Medicine for Anxiety disorder

[wellhelp]

Hello there I am 29 asian male.

I'm generally a worrier and get anxious more than usual. My main trigger is often regarding Health (hypochondria). My anxiety does interfere with my work a little bit but its extent is still acceptable by me. Howevre lately, I've been thinking if there are any medication that can help improve my anxiety. So I've seen a nuerologist who had prescribed me Lexapro 5mg. Right now I still hestitated to take Lexapro as I have many doubts regarding its long term use.

Lexapro if taken long enough and decided to quit, I know that there are withdrawal symptomps which can be minimized if the dose is tapered. Will it do anything more than that if I decided to quit in future? Will I become more anxious than I were before I took the medication?

Thanks and will appreciate anyones help.

[Paxiled]

I'd go further than specialmom.  I had the worst withdrawal in the history of them, but I don't think the non-horror stories match the horror stories -- I think they far exceed the horror stories.  The problem is, medication for anything does force the body to work artificially, so generally it's only supposed to be prescribed if necessary.  That's the First Do No Harm part of a doctor's oath.  Unfortunately, most regular docs don't know how to do anything other than prescribe medication, so that's the easiest thing for them to do.  That didn't used to be the way medicine was practiced -- when I was young if you had a problem with anxiety or depression you were sent to a psychologist, and the psychologist would recommend you see a psychiatrist if you didn't respond or were in a great deal of distress.  Now, practitioners of all sorts of medicine are practicing over their heads -- regular dentists are doing implants (and doing things that rush you to that stage), regular docs are handling things they have no expertise in.  It's tough out there for a patient now, so know that we're all a bit confused by it all at this point.  But don't let that prevent you from seeking your cure -- and if you do need medication, don't feel bad about it and know that you're more prepared for trouble because you know it might come.  When I was put on meds over thirty years ago, nobody ever told me what might happen on them and quitting them.  Now, the info is out there, and that gives you a big leg up on many of those who are on the web complaining about mainly bad doctors, not just difficult medications.  You'll be fine.

[specialmom]

Hi there.  If your doctor prescribed Lexapro for anxiety, please don't allow your anxiety to interfere with your treatment.  :>)  Many people take Lexapro and feel better.  Some do decide to go off and tapering significantly helps with any withdrawal.  There are lots of horror stories but the ones in which discontinuing a medication was not a problem match the number.  So, don't let fear and anxiety stop you from feeling better.  Talk to your doctor.  Consider other things to do as well such as regular exercise (mind body connection is REAL), getting plenty of rest, eating well, volunteering which has a helpful affect with mood, and talk therapy to work on how your own particular anxiety impacts your day to day life.  good luck

Oh, and I do agree that not everyone needs medication or to see a psychologist.  Some amount of anxiety is normal.  We all have it.  It can be situational or a low level that we 'deal with'.  However, if you've spoken to a doctor about it and the anxiety is enough that Lexapro was prescribed, you may be outside of normal.  You have to be the judge but don't, again, let fear and anxiety rule whether you get treated for anxiety.  good luck

[Paxiled]

Given the limited effect your anxiety is having on you so far, I don't think medication is indicated.  Therapy would be the recommended treatment as far as my experience goes for such a so-far minor problem.  As for medication, individuals vary widely on how difficult it is to take the meds and to quit them, and doctors differ widely on how well they handle this.  Nobody can predict how you'll feel taking meds or quitting them, which is why in your case where you're functioning pretty well but are just uncomfortable, it doesn't seem to be at the point where medication rather than learning how to think differently and how to relax would be the way to go.