this! Lordy, we all need to hear it... Alice, you bet - there's no way I'm gonna shake and freak when there's help right on the bedside table. It would be wonderful if something natural did the job (say ice cream, for example) but as that's not the case, isn't it wonderful there are chemists in this world?

Alice 3, Hell no, I would never advocate putting an 8 year old, on barbituates, nor any of the current drugs available. Modern managed care has made, "the pill and the bill," protocol more acceptable, across the board. Get in 'em, move 'em out, see your thirty patients per day. However, I was referring to the times in a woman's life, where life issues and the co-mingling of hormones can cause one to feel OVERWHELMED. Then, I still believe psychotropics have a place, particularly when I've seen women move on, by chemical intervention. I may not be the one to ask, as I obviously sit on both side of this precarious fence. As I stated, chase enough things, both natural and pharmaceutical, then hopefully by the time these tumoltuous days are over, the chase will cease. Peace, and good days to all of us, as I think these are common goals amongst us. Hugs and serenity, Chris. Oh Jolie, Ice Cream may be worst than other choices in the long run. So glad you feel better these days. Can't say it's the first time I've seen this happen. Shoot, WHATEVER!!!!

Shoot, wish I could take the regular pharmaceutical drugs some days. They seem to help so many people. Paxil made things worse, the doc neglected to say or plain just didn't know that anxiety is a potential side effect of the drug. Since then I won't go near SSRI's especially after reading how hard they can be to kick and the side effects - yuck. So I stick with my old faithful oat straw tincture for anxiety and building overall emotional/physcial resilience, motherwort for calming and helping with the occasional jitters and grief, sage tea (salvia officinalis) for nausea and upset stomach, and vitamins for more support. It's been alot of trial and error as things change, but this is what seems to work best for now. I am currently toying with the idea of going back on Revival - we'll see. Strangely enough, steady work and a regular routine, even when I am not feeling well or having a really bad day, seem to help provide relief from anxiety and bolster my confidence that I can really weather this stuff. I hope everyone is feeling better and having a good day. Thanks heavens for the good company on this board! Take care, nj

Why doesn't someone sell Revival in the UK. I can't be messing about with this overseas stuff - sorry Dearest. It takes too long. As for icecream JJ I wonder if that upsets my stomach. I wonder if I'm lactose intolerate. I can eat a few certain things then have horrid tummyache and sometimes have to dash to the loo. I remember as a kid that strawberry milk shakes would give me tummy pain and milky coffee or malted drinks. I just never linked the two before. Worries about what my tummy will do makes me anxious.

Oh, regarding junk food and hormones, I got more mileage from Wavy Lays Chips than any other substance. I scoffed down two bags of the mini bags of Lays, last night, then finally feel into slumber. God, I'm irascible today. Money is power, or so they say, so I grumble among the powerless. The hormones are kicking up a storm again, plus some relatives comment make me wonder about just how much my husband give a flying rat's hinny. Ugh, another shift. This has been going on far too long. Oh, Alice I have the hormonal tummy from hell, the healthier stuff kicks it into gear. What kind of justice is that?? And. NJ, I'm a lost cause!!!

And, routine I likely need that, but my less linear, likely more creative mind rebels. I find a fennel tea more helpful, tummy wise. I'm open to all. In some moment of premenstrual treatment resistant desperation, all I can say is it's fortunate I never hung with the "wrong crowd." Those Wavy Lays, I told my hub to stop taking them from work. When your hitting the Wavy Lays at 5 am, you have a problem.LOL. I try to be health conscious, but dang that greasy crunch is gratifying. No answers!!!! I've been humbled by this CRAP>

This makes sense! I have taken the summer off from grad school and work only to be isolated with my three kids. Too broke to send them to day camp on a weekly basis. Talk about my anxiety and panic level-it went over the roof! Just started on Paxil in June. Some days are better than others, but I am still debating whether to continue on it. Also debated whether I should sit out the fall semester, but I will return after the kids go back to school. Hopefully having a modified schedule-taking less classes since I now get overwhelmed easier, will hopefully help. I also will not be with the kids 24/7;)

By the way--What am I doing being up at 3:00 am in the morning:o I cannot get to Sleep-again:o:mad: Hopefully reading the new post will take me back to slumberland;)

An old schoolfriend of my said the same Indigo. She's a p/t teacher too. She went on holiday and ended up in the local hospital as she'd suffered with panics and was treated for something to do with her ears??? A doctor way down the line said it was anxiety and gave her 1mg of something to take a few times during the day and she was able to return to work and felt much better for it. It's true that if you put your mind on something else you cannot panic. I ate some fried seafood last night and ended up feeling unwell again. I can eat and within the hour i get a hot feeling through my body and the tell-tale gurgles. Oddly a big red spot came up inside my bottom lip that wasn't there before???? As a food lover I hate this!

How very true that being occupied and having a regular schedule can reduce anxiety. It has worked very well for me since returning to work 2 weeks ago and I am only experiencing a little morning anxiety now. I am so excited about this new job that I am ready to leave the house 1/2 hour before I have to normally leave. Now I only have to take 1/2 the dosage of xanax in the morning and am way too busy the rest of the day to where I do not have anxiety after I get to work. This has made me very happy and I feel like I have a real purpose in life again. Tina

I don't disagree that staying occupied is good, hopefully with a passion. I still find laughter the best medicine. I can accelerate the anxiety by telling myself the, "I shoulds ofs." Or the I "could ofs." Actually, the panic is better. KNOCK WOOD!!! I have a feeling peri isn't over yet, however. Plus, pre peri panic was an incredible rarity, so I hope..... Anxiety, well another story. My lack of focus is frightening, but I reckon one should go with the flow. Or lack of flow!!!!!!!!!!!:o Enjoy the weekend, ladies.

Geez, I can recall calling my husband, from work, sobbing with miserable PMS. So, that job didn't do it. Dang, wherever I go, there I am. Oh, but the job was soooooooooo stressful, as was my PMS.

I wish I had a one size fits all panacea for this mid-life ennui. I'd be a RICH woman. :D:D

Chris, How true - laughter and a good sense of humor is the best medicine. I overlooked that important aspect. I am beginning to smile, laugh, and hum again. My soul is very happy again after 3 years of feeling lost. I hope and pray it continues. So glad to hear your panic is better and I hope it continues for you as well. You deserve it. Tina