Hi:

I'm going through a very stressful time at work that is going to last until my job ends - scheduled for end of March 2009. I'm already losing sleep because of it. The company I've worked at for 15 years is being closed by our parent company. There are 60 people that are losing their jobs because of it. I am a worrier. I don't just worry about my own personal situation,but I worry about everybody else too. That's just how I am. I am exhausted all day and having difficulty keeping up with my exercise goals because I'm so damn tired. I go to bed at a reasonable hour but I don't sleep for more than two hours at a time.

I've never taken anti-anxiety drugs, but my Sister tells me I better get some.

Do you take anti-anxiety drugs? Do they help or harm with your weight loss? How does it effect your disposition? How does it effect your ability to exercise? Which drug do you take?

I'm going to see my doctor next week to get a prescription. I'd love to hear from my fellow bandsters that take anti-anxiety meds before I see her so that I know what to expect.

Thanks for your help and support.

Sue

Hi,

I started taking Xanax earlier this year. I couldn't sleep much at all without it. I have come to the realization that I have probably always been anxious, and used food to medicate it. Without my "medication," it was out of control. My doctor didn't want to up the Xanax when I was still having anxiety during the day, so I recently added Pristiq, an antidepressant. I felt a difference in 24 hours. I don't think either have affected my weight much.

Thanks Cathy. Your response makes me more comfortable with the idea of taking this type of med.

Take care.

Sue

I worked in a behavioral health facility for a while and the therapists and doctors there were so knowledgeable and really helped me understand about these types of meds.

First, your situation is really intense right now and medication could be taken short term and really help you cope.

What some of the meds do is bring your level of anxiety down to a more normal level which helps you sleep and also allows you to use all your everyday coping skills to self manage your intense life.

In your situation, you are aware enough about 'you' and your coping skills to know how you feel is result of extenuating circumstances and it is not your fault.

Think of your situation like this: if you had really bad GERD. You could eat right 'til the cows come home and follow the 'rules' but continued GERD can cause permanent damage to your stomach and esophagus. So your doc may prescribe prolosec-- In the same way, intense and prolonged irrational anxiety will affect you in a whole host of ways you do not want.

Hi Sue,

Have you ever thought of trying herbal remedies? St. John's Wart works great for relieving anxiety and it will keep you off prescriptions. It might be worth a try. One of my weight loss adventures put me on the phen/phen alternative of phen/prozac. My husband says I was like a zombie and my sex drive went down to nothing. I started having some anxiety issues a few years back and decided to try St.John's Wart. It doesn't have any side effects for me. As a matter of fact, I start to feel so good I'll forget to take it for a while. So, just a suggestion in my opinion. I've already been looking into finding a liquid form as I'm scheduled to be banded on the 27th of this month and a found a few different suppliers. Just my 2 cents.

I'm on prozac and wouldn't go a day without it. Before lap band it didn't make me gain or lose weight so I'm sure now (post lapband) it hasn't helped or hurt. Sorry about your job :thumbup: The economy is just so awful :confused_smile:

I take Lexapro. I've taken it for several years. I have never had any problems with it. It has not caused any weight gain or slow down at all. :tounge_smile: