anxiety and panic attacks?

[anjopom]

Just got back from my docs appt to try and get liquid paxil? it was a no go guys, he said its not gonna make me feel any better, he doesn't want me to increase dosage, he wants me to get off, and after 13 yrs, i have to say i agree.

I told him i wanted to work with him in reducing my anxiety and panic attacks,
as i have little quality of life, they stop me doing things i have always done before, as i fear having them in public, or if im out on my own.

He told me this was to be expected after coming down off paxil and for me to stick with it, as the worst thing that would happen is "Iwould faint" its not going to kill me. I also told hgim i have a phobia about fainting, as i have done it before on paxil and while tapering!!

So I discussed with him the reasons why i wont take proprannelol, and he agreed its probably not for me, so he has given me an antihistamine?

What and how is this going to work?
Anybody here gone this route, did it work? and did you get relief from symptoms? if so how long did it take to work?

I couldn't get script filled today as the chemist had to order up the drug he has prescribed, so cant even research what it is.

Please guys i need some advice here, as after paxil i am very ANTI drug.
How can an antihistamine help in alleviating anxiety/panic, as over the last
week he originally prescribed a beta blocker, now its an antihistamine.


Anjopom

[commish]

I have taken all kinds of things for PA but an antihisamine wasn't one of them . I have taken them for sleep. Although I did have an antihistamine once that put me in a trance for about 8hrs. I wonder if I can find those again

[anjopom]

Don't tell me this is another waste of time!!

I thought antihistamines were for allergies, rhinitus, hayfever etc, not bloody panic attacks and anxiety!!
What is the man thinking of.

Maybe he thinks if she's stupid enough to take paxil, she will take anything, aha, maybe, but now i beem bitten badly, i learned.

Anjopom

[carolyn]

I can see where an antihistamine MIGHT help if your panic attacks are based around breathing. Maybe if being slightly congested makes your breathing wonky, you might start to hyperventilate and that could cause a panic attack. That's certainly happened to me (though not on a regular basis).

Have you ever seen an allergist? If the fainting (or fear thereof) is also breathing-related, an allergy test could quickly explain or rule out environmental causes.

Honestly -- and this is probably not very much help to you -- you're not going to find a solution to anxiety and panic attacks in a medication. Your best bet is something like CBT, meditation, and finding ways to relax and just "let it be" during an attack.

{{{HUG}}}

[nickels]

Anj,

I can completely relate to the PA and fainting phobia. I've passed out a handful of times prior to and while on paxil b/c of panic attacks. I used to get so worked up and try to hold it all in...this would result in me fainting at the most inopportune times...which has then led to me being afraid of this happening in public.

I've never heard of an antihistamine being used to treat anxiety...I would ask your doctor what the purpose is with this??? I have heard, like Commish mentioned, that some people get drowsy from antihistamines...but I think using it to treat anxiety is a stretch. I actually know some people who give it to their dogs during stressful times (like a long car ride)...but again, in people it seems to be pushing it a bit. Also, if your like me...antihistamines have the opposite effect on you and you end up with a racing heart and you feel like your on speed.

As far as what can help you with your anxiety, have you tried magnesium? I find that it relaxes me and takes the edge off. Also, working on your coping skills is a better bet than looking towards any kind of pill. For me, with my passing out issue, I try to keep my breathing regulated and my blood sugar stable...especially when I'm out. I'm not sure WHY I passed out in the past, but I think it had to do with either hyperventilating or not eating enough...the panic just made these worse. If I can prevent the other two from happening, then my anxiety doesn't get a chance to run off at the first signs of feeling faint.

[anjopom]

Hey Nichole,

How right you are, we seem to be two of a pair, you and I, i have been taking mag citrate the chelated version for quite some time now, and it really does help, but not enough to give me my quality of life back fully.

God, i was getting quite worked up waiting 40mins to see him, sat there twiddling my thumbs and thinking if i dont soon get out of here i shall show myself up yet again, and you know, its ok to say that the worst that can happen is i will pass out, but like i say, i have done that before, and i get really freaked out by it-in fact i would go as so far to say, i probably have a phobia about it now. The fact that it could happen while i am driving my car, or out on my own, its not good to say the least.
So, i stay in the house an awful lot, although it could happen at home, and has done, when i have fainted before, but at least i haven't shown myself up in front of other people, or been carted off to the A@E by ambulance.

He also said its to be expected?
Why should it be expected, all i took was a prescription med, the problems i have now are far worse than any i had prior to taking this junk, and i cant just ride it out, i have to be honest and say it "freaks me out", and i just dread the next one coming.

This is how i am living my life at the moment, just hoping that once free of this junk, life will become normal, and i can kiss goodbye to all of this anxiety/panic - fingers crossed.

Anjopom

[nickels]

Ugh...I know exactly what you are going thru and I can promise you that it does get better. Its hard to see that right now, but even those of us who started with anxiety and panic, can live normal lives post paxil.

Anj, your at a tough point in your taper b/c right now the dose your at isn't really beneficial for your anxiety, however its also still very present to your system. (if this makes sense) I had a hard time at the 5mg and below point with adrenal dumps...and this can sometimes feel like a fainting spell or a panic attack coming on, so I was constantly on edge - anxiety wise.

The first couple of weeks after being fully off I had agoraphobia. I would attempt to leave my house to run errands and just live daily life...but, I'd abandon full shopping carts in the store, I'd run off the line at the bank, I'd cancel dentist appointments, I'd flake on my friends...I even had to get my sister to drop my mom off at the airport b/c i just couldn't handle the stimulation of driving around busy JFK. However, slowly I began to start to do these things again without thinking twice. I noticed that I was able to hold conversations with the accountant at work, or the lady at the bank, or the mailman...without having depersonalization and panic - mid thought.

You will get there...it takes time and patience...but in the meantime, practice your coping skills and CBT and breathing! It helps.

[leo79]

Hey Anj,

Anti-histamines are very similar to anti-depressants basically. Not all of them, but the ones he gave you probably are. They are much weaker though and you will notice the effects immediately. I would give them a shot maybe if you need some relief. I don't see them as being particularly dangerous.

[Songbird]

For panic attacks look into the work of Dr. Claire Weekes, her books such as 'Complete Self-Help for Your Nerves', and her recordings you can download from controllinganxiety.com. This stuff really helped me (I only gave in and up-dosed because w/d made the panic attack basically continuous, so it never seemed to end).

The sedating antihistamines are sometimes used for sleep or to calm. Occasional use as needed should be okay. Do you know which anti-histamine it is?

[anjopom]

Hi Guys,

The drug he has prescribed is Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride, otherwise known as ATARAX, and it specifically states on the packet that apart from other things it is used to treat anxiety in adults, gonna do some research now before taking and see what i can come up with.
#Will post back on here with my findings!!

Anjopom

[pax80]

atarax is very safe, babies take that. it works for anxiety too.

[anjillian]

If you can get some rescue remedy it works very well in the midst of a panic episode. I've used it on many occasions and it works almost instantly to calm you down until you get home.

I understand your fear of fainting as i've had that too. When those thoughts start coming on, try really hard to distract your thinking.

Rescue has a night formula too

[sincny]

I was prescribed Atarax as a teenager, to help with food related hives. Looking back, I believe the allergist thought there was an anxiety component to my food sensitivities, although he did not tell me this. I remember the Atarax worked for the hives and calmed me down as well, as I've always been an anxiety sufferer. However, it made me very sleepy and I eventually stopped taking it during the day for that reason. I am particularly sensitive to medications though, so it may not do this to you.

[Songbird]

This is because drugs have multiple effects. Anti-histamines are used for hives because of the histamines involved in an allergic reaction, not because of anxiety.

Sedating anti-histamines (diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, doxylamine, chlorpheniramine, promethazine) also make people drowsy, this is normal and why they are also used for sleep and calming. I don't know Atarax, haven't seen it here. There are also non-sedating anti-histamines you can use to avoid this (loratadine, desloratidine, cetirizine etc.).