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Misc Desperate for your advice on meds for debilitating anxiety

C

cbtodacb

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 28, 2012
Messages
69
My dear and precious fellow sufferers of anxiety. We share a horrible ailment but we can share and help one another in places such as this. My anxiety is chronic, extreme and unrelenting. I work as a lawyer in an office with over 200 people so you can imagine the pain that causes.

I NEED ADVICE ON MEDICATIONS THAT ACTUALLY WORK FOR SEVERE ANXIETY!

I have been on Lexapro for years. I have been up to 60mg per day but am currently on 30mg. This stuff is useless for my anxiety and chronic, unrelenting fear of social interaction. CBT and all that other crap is useless too,

I need to find meds which ACTUALLY WORK in cases of extreme anxiety like mine.

My current medication regime:

-Lexapro 30mg daily
-Valium 30mg daily
-Started Lyrica today 2 x 75mg

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR EXPERIENCES WITH MEDICATIONS THEY CAN RECOMMENED WHICH ACTUALLY WORK BETTER THAN LYRICA ETC?

Please help a fellow sufferer by providing advice :|
 
Prescribing Lexapro and other SSRI's is unfortunately an industry standard and the first step in treating anxiety in the fraudulent medical field regardless of symptoms or concerns. The only thing that worked for me and many others were benzo's, more specifically Klonopin, but that is not a permanent solution. You must only use them if you are developing your own natural ways to deal with your anxiety without the need of a drug. There are no magic pills or cures but there are crutches to help you along the trail.
 
Hey rollinstoner. So true about the ssri's. They hand them out and if they don't help they simply keep bumping them up. I can't believe my shrink got me up to 60mg daily! I have been seeing my shrink for 5 years and all we have done is lexapro, a little valium (very rarely) and a tiny bit of serequel for bit. This is despite me being driven to social isolation, dysfunctional social relationships, inability to function at work in my professional capacity and at times coming close to thoughts of suicide (not there now thank goodness). This was and is all due to extreme unrelenting anxiety which is beyond my mind but purely chemical. Thanks for the reply rollinstoner.
I must admit that lyrica that my GP gave me (not my shrink, go figure lol) and valium do seem to be dulling the anixety. Anyone know of more effective medications?
 
Lyrica is the only that has worked for me long term. Yes, you will develop rapid tolerance but a couple days off and it vanishes completely which really isn't the case with benzos. Every week or so I just cut my dose from three pills to one for two days and the effect comes back. I take 450mg a day. You really need at least that much for significant anxiety relief.
 
Thanks Dexy,
That information helps a heap. I'm currently only on 150mg a day. Surely there must be something our there. I have heard great things about Xanax XR or Baclofen, anyone else heard of these?
 
I suppose SSRIs are prescribed for anxiety because depression and anxiety often overlap, but I don't think they target anxiety directly like a benzo or Lyrica. Gabapentin and Lyrica worked wonders for my anxiety and social inhibitions that were interfering with my life.

Could it be possible that the Lexapro is interfering with the GABAergic drugs? I remember when I took St. John's Wort, I initially had an increase in anxiety (though it is not exactly an SSRI). Even when that subsided, it seemed as though my gabapentin dose was significantly less effective.
 
cbtodacb,
I would definetly work on finding a doctor who will prescribe xanax or klonopin. I personally feel that xanax is the best because it works quickly and is powerful. Also, what is the generic brand of Valium you're taking? There are HUGE differences IMHO in the quality and potency of benzos. If you're taking 30mg of Mylan brand valium you might as well take nothing, they are utter garbage (even kpins and xnx). I found that by taking a reasonable dose of xanax ( good generics: Greenstone, Dava, Purepac, Actavis, Qualitest,Sun Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz) works extremely well for my anxiety and I am able to function normally. Here is a link to a benzo dose converter. It just told me that 30mg of Valium is equal to 1.5mg of alprazolam (xanax). http://www.benzodocs.com/converter.php? Ativan is also a good choice but from what you're experiencing needs something like xanax, ask your doctor to switch you immediately to either 1mg of xanax x3 daily or 1mg klonopin x3 daily. Tell him the valium doesn't work fasr enough for panic attacks and severe anxiety. Also you might want to ask him about possibly prescribing Remeron for an anti-depressant. It is taken at bedtime and really helps you sleep and helps quell anxiety after being on it for about 1 week. My suggestion: Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan and call pharmacy 1st to see what generic they use. If they say Mylan, try somewhere else.
 
Hey my anxiety brothers, it is so comforting and encouraging speaking to people who understand; so much better than speaking with people who think they have anxiety like us but they simply get butterflies when they have lots of bills coming in. My anxiety, and assume you guys are similar, is life altering, life debilitating and a serious struggle.
Unfortunately Xanax is one which docs in Australia are hesitant to prescribe because of recreational abuse. I am a little concerned about xanax also because it isn't long acting. Is that correct? Is there something like xanax or klonopin which is long acting? I have seen or heard about a xanax xr which I assume is a slow release xanax.
My valium is good stuff. Knocks me out well, which is what I need to cope with social anxiety while working as a lawyer and constantly speaking with colleagues and clients! Yes I did chose the wrong profession for an SA sufferer lol
Yeh so do you guys know of anything which is long acting and can be taken long term? Lyrica is going alright at the moment but I'm sure there must be something better out there.
Dementia, thanks for your thoughts on the Lexapro affecting the GABA drugs, I will give that some thought.
 
Xanax XR is a bit silly. Plus, I've found Xanax will drastically increase anxiety over time and is fiercely addicting. Plus benzo tolerance takes a long time to reverse.

Print out this study and show it to your doc. It clearly states that larger doses of Lyrica are needed for anxiety.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654626/

I've also had good luck with Mirtazapine.
 
I am extremely thankful for the help. I have that study bookmarked and will show my doc. My GP is far more responsive and open than my shrink. My shrink is an SSRI kind of guy. My GP is a young guy who understands what I am going through somewhat. Have you found that Lyrica keeps its positive effects with long term use? Also, what type of drug is Mirtazapine i.e. a benzo etc? Did you take it in conjunction with Lyrica? Thanks in advance.
 
how much do you take and how often? Have you been using it long term? Is it able to be used long term? Thanks in advance.
 
Hey

I've had my share of anxiety and the last few posts in the last half hour on this forum and the dark side have been about my approach to coming off benzos. No other drug kicks anxiety's ass like benzos do, but they are so addictive and such a bitch to get off that you really need to avoid them, or be stringent about only taking them as a PRN when the anxiety gets to the extreme suicide idealisation level. Can i suggest a little secret i've discovered, and don't laugh

Chamomile Tea and Valarian. As a combination, they are JUST as good as a valium for treating anxiety. Last year i spent a total of 9 weeks in a psych ward and was only allowed a certain amount of meds. So i tried the combo of the chamomile and valarian and BANG - anxiety not quite gone but close to it, FAR better anyway. Even my psychiatrist has confirmed that they are a potent anxiolitic!! I don't know the medical/neurological mechanism in terms of what neuro-transmitters they effect, but i don't really care - THEY WORK

I've come of Xanax once and off Valium three times and i wouldn't have EVER got through those w/d's without the chamomile/valarian.

Give it a shot! And let me know what you think, i'd love other people's opinions.


WC
 
i have a high tolerance to benzos i take 4 to 10mg of xanax a day and i've been taking it for 3 years this time around and in order for my tolerance to stay low enough for my script to work for me i can only take it once every two to three days
 
Yeh tolerance seems like a big issue hey. What do you do cover the days where you can't take the xanax?
 
In your shoes, I'd ask your GP for Xanax. It has been a life-changer/saver in relieving my panic attacks, anxiety, and PTSD quickly and without side effects. I've been taking benzos for more than twenty years, starting with Valium and then switched to Xanax; the only times during those years I was benzo-free was during pregnancies.

In addition, I take Lexapro and Remeron for depression, but have not noticed that they had any effect at all on anxiety and its nasty siblings. I know benzo WD is no joke, but if you keep your dosage at a reasonable level, don't overdo and don't divert to others, WD is much less likely to be a problem.

Xanax may very well have saved my life. I'll always be grateful to the physicians who have made it available to me. And I do hope you'll get the relief you need, in whatever form... and soon.
 
Thank you for your kind and informative message MrsMorphine. I have a few questions about your med regime because I am new to all this (except for useless stuff like lexapro). Have you found that you gain a tolerance to xanax i.e. does it lose its effects over time? I have found Valium has been working moderately well, not as well as people say xanax does, but I am concerned Valium will lose its effects as time goes by.

Do you have any information/experience you could provide regarding xanax losing it effects? What doseage do you take and how often?

And also, just to clarify, I work as a lawyer in a highly social environment so it is horrible and excruciating dealing with people all day when having a social phobia, not to mention the compounding negative effects of an overlying generalized anxiety disorder. Would xanax be suitable for such a lifestyle i.e. what I mean is would I need to take it 3 or 4 times a day and would the positive effects of the xanax last throughout the entire day? I ask this because I need something that will give me freedom and escape from the horror of the anxiety for the period of my working day (8am to 6pm)

Many thanks my fellow sufferer.
 
cbtodacb said:
I am extremely thankful for the help. I have that study bookmarked and will show my doc. My GP is far more responsive and open than my shrink. My shrink is an SSRI kind of guy. My GP is a young guy who understands what I am going through somewhat. Have you found that Lyrica keeps its positive effects with long term use? Also, what type of drug is Mirtazapine i.e. a benzo etc? Did you take it in conjunction with Lyrica? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

My anxiety is truly under control but I must admit that I'm drugged to the gills. I take 150mg of Lyrica 3x daily. I take 20mg of Adderall IR 2x daily (which both adds to and relieves my anxiety in ways that are hard to explain). At night I take 200mg of Quetiapine (Seroquel) and 30mg of Mirtazapine. I'm starting 50mg of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) this week.

Mirtazapine is a really unique drug. It is a Noradrenergic and Serotonin Specific Antidepressant. It isn't an SSRI or SNRI. Instead of blocking the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine it is a reverse agonist - basically it causes your brain to spit out lots of these two chemicals in a roundabout way. It works very quickly and is a wonderful drug, free of sexual side-effects though it can be very sedating and therefore should be taken at night. It also makes you hungry as hell. Really elevates mood and decreases anxiety.

I will start desvenlafaxine this week which is an SNRI and should really compliment the Mirtazapine well. One causes an increase of 5HT and NE while the other traps it in the synapses and keeps it around longer.

Yet I wonder, is it really worth the cost? Is treating my brain like a test tube healthy? Well, I was severely suicidal before meds so I guess it is worth but am I, well, WE really and different than Judy Garland, Elvis Presley or any other pill popper? I wake up with stimulants, fall asleep with sedatives, manipulate highly mysterious yet obviously vital neurochemicals all day long, etc...

I just wonder...
 
on the days i don't take my xanax i either am high on something else (not necessarily anxiety reducing drugs) or i just deal with my anxiety the best i can with meditation
 
Thanks a lot for your post, very informative. Mate I would say that our use of pills is justified by our conditions. I too was suicidal at one stage due to the life crippling and crushing effects of anxiety. What else are we to do? We cannot simply rot away allowing the anxiety to consume every healthy fibre of our God given human existence. I think the fact that we pursue and fight to preserve our quality of life is a credit to us. It is quality to be admired. This is especially so with you my friend, your knowledge and understanding of such pills and things shows that you have drawn your sword in the fight against this tormenting foe we call ANXIETY which seeks to consume us. This is all said under the caveat that such pills and medications are being used for legitimate therapeutic use. If such medications are simply being use to brighten one's day or cause some sought of recreational buzz then that is a different story.

My friend, what we endure with these anxiety conditions is an experience that very few of the population go through. Yes, it is true that statistics say that something like 1 in 2 people suffer anxiety but this is hogwash. They are not referring to serious, life crippling anxiety. They are simply referring to people who get a bit stressed out about external circumstances. My condition is unrelated to external circumstances; my condition is a hellish, invasive battle against an internal chemical foe which destroys my quality of life regardless of outside circumstances.

Chin up mate, we are to be admired in the way we fight for our existence and the pursuit of personal freedom. Whether it be by pills (as in our case), or by the sword or gun (as in the case of people whose lives are crushed by dictators), such an engagement in the fight for personal liberty (in our case chemical liberty) is a trait to be greatly admired!

Follow up questions:
-Why are you thinking of adding Pristiq to your regime?
-What's your opinion of Lexapro, or what have you heard?
 
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