[xRavenx]

Hi everyone,

Both prescribers I've tried seem to be at a loss when it comes to treating my anxiety.

My pdoc was unavailable and had the APN prescriber that works at her practice take over the last 2 visits due to lack of availability, and then I will go back to my regular pdoc afterwards.

I was hoping the APN could provide me with some fresh advice since it is somebody new, but she could not come up with a good plan. Fortunately, I'll see my regular pdoc next time.

I am taking lamictal, latuda, klonopin, and Seroquel. The only thing that has helped with the anxiety is the klonopin, and my pdoc does not want me to take it daily, so I am only given enough to take on an as needed basis.

I won't be prescribed an SSRI antidepressant since that threw me in a mixed episode. The only thing they can come up with is possibly Buspar instead of klonopin, which I'm nervous about. However, I do not want to be overly dependent on klonopin. I heard buspar does not work as well though.

What has helped you with your anxiety? It seems to be hard to treat when you cannot take certain medications due to the risk of destabilization. I go to therapy on and off, but it is limiting as far as how helpful it has been. Also, if you have been on buspar, what has been your experience?

[Crazy Hitch]

This is a good question. My answer won’t be of much help because I’m on antidepressants even though I’ve had mixed / manic episodes in the past.

When I was really bad last year my pdoc gave me diazepam as needed. A lot of my anxiety is caused by work so it’s a temporary fix.

I hope you find a solution!

[*Beth*]

I struggle with severe anxiety, and have since I was a child. Gabapentin (finally at a dose of 2700mg/day) has been the most helpful medication for anxiety. Suggest it to your prescriber - and be assertive, don't let them blow you off, as most will.

[Nammu]

Propranolol is a blood pressure med that works for anxiety. A lot of professional musicians use it since it doesn’t interfere with their performance the way a benzo could. It works wonders for me, you can take it as needed or regularly. I used to take it three times a day, now twice a day. My anxiety is much better. I’ll never take a benzo again.

[cool09]

only thing that has helped with the anxiety is the klonopin

I've had acute anxiety for 45 years and taken every medication. Klonopin usually helps for a mth or so then wears off. Professionals don't like to talk about anxiety. One hospital Dr. yelled at me 30 yrs ago when I told him I was anxious. I've never had problems taking benzos.

[Random 503]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Propranolol is a blood pressure med that works for anxiety. A lot of professional musicians use it since it doesn’t interfere with their performance the way a benzo could. It works wonders for me, you can take it as needed or regularly. I used to take it three times a day, now twice a day. My anxiety is much better. I’ll never take a benzo again.

I second this. I’ve been on it for a month now? I forget. It is the best I’ve ever been given. I started on 10 mg twice a day, moved to 40 mg spread through the day, and finally today was put on 60 mg extended release plus 10s prn.

It made me a little light headed on getting up from laying down at first, but that went away (mostly). Way better than benzos and you don’t build tolerance.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

I struggle with severe anxiety, and have since I was a child. Gabapentin (finally at a dose of 2700mg/day) has been the most helpful medication for anxiety. Suggest it to your prescriber - and be assertive, don't let them blow you off, as most will.

I am glad that you were able to get. a higher dose of Gabapentin!

xRavenx, Gabapentin is worth trying and it is a marvelous medication that won't destabilize you, won't interact with other meds, and might even help with sleep if that is an issue.

[unlived]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Propranolol is a blood pressure med that works for anxiety. A lot of professional musicians use it since it doesn’t interfere with their performance the way a benzo could. It works wonders for me, you can take it as needed or regularly. I used to take it three times a day, now twice a day. My anxiety is much better. I’ll never take a benzo again.

I only found those type of meds worked for my physical symptoms of anxiety (racing heart, sweating, shaking etc) but not the actual feeling. Just shows everyone is different when it comes to meds!

My approach to treating my own anxiety now, is to apply techniques that calm my nervous system. When our nervous system is overactive, anxiety is the cumulative effect of the cause (not the cause itself like the mental health field has you believe). Think about it. Our nervous system is controlled by our metabolic hormones like insulin, cortisol, leptin, gherlin, progesterone and estrogen. Our nervous and endocrine system gets out of whack and anxiety is the result. Having anxiety for my entire life I tried anti-anxiety medications and even SSRIs (which don't work for anxiety it turns out). So, I did some research and for myself, decided that to calm my anxiety down, I need to calm down my nervous and endocrine systems. That means - for me, anyway - getting enough sleep, writing down my thoughts before I go to bed of what my worries are, not using my cellphone 30 minutes before I go to sleep (that one's hard), not eating a lot of junk food, trying to get exercise (walking), keeping a list of goals I need to get done every day or week, making sure to calm myself with watching or reading something funny and get social time (chat with neighbors or friends). So far when I stick to these routines, I notice a decrease in my anxiety. Does it always work? No, sometimes I'm anxious and I have to use DBT/CBT on myself. I avoid the use of anti-anxiety or SSRI meds b/c those never helped my anxiety. I found that changing my mental and physical routines is what worked for me instead of a pill. I realize that may not be realistic for everyone, but it's what's worked for me.

Also, anxiety can be a side effect of a health condition too. Like with your thyroid, or if you're low on Vit D or low on Iron, etc.

[xRavenx]

Hi everyone.
Thanks for your suggestions! Unfortunately, propranolol did not work well for me, and Gabapentin had some side effects. However, my pdoc suggested Buspar for me awhile back, and I declined since I would not have my klonopin. But it is getting to the point that my anxiety requires something daily, so I took a big step (for me) by calling my pdoc and making an appointment for next week to start Buspar. Change is scary for me regarding meds, but hopefully this works. If it doesn't, maybe I can go back to klonopin PRN.

[Tart Cherry Jam]

I know this would sound outlandish @xRavenx, but one approach is to try "contrast showers" (I am translating the term from Russian and I do not know if it exists in English). These are showers where you alternate cold and hot water.

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I know this would sound outlandish @xRavenx, but one approach is to try "contrast showers" (I am translating the term from Russian and I do not know if it exists in English). These are showers where you alternate cold and hot water.

That's an excellent suggestion, Tart Cherry Jam! I have used that technique myself while in the throws of a full blown anxiety attack - alternate cold/hot shower and it calms down my nervous system and my vagus nerve. I also have tried holding ice cubes to distract myself during an anxiety attack and that works 100% of the time too.

The vagus nerve stimulation reduces anxiety. Research shows it does, too.
Frontiers | Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders).

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I know this would sound outlandish @xRavenx, but one approach is to try "contrast showers" (I am translating the term from Russian and I do not know if it exists in English). These are showers where you alternate cold and hot water.

Thanks for the suggestion! I am going to look into trying that

[*Beth*]

Sorry if I've already mentioned this, but be aware - what feels like anxiety can really be depression or (hypo)mania.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Sorry if I've already mentioned this, but be aware - what feels like anxiety can really be depression or (hypo)mania.

That's true. Sometimes it is hard for me to tell