[NolaMae]

Hi. I have bipolar disorder and also occasionally experience almost crippling anxiety as well. My doctor first diagnosed it as generalized anxiety disorder and put me on an SSRI (I think it was Zoloft), but as we all know, SSRIs can be very bad news for people with bipolar disorder so I had to stop taking it. When I get anxious, I get severe muscle tension, which makes me feel even worse. I'm on clonazepam. 1 mg worked for a little while then stopped. 2 mg worked for a little while then stopped. I'm now trying 3 mg and it helps a little, but not much. I'm sure I'm developing a tolerance to this drug and I want to stop taking it. My question is, do any of you know of any anti-anxiety drugs that are not benzos and are not habit forming? An internet search brought up proprolanol and Vistaril. As a side note, I can't take gabapentin because of a severe allergic reaction. Has anyone tried propolanol or Visteral? What kind of results did you have? Thanks for your insight.

Lamictal 450 mg
Wellbutrin 150 mg
Clonazepam 3 mg
Trazodone 100 mg

[Guiness187055]

Visteral was like a sugar pill for me no relief at all. Some people have luck with it because it makes them tired and calms them down. I know over time hydroxozine is not the safest drug in the world

[Sunflower123]

I understand your situation with clonazepam. I had the same experience plus it takes longer to kick in than Xanax and Valium. I’ve tried proprolanol and buspar. They didn’t work for me. I eventually came back to Valium 10 mg .prn. I hope you find something that works for you and helps with your anxiety.

You mention 'doctor' and not Psychiatrist. You need a proper psychiatrist to be prescribing you your medication. they have far more knowledge in such matters as a GP. They also have far more experience than you. You should not be choosing your own medications. This is best left for a professional.

Sorry you can’t take the gabbies.

I took propanolol-my daughter likes it but it caused insomnia and I went manic. The gabapentin made me go hypomanic, but that has calmed down.

I’ve started lithium, which my doc says will help with the depression and anxiety and hypomania because it is a mood stabilizer. I am starting to feel better

[-jimi-]

I guess most people don't really react to Wellbutrin, but me it made me anxious and physically shaky and tense. My normal anxiety does not make me shake. Had to stop that one. Vistaril made me tired, not at all calm. I also wish there were non addictive anxiety meds. Doesn't seem like anyone made an attempt to make one in a long while, Buspar is the newest and it is over 30 years old.

[Mountaindewed]

I take geodon. It works pretty good.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by Bozdickens

I take geodon. It works pretty good.

It's really amazing how drugs affect us differently. When I tried it I got in a nonstop panic attack that didn't let up for weeks. Glad it works the opposite for you.

[Chuck1970]

Originally Posted by NolaMae

Hi. I have bipolar disorder and also occasionally experience almost crippling anxiety as well. My doctor first diagnosed it as generalized anxiety disorder and put me on an SSRI (I think it was Zoloft), but as we all know, SSRIs can be very bad news for people with bipolar disorder so I had to stop taking it. When I get anxious, I get severe muscle tension, which makes me feel even worse. I'm on clonazepam. 1 mg worked for a little while then stopped. 2 mg worked for a little while then stopped. I'm now trying 3 mg and it helps a little, but not much. I'm sure I'm developing a tolerance to this drug and I want to stop taking it. My question is, do any of you know of any anti-anxiety drugs that are not benzos and are not habit forming? An internet search brought up proprolanol and Vistaril. As a side note, I can't take gabapentin because of a severe allergic reaction. Has anyone tried propolanol or Visteral? What kind of results did you have? Thanks for your insight.

Lamictal 450 mg
Wellbutrin 150 mg
Clonazepam 3 mg
Trazodone 100 mg

Vistaril is useless. Taking zanax only as needed works for me, nothing else.
don't take just to take it. save it for the bad days.