EEK! I need opinions and reassurance, Anyone been on meds since childhood?

[Mishielynn]

Hey guys, It's been awhile.


Well, I've gotten a new phychiatrist because my last one who I've been seeing since I was
About 15 I think had a thing about drugging me up. Litterally.

Anyways, My new phychiatrist did a med change with me, I had finally gotten off of klonopin completly but was having some problems with the brain fog and anxiety still.
She decided to put me on gabapentin (Spelling?) And raise my dose of Wellbutrin to it's highest dose.

The first night I was in constant shock, Breaking out in hives, shaking, uncontrolable crying spells.
So I called and we dismissed the gabapentin.
However I am still dealing with the anxiety issue, more so than ever as I had to leave my GED class due to a huge panicy urge to "escape".

I am also worrying myself sick about all the meds I've been on and them somehow rewiring my brain to put me into a constant state of severe stress, fogginess, and depression.
I also made the "google" mistake, and did some research to further freak myself out.

Anyone have any experience with wellbutrin increasing anxiety?
I am interested in paxil but I am worried about the side effects, I've tried so many meds..
And anyone been on medication since they were younger, and do you have worries like me?

I just need some consolense.. I'm pretty scared.

[Krisse]

I have been on medication since I turned 19 years old for panic disorder.  Started on Paxil 40 mg for about 8 years.  Tried Lexapro and it did nothing.  Zoloft 200 mg has been a life saver for me :)

The single best thing I did was find a REALLY good psychiatrist who knew her stuff.  I got a referral to her from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and my life has changed dramatically.  My original pdoc was completely stupid.  He told me that I couldn't take any over-the-counter meds with Paxil, so everytime I had a cold or sore throat, I had to go to the doctor for antibiotics instead of popping a DayQuil, if I needed it.  He put all of these fears into me, made me come off of allergy meds, had me write about my past (nothing significant happened), etc.  My new doctor is really knowledgeable, available any time (even on Christmas), and has been completely supportive. 

We did try Wellbutrin once with the Paxil (to try and relieve some of the sexual side effects), but I noticed I was feeling more anxiety.  So, we just stopped it and I went back to being fine on Paxil.  A lot of it is trial and error, which can be trying, but worth it in the end.

Sometimes I worry about being on medication for the last 11 years, but I am that person that can't be off of them.  Even decreasing dosages won't work for me.  Once I find something that works, I tend to stick there because before medication, I got down to 90 pounds, couldn't eat/sleep/get out of bed, and the panic attacks were around the clock.  I know I've always had an anxious personality, but it all came to a bad point after my freshmen year of college, so I've been on meds ever since.  I truly believe I have a chemical imbalance.  There are many people who are in the same position as we are in and Prozac has been around a long time.  If there were major issues with people being on these meds for extended periods of time, trust me.....we would've heard a lot about it!

Just keep taking care of yourself.  You're doing great!!

[Door]

I've been on and off medication for the past 16 years.

I have no idea what you have tried or what you diagnosis is, so take my information with a grain of salt.  Besides, this is the internet too.

Your brain is safe.  Yes, there are rare documented cases of damage from medication.  RARE.  Whatever you read on the internet is either a RARE case or an EXAGGERATED case or a MISTAKEN case.  In other words, don't trust it.

Trust your doctors' and pharmacists' experience first.  If you don't trust those people, find new ones.  They see the actual, real side effects of hundreds if not thousands of people taking medication.  They are a better resource than the commercials, the patient information pamphlets, and especially the internet.

I have an anxiety disorder.  I take Wellbutrin 300 mg XL.  It doesn't do anything to help anxiety but it alleviates depression.  As it is one of those "stimulating" medications, it could possibly increase your anxiety.  It did not increase mine, and I am thankful.

Anyway, since the odds of medications "ruining" your brain are one in a billion, let's put that energy you use to worry elsewhere.  Say to yourself, "One in a billion.  Is it really worth my time?"  I used to worry about the same thing and talked back to my fears until eventually my whole brain believed it.

If you decide to take medication, find a doctor you trust and trust what s/he says.  Find one who reassures you over and over again.  I ask my doctor zillions of questions about a medication.  Then I call her the next day to ask her another zillion.  She has never said anything to hurt my trust.

I am in the middle of finding new medication and am scared out of my mind.  But because I believe in my doctor, it makes this process a whole lot easier.