Can someone please advise me of what to do? I posted a question 2 weeks ago that I was having panic attacks.?

Question: Well, I FINALLY got in to the psyciatrist today. They said the anxiety attacks were because I stopped the Klonopin. It was withdrawl. I tried asking them to change the med as even the Dr admitted that I was very senitive to it. I have been on it since Feb (except for the last 2 weeks or so). Every single dose has made me very sleepy. At one point I was doing 1/2 of a .5 @ bed & morn and I was so tired I couldn't walk straight! So today they INCREASED the dose to a FULL .5 @ bed & morn and they think I WON"T be so sleepy! I have not seen the Klonopin do anything at all for anxiety. It DOES help to control my appetite and better bladder control but otherwise nothing. When I StOPPED the Klonopin, I wasn't tired. Fri my primary Dr put be back on Klonopin the 1/2 of .5 @ bed & that is is fine. Also have Lexapro 20 mg that works wonders. I tried to get them to increase w/o luck! I don't know if I want to be fat or sleepy! Give the Dr one more chance or go somewhere else NOW! I don't know.

Answers:
Sorry, honey, that sucks for you. If you are having negative side effects, go get a second opinion, but I have to warn you that psychiatry is a very inexact science and doctors will tend to give you more and more meds to try to help w/your symptoms. it sometimes takes many weeks to tell if something is helping you or hurting you, but you have to be very firm and spell out your symptoms and side effects very clearly to your docs. Make them listen to you, they don't have to live w/it, you do.
are you getting prescriptions from more than one doc? get them all together to do a consultation so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to your care. best of luck :)

Other Answers:
Have you tried Xanax? It sounds like your Dr. isn't listening to you. Maybe you should change Drs.

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I sympathize with you 100%. I have had panic disorder for years. At first I didn't want to take meds, but after a while I needed some relief. I can only suggest that if for any reason, you feel your doctor is not helping you, you have EVERY right to get another doctor. It can take awhile to find a doctor who is "right for you". I hope you feel better.

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A friend of mine, who's in her 50's, used to take Klonopin, she had problems too. So they changed it to "Zoloft", and she swears by it!! What a difference, she says. Talk to your doctor.

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I would seek another doctor. You have to be a consumer of your health the same way you would be if purchasing a product. You wouldn't continue to try to use an object that didn't work, right?

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Switch doctors. And I've heard Efexor works very well for panic attacks.

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Klonopin will have withdrawal symptoms. If you stop taking anything do not go cold turkey. Xanax, LIbrium are much more antianxiety medications.Lexapro is an antidepressant. it sounds like you could benefit from some therapy. Some rational-emotive or cognitive therapy might be helpful.

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