Anxiety and panic disorder?

okay so I have been dealing with these for 3 years now and am about to get t'd off!
I have been on every medication under the sun!
No exaggeration here some only took 3 pills to know they would not work.
I had been on Elavil the longest for like 5 months and stopped taking it for 2 weeks, I know bad but I did...and than I.B.S. came back full force went back to doctors and they said to start on the Elavil again 4 weeks later I was in sooo much stomach pain and could not sleep that they said my body decided no more. So he put me on Zoloft, now for two weeks no sleep, stomach cramps still and it brings on the panic attacks.
I have not had a panic attack for 6 months, I am also taking a therapy session that I paid 1600.00.
My doctor said for me to just stay on xanax I am only taking 2.5 mg. I cut the 5mgs in half. Any other suggestions. I am at a place where getting in the car brings on anxiety. I am not sure if therapy works now it must because they have not gone into a full attack?

thanks for the info...hummm I am serious though many meds paxil tried it could not work...from a to z and all meds do not work...I am sooo frustrated! My doctor said today that he is at the end of meds and to just do xanax when needed...I tried that before and landed up having a major panic attack that 911 was called and took me to emergency. So the when needed is not working for me either. My therapist is not a medicating kind she is all about the conscience and training, and breathing and all that good stuff. Just bothers me that now off the elavil and they are back. I know the zoloft brought them forward darn stuff. Oh and when I say I get side effects " I DO" my body is SUPER sensitive to meds, just my luck. :) I do exercise everyday...boo hoo I wish that would stop this...it is now summer vacation and I have 4 year old and 14 year old boys home all summer and it is a drag that mommy feels like ca-ca. Don't know how to get out of this, I am strong and am trying :(

i suffered with bad anxiety a few years ago i was put on meds because i was up in the night shaking sweating every sympom you can think of i used to go to bed in the day because i couldnt face life,i was put on ssri drugs new antidepesants i took them for nine days felt much better then out of the blue came full blown panic attacks i couldnt go out the door i had like needles going all through my body i thought i was dying in fact i wanted to die i told the doc i couldnt take anymore of them he said carry on another 2 weeks i would feel better i got rid of them meds do not work, they do for some but not everyone i went for therepy it wasnt an overnight cure but it it got me going out again,i got ibs as well ibs anxiety dosnt cause ibs but when you get an attack it make it worse with the pain,i started acupuncture as well that rearl helped,people think your crazy if they havnt gone through it themselves,have you tried a relaxation tape not the birds and whales someone talking it relaxes you and also sends you to sleep,i got rid of mine for years not fully but almost,now just latley it has come back but not the panic attacks,and the ibs has come back much worse,i sent for a book off the internet i was very sceptic,but it all makes sense it is over $70 it isnt a book they send you you download it and can print it out i have been practicing it all week when you feel an attack coming on tell it to and wish for it to get worse sounds stupid no! it is called panic away i can try and send you the link but dont know if it will send as i had to pay go on panic away@gmail.com his name is jo barry he tried everything for years i wasnt going to bother as i dont believe all this about books but it is helping me i just say to myself i have been waiting for you bring it on i know it sounded stupid to me when you go on it it will tell you loads syptoms the lot then you can decide if you want to order it you can pay in paypal and you get a money back it is genuine as you will see for yourself but there is a lot to go through about 200 chapters telling you what to what to say syptoms please have a look
all the best i know how you feel

rearly happy for you now you have it sorted lets hope they go for good,at least you have got to the root of the problem,please feel free to keep in touch
all the best Report Abuse

i take triliptal for my attacks and havent had one in a year. let me help you with coping skills and i hope to help you with everyday life

Well it looks like you're taking the steps you need to take in overcoming anxiety and panic. Medication and therapy are essential.

I've been on a lot of medication for the very same reason and the one thing I've learned is to stay patient. One drug might not work but the next could be the miracle you've been waiting for. (Also, some drugs take up to a month to get into your system and fully work).

Therapy should help you learn techniques for overcoming your panic. There's also a lot of alternative medicine for this area. Different kinds of Eastern meditation and exercises allow you to calm yourself more effectively.

Exercise (especially cardio) is also a great way to relieve anxieties and help your panic.

Good luck.

I used to have anxiety and panic attacks and took Paxil for years. I was finally able to get off that horrible drug and heal my anxiety naturally. It took a lot of work and a total change in diet and stuff but I'm 99% anxiety-free.
I still get nervous like normal- going in for dental surgery made me nervous, but I think that's ok-- but I haven't had any real anxiety or panic since. I get mildly nervous at times is all, but I think that's normal.
I don't think drugs are the answer, I think anxiety is caused by a chemical imbalance, and it can be healed by balancing the brain through nutrition. It worked for me