Anxiety attacks

[reinventingmyself36]

hi all,

This is a great and supportive group.

I am frozen with anxiety for many reasons.

Stuck in a career I despise that causes me to overeat, panic, make poor choices, and cause me panic attacks even with taking Klonopin.

My psychiatric nurse practitioner keeps recommending I take seroquel for sleep and to stabilize my mood since I have bipolar disorder. I argue with him over the fact it stil doesn’t help me sleep long enough for at least 6-7 hours and causes me to feel sleepy during day. I don’t think I gained weight but I’m stuck at same weight with it where I gain and lose a few pounds.

He recommended calypta which has rare side effect of tardive dyskinesia. Has anyone taken it?

What’s best antipsychotic that doesn’t cause weight gain and helps with mood disorder and panic attacks?

[Dolphin14]

Hi

I'm sorry you are having difficulty with your meds. It's not easy to get things regulated

Latuda is an antipsychotic that claims not to cause weight gain.

Everybody has such different chemistries etc so it's all trial and error with meds

I hope you find something that works for you

🐬

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Dolphin14]

thanks! Agreed

[kainasar]

Are the anti-psychotics necessary?

[reinventingmyself36]

my psychiatrist nurse practioners claims it’s a must to stabilize mood and sleep

[Boston001]

I have been taking Oxcarbazepine and gained weight over the winter

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Boston001]

oh sorry to hear that. What is it for?

[Boston001 in reply to reinventingmyself36]

The psychiatrist who first proscribed it to me said it was for Bipolar 2, mood stabilizer, but he lost his contract with the state before we could explore that diagnosis. I'm not all that confident in the RN they are using now. But we're going to keep the Oxcarb for now.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Boston001]

uggh sorry that’s horrible. I would try to find another doc

[Catt02]

Sounds like you're in a really bad place but sounds quite familiar. The problem with Benzodiazepines is you run into tolerance within a short time (9 days consecutive) where it can have a reverse affect from what it's intended (panic attacks, insomnia). Don't know if you are planning to get to get off of it but usually, a taper over at least maybe several months is needed to maintain stability. I've been off Klonopin about 6.5 years and still going through. But my case is protracted and pretty uncommon. Part of what you're dealing with sounds like stress which Benzo sufferers can be ultra sensitive to. I had a similar ordeal at work and couldn't stay with it, so I lost the job and career. I've been on disability since. But everyone is different and really needs to be advised professionally by a physician, qualified in dealing with Benzos. The only advice I can give is avoid stress like the plague. That alone could reduce the level of anxiety considerably. Also, I do take Seroquel, at least 100mg/day for sleep. I also take Gabapentin, 3200mg/day which initially helped with the Benzo symptoms. I also take a SNRI for depression/anxiety, 600mg/day. Unfortunately though, I'm addicted to both the latter two meds. I'm almost 65 and don't feel myself at all, in fact, forgot who that person was. Wish there was greater public and professional awareness as to how Benzos can affect the central nervous system. There is a reliable source of info called the The Ashton Manual is a safe and effective protocol for gradually stopping benzodiazepines and effective way of treating Benzodiazepine withdrawal. Dr. Heather Ashton, Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology in England, developed her namesake method involving dosage tapering off Benzodiazepines. I also frequent an online support site called BenzoBuddies that's helped me through rough times.☮️

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Catt02]

I’m so sorry you’re also going thru such a horrible time. I feel same way and I’m 40. I didn’t know benzos can have those reverse effects. The doc claims insomnia and panic attacks are due to bipolar but I’m borderline too. I want to taper of Klonopin but I tried before and it was so hard felt so many more panic attacks. Thanks again. Hope things get better for you

[Catt02]

Borderline too? So sorry for that. I can't say for sure all of what's involved in your case. A lot of others I've seen assign causes for all types of symptoms - emotional, psychological, physical etc. but they're just trying to make sense of it all and fight losing hope. I always remember one thing I first saw 6 years ago, so described: that the Benzos were "soul crushers". I didn't know right then what they meant but I do now.

[reinventingmyself36 in reply to Catt02]

Thank you for your supportive words. I feel like im fighting a losing battle. Im giving up. The anxiety attacks are the worst so I don’t know how to get off benzos. I don’t know how to help myself anymore. Hope your doing well