[uriahsmum]

[Hi everyone, newbie here. Just wondering if those suffering from severe anxiety are taking any meds and how they are working? I've been trialed on various atypical anti-psychotics with no luck.May get switched to a benzo, and would like to know about your experiences with meds for anxiety

[emgreen]

Benzos are my go to treatment for anxiety...I'm fortunate that my psychiatrist still prescribes them; some doctors won't. As far as AP's go Seroquel & Zyprexa killed my anxiety somewhat, but made me fatter than a pig (some folks say they don't gain weight from them, though). I'm on Abilify now, & there's absolutely no sedative affect to it. It's also supposed to work well with anti-depressants, if you can take them. Abilify is actually pretty activating for me, but I'm on a smaller dose.

I see this is your first post. Welcome! Don't take anyone's word for gospel (including mine!). Different meds affect folks differently sometimes. Always try to work with your shrink.

[Deejay14]

Benzodiazepines are great for anxiety except for the tolerance that builds up over time. Pretty much the more you take the faster the build up then the more you have to take. It's like being on the gerbil wheel. That's why I would suggest trying other options first unless you know it's just to get you over the hump.

[still_crazy]

hi. benzodiazepines are -amazing- for short term anxiety relief. as deejay14 pointed out, its with long term use that problems pop up (for some, but not all people).

Lots of doctors prescribe Klonopin as the 1st, go to benzodiazepine. My personal advice would be to see about valium (more pill sizes available, easier to taper, fast acting, long half life) or ativan (fast acting, not as potent as klonopin, not as addictive as xanax). there's also a xanax xr, which I think is supposed to be a 1x daily thing...I don't know much about it, but back in the day, xanax was used in some cases of depression and depression w/ severe anxiety, with good results (unlike Klonopin, which can often cause depression).

id avoid the tranquilizers/antipsychotics, if you can. If one has psychosis, severe agitation, mania, that kind of thing...perhaps the risks are acceptable. Even then, its something to be aware of and monitor...except, most people on tranquilizers/antipsychotics are -not- provided w/ informed consent or proper monitoring. true story.

sometimes, buspar w/ an antidepressant gives good results. its generic, fairly inexpensive, has some overlap in terms of action w/ 'atypical' tranquilizers, and...yeah. might help, for less $$$ and w/ fewer serious risks than tranquilizers.

gabapentin is an option for some people. lyrica is currently on-patent, expensive. its a controlled substance (Schedule V I think, vs Schedule IV for the benzodiazepines), so there are some restrictions on prescribing. Lyrica can be dosed 2x daily, vs 3x daily for gabapentin. Long term use usually requires a careful taper, just like with benzodiazepines.

Surmontil is a tricyclic antidepressant. Its sedating, helps anxiety. Not the most popular psych drug ever, but it can be useful for people who are on edge, without having to resort to a tranquilizer or a benzodiazepine.

hydroxyzine (vistrail, atarax) is an old school, sedating antihistamine that is used in psych indications. I'm not a fan, but some people swear by it. Rarely, long term, high dose use leads to tardive dyskinesia.

the anti-seizure drugs that are used in mood disorders are sometimes helpful in severe anxiety, agitation, etc. wouldn't be my 1st choice, but...better than a tranquilizer/antipsychotic. trileptal and lamictal seem to be used a good bit for these indications. trileptal requires very little blood work. lamictal can be helpful if depression is a on ongoing problem.

other than that...I can't think of much. now and then, doctors will take it back old school and prescribe meprobamate (Miltown, Equanil). Its a sedative that was popular in the 50s and 60s. From what little I've read about it, that's more common in states that have lots of restrictions on benzodiazepine prescribing. I guess the shrinks there can prescribe meprobamate w/o having to do as much paperwork and such.

beta blockers, such as propranolol, are sometimes used in some psych indications. not a fan myself, but some people find them useful.

sorry about your situation.

[Sasqautch]

I cant have a benzo cus my doctor also my moms painted me out to be a drug addict when i was a teen because i smoked pot. So when i ask for anything like sleep aid for my insomnia i get a fat NO and its bad now i have propralonol , Some relief from my severe anxienty so i can handle certain situations such as appointments or actually have a job or my panic attacks of cars everytime when i drive , i ask for a benzo which i dont want to take like candy only for highly anxious situations or abuse i get a fat NO , so i live in isolation instead of going outside , One point it was so bad i was in fear of every car who went past my house and a fear of intruders. Venlafaxine is all i get and is great with the depression and anxiety when you're isolated and free of frightening situatiions but sucks at panic attack prevention for me so i have no sucess ever working or driving.

Cus of my mother and all the things she has spewed into the docs ear im forced to suck it up and do life the hard way , and im never trusted when i do ask for certain things. Like a prescription of codeine because i cant take tylenol for my migranes any more cus i was using it daily for years to null the pain and was told to stop and ibuprofen on its own has no effects on it for me , Its either treated like murder suspect for asking for nerofen plus and paying 30 dollars a pop or just constant migranes with no help , Codeine is the only thing thats lets me have peace that and im a poor metabolizer of it and it barely has an recreational value for me, Despite that my doc cant believe me cus im mr drug addict who never was one cant be trusted.

Now im stuck sharing medication with my father which is not right cus i get treated like a child by my doc at 29 years of age. I want a new doc but im scared my mother has destroyed my medical history for the rest of my life. It makes me so sad when i see others with anxiety getting meds for their panic attack side of their illness so they can actually complete tasks like having a job or driving or being terrified when doing appointments and people getting sleep aid for their insomnia and im here just mental in my own mind having to cope in isolation.