tootingyellow
16-07-07, 20:46
I am 34 yrs old and live in London. I have suffered from anxiety and occasional panic attacks for over five years and I have been on a prescription of venlafaxine 75mg for the last three years. This normally helps but on Friday lunchtime I had a panic attack that started out of nowhere and has thus far has lasted three days (by far the longest and most frightening episode I have ever had). The extreme attacks seem to last about an hour and are extremely frightening, to the point where I do not know where to put myself. I then calm down for about 30 minutes but I cannot stop thinking that another attack is around the corner and sure enough it is – a self-fulfilling prophecy I guess. I went to the A&E of my local hospital twice between Saturday morning and Sunday morning. On both occasions I had to wait three hours alone before being seen. I was then given Diazepam and Lorezepam and told to leave the hospital – on both occasions feeling I hadn’t received the help that I needed. I am scared of both drugs as I suffer from sleep apnoea and neither drug is normally recommended.
It is now Monday and I saw my GP today and she recommended a new prescription of Citalopram (to replace the venlafaxine) only the side effects sound awful. According to the information leaflet common effects can be abnormal dreaming, anxiety and suicide attempts. I rang my GP asking I could remain on the venlafaxine and she accented.
The worst time by far is the night time and I am scared to go to bed. I am sometimes conscious of having dreams that are agitating/frightening (whilst they are happening) even though they are completely innocuous. I will suddenly sit bolt upright in bed with the panic surging through me. I also seem to get stuck in a loop dreaming sometimes which has the same effect. It makes me feel as though I am going crazy and I can’t imagine that anyone else experiences the same thing.
Being honest I have been a user of leisure drugs for over ten years and I have used cocaine regularly and heavily for the last five years. I am hoping I that making positive changes to my life, such as giving up the drugs and taking up physical exercise, will allow me to be free of the panic attacks. I hope!
I am extremely frightened and the last three days have been truly awful. I would very much welcome people’s thoughts.
It is now Monday and I saw my GP today and she recommended a new prescription of Citalopram (to replace the venlafaxine) only the side effects sound awful. According to the information leaflet common effects can be abnormal dreaming, anxiety and suicide attempts. I rang my GP asking I could remain on the venlafaxine and she accented.
The worst time by far is the night time and I am scared to go to bed. I am sometimes conscious of having dreams that are agitating/frightening (whilst they are happening) even though they are completely innocuous. I will suddenly sit bolt upright in bed with the panic surging through me. I also seem to get stuck in a loop dreaming sometimes which has the same effect. It makes me feel as though I am going crazy and I can’t imagine that anyone else experiences the same thing.
Being honest I have been a user of leisure drugs for over ten years and I have used cocaine regularly and heavily for the last five years. I am hoping I that making positive changes to my life, such as giving up the drugs and taking up physical exercise, will allow me to be free of the panic attacks. I hope!
I am extremely frightened and the last three days have been truly awful. I would very much welcome people’s thoughts.