[Pookyl]

I suffer from severe anxiety. My pdoc wants me to have a think about whether I’m willing to go on an antidepressant to treat it.
Note - my mood is currently ‘normal’ and stable. I am not depressed at all.
Is anyone using an antidepressant just for management of anxiety? In particular, SSRI’s?
Wellbutrin is not an option.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm on a baby dose of lexapro, half the smallest dose. I don't think it has helped much but we shall see.

[Wild Coyote]

I am not just now, but had been using just citalopram 10 mg. which truly helped my anxiety and any agitation, too.

I hold a special place in my heart for citalopram. We are great friends!

I'd have concerns about any AD med, esp if stable. Does he not want to prescribe a benzo?

I hope you find something helpful!

[Jester's Rags]

I’ve had antidepressants help with OCD symptoms, but none that ever really touched my anxiety. I take Xanax for anxiety and it works well. That’s just my experience. I’m not a doctor.

[~Christina]

What about Buspar ?!? Never helped me but worked for my daughter for a while.

Zoloft has really helped my daughter depression but her anxiety is very low now.

I use to take Doxipen but that for more for sedation, I don’t think it helped my anxiety,

I think you tried Inderal already ???

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I'd have concerns about any AD med, esp if stable. Does he not want to prescribe a benzo?

I hope you find something helpful!

I have a benzo (Valium) prescribed already however she considers benzos a short term symptomatic fix.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

What about Buspar ?!? Never helped me but worked for my daughter for a while.

Zoloft has really helped my daughter depression but her anxiety is very low now.

I use to take Doxipen but that for more for sedation, I don’t think it helped my anxiety,

I think you tried Inderal already ???

I’m now on atenolol (which is another beta blocker) instead of Inderal. My pdoc and I aren’t sure if going down the AD route is smart given how stable I am. That’s why she’s happy for me to keep taking Valium.

[~Christina]

I’d be hesitant to start a AD if Bipolar wise I was stable. I’d have to really think about it I’ve had mixed results in the past. 2-3 days on low dose AD had me climbing a depression wall... and once I was IP by day 5-6 with psychosis.

If you try any I’d take the absolute lowest of low dose and really keep an eye on my mood and sleep

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

What about Buspar ?!? Never helped me but worked for my daughter for a while.

Zoloft has really helped my daughter depression but her anxiety is very low now.

I use to take Doxipen but that for more for sedation, I don’t think it helped my anxiety,

I think you tried Inderal already ???

I can’t remember the specifics of why exactly but Buspar isn’t an option for me.

[MobiusPsyche]

I'd be more likely to try an antipsychotic than an antidepressant. I know that when I started Abilify as a depression adjunct, my anxiety improved significantly as well. I hadn't quite realized how anxious I was until that happened.

I would give an antidepressant a shot if my pdoc was on board with it and ready to manage the possible fallout. Valium is no kind of solution as the risk of addiction is too high for my taste.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by MobiusPsyche

I'd be more likely to try an antipsychotic than an antidepressant. I know that when I started Abilify as a depression adjunct, my anxiety improved significantly as well. I hadn't quite realized how anxious I was until that happened.

I would give an antidepressant a shot if my pdoc was on board with it and ready to manage the possible fallout. Valium is no kind of solution as the risk of addiction is too high for my taste.

I’m already on two anti-psychotics hence the discussion about whether an AD would be a good idea.

[Coolbreeze74]

I would look into citalopram....