[Homeira]

Hi everyone
I am struggling with pretty severe anxiety these days. I am going to see my psychiatrist later this month and that is one of the things I want to discuss with her.
But my question is if any of you guys have experience with a medication that helps get anxiety under control? I am already on 400 mg of Lamictal and an antidepressant. Anyone have any recommendations?

[CopperStar]

You could try Effexor. I took that for a short while years ago. I wasn't on it long enough to adjust to it, so it was a combination of me being incapable of feeling any anxiety whatsoever and me being totally looped. I probably would have described my experience at the time as, "I doesn't afraid of anything!"

[Homeira]

Thanks for the answer! I appreciate the input I get from people who are the actual users of these meds, and then I can take those experiences into consideration at least. The psychiatrists I have seen seem to be fumbling in the dark half of the time about what to give me...

[Luctor]

I'd steer clear of benzos.

A med I found that helps massively with anxiety is gabapentin. I was prescribed it for shingles, but it evened out my mood and made me feel so laid back that I decided to look it up. Turns out it's often prescribed for anxiety. I'm actually going to ask my pdoc for a prescription.

It's non-addictive and apparently can be taken PRN. I take 300mg and my anxiety goes away. Even my social anxiety is better.

[raspberrytorte]

I second luctor. STAY AWAY FROM BENZOS! I'm tapering off of clonazepam right now and it's just awful. I'm pissed at the pnp who prescribed me it. My new pdoc gave me vistaril and propranolol to replace it. You could try those. Or my nemesis seroquel really helped with my anxiety.

[CopperStar]

Is Effexor a benzo?

[Luctor]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Is Effexor a benzo?

Nope. It's an SSRI, if I'm not mistaken?

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by Luctor

Nope. It's an SSRI, if I'm not mistaken?

Oh okay. I wasn't sure if people's posts were warning against my suggestion, and then I was worried that I was accidentally suggesting a benzo without realizing it. I was like oh ****. Lol.

[Luctor]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Oh okay. I wasn't sure if people's posts were warning against my suggestion, and then I was worried that I was accidentally suggesting a benzo without realizing it. I was like oh ****. Lol.

I see how it may have come across that way. Apologies.

I also found risperdal helped with racing/obsessive thoughts, which can very much contribute to a state of anxiety. I used to wake up with extreme anxiety, but if I took risperdal in the evening I woke up feeling fine.

[raspberrytorte]

Don't worry copper. That's not a benzo.

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

Don't worry copper. That's not a benzo.

Originally Posted by Luctor

I see how it may have come across that way. Apologies.

I also found risperdal helped with racing/obsessive thoughts, which can very much contribute to a state of anxiety. I used to wake up with extreme anxiety, but if I took risperdal in the evening I woke up feeling fine.

No worries, just a random pinch of paranoia, thanks for answering me, though.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by Luctor

I'd steer clear of benzos.

A med I found that helps massively with anxiety is gabapentin. I was prescribed it for shingles, but it evened out my mood and made me feel so laid back that I decided to look it up. Turns out it's often prescribed for anxiety. I'm actually going to ask my pdoc for a prescription.

It's non-addictive and apparently can be taken PRN. I take 300mg and my anxiety goes away. Even my social anxiety is better.

I'm going to ask my pdoc about that gabapentin stuff. Thanks for that. This vistaril stuff just isn't cutting it for me right now. I'm having serious rebound anxiety, and the only thing vistaril has really helped me with is my seasonal allergies! Lol.

[Luctor]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I'm going to ask my pdoc about that gabapentin stuff. Thanks for that. This vistaril stuff just isn't cutting it for me right now. I'm having serious rebound anxiety, and the only thing vistaril has really helped me with is my seasonal allergies! Lol.

Give it a try, I'm keen to hear what your pdoc says. It's mildly sedating, but in a good way. Some find it too sedating. It's actually an anticonvulsant so it makes sense that it'd have benefits for bipolar. The research is pretty wishy washy when it comes to its efficacy for anxiety. But people swear by it, and I'm one.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by Luctor

Give it a try, I'm keen to hear what your pdoc says. It's mildly sedating, but in a good way. Some find it too sedating. It's actually an anticonvulsant so it makes sense that it'd have benefits for bipolar. The research is pretty wishy washy when it comes to its efficacy for anxiety. But people swear by it, and I'm one.

I'll ask her about it at my appointment next thursday and let you know what she says.

I should probably call before thursday because I'm really struggling right now with the whole anxiety and paranoia thing, and the geodon is starting to make me really restless at night, so I haven't been sleeping all that well, but I'm too anxious to call. I have phone anxiety. I hate phone anxiety. It's so stupid. It's just talking to a nurse on the phone. That shouldn't be a huge deal.

[Luctor]

I hope you feel better raspberry.

[krisakira]

Effexor is an SNRI

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by Luctor

I hope you feel better raspberry.

Thanks. I hope so too.

[Blackbeltwolfmother]

I'm in the same boat- trying to find something to take alongside lamictal that won't interact badly causing mania or spacey side effects. My dic rx seroquel and to come off lamictal. It's been a week and I can't handle the sedative effect- it makes me near panic! Gotta suggest something else to my doc! Thinking if citalopram.
I'd b hesitant with effexor. I was on it for years before realizing it keptvtgrowing me into mania, or severe agitation. Not good when ur a mom. It worked well for anxiety and depression though.
Coming off it is UGH. extremely sloooowww tapering is needed. I opened up the capsules and literally counted the little beads in there. If u miss a dose u start getting dizzy and can't see straight. Like being drunk. So make sure u don't miss!

[gina_re]

I've tried both, Effexor an SNRI has helped with my anxiety. And the Vistaril really just makes sleepy more than anything. So I typically take it at night since my anxiety doesn't allow me to sleep through the night. I'm going an episode so my sleep is off, you know how it goes...

[boogiesmash]

Cymbalta has significantly reduced my anxiety.

[electricbipolargirl]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I'll ask her about it at my appointment next thursday and let you know what she says.

I should probably call before thursday because I'm really struggling right now with the whole anxiety and paranoia thing, and the geodon is starting to make me really restless at night, so I haven't been sleeping all that well, but I'm too anxious to call. I have phone anxiety. I hate phone anxiety. It's so stupid. It's just talking to a nurse on the phone. That shouldn't be a huge deal.

Hi Raspberry,

Do you eat at the same time you take your Geodon? It knocks me completely out when I eat the recommended amount and take the Geodon. I mean, I literally sit there trying to keep my eyes from closing after I take that combo.

[Luctor]

Originally Posted by electricbipolargirl

Hi Raspberry,

Do you eat at the same time you take your Geodon? It knocks me completely out when I eat the recommended amount and take the Geodon. I mean, I literally sit there trying to keep my eyes from closing after I take that combo.

This is so weird. I find geodon extremely activating.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[raspberrytorte]

Vistaril doesn't make me sleepy. I was surprised. I thought it was going to.

[Toodles333]

Propranolol may well interfere with your sex drive. I was prescribed it back in February when I was manic but I didn't take it. I really regret that now.

[wiretwister]

many think it is useless, but I moved from xanex to buspar and have been very pleased with the results, ...