Agoraphobia Support Group

I need to start taking my ativan (and eventually lexapro) but I am sooo scared. I am scared I will have a PA while swallowing and waiting to see what it does to my body. Basically the thought of taking it is torture for me. I've had a bad week w/ attacks and its to the point where I might have trouble bringing my daughter to the bus stop and picking her up which is definitely something I can't avoid. I hate having an anxious mind, esp over meds!

Post edited by: banaberry22, at: 03/18/2012 03:53 PM

Sorry to hear. I don't have a problem popping most anything but when I am weary of a new Rx, I go out of my way to not look up and dwell on possible side effects,If I think it might cause blurred vision, power of suggestion, I probably will have blurred vision. Hope things go well.

I have the same issues with taking medication. I drain myself worrying about possible side effects. Just remember that most side effects listed are required by law to protect the consumer, but also to save the company from lawsuits for that small percentage of patients the drug may affect negatively. The important thing is that you are healthy for your daughter and for yourself. I'm not saying you won't have side effects, but you won't know if the drug will help or not until you take them. Maybe after you take it you can take a nice bath with some candles to help you relax and practice some deep breathing and meditation. I'm starting to learn that situations that cause anxiety are opportunities to practice coping techniques.

I am the same way if I read the side effects that more than likely will not happen you can give it up I won't take it it already takes me like a week or more just looking at the bottle of meds. Before I break down and take them so now I always have someone pick my meds up for me and take the paper out about the drug and I have stopped looking them up because then when I do take it I'm think crap I just knw I'm going to end up at the er with a side effect from the meds. So I'm trying to not read or worry about the what if but I so know how u feel

I know it's difficult if you have a fear of meds, but just remember that even in the remote case you have a bad reaction, the symptoms won't last long because you'll stop taking them. I would start with the Ativan, that should reduce your anxiety about taking the other pill. Ativan is also the least likely to have no side effects, except maybe some drowsiness.

Thank you for your responses guys. I am driving myself loony here w/ anxious thoughts. I don't want to stress anymore over silly little things, I don't want to choose that path for myself.

LMAO Power of suggestion!

Maryw, I have a wonderful doctor who comes to me and he dropped off two Ativan for me to try months ago when I become anxious to see if they work for me and then he will write the prescription for me. I have yet to take them because of my fear of meds, but he didn't give me the paperwork with them that lists all the side effects. He knows I hate to take meds. A few years ago I had a wound that became infected. He told me to take Ibuprofen to help the wound, but I hated taking it, so I didn't. I would rather deal with the pain than the side effects. What I didn't know was that the Ibuprofen was not just for the pain, but to help the swelling go down so that the drugs I was on for the infection could get through to the infected site. I almost ended up in the hospital. I started taking the dose my doc recommended and the wound started doing better. I was on Ibuprofen and Keflex for two months, which has helped me get over taking Ibuprofen now when I get headaches. Had the doc told me that I needed the Ibuprofen to help the swelling so the Keflex could do its thing, I wouldn't have hesitated, but I didn't see the need to pump all those drugs in my body if it was just to fight off the pain.

Banaberry, deep breaths and take jmick's advice. He made a great point that even if you do have side effects they won't be long lasting because you can stop taking the meds. I didn't know Ativan was associated with less serious side effects. Maybe I should try to take it like my doc keeps telling me too for when I get overly anxious. I've been planning a vacation for June and I don't really get out much. I feel strong enough to try it, but am worried about the what ifs. Next time I start to get in my head about it and get anxious I am going to try the Ativan. Thank you jmick.

Thank you for the advice Belle. Please let us know how it goes if you take the ativan. Every minute of the day it is getting harder for me to deal with this anxiety. It just pops up at the strangest times when things shouldn't even bother me!

I am so sorry because I know exactly how you feel. I desperately need to start taking effexor but am TERRIFIED. I think what we have to do is just get up take them and try and distract ourselves during the day as much as possible. I understand it will be hard not to 'monitor' our bodies for side effects. I think we have to be sure that we will probably feel different but it won't last and the good will outweigh the bad. GOOD LUCK