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Misc Effectiveness of anticonvulsants/gaba analogues for anxiety?

R

RacerAtom

Greenlighter
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
42
Location
England
I'm currently prescribed clonazepam and take 1.5mg ~2x a week as well as 1500mg of phenibut once a week, these are completely effective at alleviating my anxiety and don't exhibit any side effects or cross tolerance. But obviously these two drugs alone do not provide adequate weekly coverage when I am going through a bout of anxiety. These anticonvulsants and the like (some of which are approved for anxiety in the UK) may help to bridge the gap.

Examples of drugs I'm referring to are, carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenytoin, picamilon, pregabalin, topiramate.

I was wondering if anyone here can share any experiences of these drugs for the relief of non-specific anxiety? I'm sure my doctor won't have a problem prescribing at least some of them given their indications.
 
Pregabalin might help 'bridge the gap' so to speak. There is some cross tolerance between pregabalin and regular benzodiazepines if I recall, though. With the exception of gabapentin, I don't think any of the other drugs you listed would be very effective as anxiolytics.
 
Not sure at all about the drugs/drug groups your asking about relative to anxiety but I have had success in using a beta-blocker to manage anxiety. Beta blockers are high blood pressure meds. They will impact the physiological symptons of anxiety (increased heart beat, etc). Beta blockers are sometimes prescribed as a PRN (as needed rather than daily) to stage musicians, archers, pool players to help them calm their nerves while they engage in their various professions. Also, I have read that something like 70% of Doctors have used a beta blocker as a prn prior to public speaking to help calm their nerves while keeping their wits about them (whereas benzo's will impact mental functioning). Public speakers take these prior to speaking as well. I take clonodine. I believe the main one prescribed is tenormin but this is contra-indicated with people who have asthma, hense me using clonodine under the supervision of a physician. There is research about using these to help manage anxiety and I think it would be worth raising this as an option with your physician. good luck, sorry I could not be helpful with any input about the meds your asking about.
 
Oxide said:
Pregabalin might help 'bridge the gap' so to speak. There is some cross tolerance between pregabalin and regular benzodiazepines if I recall, though. With the exception of gabapentin, I don't think any of the other drugs you listed would be very effective as anxiolytics.
Click to expand...

Phenytoin seems to have quite a bit of previous use as an anxiolytic/mood stabiliser which made me consider it.

http://www.remarkablemedicine.com/Clinical/clinicaluses/thoughtmood/nonepileptics.html

Titus said:
Not sure at all about the drugs/drug groups your asking about relative to anxiety but I have had success in using a beta-blocker to manage anxiety. Beta blockers are high blood pressure meds. They will impact the physiological symptons of anxiety (increased heart beat, etc). Beta blockers are sometimes prescribed as a PRN (as needed rather than daily) to stage musicians, archers, pool players to help them calm their nerves while they engage in their various professions. Also, I have read that something like 70% of Doctors have used a beta blocker as a prn prior to public speaking to help calm their nerves while keeping their wits about them (whereas benzo's will impact mental functioning). Public speakers take these prior to speaking as well. I take clonodine. I believe the main one prescribed is tenormin but this is contra-indicated with people who have asthma, hense me using clonodine under the supervision of a physician. There is research about using these to help manage anxiety and I think it would be worth raising this as an option with your physician. good luck, sorry I could not be helpful with any input about the meds your asking about.
Click to expand...

I'm pescribed propranolol, but it's not really of any use, I don't have a problem with physical anxiety symptoms.
 
Beta blockers are immensely helpful for the physical symptoms of anxiety. I think they're a better choice than benzos/pregabalin for long term use, since they don't develop a tolerance. Pregabalin might remove your anxiety, but it will also remove your cognitive abilities, your short term memory, your articulatory speaking skills, etc, it has weird side effects. It can also be wildly addictive, since some find it to give a better high than benzos.

I was prescribed Diazepam/Alprazolam for 8+ months, and Pregabalin for 2 months. Beta blockers are where it's at, I take metoprolol 25mg now.
 
Beta blockers are immensely helpful for the physical symptoms of anxiety. I think they're a better choice than benzos/pregabalin for long term use, since they don't develop a tolerance. Pregabalin might remove your anxiety, but it will also remove your cognitive abilities, your short term memory, your articulatory speaking skills, etc, it has weird side effects. It can also be wildly addictive, since some find it to give a better high than benzos.

I was prescribed Diazepam/Alprazolam for 8+ months, and Pregabalin for 2 months. Beta blockers are where it's at, I take metoprolol 25mg now.

Kava Kava is also worth looking in to, it's great for both the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety.
 
ErgicMergic said:
Kava Kava is also worth looking in to, it's great for both the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety.
Click to expand...

I agree that beta blockers can be really good for people that get anxiety in the form of panick attacks (I used propranolol for a while, doctors give it out very easily as its not abusable), but kava kava really isn't much better than placebo in my opinion. It numbs your mouth like a local anasthetic, maybe some of your body too at most, but even in doses 5x the recommended maximum I got barely anything axiolitic from it. Most people say the same.
 
ErgicMergic said:
Beta blockers are immensely helpful for the physical symptoms of anxiety. I think they're a better choice than benzos/pregabalin for long term use, since they don't develop a tolerance. Pregabalin might remove your anxiety, but it will also remove your cognitive abilities, your short term memory, your articulatory speaking skills, etc, it has weird side effects. It can also be wildly addictive, since some find it to give a better high than benzos.

I was prescribed Diazepam/Alprazolam for 8+ months, and Pregabalin for 2 months. Beta blockers are where it's at, I take metoprolol 25mg now.
Click to expand...

As I stated previously, beta blockers don't do anything for me, I don't get bothersome physical symptoms.
 
Lamictal(lamortrigine) is used as a mood stabilizer but is also great for prophylactic treatment of convulsions and anxiety. Ive been using it at 150 mg for about 18 months now and it does a wonderful job of keeping my mind clear of anxiety in most cases. It can also be used as a sleep aid in conjunction with a GABAergic medication.
It wont take anxiety away once it is present, but it will certainly prevent it in many cases and decrease the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. Plus it has absolutely no abuse potential. In fact I cant even feel any sort of psychoactivity beyond its mood stabilizing effects.
 
Anxiety is very situational and dependent on the person, I've always been of the belief that behavioural/environmental modifications are the way to go before you hit the drugs. If you have no physical symptoms of anxiety but you still need phenibut/clonazepam I would say your anxiety is mediated by the environment and you're simply dependent on GABAergics.

Have you tried/considered any atypical anti-anxiety drugs like buspirone? They may impact cognitive performance a bit less than the anticonvusants do.
 
I don't really want to be taking buspirone for something that's transient and I question it's effectiveness. Yes my current circumstances are contributing to my anxiety, but I need to be able to function properly in order to change those factors.
 
RacerAtom said:
I'm currently prescribed clonazepam and take 1.5mg ~2x a week as well as 1500mg of phenibut once a week, these are completely effective at alleviating my anxiety and don't exhibit any side effects or cross tolerance. But obviously these two drugs alone do not provide adequate weekly coverage when I am going through a bout of anxiety. These anticonvulsants and the like (some of which are approved for anxiety in the UK) may help to bridge the gap.

Examples of drugs I'm referring to are, carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenytoin, picamilon, pregabalin, topiramate.

I was wondering if anyone here can share any experiences of these drugs for the relief of non-specific anxiety? I'm sure my doctor won't have a problem prescribing at least some of them given their indications.
Click to expand...

Everyday i take gabapentin (for neuropathic pain), lamotrigine (for bipolar disorder) and clonazepam which i take for anxiety. I have in the past taken various other anti-convulsants such as pregabalin, valproate and carbamazepine. Gabapentin can help anxiety abit if taken with a benzodiazepine but this may just be due to the added sedation. Pregabalin is much the same deal for me. The lamotrigine does nothing to help my anxiety at all.

As for dilantin aka phenytoin that is one medication i would not touch with a 10 foot pole. Really unless you have some form of epilepsy that does not respond well to other medications it's not worth the risk. There are alot better drugs out there for anxiety that's for sure. Id rather try seroquel, olanzapine, some other atypical anti-psychotic, a tricyclic anti-depressant or even a MAOI rather then try dilantin.
 
I'm not averse to the short term use of MAOI's like selegiline or moclobemide (which incidentally is approved for social anxiety), but the side effects and tolerance/dependence mean it's not tenable for me as a long term treatment. Although I would not totally rule out low dose short acting neuroleptics for occassional use, some of the myraid of serious side effects can present acutely and I would like to avoid them if possible. So far pregabalin seems like my best bet as an additional mediction, with selective mao inhibitors as another possibility for short term use.
 
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That because, in order to have axiolitic effects, Kavactelone needs to be combined with alcohol.
Search up some traditional preps for Kava Kava; most of them are "teas" which are basically Kava, steeped in strong alcohol.
Using a strong liquor [Everclear, 151, etc.] and spicing this mixture with clove, cardamom, cinnamon, etc., will help.
It should be served warm and have a Chai-like taste to it.
Sweeten with some sugar and enjoy!
Really quite tasty. :D
 
i take lamictal (for schizoaffective disorder/seizure control/generalized anxiety/ptsd) xanax and flexeril (for myclonic jerks/twitch/spasm) and temazepam (severe and extensive insomnia)
lamictal makes me feel weird, i dont think it does much,supposed to be taking more of it than i do but i didnt wanna bump it up cuz...i dont trust it for some reason
i also think it makes temazepam not work as well on me, unless im just really that fookin spastik
 
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