Posted by Racer on April 17, 2006, at 14:35:37
In reply to If a med is SEDATIVE then is it ANXIOLYTIC?, posted by Don_Bristol on April 17, 2006, at 14:03:41
I can't say anything for sure about this, but I can tell you my own experience: benzos sedate me, but don't reduce my anxiety -- and amphetamines only sedate me a bit, but do reduce my anxiety... (Yeah, I know I'm weird...)
With benzos, especially Xanax, I won't get calmer if I'm upset or anxious, and will generally get even more worked up just because it's so frightening to feel so much more vulnerable because of the sedation. Not a good plan for me, and I've had blackouts from taking "just a little more" Xanax in hopes of calming down. (If I'm lucky, I go to sleep -- more often, though, it's a vicious circle of getting more upset, more frightened, and being unable to sleep.)
Amphetamines, which I have less experience with, reduce my psychological anxiety so much I'm not sure there's any anxiety there at all. Physically, I still feel some tension, especially in my gut, but psychologically I'm calm and fairly relaxed. I think it's because they reduce the cognitive hyperactivity so much, that there's not all that background chatter keeping me wound up. (Now if only they didn't put me to sleep...)
Propranalol was great for my physical anxiety, and Buspar was pretty good for both, but they were both so amotivating that I couldn't stand it. (The amphetamines aren't much better in that regard, though...)
So, I don't think sedation is equivalent, nor necessary, to reducing anxiety. At least for some people.
poster:Racer
thread:634162
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060417/msgs/634168.html