Re: panic disorder and SSRIs

[Guest guest]

I did have the DNA drug sensitivity test done for my daughter.

I went to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital web site

and contacted them explain the process. My daughter's result

showed she would metabolize prozac better than zoloft.

She had been on 75mg of zoloft and still anxious and

aggressive (even more aggressive as the dose went up).

We switched then to prozac and have her on a low

dose. She still needs something added in for her outbursts.

But she is 13, and I want to have her try xanax when she

is older (18) rather than start on mood stabizers that

have some side effects I don't like for her.

I think the choice based on DNA metabolism is between prozac and

zoloft (other SSRI anti-depressants are in the same

DNA group as zoloft, they have differences but

are in the same DNA metabolism pathways).

If you are a poor metabolizer of a drug you will have lots of side effects. If

you are a good metabolizer it may or maynot

be the medication for you, based on your emotional

issues.

My husband's panic is not relived with any anti-depressant

alone (he tried both zoloft and prozac at increasing doses).

Xanax helps the best for him. He takes it twice a day.

And he has added in 50mg of zoloft so that as the

xaanax wears off he doesn't have a panic attack, he starts

to feel anxiety and then remembers to take the xanax.

I would try the clonipin at a low dose and keep the prozac at

the 40mg dose for a few weeks at least to see how it works.

I don't like increasing anti-depressants fast. Prozac

especially takes awhile to get into and out of your

system. I generally have keep my daughter at the same

dose for 3 weeks or more to look for side effects and

assess how it is working.

I myself felt zoloft worked right away at 50mg to stop

my panic attacks, but I needed to go to 75mg

to control my anxiety and depression. Both my husband

and daughter do not have their panic under control

on anti-depressants alone.

It is stressful trying new medications, take it slow.

Keep the doses low. And increase in very small

increments. Is a very conservative approach.

best wishes,

Pam

> Makes me uncomfortable that we may have to go that high and possibly end up

> having to taper and switch to another SSRI if prozac doesn't work.

>

> I would have preferred she start on zoloft (I would have asked her doctor,

> but have been unable to go to appts with her). I've read here about the

> genetic sensitivities to these meds. My ds and another family member is

> doing great on zoloft, for OCD and related depressed. Both also responded

> rather quickly to the zoloft. Although dd's presentation is different b/c

> she's not depressed, I wonder if the zoloft would be bettter for her.

>

> I also prefer zoloft b/c it's supposed to have less side effects than

> prozac, and response is quicker.

>

> Not sure if it's a good idea to switch meds right now...maybe we

> should wait out further increases with prozac?

>

> Any thoughts or related experiences?

>

> Fay

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I did have the DNA drug sensitivity test done for my daughter.

I went to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital web site

and contacted them explain the process. My daughter's result

showed she would metabolize prozac better than zoloft.

She had been on 75mg of zoloft and still anxious and

aggressive (even more aggressive as the dose went up).

We switched then to prozac and have her on a low

dose. She still needs something added in for her outbursts.

But she is 13, and I want to have her try xanax when she

is older (18) rather than start on mood stabizers that

have some side effects I don't like for her.

I think the choice based on DNA metabolism is between prozac and

zoloft (other SSRI anti-depressants are in the same

DNA group as zoloft, they have differences but

are in the same DNA metabolism pathways).

If you are a poor metabolizer of a drug you will have lots of side effects. If

you are a good metabolizer it may or maynot

be the medication for you, based on your emotional

issues.

My husband's panic is not relived with any anti-depressant

alone (he tried both zoloft and prozac at increasing doses).

Xanax helps the best for him. He takes it twice a day.

And he has added in 50mg of zoloft so that as the

xaanax wears off he doesn't have a panic attack, he starts

to feel anxiety and then remembers to take the xanax.

I would try the clonipin at a low dose and keep the prozac at

the 40mg dose for a few weeks at least to see how it works.

I don't like increasing anti-depressants fast. Prozac

especially takes awhile to get into and out of your

system. I generally have keep my daughter at the same

dose for 3 weeks or more to look for side effects and

assess how it is working.

I myself felt zoloft worked right away at 50mg to stop

my panic attacks, but I needed to go to 75mg

to control my anxiety and depression. Both my husband

and daughter do not have their panic under control

on anti-depressants alone.

It is stressful trying new medications, take it slow.

Keep the doses low. And increase in very small

increments. Is a very conservative approach.

best wishes,

Pam

> Makes me uncomfortable that we may have to go that high and possibly end up

> having to taper and switch to another SSRI if prozac doesn't work.

>

> I would have preferred she start on zoloft (I would have asked her doctor,

> but have been unable to go to appts with her). I've read here about the

> genetic sensitivities to these meds. My ds and another family member is

> doing great on zoloft, for OCD and related depressed. Both also responded

> rather quickly to the zoloft. Although dd's presentation is different b/c

> she's not depressed, I wonder if the zoloft would be bettter for her.

>

> I also prefer zoloft b/c it's supposed to have less side effects than

> prozac, and response is quicker.

>

> Not sure if it's a good idea to switch meds right now...maybe we

> should wait out further increases with prozac?

>

> Any thoughts or related experiences?

>

> Fay

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to add that we have been doing CBT/ERP for panic symptoms and the

social anxiety/phobias that often accompany panic disorder and have had some

success. Buspar is also a helpful drug for social anxiety. My son takes a

small if not tiny dose or Prozac and Buspar.

Bonnie

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > I did have the DNA drug sensitivity test done for my daughter.

> > I went to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital web site

> > and contacted them explain the process. My daughter's result

> > showed she would metabolize prozac better than zoloft.

> > She had been on 75mg of zoloft and still anxious and

> > aggressive (even more aggressive as the dose went up).

> > We switched then to prozac and have her on a low

> > dose. She still needs something added in for her outbursts.

> > But she is 13, and I want to have her try xanax when she

> > is older (18) rather than start on mood stabizers that

> > have some side effects I don't like for her.

> >

> > I think the choice based on DNA metabolism is between prozac and

> > zoloft (other SSRI anti-depressants are in the same

> > DNA group as zoloft, they have differences but

> > are in the same DNA metabolism pathways).

> >

> > If you are a poor metabolizer of a drug you will have lots of side effects.

> > If you are a good metabolizer it may or maynot

> > be the medication for you, based on your emotional

> > issues.

> >

> > My husband's panic is not relived with any anti-depressant

> > alone (he tried both zoloft and prozac at increasing doses).

> > Xanax helps the best for him. He takes it twice a day.

> > And he has added in 50mg of zoloft so that as the

> > xaanax wears off he doesn't have a panic attack, he starts

> > to feel anxiety and then remembers to take the xanax.

> >

> > I would try the clonipin at a low dose and keep the prozac at

> > the 40mg dose for a few weeks at least to see how it works.

> > I don't like increasing anti-depressants fast. Prozac

> > especially takes awhile to get into and out of your

> > system. I generally have keep my daughter at the same

> > dose for 3 weeks or more to look for side effects and

> > assess how it is working.

> >

> > I myself felt zoloft worked right away at 50mg to stop

> > my panic attacks, but I needed to go to 75mg

> > to control my anxiety and depression. Both my husband

> > and daughter do not have their panic under control

> > on anti-depressants alone.

> >

> > It is stressful trying new medications, take it slow.

> > Keep the doses low. And increase in very small

> > increments. Is a very conservative approach.

> >

> > best wishes,

> >

> > Pam

> >

> > > Makes me uncomfortable that we may have to go that high and possibly end

> > up

> > > having to taper and switch to another SSRI if prozac doesn't work.

> > >

> > > I would have preferred she start on zoloft (I would have asked her

> > doctor,

> > > but have been unable to go to appts with her). I've read here about the

> > > genetic sensitivities to these meds. My ds and another family member is

> > > doing great on zoloft, for OCD and related depressed. Both also responded

> > > rather quickly to the zoloft. Although dd's presentation is different b/c

> > > she's not depressed, I wonder if the zoloft would be bettter for her.

> > >

> > > I also prefer zoloft b/c it's supposed to have less side effects than

> > > prozac, and response is quicker.

> > >

> > > Not sure if it's a good idea to switch meds right now...maybe we

> > > should wait out further increases with prozac?

> > >

> > > Any thoughts or related experiences?

> > >

> > > Fay

> > >

> > >

> > >