Really running out of answers.

[brian3131]

I am a 23 year old male who has suffered from extreme panic disorder, medical issues and anxiety disorders. I have aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, underactive thyroid, aura migraines, asthma, vocal cord dysfunction, and a few other minor issues.

When I started taking my first antidepressant, I was 16 and house bound for two years. The medicine I started was Prozac. It was a miracle. I felt brand new, I wanted to go to school and I began having a social life again.

Unfortunately, the medicine lost its affect no matte how high the dosages went. Then I was put on Paxil. Again, a miracle moment. I felt better than ever and this time it lasted 3-4 years. I barely had anxiety, and I didn’t even need a benzo at the time.

After that medicine started working, I tried several more, hoping to get the relief again. I tried Zoloft, Cymbalta, Zyprexa, Valium, Elavil, Xanax (made me more nervous), Klonopin, Ativan (currently on), Abilify and Seroquel.

None of these medicines, on any dose took away my panic or anxiety.

I recently had a 24 hour urine collection to test for tumors on my adrenal glands, as well as my dopamine level, etc. But it came back normal.

I started taking Effexor, after doing some serious research of my own. After 3 days on the low dose, I felt healed. I felt amazing and incredible. I drove across the state, and actually went on vacation.

I came down with bronchitis and needed an antibiotic according to my doctor. So I took amoxicillin, and started to realize that my Effexor wasn’t working. I learned that the antibiotic actually cancelled out my medicine. I found that this happened to a lot of people who were in the same situation.

Ever since then, my Effexor never felt the same, and even after upping the dose, still nothing.

I know that whatever is wrong, is in fact in my brain. I have had MRI’s, MRA’s, EEGs..etc.

All negative.

I have tried for 15 years all natural ways of dealing with this, with not one once of difference. Books, meditation (I even meditated with a monk), breathing, excersiing, diets. Everything.

What should my next move be? I currently am in therapy weekly and see a psychiatrist every few weeks, who always seems baffled.

I was told because of my childhood and life trauma, along with biological differences, that medicine might not work for me, the same way it does for someone else with the same problems.

What would be my next move?

My therapist recommends a PET scan.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[brian3131]

Thanks for the response!

I am currently on 75 mg of Effexor, but it hasn't made much difference. Whatever the antibiotics did, they really messed it up.

Yes, I have tried going back to older medications, with no luck.

Thanks again for your good thoughts, and I appreciate any feedback you may have!

Thanks again

[cnote]

I am so sorry you are going through this. Sounds like you've been on a roller-coaster for some time now, haven't you? Bless your heart man.

Well, the good news is nothing is physically wrong with you!

My question is, are you currently on anything right now?

My personal opinion is, and I'm NO doctor, but these types of drugs poop out after so many years. But have you tried going back on an older one? Like prozac?

I truly believe if we take a break from these drugs for a period of time, then come back to them, they could possibly work again?

Hope you find some answers soon! In the mean time, get to feeling better! Good days are to come to you! :)