[Mavenfp]

I know about the short term benzos like Xanax (which I have on emergency stand by). However, I'd like to take something that addresses the problem long-term and is NOT addictive. Do SSRIs address this, too? I'm afraid to take anti-depressants b/c they are a commitment with no guarantee of payoff and b/c my sister, who is very similar in constitution as I am, is on her 4th anti-depressant and about to wean off of it b/c it hasn't done anything for her (she tried Prozac, then Zoloft, then Effexor, I think and now Wellbutrin). I'm afraid of the side effects that people complain about with anti-depressants, but I have no idea what else people take, in the long-term, for panic conditions/anxiety. Thanks for any replies...

[sunrise]

mavenfp, I just started taking Buspar for anxiety and am on my 7th day. I don't know if it will help me longterm, but it is supposed to be for longterm use. It is not an anti-depressant or an SSRI. It is an anti-anxiety medication but is not a benzo (like Xanax, valium, ativan, etc.) so it is not addictive and doesn't have sedating effects. I wish I could say it worked, but I don't know yet. It supposedly takes 1-3 weeks to kick in. I've read that for some people, it is no help at all, and for others, it really helps.

I will tell you that the side effects were pretty strong the first 3 days, but disappeared rapidly after that. I guess 10% of people abandon Buspar without making it through those first few days. And not everyone gets the same side effects. I will stick with it for about a month and see if it actually helps with my anxiety.

I have written about my experience on Buspar as have others on this recent thread about anti-anxiety meds:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...5&o=31&fpart=1

I read about Buspar at a lot of websites before I asked my doctor about it. The Wikipedia entry is actually quite good:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buspar

[evildouble102]

I take seroquel for anxiety a 50 mg prn twice a day if needed. I don't feel that it's addictive and seems to do the trick. It's an antipsychotic but it has somewhat of a sedative effect which helps me.... don't know if this helps... I understand ur not wanting to take benzos, I've taken xanax, ativan, klonopin, and probly another and with the ativan I didn't notice a difference with it, but noticed a difference when I didn't take it. Anyway good luck!

[okiedokie]

Neurontin (gabapentin)

It's a miracle for anxiety and it is nonaddictive with few if any side effects.

I know it's use for anxiety is considered "off-label" but I just don't get why this drug is such a secret!

Run, do not walk, to your doctor to ask about it!
Take care,
Okie

[Mavenfp]

thanks! benzos are great until you get dependent and start going through w/drawal like a heroin addict. glad i weaned off Xanax successfully. i currently have Xanax on stand by but when I get panic attacky it's hard for me to try and swallow pills b/c my throat feels like it closes up and i get scared that i'll choke on them. the best solution is one of prevention and maintenance.