severe anxiety disorder

[sharon616]

My life is a living hell and the dr has me on meds but one of the meds I can not take is the benzos because I was adictied to them and went thru a long and horrible withdrawal. I have not met any one yet that has this bad of anxiety. It is like a constant panic attack. Please is there anyone out there that can Idintify with me?

[kcdem]

what meds ARE you taking? I am an addict but sober still take a benzo (not xanax as needed) I know my struggle can give you some info as well.

The elavil class drug may be an aswer too. good luck


kcdem

[Tom3242]

I have the same problem.  i was on xanax 6mg a day for a long time and almost went to rehab for them.  I have bottles and bottles of them in my room and looking at them and remembering how they made me feel like a zombie, gives me the strength not to take them and say I don't need xanax to run my life.   however to completely contradict what i just said, i switched to klonopin 4mg a day and i feel much more stable, even mood swings.  i feel i need 5 mg a day but my doctor knows i have had substance abuse problems in the past and is reluctant to up the dose.  i don't know how to ask her if i can have more with out sounding like a crack head.  S

She just gave me a script for Lyrica.  Its used to treat fibromyalgia, but over in Europe the FDA approved it for treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  Not yet in the US.  Its not addictive at all.  I haven't noticed anything and a side effect is wieght gain, which gives me anxiety so i don't take it anymore.  discuss lyrica with your doctor.