Panic Disorder

[Guest]

I have panic disorder with agoraphobia. My agoraphobia is very specific. It is the fear of driving or riding in a car on the expressway. I am very aware when I will have a panic attack, as the feeling of disassociation from reality starts to come over me and I need to "get out of" whatever situation I am in. This may mean getting off the expressway and taking side roads or simply parking my car and getting out of the car for a while. My panic attacks are usually long and I can't stop them even with simple CBT or deep breathing excercises. Sometimes talking outloud helps but the feeling of wanting to "get out of" the situation increases. So, therapy is useful for me but doesn't alleviate all of the symtpoms of the attacks. I rarely have attacks at any other time. Though, I have some GAD specific features like "intense worry," "intense feeling of doom," things like that which come and go. I have been on a number of SSRI's and have found no relief because of the side effects. I am a mental health Social Worker of all things and have found myself learning about the various new medications out there to treat panic disorder. I have recently placed myself with the help of my psychiatrist on "Neurotin" which is an anticonvulsant not an SSRI but has shown in studies to prevent panic attacks. In addition, I take Klonopin as needed which reduces the GAD symptoms. I am curious if anyone has had any relief and/or knowledge of the medication Neurotin. In addition, always looking for support during a trial of new medications since I have not found anything that works since three years ago when I was on Effexor XR and found it helpful for two years until I was having paranoia-which is not my baseline! Look forward to all responses. B

[Guest]

Wow, you have quite a collection of panic disorders. it seems to me that your fear of driving would be a specific phobia with situational subtype. But you know a lot about your conditions and that is an excellent step, i dont know much about Neurotin but if its an anticonvulsant then it is pretty new so it might be the most effective one you had yet. keep us posted...

Nick
[quote] I have panic disorder with agoraphobia. My agoraphobia is very specific... [/quote]