anti depressants for anxiety

[llama112]

Okay not sure where to put this ... just hoping someone on here can help as I've read things on here that have to do with anti depressants

So I have anxiety problems but I do NOT have depression. I'm a happy, cheerful, bubbly person for the most part. But once or twice a week, I have panic attacks. It has been getting worse for the past couple months but I've had it for years. (I'm 20 and in college now... I know I had them in high school too but just not as bad) I'm also just scared a lot - like of everything - irrationally.

Anyway the doctor gave me some anti depressants. Citalopram (to be exact). I don't want to take them for a couple reasons. The main reason is that I have heard that they basically get rid of your feelings and don't make you happy but they just mask the sadness. But I don't want to mask all my feelings - I enjoy being happy when I am - that is part of me.

Another reasons is I also do mdma like once a month and you can't get high off of m when you are on these things.

The doctor said specifically that I don't have depression, he knows that, I know that, okay great. But then he prescribes me these? Why? I want something for my anxiety!!!

My mom advised me to tell the doctor that I use mdma. (I'm pretty sure I don't want that on my record though) I don't think the doctor will prescribe me anti anxiety medication if I use other things recreationally. I don't want these for getting high - I could get them if I just wanted them for getting high. I actually have anxiety problems and I want them to help me with that.

Should I actually try these anti depressants? Should I go back to the doctor and ask him about it? Should I try another doctor? Are there ways that I can get anti anxiety medicine instead? I'm not sure...

 

[fizzle]

Have you explained to him that you arent depressed so you dont think anti-depressants are necessary? He may just not understand that, or it may just not be clicking that you dont need anti-depressants, just anti-anxiety. Sometimes you have to be really blunt, just try telling him what you told us, "we both know I'm not depressed so why are you prescribing me anti depressants?"

Hmm... lets try this in HL, they may decide to send it elsewhere though.
Homeless--->HL

 

[allium]

If a drug is commonly prescribed for depression, why it couldn't help for something else?

SSRIs are often prescribed for treating anxiety, and even wikipedia article states this.

Have you read Citaprolam instruction?

 

[llama112]

Well I thought he had prescribed me some anti anxiety medication ... I realized what it was when I got it filled. I know that they are used in helping people with anxiety as well but I don't want all the side effects it is likely to give you. He understood that I wasn't depressed.

Should I just go to another doctor and try again?

 

[allium]

There is always possibility of side effects, and other anxiolytics aren't side free as well as SSRIs.
If you have reasons (besides prescription of SSRI) for visiting another doctor, or if you think this doctor isn't professional enough, I'd suggest visiting another one.

But from your story I can't tell you whether doctor is professional or not, but I think he picked a good option for you.

There are always "scary" stories about antidepressants, but you won't know the truth until you try them yourself. So if I were you, I would try taking Citaprolam against anxiety. Of course, go to the doctor if you really have side effects.

 

[fizzle]

Well I thought he had prescribed me some anti anxiety medication ... I realized what it was when I got it filled. I know that they are used in helping people with anxiety as well but I don't want all the side effects it is likely to give you. He understood that I wasn't depressed.

Should I just go to another doctor and try again?

You shouldnt try another doctor without talking to this one again first. Have you tried what he gave you? Does it help? Are you getting side effects that you dont like and thats why you want to switch, or are you afraid of the side effects? If you havent actually tried it yet, you might try it and give it a week and see if you still feel it isnt right for you.

A second opinion is always fine, but be sure you tell both drs exactly what you are taking and let them know that you are seeing them both.

 

[wooger]

As others have said antidepressents are prescribed for anxiety pretty regularly. In fact I think they are a preferred to benzos due to the lack of addicition potential and tolerence etc...

Personally, I found mirtazapine to work wonders for anxiety (although it gave me mega sugar cravings, something to be aware of if you are worried about side effects).

As SSRIs (as well as other antidepressants) take a while to work you could possibly talk to your doctor about a short course of a benzo for a few weeks while you are waiting for the start up of the SSRI.

 

[llama112]

this doctor was just at a walk in clinic. I won't go back and see him specifically again anyway. if I was going to see another doctor I would definitely tell them I was prescribed the SSRIs but that I did not want to take them!

I talked to a family friend who is a doctor but doesn't have her own practice or whatever. she said that SSRIs were NOT something that I should be taking for sure. she said that there were some more "natural" things that I should try first. then, if they don't work, go see a doctor again and explain. I think that's what I'll do.

As per her advice, I will pick up GABA for anxiety and Rhodiola herb for panic attacks. Hope that works!

Oh, and a psychiatrist, I would like to see one of them. Get rid of my scary feelings ..

 

[Legerity]

You won't really know how you react unless you try the medication out. Doctors at walk-in clinics are not necessarily the most informed about mental health. I went to one for anxiety and he diagnosed me in about 20 seconds telling me I would possibly need to be on anti-depressants for the rest of my life for it.

Before taking the meds, I managed to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, who prescribed me benzos and inderal instead. The inderal didn't do much but the benzos were helpful. His opinion was that anti-depressants are not usually as helpful for anxiety symptoms.

Anyways that's just my limited experience, I'm not suggesting one thing or another. If you feel that more info would be helpful then it's your right to get it

 

[enoughorangejuice?]

from what i have been told by numerous shrinks...anxiety and depression are extremely similar.

since i've been clean i have had very few problems with major depression. i do, however, suffer from extreme social/generalized anxiety. extreme. my doctor put my on Prozac (an SSRI anti-depressant) to treat my ANXIETY.

when i told him how much it has been helping my anxiety in the past 2 months he said i'm glad to hear that and then went on to tell me how anxiety and depression are so similar and how the treatments of this conditions are often the same thing (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs etc).

take the celexa as Rx'd for 2 months and see how your anxiety is at the end. if i were you i'd start a journal to post daily notes about how your anxiety levels are and how social interaction is for you. i did that and i noticed HUGE trends in anxiety improvement over the first 56 days. also that the side effects go away VERY quickly.

 

[allium]

As per her advice, I will pick up GABA for anxiety and Rhodiola herb for panic attacks. Hope that works!

Sadly, GABA don't cross blood-brain barrier. It is a nootropic, and it isn't prescribed against anxiety.
If it helps you, then it is purely placebo.

I was prescribed the SSRIs but that I did not want to take them!

And why don't you want to take them? A lot of people on the planet took SSRIs and they got better. I believe, while I'm writing this post, few people take their SSRI pills. SSRIs aren't scare, SSRI helps against anxiety. What is the point of seeking for non-SSRI anxiolytic drug?

Definitely see a psychiatrist, so you will be sure you get correct medication.

 

[llama112]

Sadly, GABA don't cross blood-brain barrier. It is a nootropic, and it isn't prescribed against anxiety.
If it helps you, then it is purely placebo.


And why don't you want to take them? A lot of people on the planet took SSRIs and they got better. I believe, while I'm writing this post, few people take their SSRI pills. SSRIs aren't scare, SSRI helps against anxiety. What is the point of seeking for non-SSRI anxiolytic drug?

Definitely see a psychiatrist, so you will be sure you get correct medication.

I don't want SSRIs because I have seen the side effects in some people and I do NOT want to turn into that! SSRIs stop some of the serotonin and I don't want that to happen. They change your personality completely. I just need to be more calm and less worried. I still want to be me.

And ok I don't know much about GABA, just that she recommended it to me. I will look into it more.

SSRIs are prescribed to people with anxiety and *sometime* work but, more often, they don't work and cause problems instead.

 

[allium]

Well, that's your body and your choice.
It is better not to take the drug you don't want to take. It may result in nocebo effect("anti-placebo").

SSRIs doesn't "stop" your serotonin, they inhibit its reuptake from neuronal synapses, thus increasing overall activity of serotonergic system. Serotonorgic system is a neuroregulatory system, so SSRIs may indirictly affect other systems as well. This is my layman's simplified understanding.
SSRIs don't change your personality, they change your mood and emotions, and NOT permanently.

Aren't you scared by MDMA, which increases activity of serotonergic system too? Don't you think it changed your personality? They are different drugs, though, and I am not sure if it is ok to draw such parallels.

I just need to be more calm and less worried. I still want to be me.

I am sure, even in case of SSRI, you still will be you, maybe calmer and less worried.

I heared a lot of horrific stories from people being on antipsychotics(most notably, haloperidol), but never heared anything that bad about SSRIs.

Also, my best advice is to see a professional(psychiatrist in your case). I am sure he'll be able to select a good medication for you. Don't leave your condition untreated!

EDIT: also, if you want to hear my experience, I took bromantane(it is DARI with some SRI properties), it worked good against my anxiety, it didn't change my personality, and I didn't experience any side effects. So I believe SSRIs may be great anxyolitics, at least for me.

 

[bighooter]

mirtazapine is by far the best anti depression that has helped me with anxiety.

 

[llama112]

Well, that's your body and your choice.
It is better not to take the drug you don't want to take. It may result in nocebo effect("anti-placebo").

SSRIs doesn't "stop" your serotonin, they inhibit its reuptake from neuronal synapses, thus increasing overall activity of serotonergic system. Serotonorgic system is a neuroregulatory system, so SSRIs may indirictly affect other systems as well. This is my layman's simplified understanding.
SSRIs don't change your personality, they change your mood and emotions, and NOT permanently.

Aren't you scared by MDMA, which increases activity of serotonergic system too? Don't you think it changed your personality? They are different drugs, though, and I am not sure if it is ok to draw such parallels.


I am sure, even in case of SSRI, you still will be you, maybe calmer and less worried.

I heared a lot of horrific stories from people being on antipsychotics(most notably, haloperidol), but never heared anything that bad about SSRIs.

Also, my best advice is to see a professional(psychiatrist in your case). I am sure he'll be able to select a good medication for you. Don't leave your condition untreated!

EDIT: also, if you want to hear my experience, I took bromantane(it is DARI with some SRI properties), it worked good against my anxiety, it didn't change my personality, and I didn't experience any side effects. So I believe SSRIs may be great anxyolitics, at least for me.

Thanks for the info. And sure, what is your story? Why did you need it and what happened?

I think a psychiatrist is the first place to start. But I am not sure if I can get one for a good price - aren't they crazy expensive? I'm only on my dad's (really bad) health plan for another month or two

Oh and mdma - yeah it has changed me - but it has changed me for the better (as it happier and a better person) and I don't feel like SSRIs will do that for me. My best friend used to be on an SSRI (before I knew her) and she was on it for a couple years and hated it. She said she was just more "herself" after she came off of it.

 

[thujone]

the most significant difference (in the context of this issue) between SSRIs and benzos is that a benzo can be a quick fix while SSRIs require a commitment. When you say you are a happy person who has panic attacks occasionally, it seems obvious to me that this is a problem that can be better addressed with a fast-acting sublingual chill pill (i.e. benzos). However, I am no doc.

However, as Legerity pointed out, a walk-in clinic is the last place you want to go for this kind of help. Most walk-in joints point out in advance that they won't prescribe anything that has any recreational value whatsoever (ever see the 'WE WILL NOT PRESCRIBE THE FOLLOWING NARCOTICS' sign?) or people would be up in there all the time getting drugs for cheap.

Another big factor here is that the drug companies market SSRIs as a panacea for all mental ills. Even legitimate psychiatrists are susceptible to prescribing an SSRI first and then see how it plays out before trying anything else. Nobody knows how the damn things work they just know what they do and since mental problems can be so easily categorized what seems like a unique affliction to you is just another face that needs prozac to the shrink down the way.

 

[atara]

Tell him you don't want SSRIs due to sexual side effects. They're a common and serious problem with SSRIs anyway and you probably don't want them.

I'd suggest aniracetam for anxiety. If that isn't sufficient, ask your doctor about one of the 5-ht1a agonist drugs like buspirone. Neither aniracetam nor 5-ht1a agonists have any significant problematic interactions with any drug class that I'm aware of.

 

[PwnX]

SSRIs aren't very good for anxiety, they just make you feel numb and detached, which I suppose can mask the anxiety, but you'll still feel it inside, but because you'll be so detached, you won't care. Eventually you'll snap when you've had enough of the sexual dysfunction and repressed emotions. Just avoid them to begin with.

 

[llama112]

Yes I want to get help for the panic attacks. They happen more often anymore (it has been increasing for the past maybe 5-6 years). Now it's like twice a month. But I'm also "scared" all the time so that's something I'd like to solve (by seeing a psychiatrist although I don't know where to go for that).

I know SSRIs are used for anxiety because lack of addiction potential and *sometimes* they help but I don't think it's what I need. And the doctor didn't really listen to what I had to say anyway.

But I don't want to get into the SSRIs and need them. I'm NOT depressed and I want to still be me and everything.

I need to talk to a psychiatrist - I know that's what I need to do!

 

[greenberryhaze]

SSRIs doesn't "stop" your serotonin, they inhibit its reuptake from neuronal synapses, thus increasing overall activity of serotonergic system.

I recall reading that serotonergic activity may actually be decreased over the long term, does anyone know what I'm talking about?