[BeaFlower]

Hi all! I don't take meds, but I'd like to know if there are some that you consider effective and with no or few side effects. I'd also like to know if they are good only to calm you don't when you are in high anxiety, or also to relax you 'in general' and make you be less vulnerable to anxiety. This would be better, but I don't know if it's possible. Thanks

[gayleggg]

Hi, I take klonopin and it helps to calm me down in general. It is a benzo so there is potential addiction problems but as long as it is taken as prescribed I've had no problems. In fact last year, I found I wasn't having anxiety issues and weaned myself off of it with no problems. I have recently had to start taking it again due to increased anxiety. As far as side effects it can cause a little sleepiness until your body adjusts to it. Other than that I haven't had any issues with it.

I think that a supplement called L-theanine is helpful for mild to moderate anxiety. I don't think it will help with extreme anxiety or panic or anxiety attacks, but if you are looking for something without side effects (or without many) it could be something to try.

The type most recommended in the US is Suntheanine. I don't know if it's available where you live. I would guess that it probably is, in some form.

[BeaFlower]

Thanks to both. What's the difference between meds and supplements?
I'm not sure about taking meds...I'd prefer to go on with just therapy, but I don't know.

[gayleggg]

Meds have to be prescribed by an MD.

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[Moogieotter]

Hi BeaFlower,

I've enjoyed Paxil the most for anxiety. Its not a benzo, so there's less addiction risk. It does need to be part of a daily routine and will take a few weeks to be effective.

Good luck!

moogs

[Nammu]

I prefer propranolol it has been the best, doesn't have any side effects and it's not addictive.
The benzos made me moody and buspar increased my anxiety.
The supplements I took had no notable affect but I never tried l- threane.
Acupuncture helped drop my anxiety quickly but requires maintaining treatments and I couldn't afford it.
CBT helped a lot with reducing the overall anxiety and I keep hearing that DBT is good.

[gina_re]

My doc is against benzos for most cases and gave me vistaril for anxiety as needed which is a antihistamine. Benzos are good, but can be addictive if you're not careful. The vistaril is OK for short term but makes you really drowsy, so I mostly use it for sleep.

[BeaFlower]

This is a problem...several meds for anxiety make you feel sleepy...I read that also theanine does it. I don't need to sleep more, just to be less vulnerable to anxiety during the day, so I'd have to find a med without this effect.

[SillyKitty]

I take two benzos. Klonopin 3times a day for maintenance and Ativan for panic attacks. Both carry a risk for addiction. I didn't get my Klonopin filled, and within a couple days, I was having full blown withdrawals. I'll never do that again. It works really well and is worth the risk for me, though.

Eta Your sleepiness should subside after a couple weeks. Your body just has to adjust. Ativan makes me tired, but I don't take it much as it's a PRN.

[AncientMelody]

I take Cymbalta. It has been helpful for lowering my sensitivity to stress and anxiety, though I have to do my own "work" as well (exercise, sleep, CBT). I've been on it for ten months and my psychiatrist and I have tentative plans to have me taper off starting next March or April. I personally don't have any significant side effects from it. However all meds have potential for side effects.

If you are looking the supplement route too, I strongly recommend fish oil. DHA and EPA, the active fish oils are very important for cognitive health and some studies support their use in anxiety, unipolar depression, and bipolar. It has helped my memory and organization which lowers my overall stress.

Originally Posted by gayleggg

Meds have to be prescribed by an MD.

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Meds can also be prescribed by a DO, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or in a very few regions by a psychologist who has undergone specialized prescriber training.

[fadedstar]

Visitaril is useless for severe anxiety in my experience, I know some doctors won't prescribe benzodiazepines but honestly they're the quickest acting effective solution. I'm on 3mg klonopin a day which was more if a PRN until I went into crisis, now my T demands I take the full dose and is trying to convince PDoc to give me a Xanax script for emergencies as well. When my anxiety gets out of control I become rather self destructive so that's the cause for alarm

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