So… as many of you know, I have posted here several times about my struggles with anxiety. I was on meds for about 3 years and was feeling good but I gained weight from it. I mean a lot of weight. 30lbs to be exact. So what was helping me at the time was also making me depressed. Last year I made it a point to come off the meds. I wanted to get back to my weight that I had. This past September , I got down zero pills for the month. It was the time to come off completely. For 2 months I was fine and zero issues. It wasn’t until I got that tooth infection and I had to remove my molar. With that, I was given an antibiotic that enhanced my anxiety 10 fold. I was feeling off, shaky and at times afraid of getting sick. Anxiety came back. I had an instance where I was gonna have a panic attack. This past weekend, I had to have a come to jesus moment with myself. Do I go back on the meds, feel better, and gain weight. Or do I stay off the meds, continue to lose weight, and live a life of misery? My family was too important to me to be selfish. I went back. After speaking to my doc, I was given 5mgs of Lexapro(ecitalophram). Im on my 5th day of it and while I know the effects of the meds haven’t come on full blown, I am beginning to feel better and less like 2 weeks ago.
Why am I posting this here? I know that gaining weight can sometimes happen with these meds. According to the doc, there is a chemical in the medicine that does make you gain weight but at most 5 lbs. So I ask any of you who are on the medicine or any med for anxiety and depression, have you lost weight after gaining from the meds? I want to know that there is at least a chance to lose weight while on the meds.
Thanks and I appreciate any advice.
I also take Lorazepam as needed and it's effective for me. Still, please rely on a medical professional, obviously.
There is no magic pill. Meds have their place but IMO work best as one part of a three pronged approach, with the other 2 being regular exercise and therapy. Exercise can not be understated. It's like a natural benzo. It releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamine, and others which are naturally calming.
As it seems like you were doing well until the tooth issue this might be an isolated incident. Maybe you take the medication at a lower dose for a brief period, work out, and talk to someone.
Above all, talk to your doctor. It's not bad to reach out to people and venting to strangers on the internet can even be somewhat therapeutic. But if you're struggling you need medical advice.
Best of luck, take care of yourself.
Then, out of the blue, more panic attacks, another 2 E.R. visits. Sigh. My doctor told me we can keep going around and around like this or I could agree to let him find something that works. He put me on a low dose of Paxil, which is supposed to have horrendous side effects. Strangely enough, this did the trick. No more panic attacks, feel great, no sexual side effects (if anything, it's been the reverse, I'm like a raging bull) and no weight gain.
To make a long story short, maybe you should talk to your Dr. about shifting meds.
Medication absolutely helps people and serves a purpose - but the way to truly address anxiety is to work at understanding it and how to deal with it when you have episodes.
When most people feel anxiety coming on or think they're about to have a panic attack, their instinct is to recoil and find "safety" by getting out of wherever they are ASAP. Anxiety and panic make people tense up and we try to "fight" against it - it's akin to swimming against the current.
After a while, you essentially create neural pathways where you keep reinforcing to your mind that the way to get rid of anxiety is to run away from it.
It's important to get to the root of what you are most worried about when you have anxiety episodes so that you can address it.
For a lot of people, it's a loss of control that worries them most. They feel like they're "going crazy" or that they're going to enter some irreversible state. Others worry they're having a heart attack or that something is medically wrong with them, etc.
Most of the time, those who suffer from anxiety will find that there's actually nothing medically wrong - it just feels that way during attacks.
It's hard to do, but you want to find a way to make "friends" with your anxiety rather than treat it as an intruder. A therapist can help you with this - but there are definitely things you can do on your own that will help.
When you feel anxious, instead of getting caught up in it and letting yourself get into the mode where you're frantically trying to figure out the best way to get rid of it ASAP, try to just "let go" and relax yourself. Instead of gritting your teeth and clenching your muscles, just loosen yourself up, take a deep breath and focus on slowing your breathing a bit.
Eventually, you get to a point where you realize you've been through this countless times. Nothing "bad" ever happens. All of anxiety's fuel comes from within ourselves. Once you learn to stop fueling the fire and simply observe it and let it be there, you'll see that it dissipates faster and faster.
Anxiety is a normal human function. The goal should not be to avoid feeling it for the rest of your life. Everyone feels anxiety. The key is how you respond to it which is the difference between those who struggle and those who don't.
Going on and off of medications on your own can also be a slippery slope. Make sure you stick with your doctor when you're making decisions like that.
Lastly, diet and exercise. These both make tremendous differences in the way you feel. Make both of these things a priority.
Best of luck.
it was called something to the effect of Levaquin or something.
I've been taking it for a couple years now. It relaxes you, but you stay focused. It doesn't make you drowsy, it's not habit forming and it's very safe.
It won't interact with anything you're taking, either.
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what antibiotic were you on?
it was called something to the effect of Levaquin or something.
I'd look into that in more detail and depending on what you find I'd make sure that doctors only prescribe you something with less side effects when it comes to anti-biotics.
Levaquin has a nasty side effect with tendon soreness or rupture. I was put on it once and its now on my list of things I'll never take again. I tell my doctors I want Amox or some form of Penicillin. That' really all you need for most infections and definitely would cover anything tooth related (I had heart surgery so I used to have to take antibiotics before going to the dentist as a kid).
I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't consume, but its something you should definitely look into more and do your research on.
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In comment 13739010 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
what antibiotic were you on?
it was called something to the effect of Levaquin or something.
I'd look into that in more detail and depending on what you find I'd make sure that doctors only prescribe you something with less side effects when it comes to anti-biotics.
Levaquin has a nasty side effect with tendon soreness or rupture. I was put on it once and its now on my list of things I'll never take again. I tell my doctors I want Amox or some form of Penicillin. That' really all you need for most infections and definitely would cover anything tooth related (I had heart surgery so I used to have to take antibiotics before going to the dentist as a kid).
I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't consume, but its something you should definitely look into more and do your research on.
I was given Levaquin for Pneumonia and it was pretty intense. It worked but it's something i'd prefer to never take again.
This was about 6/7 years ago and I'll never take Levaquin ever again.
I'd also pass on taking it ever again. Made me feel worse if anything.
THIS. Although Lexapro definitely helped me with the anxiety I tapered off it as well and now take 60mg Buspirone throughout the day and it really helps along with everything else you mentioned. Lots of water and exercise are key. Avoid narcotics at all costs.
the doc did mention that going to the whole 30 diet or keto would be beneficial for me. I dont know if i would be willing to give up bread though. I doubt that would be helpful. would probably make me more angry.
some of the side effects from that antibiotic made my body feel odd and made me have mood swings. Then i looked at the side effects and it said everything i was feeling. According to my doctor, meds with the "QU" just arent good for people with anxiety.
Can't hurt to try it. If it doesn't help you or you experience unwanted side-effects, you can always taper off and stop taking it.
Despite all of my knowledge surrounding this subject as a result of suffering with anxiety since I was 21, I still felt I needed something to help me handle it properly. Started taking Lexapro about a year and a half ago.
It's not a miracle pill. I haven't really experienced any side-effects from taking it, though. And it has helped me a bit.
I truly respect you Gman and wish you the best.