My friends, yes I think it may be time to change GP, but it is very hard for me to do that right now (I am just in such a state, barely able to function). I like my GP very much; he is a patient, caring human being, but this is beyond his knowledge-base, and he is not into experimentation (as he regards bacofen).

I have decided I will refuse the anti-depressants tomorrow, so we'll see what he comes up with then. If anyone can PLEASE give me some links to print off about baclofen and anxiety at least i will (maybe) have a chance.

8, I am so sorry for what you are going through. I am just reading all of this now. I have not been on for a few days. You and I have talked before. I can understand how overwhelmed you are and not able to change GP's at the moment. I also understand about the antidepressants too as I had the same problem. It seems to be between the drinking and not eating your anxiety is through the roof and depression does add to anxiety so it is quite a mixed bag you are dealing with along with the trauma you speak of. I can only hope that tomorrow you can bring the book about Baclofen to your doctor and mark any passages so he may be able understand how it may help. People over at MWO have lots of posts on how they have used it and may be willing to give you better advice. In my opinion you should really have a doctor help you with the use of this drug because some have said that if they do drink on this to excess there are consequences and side affects that could be severe so please be careful. As you can see everyone here does care and wishes that they could help more. My thoughts are with you.

Thanks so much Bear, you are so right, it's such a mixed bag I am struggling with right now. Basically my doc's planning to give me enough sedatives to get off the booze completely and start me on the anti-depressants. It's the opposite of what I want, but I don't seem to be able to get there on my own, so I'm feeling like I may just follow what he says. ANYTHING is better than where I am right now.

8, I am so sorry to hear of your plight. I too suffer from anxiety and panic attacks........terribly. I was on Klonapin and was becoming dependent, just didn't work and was needing more for my panic attacks, which is not acceptable to me. I was referred to a nurse practitioner who has me switched to Valium......take 2 x a day at a lower dose than the klonopin. It is working for anxiety very well............we are going to wean me off slowly here in the next few weeks.......darn benzos. I have taken many antidepressants over the years with really no help and was told by my GP that prozac was terrible for anxiety. My treatment for years was prozac and Klonopin. All I accomplished was a dependency to the benzo. NP also gave me something called Deplin. It is just a really potent folic acid supplement by prescription that actually crosses the blood brain barrier, and it has helped me tremendously although I am not currently taking any antidepressants . It cleans out the gunk in the brain so that receptors make antidepressants work better. (not sure I am explaining that right) Maybe it will help NAL work more efficiently....not sure what part of the brain it works on. Many of you on this site are much more scientific when it comes to this brain chemical thing. I am surprised I had not heard of it, as I am a research nut! I too was looking into baclofen and my new NP is open to the suggestion, but am going to free myself of the benzos first.

Yes seek immediate help............I too had despair and suicidal thoughts at one time. Keep searching dear friend. I think baclofen may be a great answer for my anxiety and panic. I found it through reading Dr. Ameisen's book and thought it might be helpful for me. Also, if anyone has the time to research Deplin, please do. I am down with the flu too..........H1N1 and have not strength or will to research it. I wonder if it might work for some who are not seeing the results they have been seeking with NAL.

I have a terrible fever and not sure I have made much sense here...........but 8, know that my thoughts are with you. Hang in there as everyone is here to support you and get you through.

oh, and to add........keep looking 8. The Nurse Practitioner was recommended by my anxiety therapist. She specializes in medication management. Maybe look for someone that specializes in med mgmt. My GP gave up. So I am grateful to have found this new lady.........and she is not a shrink.....been that route too.

Cali thank you so much, you have written much that has given me a great deal to think about.

I hope you feel very much better from the flu my friend, and cannot thank you enough for trying to help me when you are so weak yourself.

8, I was on Prozac and it caused severe anxiety for me and also nausea. Tofranil is an old antidepressant with very few side affects, just a thought. It looks like you will be more or less forced to try something but be sure to complain if you have side affects. Unfortuantely, many times it takes more than one try to get it right. I know your fear! So sorry.

Ah Bear, Prozac was a NIGHTMARE for me. I had the nausea, anxiety, shakes, total loss of sex drive, dizzy spells, frequent suicidal thoughts, but maybe worst of all I felt like I living on another planet - everything looked alien to me and I was totally disconnected from reality 24/7. I'm so very sensitive to any medication that works on the brain, which is why I know the Nal has been working for me, and I had such heavy side effects. I've told my GP all this but he still wants me to try again. I guess this is the limit of his expertise. I don't know what else to do but follow what he says, I don't have any fight left in me to search for other options.

Hi 8, I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties. I hope you have considered all of advice the good folks on this board have offered. You have a lot of things going on -- drinking does cause depression, but the important thing is that you stay emotionally and physically safe and use whatever means and resources you have to achieve that. If it means getting on some anti-anxiety meds for a bit, do so. I, too, have been on many anti-depressants (but not prozac) and haven't experienced the side effects as you have described, but have had numerous other ones. Have you tried Wellbutrin? It isn't an SSRI like prozac, lexapro, and the others and doesn't have those side effects. It has helped me a lot b/c I can't take the SSRIs for other reasons. If you do decide to try it, make sure you don't get the generic. It doesn't work like the brand name.

Whatever you do, please stay safe and know that we are here for you.

Thank you too hoping4better, more great ideas for me to think about.

Well, I put off going to see my GP today and will go tomorrow, mainly because though I used the sedatives during the day I couldn't hold back from drinking quite a lot in the evening - and that is not what he wanted to do AT ALL.

This morning I had a small Whisky (2 units) to calm my panic as the valium takes a while to kick in. Since then I have been on the soft drinks, fruit, and meal replacement shakes, but had terrible anxiety all day and have used A LOT of sedatives just to get through the day.

I am in a real quandary - should I drink tonight? I would aim to moderate (a max of 12 UK units, preferable less) and of course not mix the alcohol with the sedatives. I feel I have come so far on this method (now week 6) and my GP is basically asking me to return to abstinence.

I don't think he knows that I am following TSM, and not really sure I want to go into it with him.

Basically I have decided, I am not going to give up on TSM. I am not ready for an AF day, I just need to moderate with light lager. I will lie to my GP if I have to.