Anxiety

[Guest]

Dear Doctor,

I have recently been diagnosed as having GAD. I have had since a young child. I have never taken perscription drugs before and am faced with a 6-12 program of citalopram.
My anxiety has gone through the roof about commencing this medication as I have read patient user forums of this drug and they say it works well but: heavy weight gain,jaw clenching, lack of emotion, then the withdrawal comes with flu symptoms, light sensitive, and electric zaps to the brain. My goodness, I am a fulltime teacher and fear the prospect of this! I dont know what to do - but I would like to have some assistance controlling my anxiety and phobias. I even wonder if this drug will assist this well?
Thank you for your time - Jewel

[lintek]

Hi,
I'm not a dr, but just a peer here like you. I too have GAD and have been suffering with this curse for years now. I'm 47 yrs old and just discovered what I was feeling actually had a title to it.
I always thought that it was just me. I knew no other way to be or what to compare myself to.
all I know is that I've stuggled a good part of my life when I wasn't on treatment.
I too have tried prescriptions that I have reactions to. I get constipated, lack of sexual drive, weight gain,weird feelings in my brain, extreme lethargy, etc.
I too can't afford to stay on the medication long enough to see if the side effects go away because I have to work full time. I can barely keep a job because of my GAD. I've been thru 14 jobs in a matter of ten years which is making me feel hopless and a failure.

I finally went on prozac and that worked for me a while then stopped it. I've also been on paxil and that only worked to a point too. then I read somewhere on line that "zoloft" or setraline HCL(generic name) works good for GAD and guess what? It's true!
I finally found a medication that doesnt make me gain weight, doesn't make my brain feel weird and doesn't make me tired.
you can start on small dosage and work your way up.
I love it and don't want to try anything else at this point.
I count myself fortunate that something is finally agreeing with me.
maybe it will work for you too?
I'm afraid to do research on the side effects of medications that were given to me because I'd wind up getting all the nasty symptoms they said could happen as side effects. that's how sensitve my mind and body is.
the brain zaps happen when you stop one of the medications suddenly without tapering slowly off of them.
that's why they warn you.
I wish you the best outcome and hope you're able to find a medication that works best for you.

good luck,

Linda