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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 8:30:13
I'm usually not on this Board because mostly I can't take meds (antidepressants have a horrible effect on my brain chemistry).
But I am now in need of some kind of antianxiety drug that would not be debilitating or addictive -- something I could take every day. I currently have a Rx for Xanax and it works great to help manage the anxiety, but I can't take it every day around the clock.
Thanks for any help on this.
Posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 9:18:36
In reply to Anti-Anxiety Drugs?, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 8:30:13
> I'm usually not on this Board because mostly I can't take meds (antidepressants have a horrible effect on my brain chemistry).
>
> But I am now in need of some kind of antianxiety drug that would not be debilitating or addictive -- something I could take every day. I currently have a Rx for Xanax and it works great to help manage the anxiety, but I can't take it every day around the clock.
>
> Thanks for any help on this.Have you tried Xanax XR, the long-acting version?
If Xanax helps that much, you can try Klonopin (clonazepam). It works wonders for some people and makes others feel somewhat depressed. It has a long half-life. You can take it twice a day. Like Xanax, it is a benzodiazepine.
There are several other things to try, but I would be curious if you would consider Klonopin first.
Buspar
Seroquel
Ativan
Valium
Phenergan...to name a few.
Which tricyclic antidepressants have you tried?
Is depression a problem? Does it go away when the anxiety is adequately treated?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2009, at 11:04:46
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 9:18:36
The long acting xanax was not good for me and some others also have said they needed regular xanax inbetween. Greenstone xanax is made by offshoot of regular xanax and is generic but superior to the others. Valium worked well for me for many years. Don't fear the benzos if you don't have an addictive personality 37 years off and on tried them all. Haven't increased doses in that time although they work differently now. Love Phillipa
Posted by myco on February 5, 2009, at 12:15:37
In reply to Anti-Anxiety Drugs?, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 8:30:13
> I'm usually not on this Board because mostly I can't take meds (antidepressants have a horrible effect on my brain chemistry).
>
> But I am now in need of some kind of antianxiety drug that would not be debilitating or addictive -- something I could take every day. I currently have a Rx for Xanax and it works great to help manage the anxiety, but I can't take it every day around the clock.
>
> Thanks for any help on this.
Hi,you could try nardil (it's a maoi) although it's an old medication that most drs are not all that familiar anymore with and thus have inaccurate ideas and opinions about. For me anxiety is my root issue...xanax was helpful for awhile until I found nardil. It's brilliant for my anxiety, especially the ease of physical tension and ability to focus/concentrate and socialize. It's an AD that doesnt come with the stereotype of addictive potential (like xanax and other benzos) that prevents a drs ease at prescribing daily for longterm like xanax.
keep smilin,
Posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 13:31:35
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by myco on February 5, 2009, at 12:15:37
Nardil is an interesting choice. However,
Benzodiazepines are not generally addictive in the true sense of the word. Yes, there is a withdrawal syndrome to contend with if one is to discontinue them. However, one must be psychologically or physiologically craving the substance for addiction to take place. Even Nardil is not without a withdrawal syndrome if not tapered gradually enough. The doctor already seems amenable to prescribing BZDs.
Nardil might work, though. One can combine it with a BZD if necessary. Klonopin goes well with it.
Just another alternative.
- Scott
Posted by jms600 on February 5, 2009, at 14:22:00
In reply to Anti-Anxiety Drugs?, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 8:30:13
I guess the SSRIs would be the first considered by doctors - but then it depends on which meds you can take and which you can't. Is it ALL antidepressants that you can't take?
What about atypical antipsychotics? There's also buspirone, but i've never considered it to be that effective - especially with my anxiety. Saying that, I've read a few posts on here lately where people have said it's the best med they have tried!
You could also try anticonvulsants - they are also favoured by some posters.
Posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 15:00:53
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by jms600 on February 5, 2009, at 14:22:00
> There's also buspirone, but i've never considered it to be that effective - especially with my anxiety. Saying that, I've read a few posts on here lately where people have said it's the best med they have tried!
That's good to hear.
It often takes weeks for buspirone (Buspar) to begin to show anxiolytic effects. I think most people give up on it too soon. Some probably expect that it should act as quickly as a benzodiazepine.
- Scott
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:18:08
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 9:18:36
Thanks, Scott. Obviously I have much to learn about the antianxiety drugs. I have been on tricyclics before, but I tend to react very, very badly to antidepressants so I've stopped even trying them now. Depression is definitely an issue, but the last few years the anxiety has been worse than the depression. I had no idea there was a longer acting Xanax, so I'll definitely ask about that.
Is it true that if you take it regularly it doesn't make you feel so tired and out of it? It generally works well in terms of getting my brain to shut the h*ll up so I can sleep, but that's a downside during the day when I need to work.
Thanks again for your help.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:18:49
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs?, posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2009, at 11:04:46
Thanks, Phillipa. I do have somewhat of an addictive personality (cigs and food), so I'll have to be a little careful. But this is useful information to have.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:19:29
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by myco on February 5, 2009, at 12:15:37
I've never even heard of Nardil, but I'll definitely check it out. This is one class of antidepressants I haven't tried.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:20:18
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs?, posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 13:31:35
Also good to know re: addiction. I just read that in the patient literature and my doc seems hesitant for me to use it every day longer than a couple of weeks at a time. But maybe I need to discuss this with her further.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:21:50
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » TherapyGirl, posted by jms600 on February 5, 2009, at 14:22:00
Thanks. It is pretty much all antidepressants, although I've never been on MAOIs. God knows, we tried every version of all the other types in various dosages over a year's time and all of them had the same effect on my brain chemistry. But I have to do something about this anxiety, so it may be worth a shot. I'll get some more information about buspirone.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:22:43
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? » jms600, posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 15:00:53
Is it possible to take the benzo for a few weeks until the Buspar starts working?
Posted by raisinb on February 5, 2009, at 21:02:43
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? SLS + JMS, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:22:43
It seems like there's a split between the patient lit out there and real patient/dr experience. The wiki article and prescribing info I read about Xanax (just started it myself) was ominous. One page even suggested you'd be seriously addicted after a few days.
But my pdoc had no problem prescribing me a lot of it, and told me it would be fine to take it for the long term as long as I tapered off. And lots of us on this board have been on benzos for years.
Posted by SLS on February 6, 2009, at 5:33:10
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? SLS + JMS, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:22:43
Hi TG.
> Is it possible to take the benzo for a few weeks until the Buspar starts working?
Now, you're thinking! Yes, that sounds like a good plan to me. I would want to do the same thing myself. I'm sure you know that depression can produce anxiety as a symptom. Did you know that anxiety can produce depression as a symptom? The depression might resolve on its own once the anxiety is controlled.
Has your doctor mentioned generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Keep the Nardil in your back pocket if you want to hold off on antidepressants for now. It has a very different mechanism of action than tricyclics, SSRIs, Effexor, and Cymbalta. Remeron is unique, but can be anxiogenic (anxiety producing). Nardil works for a broader spectrum of conditions, including depression, GAD, social anxiety/phobia, and OCD. For some people (myself included), MAOIs are actually cleaner in terms of side effects. However, it can take up to 3 months for all of them to disappear.
- Scott
Posted by jms600 on February 6, 2009, at 16:07:04
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? SLS + JMS, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:22:43
> Is it possible to take the benzo for a few weeks until the Buspar starts working?
Yes - I don't see any problem with that. You may wish to considering a longer acting benzo such as Valium. Alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan) are both shorting acting drugs; however, they are still very effective and are preferred by a lot of posters here.
Lyrica (pregabalin) is another option. Not sure where you're from but Lyrica is actually licensed for Generalised Anxiety Disorder here in Britain. Some people say that it's anxiolytic effects can diminish as tolerance occurs; however, having not tried the medication I cannot comment personally on it's long term effectiveness.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 7, 2009, at 7:29:05
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? SLS + JMS, posted by TherapyGirl on February 5, 2009, at 20:22:43
Thanks to all three of you (and everyone else who posted). You've given me a lot to think about and a lot of options.
Scott -- It hadn't occurred to me that the anxiety might be producing the depression, but it is an intriguing thought.
Thanks again for the help.
Posted by TherapyGirl on February 7, 2009, at 17:12:12
In reply to Re: Anti-Anxiety Drugs? SLS + JMS + Antigua, posted by TherapyGirl on February 7, 2009, at 7:29:05
I'm so sorry, Raisin. This is what my brain does to me these days.
TG
Posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2009, at 19:25:15
In reply to Not Antigua, Raisinb -- Brain not functioning righ, posted by TherapyGirl on February 7, 2009, at 17:12:12
For me personally anxiety does lead to depression. Love Phillipa
Posted by raisinb on February 8, 2009, at 9:23:05
In reply to Not Antigua, Raisinb -- Brain not functioning righ, posted by TherapyGirl on February 7, 2009, at 17:12:12
This is the end of the thread.
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