Best anti-anxiety med? (that isn't recreational)

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

non addictive, non recreational i would say hydroxyzine (Atarax)

Vistirol is non addictive but mildly helpful. It has to be taken every 4-6 hours. Pregabalin is much more effective. Once you start taking it daily you only have to take it once a day. It really helps for social anxiety and the first month or so that you are on it you may feel really good (feeling high is listed as a side effect!). Empathetic & euphoric. It makes you want to go out and talk with other people and you no longer fear going outside and having to worry about problems that may occur.

I've been on it for like a year and a half so I no longer get that effect (unless I take massive doses) but it still helps well with my anxiety. Not to the same degree but it helps.

 

[FPU4eva]

Pregabalin is amazing for it, better than benzos

i agree it helps me alot im on suboxone maintance and get it as a anxiety med, it can fuck u up mad tho at higher dosages

 

[halfoz]

i'vr had surprisingly good success with lexapro for anxiety.

i'd add k-pins, but the fact for me is that i abuse them whenever they're around.

other than that, regular exercise is remarkably effective.

 

[DrugstoreCowboy83]

One more for atarax if were talking ZERO abuse potential. I find/found clonazepam pretty effective for general type anxiety & I feel it has zero potential for abuse for me (I know some say different). I only bring it up 'cause I find it pretty easy to get. My GP gave it to me with no hassle & he refused to give xanax. *I take xanax now, at a weening maintenance dose- and I think it's a shitty anxiolitic too, honestly.)

my favorite was Xanax XR. Its a 24 time release xanax that really really helps and you just take once a day.

Normally i'd say, "everyone's different"/"to each their own" or whatever. But Xanax XR?? Those are complete garbage. I'd honestly rather be given a vitamin for a panic attack than a Xanax XR!

 

[lordreven333]

look at an atypical benzo I got prescribed one . I can't remember what It was but really did have basically zero potential for abuse and their are only a few.

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

Even atypical benzodiazepines like Clobazam have abuse potential/addiction potential. Probably less than a regular benzodiazepine. But not all of them do. The Z-Drugs are considered atypical benzodiazepines and they certainly carry addiction potential.

 

[TheTwighlight]

I remember hearing about a temazepam metabolite (i think) called camazepam, which supposedly is not abusable (hmmm... :-/). It supposedly doesn't have the mental effects of a benzo that cause addictive or "drug-seeking" behavior, but is once again supposedly useful as an anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, etc. I'm not sure whether it's even available or not. I don't feel like looking it up now.

I personally agree that pregabalin is the way to go, but it is addictive...habit-forming, for sure. And gabapentin, which is a very underrated anti-anxiety med in my personal opinion. I credit pregabalin and gabapentin for my being free of benzo addiction nowdays.

And to everyone recommending any benzos as the "best anxiety med" that isn't recreational...that seems to me to be a double-edged sword. If someone is trying to find a good anxiety med, I personally believe that benzos should be a last resort. Then again, I'm a fucking horrible, despicable benzodiazepine addict & fiend. So to whoever tries them...tread carefully.

 

[MescalitoBandito]

I've had a bit of success with gabapentin, the weaker cousin of pregabalin. It's not enough though, so when I see the doc tomorrow I'm really hoping for a scrip of pregabalin...

 

[TheTwighlight]

Well, pregabalin works. I take gabapentin & pregabalin. Works like a charm.

 

[Supeudol]

Pregabalin actually builds up tolerance quite quickly. I don't feel that 'euphoric' strong anti-anxiety effect that I did when I first started taking it three years ago, and then I went off it last year for about 4 months or so, now I'm back on it at 150mg/2x day. But I usually take at least 450mg/day or 600mg/day, but that means my script running out early. I USED to be prescribed 600mg/day with the big 300mg capsules/ (That was sweet!).

 

[Anon54]

Pregabalin sounds ok. Not sure if it's commonly precribed here in australia? I'll do a bit of reading about it.
I still think about askin for benzos. but once i get the taste for em its just to easy to take a few more. the effect is really subtle to me so i need a much higher dose than prescribed. so to get effective anxiety releif id be playing around with doses which would create a wd if used for a long time.
there are much stronger (but less comfertable drugs) like antipychotics that would probably help me atleast with sleeping. & they are easier to taper off.

 

[Crankinit]

If you experience panic attacks with heavy physical symptoms (palpitations, tachycardia, shaking, etc) than beta blockers can be amazing. They prevent the physical symptoms of anxiety, so while you might still get panicky mentally, you won't end up sweating and shaking, your heart won't race or feel like it's about to burst out of your chest, which can make a panic attack far easier to deal with.