“Is what I'm experiencing anxiety?”
Hello! I am really hoping for a professional opinion on what I am experiencing. 15 years ago, maybe once every four months I would wake up at night with a restless feeling and have to get up for a while. It would stop in maybe half an hour. 10 years ago, it started happening more often, day or night. My doctor gave me Zanex to take, and it would control the feeling. Now, it seems to be with me all the time. It's a restless agitation, and I can't just sit, read, or do much of anything but peace. Is it possible that this could be anxiety caused by depression? I have a great life and have nothing to be depressed about, it seems to be something that just comes on me, and I'd love to know what it is. The doctor started me on Zoloft, and I've taken it for two weeks. Nothing has changed, except I feel some effects of the Zoloft. Any help you could offer would be wonderful!
Male | 73 years old
Complaint duration: 15 years
Medications: Alprazalam, Sertaline
Conditions: restless agitation
5 Answers
Holistic medicine is usually very effective for anxiety attacks. Read more here: https://philaholisticclinic.com/natural-treatment-for-anxiety/
My main questions would start with medical. Were you ever worked up for possible endocrine problems like a thyroid problem? If you have a perfectly happy life, I would look for a medical explanation. That would include looking at any medications you are taking. The symptom you are reporting sounds like akathesia, which is a kind of restless agitation. It is often a
side effect of medication. I would be leery of taking Zoloft since that is a possible side effect. It sounds like your doctors have felt they had to "do something" so they gave you psychiatric drugs - first Xanax and now Zoloft. However, from your description, I am not sure they did an adequate assessment.
side effect of medication. I would be leery of taking Zoloft since that is a possible side effect. It sounds like your doctors have felt they had to "do something" so they gave you psychiatric drugs - first Xanax and now Zoloft. However, from your description, I am not sure they did an adequate assessment.
Take a peek at this link:
https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/agitation-causes#:~:text=Agitation%20is%20a%20sense%20of,drugs%20or%20withdraw%20from%20alcohol.
or
https://www.healthline.com/health/agitation
https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/agitation-causes#:~:text=Agitation%20is%20a%20sense%20of,drugs%20or%20withdraw%20from%20alcohol.
or
https://www.healthline.com/health/agitation
Stay on Zoloft for at least 4 weeks, and then increase the dose if you are still depressed.
Although it's quite difficult to reach to a diagnosis without detailed assessment in these conditions but from your description of what you have been feeling it does seem to be anxiety disorder, with or without comorbid depression.
Here is what I think that needs to be done.
1. you need to be thoroughly assessed, if not done yet. (I assume your doctor has already done so as you have been prescribed medications)
2. Sertraline is good medication in these conditions, but it takes quite a bit of time for it to establish steady state blood level in your body to give you desired effect (2-4 weeks after achieving optimum dose). Optimum dose ranges anywhere between 100 to 200 mg depending upon individual symptom profile, severity, and duration of symptoms. some individuals respond better to one medication than others and that need to be continuously evaluated.
3. Alprazolam is very short acting benzodiazepine class medications with high potential of addiction. we do use benzodiazepines in the initial phase of treatment for a short period of time, until we reach optimum dose and patient starts feeling desired effects. the guidelines recommend using medium to longer acting benzodiazepines with lesser potential for addiction such Clonazepam(Revotril)
4. Last but not least, you may need to get some cognitive behavioural therapy from a psychologist or trained therapist too.
I hope this will be of some help to you.
Here is what I think that needs to be done.
1. you need to be thoroughly assessed, if not done yet. (I assume your doctor has already done so as you have been prescribed medications)
2. Sertraline is good medication in these conditions, but it takes quite a bit of time for it to establish steady state blood level in your body to give you desired effect (2-4 weeks after achieving optimum dose). Optimum dose ranges anywhere between 100 to 200 mg depending upon individual symptom profile, severity, and duration of symptoms. some individuals respond better to one medication than others and that need to be continuously evaluated.
3. Alprazolam is very short acting benzodiazepine class medications with high potential of addiction. we do use benzodiazepines in the initial phase of treatment for a short period of time, until we reach optimum dose and patient starts feeling desired effects. the guidelines recommend using medium to longer acting benzodiazepines with lesser potential for addiction such Clonazepam(Revotril)
4. Last but not least, you may need to get some cognitive behavioural therapy from a psychologist or trained therapist too.
I hope this will be of some help to you.
