Resolved question:
Years ago I suffered from GAD and depression. I was on Paxil for 12 years, which worked great. Because of weight gain, I was switched to zoloft 50 mgs. Then two years old patientlater I had another bout and was dosed to 100 mgs. Then the medicine stopeed working. I then went on Lexapro for 2 years. I had fallen on and had significant problems with my knee which required PT for 4 months. Then the Lexipro stopped working and I was switched to Effexor, which worked great for 6 months until I had surgery on my knee. The Dr. upped the Effexor from 112 to 225 and my blood pressure went very high. I had to be switched to Prozac, which I have been on now for 2 months. I am still feeling horrible.
The doctor wanted to take me off Prozac and just give me Xanax. I am in the process of getting another doctor (psy). I do get therapy which I recently started. Are there any other drugs they may work for me. I am so scared. The SNRI seem to raise my blood pressure. I did like Lexapro, but only worked for two years old patientafter my knee injury. I just need to get on something that works and then exercise, get more therapy and deal with this. Would Celexa work? Ativan helps with the severe anxiety, but I am depressed also. Where I have had this a few times, I am truly scared. Thank you for any informaltion
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Psychiatrist
Hello
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
the medicines that you have been put on are good ones but unfortunately they have not helped you. IN that case the option which you have not tried are Desvenlafaxine ( its similar to venlafaxine but may not be so much aggressive on the BP aspect), Mirtazapine, Citalopram (yes it could be a good option), Agomelatin etc. All these medicines can be effective for depression and anxiety and should be given a try. If you can tolerate them, then your illness can be taken care of. Further do continue your psychotherapy.
If you want to give it a try, meditation and yoga can also help in improving the anxiety and depression and should be used as an addon with the medicines.
You may discuss all these options with your treating psychiatrist.
Hope this helps,
In case if you have any further query, do let me know.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
Thank you Dr. Also in your findings with patients, which is better for anxiety,generalized anxiety syndrome, prozac or celexa. Also could paxil work again. I am little wary of paxil because i read it can increase chances of breast cancer. Where lexipro stopped working after 2 years old patientwould crlexa work as the are so related. Thank You.
Hello
I would have tried celexa first and if not successful would like to get back to paxil ones and see.
Best of luck,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy
First I would like to say thank you. These are my last questions; I am grateful for your support.
1 I am wondering if perhaps it is best not to get a generic version of medicine where meds like zoloft and lexipro worked and then they stopped -
2. Also do you think that prozac is slow acting and contributes more to anxiety. Since i haven been on it 6 weeks my stomach is tied in knots This never happened before with paxil, zoloft or effexor
3 Since I was on Effexor (snri which is stronger) will an ssri work again like Celexa.
Also do you think celexa has a good chance of working; prozac did little to nothing. Thanks again.
Hello
Thanks for the follow-up.
I mentioned the molecule name. These molecules are available in the patent drugs or as branded generic. The choice is yours but the quality doesnt change. For example lexapro has escitalopram and paxil has paroxetine in it.
Fluoxetine is a good drug and should be given some time to act. If not then celexa should be tried. In treatment of depression we cannot say that effexor is more effective than ssri, as research findings state that they are kore or less the same but some patients respond to ssri while some respond to snri.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy