I need help!

[NTCM]

I am 24 and very healthy. I workout a lot and am in good shape-physically. Mentally i have ALWAYS suffered anxiety but worse than EVER the last year. In november i started getting bad headaches when i began a new stressful job....i took it so far and made myself think I had a brain tumor..after a catscan showed nothing the headaches slowly went away- I guess it really was anxiety and stress. I was ok until about May when i began having these weird stomach aches... i couldnt just leave it alone, i always think im dying or worse case everything..after getting an edoscopy and going 3 different dr's only to find nothing wrong i realized it was again anxiety! At that point the dr prescribed me prozac and xanex...i dont take the prozac cuz im afriad but i take the xanex everyday....so NOw i started feeling a lot of back pain and leg and hip pain.... i think its all anxiety and it always hapens during the times of change in my life.... at my last visit the dr prescribed zoloft cuz he said the xanex everyday is really not good. I have a history of bulimia so im afriad to gain weight with this medication (zoloft) does anyone have any suggestions?

[spade22]

Your doctor is correct - you should NOT take xanex everyday - this drug is intended to use as needed (during a panic attack) only and should not be taken daily as it is highly addictive and quickly loses it effectiveness (you will need more, and more to achieve the same therapeutic effect).

Klonopin is a very good choice for preventing anxiety.  It is designed specifically for treating anxiety and is a good long term choice.  Prehaps this is something you can discuss with your doctor.

In terms of gaining weight from Zoloft - everyone is different.  I have been on Zoloft for 6 months and I have lost weight - my doctor told me that some people gain weight, while others lose weight.... it really depends on the individual.  The same thing applies to klonopin - weight loss OR weight gain are "potential" side-effects and you wont know how it effects you until you try it.  

In any case, you shouldnt be afraid to try a drug that could benefit you for fear of gaining weight especially when this "side effect" may not even occur in your case.  If you did gain weight, it may be very minimal (a few pounds) and this is something you could control with a slight modification to your lifestyle (eat a little less or exercise a little more etc.)

[Ginasouthcarolina]

Ok i need to tell you this i am young like you well not as young..lol but ive been on xanax and then switched to klonopin for 5 years..i just got married a year ago and we are thinking of starting a family and i cant because of this dam medication doctors should NEVER!!!!! prescribe benzo's to woman of child bearing age i am having the hardest time getting off it might take up to a year to get off so my life is on hold cause of these meds so what ever you do Dont!!! go on xanax or klonopin try anything else PLEASE!! i wish i never started benzo's i cry everyday wishing i could have a normal life and just start a family...so please take my advise stay away from benzo's try zoloft i didnt gain waight on that or lexapro that was really good.....sorry  if i scared you if i can save one person from going through those horrific withdrawls ill be happy...thanx Gina

[NTCM]

Thank you all for your help. I didnt gain weight from wellbutrin but i ended up having a bad allergic reaction and was in the hopsital but other than that I felt amazing from it! I wish i could go back o that. Im just really sad and frustrated that I cant just control this myself ya know