Need some advice regarding antidepressants

Be really careful of the clonazapan, it can be highly addictive and if you take it everyday ( for an extended period of time) then just stop without tapering off, there is a risk of seizures. I have heard that antidepressants can cause anxiety when you first start taking them but that it tapers off after you adjust and are on the right dose. This may also be the wrong drug for you. Most people I know who take psychotropic drugs have to try a couple to find the most effective type and dose. It can be a long and stressful journey. Just keep your doctor informed of what's going on, and I wish you the best of luck in your physical and mental health.

I'm with the poster before me - never stop taking an antidepressant/antianxiety meds without first consulting your doctor, no matter how appealing it can sometimes be. Been there, done that, the results really aren't all that nice. Lesson learned.

Like bonita said, it really is a long process, and you're unfortunately going to have to go through some (medically prescribed) experimentation before you find the right medication and dosage for you. So long as you keep your doctor aware of any side effects you're experiencing and whether or not the medication's helping, they'll be able to advise you as to when to stop or switch.

The internet can be great for support and sharing experiences, but when it comes down to it this has to be between you and your doctor. Continue being honest with them and they'll get you sorted eventually. Once you do get settled on one that fits though, all the ups and downs of the experiments that led you there are more than worth it. I finally got my medication sorted out a couple months back and my depression and OCD are already so much better.

I hope things get better for you (: I'm sure that they will.

The first response was the correct one: don't take any medical advice from unknown strangers on a web site. We've seen too many people aren't doctors but they play one on the web here.

I've been on Wellbutrin for a while without incident. Don't stop it. But you must, you simply must, go talk to your doctor and go over everything. That is the only thing to do. I've seen people stop any number of meds to bad results.

Please, call your doctor and go see them. ASAP.

ETA: And trust me -- they have heard this all before, so don't feel like what you are experiencing is anything unique to you. They want to, they NEED to hear about this from you. Please. Call them.

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I have called my doctor and been working with him throughout this process. I guess I was just looking for some kind of input from people who have gone through these things before. Sometimes in the midst of an anxiety attack it helps to write down what I am feeling, sorry if it burdened anyone. I am going to start taking 1/2 of the dose I have been taking and see if it helps with the anxiety I have been feeling. I know it will get figured out eventually.

You are most definitely NOT a burden. That is one of the biggest lies depression will tell you. You are NOT a burden (repeat 10x) and always reach out because there will be someone who can and will help

First of all, I'm not a doctor, but I have been on antidepressants myself for 15 years or so...and I've been on a lot of different ones, because it is trial and error. I also have a master's degree in clinical psychology, which does not give me the ability to prescribe, but I have known a lot of people on a lot of different medications.

I agree that it isn't wise to blindly take medical advice from people on the internet, but I also think that patients should do their own research that they can then talk to their doctor about, and part of that research can be talking to other people with similar experiences.

If I understand you right, you have not had panic attacks before starting the Wellbutrin, correct? So you started the Wellbutrin, and then got panic attacks. And then your doctor gave you Klonipin, to reduce the panic attacks. Now I don't believe that panic attacks are a common side effect of Wellbutrin, but if you do a google search for "Wellbutrin and Panic Attacks" you'll find that other people have reported it. It could be coincidence, or it could not be.

Wellbutrin is a very common antidepressant medication for doctors to start people on, partly because it doesn't have the sexual side effects that some of the other ones do. But Klonipin is a different story. It's not that common for GP's to prescribe it. It can be addictive, and it does have icky side effects of making you sleepy, etc.

If it were me, I would have a serious discussion with my doctor about switching my antidepressant, or even asking for a referral to a specialist. This is assuming that I am understanding you correctly that the panic attacks started after you started taking the Wellbutrin.

No, you're not a burden.

I only answered the way I did because this one is one of those call your doctor NOW situations.

I've been on Welbutrin (well the generic) for 8 years now. And yes it usually is the one docs start patients out on due to the low chance of side effects, and usually well tolerated. It sounds, though, that you're getting anxiety attacks while being on this. Yes, you really need to sit and have a good talk with your doc. If he/she doesn't want to discuss with you, FIND SOMEONE ELSE. It's really important that you have someone that works with you, not someone who is a "do as I say" person. If I were to give out medical advice, that be it: make sure you have a good doctor.

OP in case you're checking back. You are definitely not a burden! The responses saying to go back to your doc are simply out of concern for your safety as taking med advice from random people could be harmful to your health. We just want to make sure you do what's right for your health.

Hope you're feeling better soon

DO: Talk to your physician.

DON'T: Just follow his/her instructions without asking questions, doing your own research, and then asking MORE questions.

ALSO: Remember that your illness is a paycheck for your doctor and his staff, and that they are "educated" by pharma reps, whose pay checks are in your treatment. I'm not suggesting intentional misdiagnosis runs rampant, but people want pills to fix things and the provision thereof is a multi-billion dollar business.

Take an antidepressant that gives you panic attacks.
For panic attack, take benzos that make you sleepy.
For sleepiness, take a mild stimulant that makes you shake.
For shakiness . . .

It's a slippery slope.