Anti Anxiety Meds...Which is best?

I take Xanax but only a few times a week at a small dose as needed. I like it because it doesn't have the side effects of the anxiety meds that you have to take daily. It's addictive though so it might not be something that you want to take every day.

I was just put on Lexapro 10mg two days ago by the nurse practitioner at my gastro doctor's office. My nerves have been bad over the past couple of years, especially when I flare, and no one really has wanted to give me anything. I was given Xanax two times only in a quantity of 30 pills each time and I have not been given a prescription for any more due to the fact that one doctor said it is addictive. But when it takes you several months to use up 30 pills that is not abusing them.

Lexapro is generally a good drug but it takes a few weeks to get in your system.

I agree with a getting your GP involved in the decision. Not all drugs are alike and they work to combat a myriad of symptoms. Only your doctor will know which one would best suit your needs. Just remember it can also be trial and error and you might have to try a couple of them before finding one that works the best.

Sue

I needed a little help last year getting through the anxiety when my son was diagnosed.  My doctor put me on Celexa.  This is one of the SSRI medications for depression and anxiety.  It is not a short acting one like Xanax, but long acting.  It takes several weeks to build up enough to help, and it may cause increased anxiety at first.  For that, my doctor prescribed Xanax as needed, but I didn't take that at all.  I was on it for several months, and just tapered down off of it recently.  I felt it worked well for me with minimal to no side effects. 

Jo

Thanks Guys : )

My GP rxd Clonazepam 0.5 mg but when I looked it up it says its for seizures and then panic attacks???

Be very careful with Zoloft, or any anti-anxiety meds for that matter. In addition to talking to your doctor, make sure you do research about possible side effects and the difficulty you may face when weaning off these drugs. Zoloft can be particularly nasty in that regard, and my doctor told me nothing about that.

Definitely helps with prednisone moodiness, etc.  I found for me that 1/2 of the .025 tablet more often - like 4 to 6 hours keeps a constant calmness but not "loopy" or anything.

ElaineNY

I tried St. John's Wort for a while....I was more agitated than I could imagine. It was for depression I tried it, however...but ultimately, therapy using CBT was what helped with the anxiety.

ZLSJ..you should get your Vitamin D checked...mine was verrrrry low, and that in itself with low calcium could lead to some exacerbation of feeling anxious.

The bottom line is learning how to deal with all that emotionally and mentally ails us. We, who have a tendency to be anxious will most likely do so across the board....I find when my options are very limited (percieved that is) I'm much more anxious.

The goal isn't to have any anxiety, we probably always will...it's how to deal with it.

I do have a 'script for clonazepam (felt too long lasting grogginess and don't like it) and one for ativan (helps, but again don't like the grogginess feeling), but that could be because I'm also on Effexor XR. Before I was on Effexor, the Ativan worked awesome for anxiety, but I was taking it too often and became more depressed.

sigh....that was when my therapist was ill himself and off the a year and a half during my worst crisis ever....I then asked my GP for meds and was put on Effexor. It did help with the depression and I was able to deal with the anxiety more easily.

quincy

I have been taking clonazepam each night to help me sleep. I recently started on Celexa 20 mg a couple of weeks ago but because I couldn't sleep, I cut it in half. So now I am on 10 mg and it has taken the "edge" off my sadness. Lately I have been feeling sad because so much of my life has changed because of my UC and the drugs I am on and the reactions to them. I was feeling sad for myself and now with the Celexa, I feel a little lighter in spirit. Might just be my imagination, but I feel it is helping.

Nor

Kiss520 said...
Be very careful with Zoloft, or any anti-anxiety meds for that matter. In addition to talking to your doctor, make sure you do research about possible side effects and the difficulty you may face when weaning off these drugs. Zoloft can be particularly nasty in that regard, and my doctor told me nothing about that.

True!


Google zoloft withdrawal and you will learn a lot. My wife was a mess with debilitating dizzyness etc.

Have you tried therapy? CBT?