Anxiety Medication

I've been in Lexapro for almost a year now. I feel great. I still have panic attacks from time-to-time, but they are only under extreme stress.

I was wondering if anyone else was on this medication or was at one point. I know I cannot take it if I decide to have children and FH and I wanted to start trying within the next 2 1/2 years. From what my doctor is saying, I'm going to be one of the few people that needs to stay on this medication for life. He has no answers for what I am going to do while pregnant though.

I was hoping someone else might have an answer.

i did not enjoy lexapro
I am not sure what medications you can take, but I know people who took anxiety medication while pregnant...
Perhaps you should speak to another doctor?

I've gain a lot of weight because of it and I have a hard time losing it. I eat well and I go to the gym. I was in therapy for a long time and nothing we were working on worked, which is why she recommended lexapro. It has been a godsend. I used to have sleepless nights because I would sit up worrying about everything I still didn't finish and all the new things I had to do the next day. Lists became my enemy. They were all I would make and I would drive myself up a wall if I didn't finish everything on them. I would often sit in a pool of my own tears because I felt like the world was closing in on me. I began to fear leaving the house.

The doctor tried taking me off it for a few months last year. It was bad. I couldn't sleep again. The panic attacks felt like heart attacks. I self-mutilated. I nearly went back to abusing pain killers to calm myself.

I'm at a point where I want to do this without pills, because I want to be normal, yet I don't want to drive down the path of insanity again.

FSIL was on Zoloft throughout both of her recent pregnancies. She'd already been on it for years, her dr. just lowered her dosage while she was pregnant. Both of her pregancies were fine and there's no affect on the babies. They're fantastic!!!

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Posted by dannisayz

I've gain a lot of weight because of it and I have a hard time losing it. I eat well and I go to the gym. I was in therapy for a long time and nothing we were working on worked, which is why she recommended lexapro. It has been a godsend. I used to have sleepless nights because I would sit up worrying about everything I still didn't finish and all the new things I had to do the next day. Lists became my enemy. They were all I would make and I would drive myself up a wall if I didn't finish everything on them. I would often sit in a pool of my own tears because I felt like the world was closing in on me. I began to fear leaving the house.

The doctor tried taking me off it for a few months last year. It was bad. I couldn't sleep again. The panic attacks felt like heart attacks. I self-mutilated. I nearly went back to abusing pain killers to calm myself.

I'm at a point where I want to do this without pills, because I want to be normal, yet I don't want to drive down the path of insanity again.

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Well, if you tried and you couldn't then that means you aren't ready. Some people need it. At the point I was taking it - I needed it - I was a wreck - I don't know how my FH didn't think I was a nut job because I felt crazy and acted crazy. He is so brave for going through with it and moving in with me! A few months later I became more stable, stopped taking it and I've been okay. What scares me is not knowing if I'll become like that again - that is the part I don't understand.....I guess people have limits of how much stress they can handle and everyones limits are different - thats what scares me - that I can end up a wreck again at anytime - I learned alot of techniques that help and I used to meditate but I had a really hard time actually meditating correctly.....

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Posted by missliss

FSIL was on Zoloft throughout both of her recent pregnancies. She'd already been on it for years, her dr. just lowered her dosage while she was pregnant. Both of her pregancies were fine and there's no affect on the babies. They're fantastic!!!

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Good to know.

I know my doctor worried about lowering my dosage because of how much I am currently on (very high amount because of OCD/mutilation tendency).

I guess I'll figure it all out when I get there. I just want to lose this weight that I've put on. I feel like nothing I do works and I'm getting so depressed about it. I'm starting to think that I shouldn't even bother with the wedding.

i have some quirky OCD's too - gotta love it

i know the weight thing ***** - it was really hard for me to lose it - i was one of those people who could eat ANYTHING and wouldnt gain a pound - i used to shop in little kids clothes - and then all of a sudden i went from barely fitting in a size 0 to a size 5 - and i know a size 5 isnt big at all - but when you are 5ft tall and you've been under 90lbs your whole life its a big shock.....i had a really hard time with it.....i exercised every day - i ran on the treadmill like a maniac - trust me, it was really really hard and took awhile...dont let it get you down though - you are so pretty, you are getting married, and your FH probably adores you.....you need to be healthy and if it means you have a harder time losing weight than most people - than so be it - its better to be healthy and happy than thin, sick and feeling like a nut....dont let it put a damper on your wedding! its going to be such a special day

I was on celexa( anxiety) , welbutrin( depression). Ambien( sleep) and zanax for a few years, and I was able to ween off of them. I only take zanax on occasion and only if I feel anxiety for more then an hour. I had a lot of behavior modifiction therapy to help deal with my anxiety . The meds helped at the time, but I was able to live without them after a few years

If for a second , I ever felt the way I did , I would go back on the Celexa( even though it made me gain weight too, Id rather be chubby and calm , then thin and anxious! ) so you may not be ready at this time , and thats ok !

You might want to talk to your Dr about a different medication, or changing therapy techniques. I learned how to 'deal ' with my anxiety better through these techniques instead of just releying on the pills ( which numbed my emotions, but didnt help me deal with them)

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Posted by jessnstu08

I was on celexa( anxiety) , welbutrin( depression). Ambien( sleep) and zanax for a few years, and I was able to ween off of them. I only take zanax on occasion and only if I feel anxiety for more then an hour. I had a lot of behavior modifiction therapy to help deal with my anxiety . The meds helped at the time, but I was able to live without them after a few years

If for a second , I ever felt the way I did , I would go back on the Celexa( even though it made me gain weight too, Id rather be chubby and calm , then thin and anxious! ) so you may not be ready at this time , and thats ok !

You might want to talk to your Dr about a different medication, or changing therapy techniques. I learned how to 'deal ' with my anxiety better through these techniques instead of just releying on the pills ( which numbed my emotions, but didnt help me deal with them)

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thats what happened to me too....you just said it better

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by jessnstu08

I was on celexa( anxiety) , welbutrin( depression). Ambien( sleep) and zanax for a few years, and I was able to ween off of them. I only take zanax on occasion and only if I feel anxiety for more then an hour. I had a lot of behavior modifiction therapy to help deal with my anxiety . The meds helped at the time, but I was able to live without them after a few years

If for a second , I ever felt the way I did , I would go back on the Celexa( even though it made me gain weight too, Id rather be chubby and calm , then thin and anxious! ) so you may not be ready at this time , and thats ok !

You might want to talk to your Dr about a different medication, or changing therapy techniques. I learned how to 'deal ' with my anxiety better through these techniques instead of just releying on the pills ( which numbed my emotions, but didnt help me deal with them)

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thats what happened to me too....you just said it better

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Its the OCD and years of therapy

I've heard Zoloft is safe while you're preganant. Talk to your doctor/therapist. Maybe another one might be an option.

I took Effexor for 1 week after a very bad panic/anxiety episode and it made me feel like I was on speed. I have High Blood Pressure and my pressure was just elevated all the tim for that week that I took it. After that I decided I didn't want to take anything. I went through a very bad period from mid 2005-mid 2006. Pretty much my anxiety and panic is the aftermath of having coded when they were trying to wake me up from general anesthesia after knee surgery. I decided that this was something awful that happened but that drugs were not an option for me. Plus I didn't like the withdrawl affects a lot of them had. They do cause you to feel bad if not worse than before you started taking them in many people. So when you came off of it that might be what your body was experiencing.

I can certainly relate to a lot of what you girls are saying and the feelings of losing your mind in those moments. I ended up treating my anxiety holistically with Valerian Root. Now when I feel my anxiety coming on I acknowledge it and i take my valerian.

I've been left with some OCD traits also as a result of that time period in my life.

I was on Zoloft for years due to panic attacks. I slowly started weaning off of them, with my Dr.s help a year and a half ago and have been doing pretty well. At fist it was horrible but once I learned what my triggers were and how to keep myself calm and know when i'm getting an attack I'm dealing with it much better than when I was even on medication.

TAlk to your MD and see if its an option for you to get off of thme or what medications out there are safe during pregnancy!

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Posted by Future Mulligan

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Posted by jessnstu08

I was on celexa( anxiety) , welbutrin( depression). Ambien( sleep) and zanax for a few years, and I was able to ween off of them. I only take zanax on occasion and only if I feel anxiety for more then an hour. I had a lot of behavior modifiction therapy to help deal with my anxiety . The meds helped at the time, but I was able to live without them after a few years

If for a second , I ever felt the way I did , I would go back on the Celexa( even though it made me gain weight too, Id rather be chubby and calm , then thin and anxious! ) so you may not be ready at this time , and thats ok !

You might want to talk to your Dr about a different medication, or changing therapy techniques. I learned how to 'deal ' with my anxiety better through these techniques instead of just releying on the pills ( which numbed my emotions, but didnt help me deal with them)

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thats what happened to me too....you just said it better

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This is the same exact situation I was in, although the only medications I tried were Buspar and hated it within 2 days was off and then Lexapro and again 2/3 days at the most and then was off of it. I started suffering from anxiety attacks probably around the age of 20/21. I still get them today but they are mostly just quick feelings of some sort. I know it is because I am stressed out, but I've learned to deal with them and know I will probably have them forever. I agree with Future Mulligan, working out and getting her **** on the treadmill def. helps and doctors will tell you to exercise to help you releive the stress. Also a therapist that specializes in this field can be extremely helpful, the techniques have helped me greatly. I know carry xanax for those unsuspected moments that something might happen, i think it is more a comfort thing for myself...but hey whatever works. You aren't alone FM me if you want to talk.

My best friend has been on zoloft, and took a lower dose while pregnant. she just had a beautiful, healthy baby girl, and went back on her regular dosage -- no problems with her or the baby!
Good luck!