Re: Best medication for anxiety/panic and help finding USA social services assistance needed

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

Please see below.

>If you have anxiety or panic attacks, which medication(s)/dosage(s) works best

with the least side effects for you?

>

> Please share what has worked and not worked for you. I understand I can read

medication info online. I just want real people to share their experiences.

I am currently on Celexa (citalopram; also comes in another similar form

called Lexapro, or escitalopram) and Clonidine for anxiety. Celexa is an

SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), and Clonidine is an

anti-hypertensive (i.e., a blood-pressure medication).

I am currently on 80mg of Celexa per day, and it works wonders for my

anxiety. Please note!! The FDA recently came out with a VERY STRONGLY

worded warning that doses of Celexa over 40mg per day can cause a certain

heart rhythm abnormality called delayed QTC interval--but the reason why I

am allowed to take a higher dose is because I have been on a high dose of

it for years.

I have recently had both an EKG and an echocardiogram, both of which were

normal, and nothing below 80mg per day of Celexa is effective

for my anxiety. But, 40mg per day works for most people, and it does not cause

increased appetite in me (i.e., no weight gain), so it may be worth trying. It

has also not caused any other side effects for me.

I am also on 0.1mg of Clonidine twice per day, which I just started about

three days ago, and it seems to be working wonderfully so far. It has not

caused any side effects for me so far; my doctor did tell me to watch for

dizziness because it lowers blood pressure (and I am already on another

blood pressure medication called Prazosin, for nightmares), but I have not

experienced any dizziness (at least not yet). It is also *not* known to

have any appetite-related side effects, at least none that are significant

enough to worry about.

In terms of cost for these meds, citalopram (generic Celexa) is about $10

per month for a 3-month supply at Walgreens and many other pharmacies; so,

it is a good choice if it works for your anxiety. I am not sure how much

the Clonidine costs because I have not looked into it yet (with my

insurance, I have only a $3 copay).

In my state (Indiana), the maximum amount of income a married couple can

have in order to qualify for Medicaid is somewhere between $2000 and $3000

(sorry, I can't remember the exact amount). I am not sure if the income

limits for Medicaid benefits are regulated by State law or Federal law, but

I do know that the income limits are approximately the same in every state.

Unfortunately, if you have enough income to cover the Cobra and

co-insurance payments, that income alone disqualifies you for Medicaid

benefits (because it totals above $3000 per month). But, if your disability

is your only income and you don't already have (and are paying for) Cobra

(and co-insurance), then you should qualify for Disability Medicaid.

One of the best ways to find out about this is to call someone at the

Medicaid office who actually knows what they are talking about; it sounds

like you have had some bad luck with this.

The other thing you can do is to do research on your own by going to your

state's Family and Social Services Association (FSSA) website (which you

can find by Googling " medicaid " and " [insert your state here] " ) and reading

everything you can on Medicaid and other benefits in your state; this way,

when you call someone at the Medicaid office, you can say " Well, according

to your website, such-and-such is true, therefore you are required by law

to do such-and-such. "

Basically, being educated on what the laws are will help you when you talk

to people at the offices, because it can help the process of applying for

benefits to go faster when those people *know* you are educated. (It may be

my own personal opinion or experience speaking here, but I have found, or

believe, that sometimes people who work in these offices will lie by

omission [i.e., they will claim they don't know something when they

actually do know it] about what the rules are, so that they don't have to

do more work. But this is not true of all the people in these offices, and

sometimes it is the case that they really truly do not know the answers.

So, calling back and talking to someone knowledgeable, PLUS being educated,

will take you far and greatly help you in the process of applying for--and

keeping--your benefits.)

Another great way to find out about assistance programs is to call your

local United Way assistance line, which in most states is the phone number

2-1-1. I am sure that other members of this list have more great ways of

finding out about programs available to help.

That's about all I know right now. Sorry I don't know more, but I do hope I

have helped you at least some.

e.h.

[Guest guest]

Lori, do you get social security disability? If so do you get medicare? My

premiums are about $260/month for my supplemental insurance. The government

takes $95 from my check for my medicare.

If you have medicare you can apply for assistance to help with paying for your

supplement.

The other suggestion I can give you is to try and get generic meds which have

less co pay (with medicare it is $7)

Check out different pharmacy plans. Certain medications are cheaper is 90 day

supply (for example $10)

Medicare and medicaid does not pay for any anti-anxiety meds. Just so you know.

Have you checked with the public welfare office to see if you qualify for any

other programs such as food stamps?

You sound like us. the walking poor. We have too much income for much extra

help and too little to really manage!

Wish I could be of more help.

Huge gentle hugs,

Tami

--- Lori wrote:

> If you have anxiety or panic attacks, which medication(s)/dosage(s) works best

with the least side effects for you?

[Guest guest]

Wonderful help ! I am going to look into the meds and the help. Thank

you! I hope the info helped others, too!

[Guest guest]

________________________________

Hi Lori

Check and see if your state has a mental health insurance plan. We have a good

one here in Montana,

it includes counseling, and medications, there is a limit and co-pay, but they

will also help with

applying for medication assistance from the various manufacturers programs.

It is certainly worth a try. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

My daughter was almost home bound due to anxiety and now she finished her

master's degree

and is teaching online and at a Community College.  I have forgotten which

medications she

is taking. We usually talk on the phone every night, so I will ask her.

It is imperative to have counseling and medication if at all possible.

Let us know how you are doing, we care about each of you.

Kaylene

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori

Here are the medications my daughter takes for anxiety, Cymbalta, Lamictal, and

Trazodone.

The Trazodone is a mild anti-depressant that helps her fall asleep and stay

asleep.

She used to take Klonopin, but with counseling and time has been able to wean

herself

off of it.

Kaylene