Panic Attacks and Anxiety - What's left to take?

[Trying2Smile]

New to the forum and glad to be able to talk openly finally. With the hectic life I have and stresses that are not presently able to go away - panic attacks, anxiety, and constant ER visits are what my past 7 years have consisted of. Clonazepam for a few years, on and off, now on Xanax 1mg for the past month. Maybe I'm always going to be upset or a walking panic attack...but xanax hasn't helped much even during an attack..and what scares me is to take more, run out to soon, or it not work taking more. I chew my pills - gag reflex galore and panic of choking (retarded I know!) Would love advice on what I should take of something is better, or up the dose, or both? Been through many meds, All of them out there honestly sense 16 years old (I'm 25 now) because my parents would rather dope me on medication then see me growing up with there too important schedules..blahhh of course..but that's another hostile topic I hold inside lol. Yes though, any advice to numb the anxiety and honestly the stressed world I put up, with? (med wise) Thanks

 

[mrflowers00]

IMO xanax is best for panic disorder just up the dose i have to take 4 to 6mg to even notice relief but i think 2mg would help you if you haven't been on it long

 

[RobotRipping]

i think you should try a non drug approach before jumping on the benzo wagon. I'm 26 and have massive struggles with anxiety and have since i was a kid. Sometimes i just get so fed up with it that i completely challenge a panic attack, just hit it head on, just let anxiety hit me with everything it has. You state that you have some issues already (with your parents) which are probably driving your anxiety, so that's a good place to start in getting this all fixed. If you don't fix the underlying problems then they will eventually pop up again even if you are benzod out all day, every day.

 

[blight12]

Many people will recommend potentially recreational drugs and this seems so risky. If you can use it only when you panic, and this is only perhaps once or twice a week, then benzos im sure are ok. If you need something daily, then i cannot understand how anybody can recommend benzos responsibly.

SSRI's get a bad name on this board, but they personally helped me immensely with similar issues and you may want to research this option.
Another hater justification is that they are addictive and cause physical withdrawals, which is true, but they fail to remember that as they are not recreational or psychologically addicting, it is easy to stop at any time with properly managed and doctor approved tapering process and once this is done you will never get cravings or urges to use ever again. Saying SSRI's are equally addictive and risky as other rec drugs is retarded.

What works for me is paxil and seroquel for any panic or times it gets to bad, and for sleep. I purposely rejected benzos and other rec medications, you dont want to risk ever going through benzo withdrawals bud.

 

[paranoid android]

You could try a tricyclic anti-depressant as they sometimes help with anxiety and usually cause much less dependence then ssri's or snri's. MAOI's like parnate are also used for anxiety disorders but are a last ditch effort due to side effects. The anti-convulsants gabapentin and lyrica are also used off label and they do work for some people.

As for other benzos Valium would be one that's worth trying as it can be more chill for some people then say Xanax. I found clonazepam to be the best at treating my panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder but everyone is different.

 

[Alex000]

I would advise possibly getting back on the clonazepam to take daily, if that is what you did in the past and it worked some. And, then I would have alprazolam as your PRN for panic attacks or lorazepam for a PRN, but I think for panic which needs quick termination alprazolam is superior, but on the other hand lorazepam is under-rated, and I think a bit misused in medicine. It is kind of a weird benzo, but can really do a good job for certain individuals' anxieties and panic symptoms. If you were to take clonazepam daily, round-the-clock, you would get constant anxiety relief (to some degree) and constant prophylaxis (prevention) of panic attacks or at least a sense of dealing with the panic attacks more easily, and likely less frequent panic attacks. When you do need that extra sedation, you could then turn to alprazolam or lorazepam as I mentioned above, which you would likely not need as frequently because you would already have 24-7 action on clonazepam's part. Alprazolam and lorazepam can be taken under the tongue, but the time till onset of effect is likely to be the same, but perhaps a bit less, leading to quicker anxiolysis (anxiety relief). If you are using a benzo PRN like alprazolam or lorazepam not so frequently, and you don't need to drive or do anything which requires full attention/focus and full capacity of motor skills, upping your PRN dose would be fine, just don't leap like you are suggesting. For example, try 1.5 mg, before going to 2 mg with the alprazolam in your current situation. BUT, if you are on clonazepam around-the-clock, the dose of your PRN benzo will not need to be as high (probably not even 1 mg alprazolam, depending on clonazepam dose), and like I said you won't need to take it as frequently.

 

[Jktm]

Look into Xanax XR if you can afford it...

I have panic disorder and alprazolam has worked the best for me...if you do look into xanax xr, I would suggest having some IR xanax for breakthrough anxiety/panic attacks, but you probably won't have to take a full mg if you're on...say 2-2mg xanax xr's a day...I would speak with your doctor about this though...

 

[Swimmingdancer]

i think you should try a non drug approach before jumping on the benzo wagon.

^This. Or even if you're going to use drugs, use them only when absolutely needed and at the same time try to work on the issues behind your anxiety and learning how to cope with it via non-drug methods. Therapy, lifestyle changes, self-help, mindfulness techniques, yoga/meditation, CBT, supplements, etc. If all you do is mask it with drugs sooner or later the drugs will stop masking it, plus it sucks to be on drugs long-term for a number of reasons.

As far as anti-depressants, I agree that while they are dependence-causing they are not "addictive", so can be easier to quit since you don't crave them, but I do not recommend them as they can alter your brain, have nasty side-effects, and can actually worsen depression and anxiety. I agree that they're a better option than long-term benzo use though.

If you need mental support for your anxiety and life issues, want to hear about non-drug ways others are dealing with similar issues, or just need a place to vent about shit going on in your life, The Dark Side forum is great for that.

 

[Delphinia]

I have tried SSRI/SNRI/benzos. the first two are not effective for me and benzos are a little too effective. I'm considering asking my doc for Lyrica, which is prescribed off-label for anxiety, but approved for GAD in Europe

 

[kokaino]

A great antianxiety agent that is often overlooked is bromazepam. I also think that diazepam is best for panic attacks, same with bromazepam. There's also prazepam, clorazepate or oxazepam for more minor anxiety.

 

[Dre-Z]

Look into Phenibut, a POWERFUL and LEGAL anxiolytic similar to GHB. It could work for panic attacks, but that depends on how long it takes to kick in. Personally, it takes just about 10 minutes for me on an EMPTY stomach.

It is habit forming, and CAN be euphoric, but using it only for panic attacks shouldn't create a problem. Be careful, though, since the worst panic attack I EVER had was caused by stopping a 5 day Phenibut streak.

 

[done juan]

hi i dont know your situation but i can tell you that etizolam have worked wonders for me. before i had even taken a real drug i was quite socially withdrawn. drugs helped me to have some wicked memories from the past but of course they probably didnt do me any favours in this department. ive tried the breathing techniques etc and they just do not work for me. when i first bought etizolam i bought them to help me sleep and at first never even considered taking them in the daytime while normal service resumes.

the first time i took etiz in the daytime was when i was due to fly alicante for a week. i was really looking forward to the holiday just not the flight. i took a blister with me (I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU DO THIS) first took 2 mg to me they seem to work the same way as low level alcohol, and had another 1 mg just before boarding.

when i had a job interview i had 1mg a couple of hours before it was due and i forgot about it as time went on. making my way there i didnt have them niggling thoughts or horrible stomach twitches. when i was in the actual interview a few of these anxieties came out but nowhere to the level that they would have done previously. in the future i would probably go for 1.5 mg. now i do take either 0.5x2 or 1mg a week roughly but i tell you what, on the days i havent taken it i feel a lot more comfortable in situations i otherwise wouldnt have been.

maybe its psychological, but they have done more for me than any SSRI's ever did and the best thing is not having to go to the gp explaining the symptoms.

please research it and give it a try, even if to only help you for a couple of days in the week.

 

[Renz Envy]

i think you should try a non drug approach before jumping on the benzo wagon. I'm 26 and have massive struggles with anxiety and have since i was a kid. Sometimes i just get so fed up with it that i completely challenge a panic attack, just hit it head on, just let anxiety hit me with everything it has. You state that you have some issues already (with your parents) which are probably driving your anxiety, so that's a good place to start in getting this all fixed. If you don't fix the underlying problems then they will eventually pop up again even if you are benzod out all day, every day.

Great post. Never let the anxiety control you.

Worst thing you can do for your anxiety is try to use GABA-ergics (like Benzos) to fix it. It'll be a lifelong battle. Might as well taper off and get as much self control over your thoughts as you can.

 

[RobotRipping]

hi i dont know your situation but i can tell you that etizolam have worked wonders for me.

not really surprising though lol if you're going to take etizolam you may as well just take xanax. There really isn't much difference and they both carry big risks of dependence, addiction and worsening your anxiety. Phenibut has the same issue although to a lesser extent i imagine. Sorry i dont like being douchey but taking the GABA-agonist (xanax, etizolma, phenibut) route can cause a serious amount of issues, don't go there unless you absolutely have to.

 

[done juan]

i understand your concern, but i know what it can be like to sort of be where the OP is. i tried many things outside of medications and the only thing which helped on some scale was/is exercise, which i still stick to now.

 

[ugly]

Remeron (Mirtazapine) is a tetracyclic antidepressant that works when others don't. Buspar (Buspirone) is a sedative and antianxiety med that must work fairly well because there are a lot of people on it. Atarax (Hydroxyzine) is an antihistamine that gets scripted for anxiety sometimes. Good luck.

 

[Renz Envy]

Remeron (Mirtazapine) is a tetracyclic antidepressant that works when others don't. Buspar (Buspirone) is a sedative and antianxiety med that must work fairly well because there are a lot of people on it. Atarax (Hydroxyzine) is an antihistamine that gets scripted for anxiety sometimes. Good luck.

Another good set of medications to ask a doctor about. Buspar works wonders if your anxiety is caused from past drug use/abuse even hyperactivity. I use it at night for its beneficial mental repair effects.

Look into Phenibut, a POWERFUL and LEGAL anxiolytic similar to GHB. It could work for panic attacks, but that depends on how long it takes to kick in. Personally, it takes just about 10 minutes for me on an EMPTY stomach.

It is habit forming, and CAN be euphoric, but using it only for panic attacks shouldn't create a problem. Be careful, though, since the worst panic attack I EVER had was caused by stopping a 5 day Phenibut streak.

Perhaps suggesting medications that can become habitual would be wrong for the OP. I used GHB consecutively for a month, 24-7 dosing(Sometimes with stims) and came out in agony, having mild delirium tremens, shakes, constant cold and hot flashes. It was much like an opiate withdrawal mixed with a benzo and alcohol withdrawal. It was the worst drug experience I have ever had. After that I had learned my lesson with drug addictions.

 

[Trying2Smile]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice and support. Its embarrassing when I feel I can't ask anyone these questions...most of my family and "bf" just ignores any medication talk whatsoever. I really am trying to just get things indeed -in a control phase- rather than everyone laughing at my purse of medications.. But saw my doctor today, so much to say bit I'll blab later when I'm in my insomnia mood quick input if anyone knows..."Intuniv" - he said add it to my adderall, I'm at max 60mg day, xanax 1mg still...need more but geez...I know I'll get hooked. He added Pristique to try for anxiety? God..why do I think I'll gain 20lbs? Lol...I could write forever about the meds I've tried and am on...Psedutumor Cerebri also, but stopped all the topamax and diamox...sick of "acting up and down" cause my brain had Jessie

 

[Trying2Smile]

Sorry, on my phone - brain has "pressure." Gave up with that....bs to me...or denial that something Is truly wrong. Thanks for your help and advice everyone, it does alot that my insecurities can come out without judgment...

 

[wats615]

I see that your questions have been answered but wanted to say that I have struggled with anxiety my whole life and lately have multiple attacks that last hours most days. Etizolam really helps me and is easy to get since no scheduling yet. I have recently received phenibut and am hoping it will provide relief as well.