I was diagnosed with hypochondriasis 5 years back. Was worried about having heart issues and used to get tests done frequently as I was getting panic attacks and feeling anxious all the time. I was prescribed paroxetine 12.5 mg and clonazepam 0.5 mg twice a day and which was later reduced to once a day. Six months back my medication was stopped abruptly as I was stuck overseas due to covid. I also gained a lot of weight on paroxetine and have delayed ejaculation. Once the medicines were stopped abruptly, I lost around 7-8 kgs of weight but the anxiety came back. I was prescribed 100 mg of sertraline and increased to 150 mg per day but it didn’t work much even after 8 weeks. I am now prescribed 50 mg sertraline in morning and 12.5 mg paroxetine in evening to gradually switch to paroxetine again but I am afraid of side effects of paroxetine and also I have started getting panic attack. What can be other medicine with less side effects and can treat anxiety disorder. Thanks.
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Dear Sagar, There is no medicine without side effect. You know that the side effects are due to medicine and after stopping medicine, you will be rid of weight and delayed ejaculation. Is living with panic is better or living for few months of weight gain and delayed ejaculation is better. Remember no pain - no gain. There are other ways of reducing weight and managing sexual life.
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Escitalopram can be used in this condition.
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You can go back to your old medication/prescription since it seemed to work and the doctor reduced it over 6 months. Unfortunately, due to covid you were unable to continue. But my biggest concern is that you have not combined therapy together with the medication. This is absolutely necessary for a full recovery. Your condition has all to do with fear. Please register this statement: fear will always find a form. You have found hypochondriasis, which means that you are not dealing with the original fear. It is wise this time around to meet with a counselor and explore the cause of the fear and how to deal with it. This approach will definitely help you to identify the reason and develop skills to express your fear now at least. Anxiety has all to do with fear and your inability (or so you would tend to think) to handle the same. Fear is based on looking too much into the future and imagining things that usually do not tend to happen (usually 90% of your fears will not happen). You need to change your perception of the fearful stimulus then you can change your response to the fear. The first one is the best and will preempt the need for the second. If you are already far gone into the reaction mode, then you need both responses to counter the attack. The way we see things in life (like half empty or half full glass) is very dependent on our attitude. Attitude may have developed over many years but fortunately can change in a matter of sustained choices made and acted upon now. Sometimes, fear may have originated in childhood, and your body, more than your brain, remembers the emotion and will react with heightened fear even for the slightest provocation or stimulus. Sometimes, you may not even need a stimulus! these matters can ideally be resolved in therapy only, and exclusively. Accordingly, you choose to see things as either threatening or as an opportunity to your life via the heart! the opportunist will be positive and work with the situation to make good out of it. The individual who sees it as threatening, will, out of fear, try to avoid/run away from the situation or react with anxiety. Yes, self-belief does impact it too, but you can see that prior to that, the perception will tarnish the belief system too. Here, you can see that all the resolution lies in just changing your perception/attitude, even if it is against odds. Changing your response, despite the perception, is building up your reserves and resources to handle any contingency that life throws up at you. And life throws up situations quite regularly and heavily. For this you need to develop a fit mind and body: the former, by meditation and mind exercises; and the latter, by exercises and proper diet. You need good sleep too. Included in the development of the mind is the handling of emotions, in your case, fear. These changes will give you a handle on life and your perceptions and responses. Prayer is really powerful if you are a spiritual person. Repeat some personally framed affirmations that are geared to calming you down and building confidence. Do a personality development course too. Anything that develops you personally will be of great assistance in building resilience.
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You need psychological counseling and psychological autosuggestion therapy through the online process for three weeks without any medication for the removal of your psychological problems of anxiety disorders and depression you can contact me for this on Lybrate website thank you.
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Hi, paroxetine has side effects such as delayed ejaculation but should improve once your anxiety or mood improves. Since you had good response to paroxetine I think your psychiatrist considered to restart. Sometimes if benifit outweighs the side effects then it’s better to continue medications. There are other medications which needs to be tried on trial basis to see if it’s going to help. Inaddtion you need cbt to help improve symptoms.
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Therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on behavior change, or exposure therapy, which can help people deal with irrational fears in a safe and controlled environment. These are considered highly effective for anxiety. You can find a therapist who practices these specific methods at the anxiety and depression association of america. Stress reduction methods, such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, have been shown to be effective in controlling symptoms of anxiety. Best of all, you can often practice these at home, at no cost. Exercise is another free way to manage anxiety symptoms. Even a brief walk can boost mood and reduce stress. Exercise is another free way to manage anxiety symptoms. Medications such as antidepressants for mood, mild tranquilizers to reduce panic, sleep aids, and beta-blockers to treat shaking and racing heart symptoms are all considered tools for managing symptoms, though they don?t treat the underlying causes. Learn more about the most common types of anxiety medications doctors prescribe. Herbal supplements and natural remedies such as omega 3 fatty acids can also be helpful. With your doctor?s permission, you might consider trying one of these home remedies for natural anxiety relief. Cbd and other types of medical marijuana may take the edge off anxiety, though many doctors urge caution. Don?t turn to alcohol or recreational drugs, because they can lead to addiction and make your anxiety symptoms worse. Take a break. Anxiety makes you feel like you?re always running away from disaster. If you step back and take a breather, you?ll notice how smoothly the world spins without constant vigilance. Stay nourished. Feeling anxious can ruin your appetite or trigger junk food binges, which can make you feel jittery or worse. Try eating more whole-food, plant-based or protein-packed meals and snacks to boost your energy and keep your blood sugar even. Unplug. Social media is a proven source of anxiety for many people, but it can also help you stay connected. If you feel the need to go online, choose friendly, good-news sources and block those that make you feel more anxious. Limit caffeine and alcohol. Stimulants can aggravate anxiety and?in large doses?even trigger panic attacks. Go for seltzer, decaf coffee or hot or iced herbal tea instead. (be sure to limit these other anxiety-inducing foods, too.) get enough sleep. Anxiety can make it hard to sleep, and lack of sleep makes anxiety symptoms worse. Break that vicious cycle by avoiding caffeine and using these simple tricks to get to sleep. If these don?t work, talk to your doctor about trying sleep medication. Exercise. It?s worth repeating: moving can help you burn energy and release soothing chemicals in your brain. Even a little bit helps. Take deep breaths. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing may give you a more positive outlook. Try to make your inhales and exhales the same duration. Daily mindful breathing exercises have been shown to measurably reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. Laugh! ok, you?re not seeing much to chuckle about in life?or your anxiety. But try laughing at both and see how much better you feel. Avoid triggers. If certain people or situations make you feel especially fearful or panicked, avoid them until you?re more in control. Not sure what?s really bothering you? Write in a journal or track your symptoms in an app. Connect with others. Isolation is both a symptom of and a trigger for anxiety. Talk to your friends and family, even if you?re feeling overwhelmed, or consider joining a support group. Just being around people, even if you don?t feel like socializing, can defuse your symptoms. There?s an app for that. Anxiety is prevalent among young people, so it?s no wonder many free apps and trackers are available to help people manage their symptoms and get access to care. Here are some that mental health experts recommend.
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