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Best meds for anxiety?

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Posted 3/19/2014 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Is there anything which actually works?

I don't really know how to explain the problem succinctly. I feel like I can barely hold onto my own thoughts any more. For most of my life, depression was my primary problem, but in the past few years my anxiety has got worse. More recently, it's just jumped through the roof and I have no idea how to cope with it. (On top of that I still struggle with depression.)

I don't really know how to describe it: it's just a constant panicky feeling without ever quite spilling over into a total panic attack. I never seem to just feel 'normal' anymore. I have had these feelings in the past and remember it was a great relief when they subsided and I felt like 'myself' again (not that I have ever had a terrifically strong sense of self), but now the feelings never seem to entirely go away. Even if I distract myself for a while, they're still there in the background.

It has been a tough few years and it feels like this sh!t has fried my brain. I'm 39 and I still live with my parents, and lately it has become a living torture. What I really want is utter peace and quiet: I want a cottage in the middle of nowhere, at least 10 miles away from another human being. It isn't happening. Not in the overcrowded south east of England.

I need something for my jangled and frazzled nerves. I can categorically say that antidepressants didn't work. I don't hold out much hope for Xanax, or whatever, but I'm desperate. Is there anything which is really calming and soothing for just a few hours? Obviously I would need the self-control to only restrict such a drug to 2-3x a week if there were, since anything which actually works usually has a nasty habit of also being addictive.

Thank you folks. Sorry for my rambling post.
Posted 3/19/2014 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi NCOT and welcome to the A/P.

I am sorry to read that your anxiety has been ramping up lately. It can be a heavy burden to bear to deal with chronic illness, depression and anxiety all at once!

Have you discussed this at all with your doctor? I would recommend having that conversation of course...but it is good to go in informed.

If you are looking for something taken on an as needed basis, then yes, you are right...Benzodiazepines are what you are likely looking at...and they can carry a dependency risk.

However, if you have no history of addiction, and take them according to your doctor's instruction, then you would likely do just fine.

Other no A/D possibilities for anxiety Rx's include Beta Blockers and even antihistimines that are used as 'off label' for A/P.

There are also many great and effective coping skills that can be used as well for pretty amazing results as far as anxiety management go.

If you are interested, I will post them at your request.:)

I hope that you can make a call and get in to see your doctor for a consulatation a.s.a.p. It will be good to get on the road to feeling better soon.

Post with us anytime for anxiety support.

S.C.

Posted 3/20/2014 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Scaredy Cat. (Good name, btw; I'm a total scaredy cat <_<.)

This anxiety is driving me up the wall. I was out all day today and it was a bit difficult at times, but I got by. As soon as I got home and online, the anxiety started up again: it's unrelenting. It's also new, as the internet has always been the one thing up until now which has assauged my anxiety.

I'm wondering if my medication (levothyroxine) has anything to do with it. I'm anxious about that now.

I just really, really want this to go away. I have no proof it's the levothyroxine but I'm on the verge of stopping it anyway.

Have no history of addiction to benzodiapezines. I stupidly got addicted to Oxycodone last year. I wasn't even on it for a very long time, but it was still pure hell to get off. I was also on steroids for a long time for my Crohn's; I'm off them now, but I'm a bit worried they screwed up my adrenal glands/endocrine system permanently.

I'll look into beta-blockers, but I don't think antihistamines would work: I take hydroxyzine for itchy skin, and it doesn't seem to do a lot, but I do take it right before bedtime: I'll try taking one now, see if it does anything. Edit: Okay, just looked up dosages; a much higher dose is used for treating anxiety, so I'll try doubling it.

Post away... >_>

My GP knows me quite well. Every so often he tries a new antidepressant on me without any success. (Trazadone being the latest failure, but think I might actually give that another go as well: it's a toss up between that and the hydroxyzine!). However, I think he is less aware of my anxiety than he is the depression, so next time I see him I will specifically talk about the anxiety.

Again, thanks for your help.
Posted 3/20/2014 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
I don't feel like anti depressants or anti anxiety drugs on a daily basis is good for me either.
I do have a prescription for xannax that I don't abuse. I have to be feeling really crappy to take it and I usually will take just a half. I do some times take a beneydrl before bed to sleep soundly but I also have allergies that it helps as well.
I try relaxation techniques, try to remove stressful situations from my life whenever possible & have started the Mood Gym program which is proving to be enlightening and helpful.
I wish you all the best.
Posted 3/20/2014 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi NCOT.,

Here are the coping skills/decompression exercises that I had mentioned.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

...and definitely let your doctor know what is going on with your increase of anxiety. There is help and hope!

Also, before taking any antihistamines, please consult with him. The off label use that I mentioned is prescription...and a specific dose...so taking a double amount of an existing Rx, or an OTC is not advised.

Wishing you much peace and progress!!

S.C.

Posted 3/20/2014 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
Oh...and one more thing I forgot...

If your thyroid levels are not where they should be...anxiety can definitely be and issue!

Have you had your TSH tested lately? If not, there is another thing to talk to your doc about.:) Perhaps it is not your Rx itself, but how it is affecting your thryroid function that is the issue.

S.C.
Posted 3/21/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, but there isn't any hope. My life is going to suck every single day until the day I die. I feel dreadful, both physically and mentally, and have done ever since surgery.

I just give up. Don't care, I just want this to end.
Posted 3/21/2014 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe you could try a depression med and an anxiety med. Since you have issues with your thyroid I'd suggest an older med that does the same thing but usually has no severe side effects. Now notice I said usually. No one knows what s/es they will have, BUT from what your describing I would, and no I'm not a dr, but have tried many different meds I would suggest trying remeron/mirtzapine. The main two side effects are sedation, it WILL knock you out and the sleep you get normally is amazing. The other side effect is increased appetite/weight gain. This is a depression/anxiety med taken at night about an hour before bed. Then I would suggest a long acting benzo. Some of those are klonopin (seems to be the goto benzo anymore), librium a very mild benzo that has a very long half life and is the drug valium was derived from, valium is another that has an extremely long half life as well. These three have the longest half life which mean it takes a very long time 60-200 hrs for half of the drug to be out of your system. So you take lower doses and it builds up over time but stays in your system longer. The short quick acting benzos are the ones that are generally abused and are more likely to cause addiction due to the very short half life, xanax and ativan are the main two. Both act very quick but are out of your system very quick. Seems like you need something that is more consistent in your system like the klonopin, valium, librium so you have a constant stay state instead of the up and down you would get with xanax and ativan.
Posted 3/21/2014 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you have quite a good friend and cheerleader in KMF...!!

...I am guessing you two know each other from another board? ;p

He is right. Bad days will always happen, but then so do the better ones.

I am sorry that you are feeling down at the moment, but know that you have many people who care for you, and are here to cheer you on always!

Hugs my new friend,

S.C.
Posted 3/22/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Woah, this board must be fairly active; this thread was already on page 2.

@C - Thank you so much. I should try to screw more things (don't read that wrong way, will you? >_>); a few weeks ago I was more robust and better able to fight the constant flow of depression/anxiety. Sometimes I really was able to rise above it for a while. Then I resumed Levothyroxine and came down with a throat infection. My fragile stability was shattered like bone china. Honestly didn't feel in my right mind.

Today I feel slightly better, but just even typing that makes me feel anxious. It feels almost meaningless saying I feel better, when I could be plunged into a 6-week depression the next day. (This is what I have tried to tell psychiatrists and what they don't seem to hear: if I appear better on that day, then hey I'm permanently better! Er, no I'm not...)

@Chadj - Thanks, some helpful med recommendations there. I was prescribed mirtazipine, but didn't take it: I took fright over the weight gain side-effect. I'm not massively overweight (BMI 26), but it looks worse 'cos I'm short. I can't deal with putting on any more weight, I already hate my body as it is. I wish I could get over that, but I can't seem to. Perhaps I should give it at least one try: maybe I'll try it tonight... :-/

Thanks for explaining the comparison between long-acting and short-acting benzos as well: I didn't actually know that, so it was interesting.

@Scaredy-Cat - You guessed right. KMF was, in fact, my stalker ¬_¬. We met on the Depression board. The people on it are nice, but I can't escape this feeling that I am too depressing even for the depression board.

Anyway, thank you folks. Going for an early night and will log off shortly. *feels anxious*
Posted 3/22/2014 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Mam we all try to deal with our problems by trying to ease the
load from each others shoulders, here your not a problem, your
one of us! Peace

Larry ***
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