Constant panic attacks

[CatAndDogPaws]

Due to a physical issue that just happened (and I am scared to treat), I now suffer from daily and nightly panic attacks.

My doctor gave me Trazodone for sleep and Lexapro to start for later. I'm scared of both because:

I took one quarter of a 50mg trazodone and the next day my throat felt so closed that I almost went to the ER until I googled how much it might cost since my insurance doesn't cover it. I started burping and felt better. Now I'm scared the trazodone caused the acid reflux by relaxing my body.

And I'm scared of Lexapro because it can cause weight gain and then diabetes, and that happened to my brother from his anxiety med (possibly also Lexapro not sure).

I'm having a really hard time working. I'm self employed and love my work and I might have to quit one.

[ThreeBigDogs]

Hi CatAndDogPaws. Your throat swelling up sounds like what happened to me when I took a stomach medication, only my reaction was so severe, I ended up in ICU. I would tell your doctor immediately and not take any more of that medication until you do. Two things I've found successful with anxiety - EMDR (a form of trauma therapy) and stating everything I see aloud in an effort to interrupt the panicked thoughts. It also helps me to change my environment and what I'm doing- walk outside, call someone, start an activity. I'd suggest meditation but realize that can seem impossible. I hope you have a better day!

[90sCountryMusicfan36]

I'm not familiar with the 1st medicine but I have been taking Lexapro for years. I have not experienced any adverse side effects from it and it really does help with my problem. Have you looked into any other alternatives?

[linuxusr]

Hello CatAndDogPaws: I'm feeling the cat paws but I'm not sure about the dog paws! In my opinion--you can take it with a grain of salt or you can decide if there is truth in it--you are making the problem worse taking these medications. You yourself state that the cause of the anxiety is a new problematic and frightening medical diagnosis. It seems you are not resolving that. Second opinion? Treatment options? Now, instead of resolving the primary problem, you are introducing additonal problems: 1. side effects from two medications, 2. needing to wait weeks to reach "steady state" on the second one. It seems to me that the cause of your anxiety is "normal," however, frightening it is, and not pathological. Deal with the original problem. Meds cannot solve this problem as you have the same medical ailment with or without the medication.