paxil forever??????

Question

is there an herbal or a better alternative to help with panic attacks other than being on medication?? i have been on paxil for 6 or 7 years and i dont want to be on it forever! any suggestions?

Answer 1

You need to see a therapist. I would try one that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. I didn't ever want to get put on medications because I was and still am scared of getting addicted to them. I was prescribed paxil, zoloft, and ativan but I never take them because they seem to make me more anxious. For my panic attacks I go to a physciatrist and he specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and it helps. I would also go to the library or local bookstore and get some books on panic disorder and self help books. Believe me, I'm in the same boat as you, your not alone.

Email me if you need to talk or have any questions! =)

A good book I'm reading now--

anxiety &panic attacks their cause and cure
by robert handly with pauline neff

Answer 2

Talk with your doctor. It may be time to try a dose reduction. Don't do this on your own. Work with your doctor.
Sometimes people take medication forever. I plan to because I feel so good as long as I take my medicine. If I don't take it for even two days, I can tell such a difference. It's not worth it to me. I have no side effects that I can tell.
If you want to stop with the Paxil due to some side effect, discuss this with your MD also.

Answer 3

Yes, you should find a behavioral psychiatrist who can monitor your medication while giving you tools to manage your panic attacks in a behavioral way. Medication alone won't do this.

Look for a behavioral psychiatrist or psychologist. The latter can't prescribe medications in most states, but if you want to eventually get off the medication, you need a two-sided approach to bringing your panic attacks under control.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Paxil has withdrawal affects. Trust me I KNOW. I work in health care and read way too much for my own good. When I was put on paxil for anxiety, I told the Nurse; "I really do not want to be on this anymore it has bad side affects as well as withdrawal issues". She insisted it did not. My suggestions, talk to the provider who is distributing the paxil to you. As far as the panic attacks, there is therapy of embracing them to conquer them. I found to alleviate mine was just talking to someone who listened. ABOUT EVERYTHING. I found research that shows telling yourself when one comes on, OK THIS IS A PANIC ATTACK I KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT, I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. Do a body check when one arrives out of nowhere. Clench your legs tight. Pay attention to your breathing and control the breathing. YOU ARE NOT DYING even tho it feels like you are. Have a strong support system, someone who can talk you through the panic attack. Someone who understands. Mine were aggressive until I took charge over them. I still get them, but they are tolerable now, and not as frequent and I remain drug free. I know from just being in tune with myself my panic attacks occur under high stress. Its my minds way of saying, OK, YOU HAD ENOUGH THIS IS HOW IM DEALING WITH IT. Thats when I know its time to refocus on my priorites in life. Your situation may be different. You may have some unresolved issue that has had no closure thats why your mind is saying WHOA, YOU HAD ENOUGH, DEAL WITH THIS. Find someone you can really talk to. Not someone who will talk to you and slap you on a drug. Shop around for a psychologist who you trust and let the issues fly and lay everything on the table. Last and not least, figure yourself out. The only person who can do that, IS YOU.

Answer 5

I believe in eating healthy, and working out. That pretty much is the catch all for most things.

I am sure you won't be on it forever. Talk to your Physiologist about how you feel, he/she may take you off, but then the panic attacks may return.