i'm working on those two symptoms next. the beta blockers have helped with the tachy, so my next most debilitating are the panic and facial flushing. i tried effexor XL for the first time today, because my doctor indicated it would do really well to help both these issues, plus many pots patients enjoy its benefits because it "resets" the autonomic nervous system.
unfortunately, i reacted very badly to it, and my doctor has indicated i am not to take it anymore.

i was unfortunately banking on the effexor to work, so am wondering what my other options are for these symptoms? what do you guys find works? have any of you had terrible experiences with snri's but ended up doing really well on ssri's? if i reacted so strongly to an snri, is it likely i will to a ssri, too? how many of you are on/had been on clonidine? i know it is helpful with anxiety (what kind?), and also used for rosacea treatment (appealing to me b/c of my facial flushing), but my doctor insisted that it is like a last-resort drug because of how much it can tire a person, and if not completely tire a person, make one completely flat.
or, do any of you combine something more moderate like wellbutrin or buspar with a benzo like xanax when it is needed? unfortunately, i think i have both just general anxiety for no reason, but also panic attacks. it seems like there isn't one medication that tackles both, except for effexor.

and yes, i am on a beta blocker, which has helped the all-the-time anxiety, but i still have a lot of breakthroughs.

so, any thoughts on meds that could help for the anxiety and flushing?

Have you tried Klonopin? It has to be the brand name, not a generic form for best results. Research how it has helped those with CFS who have issues with sympathetic nervous system involvement... it tends to calm down those flares.

i have heard good and bad things. is it addictive? hard to come off of?

I actually have heard numerous times that antihistamines work.

Gracie- I took Effexor for a couple of days years ago and it made me manic as hell! I swear by Klonopin, and I take the generic version - clonazapam. It is a benzo and I usually take it at nite. But I used to pop one PRN when I was having a rough day with docs blessing.

I take an extremely low dose of Klonopin about twice a week when I cannot take the tremors my bb's cause anymore. I'm scared to take it more often than that even though it honestly does calm some of my Dys symptoms down, because I have read it's hell on earth to come down off of once you're ready to be done with it. That's what's been stopping me from adding it as a daily drug, even at a low dose, as my dr has suggested I do.


Gillian

Rosie - how do benzos "mess up the sleep architecture"? Just got my Sleep Study results this past thursday...the neuro said that his fear was that I would ultimately need an increased dose for same effect. I'm already taking 1mg. While I can fall asleep w/o clonazapam, I can't stay asleep beyond about 3 hrs or get to REM w/o it...

Just to clarify, the Klonopin is best used "as needed" so as not to become addicted. Basically I only use it when I just can't handle the rushes anymore, but I force myself to get through some of the less severe ones, so as to not become addicted or develop a tolerance.

thanks for all your responses. i would prefer to find something to take the constant on-edge feeling off, but that might be asking too much. i would fear becoming addicted if it worked really well at calming the rushes. i can't stand them.

has anyone heard of the new xanax xr? extended release?

also, this could be a terrible question, but as long as the drug is working, why would one want to come off of it? my line of thinking is that if it's hell to come off b/c the symptoms start returning, wouldn't one want to continue the drug? are there long-term side effects? i used to worry a lot about that stuff, and was extremely anal about taking any medicine because i didn't want it in my system. i'm finding i don't even care anymore, because i'm more concerned about enjoying my time right now. so, just wondering if the drug itself is actually addictive, like nicotine is addictive, or if it is the feeling good that is addictive?

so, rosie, would you not recommend a benzo?

I take clonazapam for the anxiety I've developed with POTS - 0.5 a.m. and p.m. (I just increased the a.m. fromm 0.25 b/c of increased anxiety but it is getting better so plan to decrease it soon). If I didn't take it I would find it even harder to function trying to fight the anxiety. So for me I don't think the addictive part is an issue. When I first feel ill I was on a higher dosage and have lowered it on my own. I have gone off it and my SSRI's on 2 or 3 occasions for testing and the only side affect I got was increased anxiety and more symptomatic and a harder time functioning.