Those with anxiety/depression

hooliface · January 2011

I have posted in the past and have been dealing with anxiety for years. I've been on Lexapro for for almost 6 years with doses being adjusted from 10 to 20. I am currently on 20mg per day taking it at night.

I just completed my "trial cycle" for our donor egg cycle. I was on 6mg of estrace and 2cc of PIO (1cc am & 1cc pm). This was for roughly 26ish days total. They did a endometrial biopsy and then said all is well, stop all meds now.......cold turkey.

I was feeling really sick to my stomach and just tired beyond belief after stopping all the meds. I then started with the anxiety symptoms, again. I HATE this. I think a lot has to do with stopping the medication, the donor we picked fell through, the cost associated with it, our weather sucks, etc.

I keep telling myself that if I don't start feeling better in another week or so, that I will go back to the Dr. I went to the Psych last time (she was horrible) and told me that I could switch if I wanted to but she was not sure!?!?!? WTF. Seriously, I am at a loss.

Do you think waiting this out my hormones will re-adjust?

What medication are you on?

Do you like it?

Do you have side effects?

Did you switch from something else first?

Was the switch horrible?

How did you find the right medication?

If you went to a Psych, what did they do/say, etc?

Thank you ladies so much. I really just hate all this IF crap. It messes with everything......

DavezWife · January 2011

I deal with my own anxiety, but self-medicate ;-)

HOWEVER, I will say that artificially-supporting your body with progesterone MAJORLY makes me anxious. ESP. orally taking prometrium, I thought I was going CRAZY until I figured that out. I've been on PIO so long I don't notice it anymore (it does seem to be the lesser of the evils) but on a body that's taking it on fresh, AND doing estrogen support, well, I say let things simmer down then re-assess.

Golden Rule of brain med mgmt: Never make med changes within 6-8 weeks of a life-shaking event, if you were fairly stable prior to it.

that being said, you might be looking at a brand change, seeing as 6 yrs is a long time. (you could go back to lex in the future) celexa & cymbalta are both logical choices to look at changing to. If anyone in your family deals with similar issues, and is on meds, look also to what works for them as well.

sidebar - I have a really close family member who I deal with this closely, and this person chose to add wellbutrin to their daily celexa. it has not done much. we're giving it a bit more time, but meh. SOME docs are pushing adding Abilify, which used to be the biggest joke in psych. now it's actually gaining some validity, but check your insurance, some are bucking the HUGE added expense.

keep on keepin' on, I know this stuff is really hard, especially when you don't feel right.

SeaSoul · January 2011

I can't answer most of your questions, just want to say I feel for you. I have anxiety issues too...have never been on meds, aside from Ativan which I've taken only twice for specific circumstances (an MRI and my HSG). Mine comes and goes based on what's going on in my life...right now it's been bad due to major stress. I have learned to work through certain physical symptoms but find it difficult to keep my brain in check when I start obsessing or worrying excessively. And when it takes the form of a general feeling of gloom & doom, I don't know what to do with myself. HATE that.

I've seen counselors over the years but none has really helped me in a profound way. I know my issues, I have an idea from where they stem, and I have been through it enough to know that I'll pull through once whatever triggered the anxiety is over.

Also, I found that pregnancy "cured" me of some of my anxiety, which was incredible!

I hope you feel better soon!

PS Like Davez, I have been know to "self-medicate" as well, though lest anyone worry about me, I assure you, it's not excessive.

lnle · January 2011

Zoloft works for me, and I was allowed to keep taking it through treatments, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Seems crazy they wanted you to stop the meds cold turkey...

MrsKolasa · January 2011

I have had horrible anxiety since I was little. I am so, so sorry you are dealing with it too.

I was on Lexapro 20mg/day, Ativan 2mg/day and Lunesta 3mg before bed.

I LOVED being medicated. For reals. I still had anxiety, but it wasn't killing me.

Coming off of my meds (in june, due to lack of health insurance) was the worst experience ever. Panic attacks were back with and they were pissed. Starting lexapro was tricky, I lost weight, was shaky and had no appetite. I felt really weak all the time. Once my body got used to it, it was smooth sailing. I will say that PIO made it feel like I wasn't on meds at all. Progesterone seems to make anxiety much worse.

I started with paxil before lexapro and I thought I was losing my mind. I have never felt crazier. I couldn't even give it the full 6 weeks they wanted me to.

My doctors (RE + Psych) decided that it was better for me to be medicated and healthy so they never asked me to be off of it. Hang in there, I know it's really rough.

PeachyKate · January 2011

WTF is right! I am really shocked they just took you off cold turkey and didn't give you something else. I am so sorry you are dealing with this.

I have had anxiety issues my whole life that go completely out of whack when you add hormones to the mix whether its stims, my period, or bcp.

As of right now I am only taking xanax as needed the week of my period. The day before I get my period whatever hormone change the takes place just throws me off. I feel anxious as soon as I wake up and then I start doing ocd things so now I take that as soon as I wake up to try and ward off any serious issues.

During IF treatments I was taking xanax as needed and prozac, which is supposedly one of the safest for pregnant women. I eventually came off of the prozac because I just felt too flat all of the time and we had pretty much given up on treatments. I came off slowly and still had the xanax as a back up and it wasn't horrible.

I tried welbutrin when I was pregnant but that actually made my anxiety worse which I was told is a possible side effect. I have talked to my ob about going on prozac just the week of my period but I don't see how that will be effective.

I have seen a few different drs and I had one that really helped. His son specialized in relaxation and meditation and I saw him every week for 6 months. I was taught how to calm myself down and I still use the techniques to this day when I can feel my anxiety starting to get out of control. It doesn't always work and that is when I take a xanax.

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