Unsuccessful weaning of Anxiety meds after Post Natal Anxiety

[Leonie80]

Hi It's my first time here, i was diagnosed with post natal anxiety and severe panic attacks when my baby was 5 months old.  I went on my meds initially for 4 months then weaned.  It came back two months later and I was then on them for another 14months and weaned very slowly under the guidance of my psychologist.   It's now been 5 weeks and 2 weeks ago I had my first panick attack after not having one for the whole time on my meds.  I'm so confused about what to do spent all last night vohmitting and panicking not sleeping and am relying on short term medicaiton option.  I was weaned because of pretty bad side effects and the last time I tried a different medication 1 day in it had me thinking the world was going to end and was nearly suicidal, which I never have been ever apart from that medication.  My psychiatrist wants me to try a new one but I'm scared it do that to me again, but the one I was on is not safe for pregnancy and had other nasty effects.  On top of all this I have a husband two girls and my own business I can't take extended time off from.  Is there anyone else had to try multiple times to wean but got there in the end?

[blondguy]

Hi Leonie80

Welcome to the BB Forums and thankyou for posting too

I am sorry for the delayed response to your post. I have had anxiety attacks for many years and am just trying to help...I feel for you and am trying to get one of our girls to help you. Short term anxiety meds may be a help and may not too...Your psychiatrist may have a point in changing your meds to a new one......I am a guy and feel like an idiot here....especially with your pregnancy.....Please give me a minute and I (we) will re-post

Paul

[CMF]

Hi

soory to hear you been feeling this way. I imagine it must be so scary, especially with a family and your own business to look after. You are an absolute Superwoman! I haven't experienced what you gave but I have had swinging depression and anxiety after having kids. I'm wondering if hormone fluctuations could be contributing to how you're feeling? could your anxiety be triggered by the amount if responsibility you have, family, business, can't take time off etc? Is your husband supportive? I can't speak for any medications but may be a thorough check up by your gp, check your iron, vitamin D, hormone levels - esp after childbirth. Many these things can contribute to how you are feeling.

i hope this is of some help to you.

take care

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Leone,

I do not have anxiety but I do have depression. In terms of medication I have been put on antidepressants to which I had very bad side effects and had to stop and go on another type. The second type worked for a while but in my case they were meant to also assist with tension headache as well as my mood. On increasing the dose recently my body had a severe reaction and I was told to decrease back again immediately. I am now in the process of weaning off those and it's very possible I will need to try new ones. The good thing there is that while they did work they gave me the calmness and strength I needed to be able to manage things more easily. Without any medication I think things would have been dire for me.

I am not sure if you have made a decision yet but my advice would be to consider how you will cope if you don't try something. It seems common that people react differently to different ones and that you should find one to suit.

If your psych is recommending them it is probably for a good reason. Once you do find one that helps hopefully it will help manage the challenges you have with your business and kids. Your health is important for you and your family.

I hope this has helped in some way. I have been checking in on your post hoping someone with a situation more similar might help. However I find sometimes just talking things through regarding options helps too.

Here to chat if you'd like. Let us know how you go.

Kind thoughts,

Carol

[geoff]

dear Leonie, welcome to the site and thanks for posting.
I suffered from PND when my wife had it after our second child, but I was silly because I hide it from anybody and didn't take any medication, nor did my wife (ex).
Since then I had tried many different AD, which most of them didn't agree with me, but my doctor who was my psychologist persevered because I needed to be on some medication and finally found one which agreed with me so I have been on it for years, but if for some reason I miss a dose or two then back down I fall into the dark pit once again, so I know I just can't stop tking them, because I need them for my depression.
I can only suggest that you do what your psychiatrist wants you to do, but ask him/her to start you off on a low dose, that's what you may only need, but depression and anxiety never goes away by itself, it needs the help of medication and help from your psych, so it's a combined combination. Geoff. x

[blondguy]

Hi Leonie...I just thought Id follow up and see how were traveling..I hope you are reasonably okay

Geoff....Thankyou for articulating so well what I floundering with in my post. I hope that Moo Moo is doing ok too

Kind Thoughts

Paul