Medication to help with anxiety

[Missk 0]

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Hi, im 23, and i have been dealing with anxiety for over 3 years now, I have been asking my doctor for something to help and they either blow me off or say the medicine takes time I've been trying for 3 years, and I'm feeling hopeless, the anxiety attacks are getting more frequent. Please help

[JungleJulia 235]

Hi Missk! Sorry to hear that your anxiety is bad and that your doctor isn't being helpful There are a few medication options, they are helpful to some people, but not others, which may be why your doctor is hesitant. The quick fix for panic type anxiety is usually to take a benzo, such as Xanax. It will relax the anxiety in the short term but for most people it isn't a long term solution. Some people take SSRI's or SNRI's which are types of antidepressants. They help some people with their anxiety but they are not immediate, you have to take them for about 6 weeks usually to feel any possible benefit (it builds up slowly in your system). Maybe ask your doctor about those options and see what he/she thinks? Or if they still refuse to discuss it, ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who will be more specialised in the medications that are used for anxiety and won't brush you off. I hope this helps xxx

[Gilly 1086]

Hi missk, welcome to AC Sorry your doctor isn't very helpful, can you find a new one? JJ has explained very well, benzos can be a quick fix but you can end up needing more and more because they only help for a short time and your body can get used to them and craves more, if your doctor refuses to prescribe them for anxiety that is a wise decision IMO, mine refused to and now in hindsight I am grateful. They can be helpful short term, taken sparingly for panic attacks, or over a few weeks to help whilst you adjust to taking an anti depressant, which are not addictive like a benzo so can be more successful treating anxiety. If your doctor is refusing to prescribe an antidepressant for your anxiety purely because they take time to work, that is ridiculous, I would find a new doctor.

[busybee3 21]

High dnt know were u live in in the uk i had the same problem i was put on a drug called quietipin for bad anxiety. Its not to strong and just settles u.it is very good at night as it helps relax u into sleep without needing sleeping tablets

[vickyaustin69 9]

Maybe it is time to switch doctors? Or be more proactive about your mental healthcare plan. I take Klonopin and it is lovely. No side effects and it works quickly. I can take it at work/home/etc... and do not have to worry about drowsiness or anything! Depression med usually does not help for anxiety (in my experience). Klonopin works the first time you take it and there is no need for it to "build up" in your system. Maybe what they are trying to treat you as is a depression case instead of anxiety/panic case. 

[Ninja Kitty 15]

Well i have been on more medication than i care to mention, i alos have very indepth kowledge about all medication if you need any advice feel free to pm me i'll be happy to give you some suggestions for your dr or psych....... and in all cases i always try adn avoid telling peopl about benzos, benzos should be last line of treatment for anyone , so many other medications out there that can help just as well without the long term side effects or dependance that can go hand in hand with benzo use.

 

Kitty xx

 

 

(i am not a precribing dr or a dr i can only advise ad give my personal opinion and my medical knowledege as a guideline to maybe help you when you see your dr or psych)

[Ninja Kitty 15]

and as gilly says sometimes no medication can be a blessing in disguise  :wub:

[Brynn 0]

I have been taking St. Johns Wort to help with my anxiety. I used to take Citalopram for a couple of years...much too long. It was terrible going off of it. I was fine for a while but I decided that I needed something after all because my husband and I had to cancel our vacation because I got sick with anxiety and I could not function. The St. Johns Wort has been making me sick...dizzy,headaches, etc. I hope that this passes soon...I need to be able to function and live life not just exist. Is there any way to get through this adjustment time without having to feel so bad?

[KMilner71 7]

I have been alternating between xanax and kolonopin for over a year now. My GP told me that the downside to benzos is that they are one of a few medicines that actually work to treat the symptoms of anxiety which is where the potential for addiction coms in. My Pdoc told me that if I stay on them another 3 years than I will not be able to come off of them. She said it will not be her choice or my choice, it will be my bodies choice. They do help me in that I can go to work and some what function daily but I am trying different things to help me learn to cope with and manage my anxiety.I bought the book by Claire Weeks, "Hope and Help for your Nerves", so far it makes a lot of sense. I also bought a book called " At last a life" which also deals with coping and managing anxiety. I will post an update when I have finished reading both.I have also read that meditation helps as it activates your bodies natural relaxtion mode. I am finding in my research that essentially to over come anxiety you have to retrain your brain. It is stuck in a continous loop of negative thoughts and fear, so the key is retrian it to break that loop where you are  able to see things in a postive way and see situations in a more realistic light. I hope that everyone that is struggling with this illness can find  something that works for them so that they can feel good again.