Comments on: Help with panic/anxiety medications…?

By: monkeyhijinx

monkeyhijinx — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

In answer to those who suggest you need to find the root causes etc. Sometimes there isn’t any – that is simply the way her mind reacts to the external environment and it’s just the way she is. If after five years of therapy she hasnt found it, I think medication is the simplest alternative.

Because they act on the brain’s neurotransmitters they often have addictive qualities. My story is identical to yours, except my doctor gave me so many different SSRI’s that I had a massive seizure and ended up in an ambulance. I had originally told him that I had previously tried SSRI’s but they did not help me, but he ignored that! So just be careful about switching too much.

I was moved onto valium which is a bit like Xanax, unfortunately also addictive (apparently). But I think if you try not to take them every day – eg, not at the weekend, then it should be OK presuming you dont need higher dosages.

I think all this hysteria about benzodiazepines is over the top.

I heard about a medication called buspirone, but everyone says its not very good. I honestly dont believe there are any good non-addictive anxiety drugs out there. If your anxiety is, like mine is, bad enough to warrant risking addiction to a medication, I’m actually willing to accept that risk because it’s so unpleasant.

By: bettym

bettym — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

i know this sounds stupid..but this actually works for my mom..she has these attacks quite often when she doesnt eat thsi…ok..cottage cheese with apricots …yes it sounds out of this world but she very seldom has the severe attacks while she takes a med., for it and eats this 3xs a day…
worth a try..i men whats good for one isnt necessarily good for another but you never know til you try..also try some meditation..like yoga..and or..try jsut being ina peaceful place that makes you feel relaxed…and sit and think about allt hats causing you to have the attacks..breath in through your nose and slowly out of your mouth..deep breaths…..i got the stress cds.. and this really helps me…

By: Billie77

Billie77 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

Xanax is absolutely the best medicine for panic and anxiety attacks. You yourself have said it’s the only thing that works. It’s a very good medication and if you are not abusing it, don’t be concerned about taking it. It was invented for problems like yours. The Bad news you hear about it is people who are taking it for recreational purposes.

continue under your doctor’s supervision and you will be fine.

By: sOuL dOcToR

sOuL dOcToR — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

Homeopathic Treatment(s) for Anxiety/Stress :-

ANXIETY & STRESS :-

Sudden with restlessness and fear of death Aconite 30X or 200X,1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

Prolonged with periodic and panic attacks Arsenic Alb.200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

With fainting spells; profuse sweating; worse in the morning Sulphur 30X or 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Makes patient walk fast; due to anticipation Argentum Nit 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Worse lying in bed and closing the eyes Carbo Veg 30X or 200X, 4 hourly (6 Doses)

Anxiety aggravated by upward or downward motion; going in an elevator; worse till 11 P.M, Borax 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxious about business even when seriously ill Bryonia Alba 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Full of apprehensions in the evening Causticum 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety and fears in the evening with restlessness and palpitation Calcarea Carb.200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety worse while lying still. Sad music ameliorates the complaints Manganum Acet 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety due to fright, fear,exciting news; stage fright; worse while appearing for examination or interview etc Gelsemium 30X or 200X 3 hourly (6 Doses)

Mood Swings, Anxiety due to grief or shock in the subconscious mind Ignatia 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety; better after eating Anacardium Or 30X, 4 hourly.

Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms.
No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine (Cures Par Excellence)

Take Care and God Bless You !

By: Elaine P

Elaine P — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

You’ve taken enough medication, now you need to do something else. You should see a counselor to find the root cause for your panic and anxiety. Some hospitals offer free seminars, especially if your panic stems from an incident in your life, such as loss of someone you love, a divorce, an accident, or other traumatic event. Call your local hospital . Also, ask your doctor if he/she knows of any such seminars or if he/she can recommend a counselor. Good luck to you!

By: spiderhedron

spiderhedron — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

What works for me is Klonopin by day (doesn’t sedate me) and Xanax by night (does sedate me). Since I started this combination I haven’t had ANY panic attacks, and I used to get horrible ones. I don’t care that they’re addictive; I’ll just take them for the rest of my life. Addiction isn’t as bad as PD.

By: Natalya

Natalya — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

First of all, you need to find a therapist/psychiatrist who can help you find out why you’re having panic attacks in the first place.

At the same time, there are many anti depressants out there; have you also tried Mirtazapine, or what about the MAOIs?

The MAOIs are the older anti depressants, and they often work well with people who haven’t responded to the SSRIs, the ones you’ve already tried. But if you do take one of these, there are several foods, and many medicines, including over the counter ones, that you have to avoid – else the interaction can be serious, even fatal.

Have you ever tried Neuro Linguistic Programming for your anxiety? This might be worth looking into.

Also consider cognitive behavioural therapy.

By: pixilatedpenguin75

pixilatedpenguin75 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

I find that Klonopin helps. I don’t like the addictivness of thes kind of drugs so I usually take 1/2 to 1 mg only when I feel a panic attack coming on. I’ve had this prolem for so long now that I can recognize the very early signs of an attack and very rarely get past the nausea stage. My doctor recently wanted me to start on something else but I’m so afraid of side effects that I didn’t even get the prescription filled. I did take effexor for a while when the doctor could give me samples and that seemed to help quite a bit with minimal side effects.

By: sandpipers_r_free

sandpipers_r_free — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

Effexor, Lexapro, and Paxil are all antidepressants, and though they may help with the anxiety the anti-anxiety medications such as xanax, are more effective. In the past I have used that, as well as a hand full of others like ativan, klonopin, buspar, and valium. I think valium works best for me. I’ve had to use this type of med for many years, only when I really need it, and haven’t had any addiction problems. But like I say I only use it as needed. You and your doctor are the ones to decide what is right for you.

By: niknikx3

niknikx3 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

i take zoloft. i had a few side affects like drowsiness and nausesness but they sibsided and im fine now.

By: william m

william m — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

Why not try a solution that does not require the use of medication. Check out this site:

http://www.cureanxietydisorder.com

It has helped many people that have had panic/anxiety attacks….

All the best…

By: PAUL C

PAUL C — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

You sound ready to be eaten by cannibals. Have a nice day.

By: mark f

mark f — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:14:35 +0000

I got addicted to tranquillisers and sleeping pills. I used diazepam (valium) alprazolam (xanax), chlordiazepoxide (librium), lorazepam (ativan) but mostly it was diazepam. I found they worked really really well for anxiety for about 3 months and then stopped working and then I would have to increase the dose and so on. Then when I tried to reduce the dose the anxiety I experienced as part of the withdrawal symptoms was a 100 times worse than the origional condition. The pills started messing up my short term memory, emotions and thus personality after being on them years so I had to get off them which was hell. Took me months to wean off them and the withdrawals lasted months and months. I found the best cure was no alcohol and no medications. Weaned myself off the lot. I am not the best fan of tranx or sleeper pills to be honest.