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Suggest Treatment For Stress And Anxiety Despite Being On Paroxetine

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Posted on Thu, 3 Nov 2016
Question: Hi, i am on paroxetine 12.5 mg and spenzo 0.5 mg . i was doing for 2 weeks or so in this dose when i started experiencing some problems with stress and anxiety since last week. all which i feel was situational . however , today morning i had a massive anxiety attack as i didnot sleep at all last night and but it died down automatically after some time. however , i spoke to my doc who suggested i can double my dose to 25mg everynite and also continue taking spenzo. paroxetine is one tablet that suited me very well earlier though i left in between and moved to escitalopram because i have been told its not safe.
i feel i can manage in 12.5 mg but since my marraige is scheduled in dec i donot want to take chances . however i am not sure if i should take 25mg or not ? if i take it will i experience any side effects from increase in dose ? why has the doc still kept spenzo ? i am very confused about should i increase my dose or not
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You can increase the dose

Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXX.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.

According to the description of your symptoms, you are mostly suffering from panic attacks. So, for this indication you are on the right drug. Paroxetine is very good drug and you shall certainly benefit from it, though it may take 4 to 6 weeks for its full effects.

You do not need spenzo which contains flupenthixol. Instead of that, I would have given you clonazepam if you were my patient.

So, my prescription would contain Paroxetine CR 25 mg and clonazepam 0.5 at night.

You need to take these drugs for at least 6 to 8 months for sustained benefit. Do not stop on your own because there may be discontinuation symptoms if you stop them suddenly.

Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further question then feel free to ask.

Ragards, Dr Ravi Soni.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (1 hour later)
So now this dose has been increased to double , will i experience any side effects ? i have been on this medication for almost 3 yrs and it worked fine for me . i changed medication to escitalopram and to a lower dose because i felt i needed to be in a lower dose . since moving onto escitalopram i have been unwell on and off . is it also true that medicines stop working if there is interaction of alcohol and smoking ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You wont face any side effects

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

You already were on the same drug for long, so I feel that you must not face any side effects now.
You can take 25 mg CR preparation at night without any hesitation.

Yeah, there is interaction of this drug with alcohol and smoking. So, I shall ask you not to to take alcohol and please do not smoke.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have any other query then feel free to ask.

Ragards, Dr Ravi Soni.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (1 hour later)
are panic attacks life threatening ? I feel extremely drained out after an anxious incident . What should I do in those situations . Today for eg was a bad day with a massive anxiety attack and I am travelling from one city to another . I have my sos medicine but still I am worried of further anxiety attacks during my journey . Every such episode leaves me depressed . How do I relax myself
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Panic attacks are not life threatening

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for writing again.

You have asked few questions so I shall answer accordingly.

1. Panic attacks are not life threatening. They are the result of false alarm in our nervous system. It is similar to the feelings we have when we are suddenly exposed to frightening situation. Usual duration of the panic attack is 5 to 10 minutes. It starts suddenly without any reason and sometimes it may be situational. It reaches to peak within 10 minutes and subsides on its own.

2. Whenever you shall have panic attack, you need to relax yourself. You can do deep breathing like taking breaths slowly over 3 seconds and releasing it in 2 seconds. You can also start counting backwards from 100 slowly and when you shall reach to 50, you shall be free from anxiety attack.

3. You need to keep few anxiolytics with you like tablet clonazepam 0.5 mg mouth dissolving. You can take it whenever you have panic attack.

You need to strongly believe that these attacks are not life threatening and avoiding situations like travelling long distance alone wont solve your problem.

Hope, I have answered your query. If you have any further query then feel free to ask.

Regards, Dr Ravi Soni.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Ravi Soni

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 538 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Stress And Anxiety Despite Being On Paroxetine

Brief Answer: You can increase the dose Detailed Answer: Hi, XXXX. I have read your query and understood your concerns. According to the description of your symptoms, you are mostly suffering from panic attacks. So, for this indication you are on the right drug. Paroxetine is very good drug and you shall certainly benefit from it, though it may take 4 to 6 weeks for its full effects. You do not need spenzo which contains flupenthixol. Instead of that, I would have given you clonazepam if you were my patient. So, my prescription would contain Paroxetine CR 25 mg and clonazepam 0.5 at night. You need to take these drugs for at least 6 to 8 months for sustained benefit. Do not stop on your own because there may be discontinuation symptoms if you stop them suddenly. Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further question then feel free to ask. Ragards, Dr Ravi Soni.