[raspberrytorte]

What do you take for your anxiety?

I don't know what to do. I need ideas! These are meds that don't work for me: hydroxyzine, buspar, gabapentin, antidepressants.

I'm not going there again with benzos.

My anxiety gets so bad that it actually makes me physically sick and I can't eat, so I'm losing weight. I just don't know what's left for me to try.

Open to supplement and herbal ideas as well.

Right now I take propranolol as needed, which helps a lot for panic attacks and performance anxiety, but it doesn't do anything for the black cloud of dread feeling.

[Angelique67]

Lately, Cogentin is helping me with anxiety. Even though it's not a benzo, it's one of "the z drugs" that you don't want to build a tolerance to. I'm still using one tablet per day, at the same time I take Abilify.

Other things I've used/tried are kava (which is very hard on the liver, so no drinking alcohol on it), Valerian root (worked best for anxiety as a tea), and chamomile tea, which doesn't really have a lasting effect.

Now, I'm just using Cogentin and hydroxyzine. The best therapeutic dose for me of Hydroxyzine for anxiety rather than sleep, is 30 mgs.

I wish you the best of luck. There don't seem to be a lot of options for anxiety.

Buspar

[ruesia]

I have never had luck with prescription medications for my anxiety. The side-effects were always significant enough for me to avoid them altogether. However, recently I started to take the supplement 5-HTP. Here's a little blurb on it "5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a naturally occurring substance derived from the seed pods of Griffonia simplicifolia, a West African medicinal plant. In humans, 5-HTP is the immediate nutrient precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). This means that 5-HTP converts directly into serotonin in the brain."

It was on the end display at my grocery store one day and even though I was incredibly skeptical of it, but I was getting desperate. I have been taking it for roughly 60 days now and while it doesn't have significant affects, it was enough for me to notice a different. My anxiety gets to the point I have a racing heart, trouble breathing, trouble speaking, shaking, and concentrating. I also had trouble with thoughts of self-harm. I still get the anxiety and feelings of depression, but they are dulled. I no longer have attacks, just elevated episodes of anxiety but I am able to cope better and control myself better since taking this.

It does make me sleepy so I take it every night before bed. If I miss more than 2 days, I feel it and remind myself I need to take my purple pill.

So, it is worth a try. I have no side effects besides the sleepiness and even then, I've taken it the next morning after forgetting and I can still function I'm just tired for a few hours.

I also have been taking the vitamin supplement Source of Life for 1 year now and it gives me substantial energy and makes my nails and hair stronger. The combo of these two REALLY makes a difference for me which means a lot to me having struggled with anxiety for over 15 years now without relief.

[Blue_Bird]

I take hydroxyzine 50mg as needed up to 2x a day, It seems to help, I rarely use it, it's mild but it definitely helps calm me down if I'm really anxious. I think though the best thing for anxiety in general is CBT and/or DBT

[raspberrytorte]

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful!

I do plan on seeing a counselor to help with my anxiety. My problem is that I don't know what I'm anxious about. I just feel anxious for seemingly no reason. Maybe there's some unconscious reason that I need help identifying.

[Skeezyks]

The Skeezyks is just toughing it out...

[Nike007]

I take Lexapro, which is a SSRI, which you said you can't take/don't work for you. I have only been on antidepressants because I've only been in the systems for 2 years... Sorry if this doesn't help you.

Social anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, and panic attacks

Lexapro, 10 mg

[Petra5ed]

Cannabis, and when panic strikes, very small doses of Xanax. Of course Xanax doesn't work for everyone, it can be addictive. Fortunately it's just not my thing, so far I've not struggled to only take them when I need them.

[lilypup]

I take Klonopin prn...usually 1.0 when needed. I average about one per day. I haven't been addicted that I know of, but I've not tried to get off.
I hear a lot about buspar...maybe will see if I can try it.