Best drug(s) for Anxiety, Panic & Hypochondria?

I'm trying to get away from Benzos and other narcs as much as I can because I need something I can take long-term and I don't know if this new doc I will be seeing soon will prescribe them (some docs refuse to).

Short of going back to my beloved nightly gin & tonic with a wedge of lemon or a Windsor & cola with a marichino cherry, what other options are out there for me. I think at this point, if I could'nt get a doctor to prescribe Benzos (or somthing that REALLY worked) I could very easily fall back into the old alcohol "trap" again. As bad as alcohol is, at least it totally wiped out the anxiety and made me feel like the life of the party. Sometimes, I think drugs are just as bad for you as the alcohol though. So anyway, what works?. I've tried...

Buspar, Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Effexor, Webutrin, Neurontin and many more - all with varying degrees of sucess. I'm really much more interested in something that starts working fairly quickly rather than "take these for two weeks before you know if it's working".

Any suggestions?

GG, do you exercise. i find a good brisk walk calms me down and gets my mind engaged in the surroundings. it's prairie dog baby time here and they are extremely cute and fun to watch...p

GG, i hope that i didn't sound like the only thing you could do about anxiety was "walk".....i just meant that was one thing that has helped me in the past. believe it or not, the doc has me on a small dose of elavil for my anxiety and it's working. that just goes to show me that everyone responds different to meds.....i'm sending you a giant hug from me and a wet kiss from fayeroe and a big wag of her little cropped off tail!

Certainly a beta-blocker might be helpful, it blocks the heart from racing so fast, and some of the physiological effects of anxiety. Can't have asthma though for some of the beta-blockers and shouldn't be used in cocaine addicts.

What are the alternatives if you do have asthma?

Clonidine (Catapress) and Tenex are alpha blockers (blood pressure meds) that may reduce some of the restlessness/hyperactivity that feeds into anxiety.

WHy wouldnt your new Doctor allow you to stay on benzo's if they are working for you? I have been on Klonopin for 15 years, never had to increase the doseage, never had a problem having it prescribed. I tried about 6-8 others meds before I went to a specialist in Anxiety/Phobias/Agoraphobia and he put me on the Klonopin while weaning me off the other stuff that was not working. I dont think I am addicted to benzo's - I have to put them in a daily pill box in order to know if I take them, some days I don't remember to take any at all and feel no ill effects. I guess my question here is "Why fix it if it ain't broke?" If you are having to change Doctors for some reason, make sure he/she knows that he/she WORKS for you - you are paying....and if they wont keep you on a med that is working, you will gladly give your money to someone who will WORK for you. Just my humble opinion, but I have seen such a change in the thinking that benzos are bad long term. Be sure to tell this new Doctor what your plan is if he/she doesnt want to give u benzo's...alcohol ! That might encourage them to use the benzo's !! Although the alcohol makes people FEEL less ( less pain, less inhibitions, less anxiety etc) , as it starts to wear off, it actually increases these sensitivities - thus the need for another drink......a horrible cycle.........and to me, worse than proper use of a benzo ! Good luck !!!!