Emetophobia and anti-depressants?

[j0nr0cks]

Does anyone have any opinions on going on an anti-depressant, such as Zoloft to control anxiety and emetophobia? I have an appointment with my doctor and I need to go on something, can anyone tell me if they have used zoloft, and if it helped with the emet at all?


If not, is there an anti-depressant that will help?


As it is for everyone who suffers it, this is ruining my life. Any thoughts on meds that help?

[rapturerocks]

I took anti-depressants and yes they did curb my anxiety a tad, but
they vary from person to person. I would recommend at least giving it a
try!

[kel12347]

I am currently taking Prozac, and find that it helps with the obsessive thoughts and anxiety. Doesn't get rid of it completely, but lessens it quite a bit. I didn't have any scary side effects with Prozac either, just tiredness. I was on Paxil previously, no side effects with that either, but it didn't seem to work as well as Prozac, and I'm afraid of the withdrawal effects, which are worse with Paxil than Prozac. I've heard Zoloft is excellent for obsessive thoughts....but talk to the doctor about this, he or she knows best!!!

[mjewell]

I take Lexapro and it had helped me 110%. I also take Xanax when I really need it, it calms you within about a half hour if you are having an anxiety attack.


Most anti-dpressants work the same but work differently for different people. What works for osme may not work fomr someone else, so you really have to be open to trying different things to find out what works for you.

[silver]

I had a good experience with Paxil CR helping especially with the obsessive thinking, worrying, and overall anxiety. I felt so much better on it and rarely worried about v*. For example while I was on it, an sv went around and I didn't even worry about it like I usually do. It really helped me, actually I am considering going back on it...The drawbacks for me were really really low sexdrive which wasn't fun at all.


Like someone mentioned before and it is very true all anti-depressants work different for different people. I am sure that most will help with the obsessive thoughts, anxiety, worrying, etc. Its just finding the one that works best for you. Also remember to give it some time to start working. For me it took about 4-6 weeks for the Paxil CR to really kick in. I would recommend paxil CR over regualr paxil because the withdrawl effects are a lot less since it has a longer half life.


Hope this helps!! Let us know..

[sarz]

I am 16 and I was on Zoloft for 2 years and they did help. I actually had stopped eating and they got me eating again. I am off them now and have been for a year, sometimes I feel I still need them but I work through it. I say see what your doctor says and give it a go, anything is worth a try!

[tcsarah]

I take seroxat (in US called Paxil) and it helps me so much with not only depression but anxiety, phobias andlack of confidence. It has been a Godsend. I do have to put up with two side-effects of insomnia and lack of sex drive, but these are far outweighed by the benefits the meds give me. My life was so restricted and I avoided so much before discovering seroxat, now I have the confidence to cope with most things.

[shiva]

You can pm me if you want to know exactly why you should not take any kinds of medications unless you totally cannot function in life anymore. (note.. i didn't say hava a hard time functioning, or that you are uncomfortable, but CANNOT function without them) I was facing serious health problems from anxiety meds and will NEVER in my life swallow that poison again. I will puke a thousand times before I fall into that trap once more. f*** the drug companies.

Sorry.. I feel pretty damn passionate about this one.

[laneyb]

I had vowed to myself that I would not start taking any medication for this (having seen the effects medication has hadon others, althou notemets!))


I have consulted my doctorfrequently who is very understanding (I told him I was a freak and he said "no you are not,just think some people are scared of silly things like spiders and baloons!!!! what a guy!)who fortunately doesnt prescribe easily. He has however allowed me to have a small numberof diazepam (valium) tablets which I can take in times of severe panic just to help.


Sometimes I think just having them in my bag and knowing theyre there if I need them helps.


Laney [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[mjewell]

You can pm me if you want to know exactly why you should not take any kinds of medications unless you totally cannot function in life anymore. (note.. i didn't say hava a hard time functioning, or that you are uncomfortable, but CANNOT function without them) I was facing serious health problems from anxiety meds and will NEVER in my life swallow that poison again. I will puke a thousand times before I fall into that trap once more. f*** the drug companies.

Sorry.. I feel pretty damn passionate about this one.

I think jonrocks' quote that his condition is ruining his life is probably pretty indicative that he cannot function normally. While I believe everyone has the right to their own opinion about meds, I don't appreciate people who go on an all out rampage trying to discourage others from taking them.


Just because something did not work for you doesn't mean you should try to scare the daylights out of someone that might find some much needed relief from them. If you read this board again, you can see that many many people have had success with meds without being "poisoned" or having health problems. I'm sure I am not the only one who would be housebound to this day if it were not for meds.


I am sorry you had a bad experience, that really sucks, but please do not try to scare everyone else into making a bad decision for them.

[aguerra29]

I was on Lexapro for over a year and it worked wonders on my overall anxiety and more specifically my emet. I have been off of Lexapro for a few months and I have noticed that my emet has creeped back up. I think that anti-depressants will take the edge off, but you also need pyscho-therpay. THat is where I am lacking. I lead a very busy life and can't seem to find the time to take to a therapist about emet. Maybe one day!

[shiva]

Mjewell,


I'm sorry I have offended you, for I usually agree whole heartedly for your input here. You made exactly the point that I was trying to make and I think you will agree that it can go both ways. Not everyone is the same and just because meds worked for you doesn't mean they will work for everyone else and not cause harm to their bodies. There are tons of pharmaceutical companies in civil litigations right now because anti depressants and anti anxiety medications are making them (not just me) sick. Some people have lost their lives.


I'm talking pancreatitis, liver damage, diabetes... Serious health problems. I do believe that someone should think hard and know the possible consequences before they put medications in thier bodies. It should not be taken lightly. Considering how often these medications are prescribed it is understandable that our society would like to ignore the fact that they could be responsible for many of this countries leading health concerns.


I know many people who have become extremely ill because of long term effects of being on these medications for only a couple of months. I will admit, I have personally tried about 15 different medications for my anxiety and only 2 of the 15 caused noticable damage (to my liver and pancreas.. found in bloodwork) So of course not everyone who takes meds is going to end up with diabetes or pancreatitis, but if they are like me and their bodies don't metabolize the medicine properly they could. It's definitely a gamble.


I think that we need to give ourselves more credit. Sure, life is sometimes made easier if we pop a pill, but the long term gratification of actually fixing our lives comes from within. The pill can make us not so worried about it, but maybe being worried and pissed off is what it will take to change something. We are the only ones who can changes ourselves. It is our own thought process that has created this hell.


I don't think less of anyone who takes meds and does fine with them. But, I do think less of people who choose to put their heads in the mud and not become educated on what's going on around them and definitely about what they are putting in their bodies. Just because a doctor tells you it is safe does not mean it's safe. They are human, just like you. They are simply listening to what the drugrep guywho brought them lunch told them to say.


It can go both ways. Don't discredit my experience because the idea is too scary for you to deal with. Life is scary and filled with scary ideas. I am not one of those people who come on here and attain some sick joy from perpetuating fear. I think if you have been what I have been through because of a pill, you might understand a little more about where I am coming from. If I can stop one person from f***ing up their body's chemistry, then I don't care what you think. I've been through hell. And my medical problemsWERE caused by ANTI ANXIETY MEDS. I hope to GOD no one else here ever has to deal with the s*** I have had to deal with because of this.


xxx

[liz001]

Shiva....


I'm sorry about your bad experience. I can in a way relate to what you are saying. I read this book that talked about drug companies and stuff and how everything is basically an experiment. Like these drugs my temp. fix some of the symptoms, but not take away the problem. In the long run, most drugs are very harmful to your body. I totally agree. I won't say that I'm not going to take anti-anxiety pills. I think maybe since I'm really wanting to fight this and the panic attacks are pretty bad, it might help to ease me thru this all. But I DO NOT want to rely on them forever!


I think that we need to give ourselves more credit. Sure, life is sometimes made easier if we pop a pill, but the long term gratification of actually fixing our lives comes from within. The pill can make us not so worried about it, but maybe being worried and pissed off is what it will take to change something. We are the only ones who can changes ourselves. It is our own thought process that has created this hell.


Rock on!!! I like you're way of thinking!

[mjewell]

Shiva -


I totally agree that we need to be more educated about the meds because obviously doctors aren't doing the job. I was apalled when i was talking to one of my co-workers who takes Lexapro. She mentioned she was really dizzy and not feeling well. I asked if she had been taking her Lexapro, and she said no, she didn't take it all weekend. I told her that is a big no no as you can have serious withdrawal symptoms. She was totally clueless. her dr didn't tell her anything about taking her meds and she obviousyl didn't look into it herself. She is having all these side effects like weight gain and wondering where on earth it is coming from. That kind of ignorance is scary.


I also agree that they are so widely and easily prescribed, and that is scary too. However, i just want to make sure we stay away from the stigma that taking meds is a bad thing and is not a good way to solve your problems. Back in the 50s women like us would have been considered "hysterics." Thank God things have changed and there is stuff out there to help us now. Just like meds don't work for some people, therapy doesn't work for some people. It's a tough issue.

[shiva]

MJewell,
You are right. I am so amazed by how far society and the medical community has come when dealing with mental/emotional health issues. I just worry that many drugs are not being properly tested and that many are being over prescribed.
Anyway.. Thanks for listening and I'm glad we worked that out

[sphynx]

I take Seroxat too (or did until it made me feel better enough to become pregnant) I had a whole year which was practically anxiety and nausea free. It was the best thing I ever did. I havehad this phobia my whole life in a very extreme form. If it can work for me it can work for anyone, just be aware that anti depressants can make people v* to start with (swallowing those first two pills was one of the bravest things I ever did). Good luck!

[japa]

shiva and mjewell,


The meds issue is definitely a controversial one. I am another one of those who believes that therapy and meds need to go together, if there are going to be meds at all.


I know that one anti-anxiety/anti-depressant went off the market,forgot its name,because it caused severe liver damage.


Of course, we've heard about Vioxx. There have been reports of blindness from Viagra. And they've determined that SSRI's increase teens and children's risk of suicide. New reports come out often So these medicines are problematic. Yet, some people do get help from them. Risks and benefits have to be weighed, and then each individual needs to choose for him/herself. One thing that might help though is to go for some of the older drugs that have been on the market for a while. There has been more time forissues to come to light.Edited by: japa

[japa]

Oh yeah, I am pretty sure that it was Serzone that was taken off the market for severe liver damage.

[japa]

Or perhaps not in the U.S., according to this website???


http://www.emailabuse.com/useful/serzone.asp


At any rate, I wouldn't touch this one with a ten foot pole. Back in 2000, my sister took it for three weeks, just around the time the liver damage reports were coming out. She's fine because she never took it long enough for anything to happen. But yeah, this one was messed up.

[~daisy~]

I recently started taking Effexor...they're anti-depressants and they can also help if you have a social phobia. My emetophobia is mixed with a social phobia so I'm hoping that Effexor is going to help. I've only been taking them for about 4 weeks and I can see a lilttle difference already. I feel more happy and I'm more willing to go out. I also have heard that Paxil is good but for some reason my doctor thought that Effexor would be better for me. Maybe if Effexor doesn't work, i'll go on Paxil...we'll just have to wait and see!


Vero

[emetojackie]

I was on prozac a few years ago, it did help in its own way. I stopped taking it after a couple of years after my case got closed. I was put onto 60mg and gradually brought off it. It did help but that was a few years back.. and I am better as I was severly manically depressed, but I still consider myself to have depression and my phobia is back to normal.. but thats my case, another persons case could be different!

[mjewell]

I recently started taking Effexor...they're anti-depressants and they can also help if you have a social phobia. My emetophobia is mixed with a social phobia so I'm hoping that Effexor is going to help. I've only been taking them for about 4 weeks and I can see a lilttle difference already. I feel more happy and I'm more willing to go out. I also have heard that Paxil is good but for some reason my doctor thought that Effexor would be better for me. Maybe if Effexor doesn't work, i'll go on Paxil...we'll just have to wait and see!


Vero

Daisy,I just had to comment thatI LOVE your Avatar. Calalilies are my fave and that black background is simply divine.