Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Side Effects Of Medication For Depression And Anxiety
Question: Hi I have suffered from depression and anxiety since my 20's and am now 68. I have a comfort zone of about 10 miles from my home. My children/grandchildren have moved 2 hours away and I would love to visit. I take Valium, Citalopram 40 mg, laMictal, Propranolol, and Lantus SoloStar. I have been on Propranolol and Valium for at least 35 years. Valium helps here at home but not strong enough to travel and stay overnight. I do see a family Dr. and a Psychiatrist which has helped. I have not discussed the travel issue with him but he knows about it but does not address it and I have not pushed it. I want something that would take away all the fears of travel even if it makes me incapatied as some else would be driving. This is a last resort for me at 68 I am not worried about side effects. I cannot just up and go ... putting mind over matter. I have no problem when I get where I'm going but the getting there is OUT1
Brief Answer:
I need more information regarding travelling fear
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
I want to ask you some questions because I want to know how the fear during travelling developed.
1. Do you have ever experienced severe anxiety symptoms or panic like symptoms during travelling?
2. Do you have fear of close spaces like crowded place, elevator, in bus, train? Do you ever have experienced anxiety symptoms and travelling fear in public transport? Do you have fear of heights?
3. How many years back did you experience the first travel fear? How did you respond it? Have you tried to fight it or started avoiding travelling?
4. When you have a plan of travelling, does it make you anxious even with the thought of it?
5. Do you experience racing heart beat, palpitations, difficulty breathing, tremors in body, excessive sweating, dizziness, felling of impeding doom etc. even when you are not travelling?
This is a type of phobia which develops is a person who has experienced severe anxiety in a particular situation and then gradually he becomes preoccupied with the anxiety symptoms. Gradually it becomes the learned behavior so whenever the same situation is encountered person develops significant anxiety and starts avoiding it and develops phobia which is pathological.
Answer the above questions. It will help me to give an opinion about your illness and possible management.
Do you have diabetes, Hypertension, thyroid problems or any other chronic medical illness?
Waiting for your reply. Wish you good health.
I need more information regarding travelling fear
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
I want to ask you some questions because I want to know how the fear during travelling developed.
1. Do you have ever experienced severe anxiety symptoms or panic like symptoms during travelling?
2. Do you have fear of close spaces like crowded place, elevator, in bus, train? Do you ever have experienced anxiety symptoms and travelling fear in public transport? Do you have fear of heights?
3. How many years back did you experience the first travel fear? How did you respond it? Have you tried to fight it or started avoiding travelling?
4. When you have a plan of travelling, does it make you anxious even with the thought of it?
5. Do you experience racing heart beat, palpitations, difficulty breathing, tremors in body, excessive sweating, dizziness, felling of impeding doom etc. even when you are not travelling?
This is a type of phobia which develops is a person who has experienced severe anxiety in a particular situation and then gradually he becomes preoccupied with the anxiety symptoms. Gradually it becomes the learned behavior so whenever the same situation is encountered person develops significant anxiety and starts avoiding it and develops phobia which is pathological.
Answer the above questions. It will help me to give an opinion about your illness and possible management.
Do you have diabetes, Hypertension, thyroid problems or any other chronic medical illness?
Waiting for your reply. Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
1. Traveling anxiety....yes so much so I don't even think about travel anymore in past 10-12 years.
2. Fear of heights is all.
3. About 43 years ago.
4. Fear of travel yes I don't even consider it anymore.
5. Breathing, dizziness, and sweat.
I have seen 3 psychiatrist in the past 43 years. They have all used a regimen of drugs which have helped me in my comfort zone, but nothing for travel. I have been diagnosed for clinical depression, and bipolar. I am now 68 and when I was in my 30's I had 2 hospital stays of 1 week each.
The reason I contacted you was I was hoping to get some options to talk to my Dr. about and maybe try. I have been on just about every anxiety/depression medication that I can find on the list of drugs on this web site. I had shoulder surgery a few months ago and was given percocet for pain, while taking these I did feel as though I may could travel. When I mentioned this to my Dr. he said NO and I can understand but I was asking if there was a medication with some of these ingredients that he could/would prescribe. Like I said I would only use these 2-3 times per year at 2-3 days at a time.I do not want to get addicted to something like this, but I took them 6 weeks for pain few months ago and have a few left but will not take them. I am not that kind of person to abuse drugs.
I knew this was a long shot and I thank you for your time. I am realizing there is nothing anyone or anything that can help with this. I am definitely not one to think about taking my life ... never have been and never will be. I am happy in my own little comfort zone, but I would like to be able to travel for my wife she doesn't show it much but I know it bothere her as we have been married 48 years. Again thank you, XXXXXXX
2. Fear of heights is all.
3. About 43 years ago.
4. Fear of travel yes I don't even consider it anymore.
5. Breathing, dizziness, and sweat.
I have seen 3 psychiatrist in the past 43 years. They have all used a regimen of drugs which have helped me in my comfort zone, but nothing for travel. I have been diagnosed for clinical depression, and bipolar. I am now 68 and when I was in my 30's I had 2 hospital stays of 1 week each.
The reason I contacted you was I was hoping to get some options to talk to my Dr. about and maybe try. I have been on just about every anxiety/depression medication that I can find on the list of drugs on this web site. I had shoulder surgery a few months ago and was given percocet for pain, while taking these I did feel as though I may could travel. When I mentioned this to my Dr. he said NO and I can understand but I was asking if there was a medication with some of these ingredients that he could/would prescribe. Like I said I would only use these 2-3 times per year at 2-3 days at a time.I do not want to get addicted to something like this, but I took them 6 weeks for pain few months ago and have a few left but will not take them. I am not that kind of person to abuse drugs.
I knew this was a long shot and I thank you for your time. I am realizing there is nothing anyone or anything that can help with this. I am definitely not one to think about taking my life ... never have been and never will be. I am happy in my own little comfort zone, but I would like to be able to travel for my wife she doesn't show it much but I know it bothere her as we have been married 48 years. Again thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Psychotherapy can be tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again. Sorry for delay in my answer.
I have asked the questions to confirm the diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia. Drugs can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms but final solution can be achieved by behavioral modification techniques like systematic desensitization and flooding.
These therapy are very useful in treatment of phobia.
In Systematic desensitization, a person is exposed to phobic stimulus of lower intensity first and then gradually the intensity of phobic stimulus is increased. For example, in your case you can be forced to travel by car, bus or whatever for short distance initially and you will be taught the relaxation and coping strategies when you develop anxiety symptoms. Gradually the distance for travel is increased and at one point you shall feel that I can control the anxiety on my own and you shall be confident enough to travel on your own.
In Flooding, patient is exposed to the severe intensity of stimulus even on first time and the patient is allowed to cope with anxiety on his own and in case he fails, the therapist will teach him how to control anxiety? It is different from systematic desensitization in only one aspect that here patient is exposed to severe phobic stimuli directly instead of going gradually.
I feel that, after trying all the drugs available for depression and anxiety, you should at least give behavioral modification techniques a chance because it will remove your fear of travelling from grass root level.
You can definitely talk about these behavioral modification techniques to your doctor and get suggestions.
Taking percocet would not be good option to control anxiety, instead you can have klonopin 0.25 with propranolol 20 mg before travelling so that your symptoms will be in control and you can bear the anxiety. You can also talk about this option to your doctor and follow his advice. Do not take drugs or modify the dosage on your own.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Psychotherapy can be tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again. Sorry for delay in my answer.
I have asked the questions to confirm the diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia. Drugs can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms but final solution can be achieved by behavioral modification techniques like systematic desensitization and flooding.
These therapy are very useful in treatment of phobia.
In Systematic desensitization, a person is exposed to phobic stimulus of lower intensity first and then gradually the intensity of phobic stimulus is increased. For example, in your case you can be forced to travel by car, bus or whatever for short distance initially and you will be taught the relaxation and coping strategies when you develop anxiety symptoms. Gradually the distance for travel is increased and at one point you shall feel that I can control the anxiety on my own and you shall be confident enough to travel on your own.
In Flooding, patient is exposed to the severe intensity of stimulus even on first time and the patient is allowed to cope with anxiety on his own and in case he fails, the therapist will teach him how to control anxiety? It is different from systematic desensitization in only one aspect that here patient is exposed to severe phobic stimuli directly instead of going gradually.
I feel that, after trying all the drugs available for depression and anxiety, you should at least give behavioral modification techniques a chance because it will remove your fear of travelling from grass root level.
You can definitely talk about these behavioral modification techniques to your doctor and get suggestions.
Taking percocet would not be good option to control anxiety, instead you can have klonopin 0.25 with propranolol 20 mg before travelling so that your symptoms will be in control and you can bear the anxiety. You can also talk about this option to your doctor and follow his advice. Do not take drugs or modify the dosage on your own.
Hope I have answered your query. If you do not have further query then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
