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Suggest Treatment For Depression And Anxiety Inspite Of Using Paxil And Wellbutrin
Posted on
Tue, 20 May 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 20 May 2014
Answered on
Mon, 9 Jun 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been on 40ml Paxil for years. Also had tried Wellbutrin, Effexor, and others too, for my depression. I take 1 ml Lorazepam when it gets really, really bad. For the past 6 months or more, I suffer terribly from panic/anxiety attacks, besides worsening depression. Don't want to get out of bed unless I have to go to work; I tremble and shake; have cold/hot flashes; no energy; no ambition; lack of interest; no appetite; loss of weight (used to always stay between 101lbs-105lbs, suddenly down to 92 lbs); tired ALL the time; (I am 64 years old, and I believe I have been depressed and panicky since I was a child). Another Doctor prescribed Xanax 1ml twice a day for 2 weeks, which I have now been on for a week. Is this just a temporary "fix" till the next pill, or will it eventually straighten out the chemical imbalance in my brain? (Neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine...whatever it is causing this imbalance). Will XANAX help me? I'm getting so desperate and so scared of living the rest of my life this way....I really hope you can help me. Please...if you know of another effective medical cure/drug that my own Doctors are not aware of here, please let me know. XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Try relaxation exericise and CBT
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
As you have mentioned, you have depression or anxiety symptoms since childhood, that's mean, you may have some underline personality disorder. It is usually seen that most of patient with anxiety disorder have underline personality traits or disorder, due to which they suffer for rest of their life.
You have been on drug for last many years, but drugs are not the only solution. Drugs would help you for few years. You have already tried best antidepressants like paxil, effexor etc, but still on drugs. You can carry on with paxil, it is a good antidepressant. Along with that, you can also take xanax, which is benzodiazepine and it would help to control anxiety symptoms for few hours or it would suppress thoughts, which lead to anxiety. You can take xanax, there is no harm in it, but it would not fix the problem.
I think, with medications, you also need psychotherapy in form of relaxation exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy. That would help to control those thoughts which lead to anxiety or depression. In your case, improvement would possible with controlling cognitive distortion that causing depression or anxiety disorder. Better to consult a psychologist for CBT and relaxation exercise. That would definitely help you.
In case, you have more query, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Try relaxation exericise and CBT
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
As you have mentioned, you have depression or anxiety symptoms since childhood, that's mean, you may have some underline personality disorder. It is usually seen that most of patient with anxiety disorder have underline personality traits or disorder, due to which they suffer for rest of their life.
You have been on drug for last many years, but drugs are not the only solution. Drugs would help you for few years. You have already tried best antidepressants like paxil, effexor etc, but still on drugs. You can carry on with paxil, it is a good antidepressant. Along with that, you can also take xanax, which is benzodiazepine and it would help to control anxiety symptoms for few hours or it would suppress thoughts, which lead to anxiety. You can take xanax, there is no harm in it, but it would not fix the problem.
I think, with medications, you also need psychotherapy in form of relaxation exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy. That would help to control those thoughts which lead to anxiety or depression. In your case, improvement would possible with controlling cognitive distortion that causing depression or anxiety disorder. Better to consult a psychologist for CBT and relaxation exercise. That would definitely help you.
In case, you have more query, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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