Anxiety Medication

[aembry]

Can someone tell me what the least addicting kind of anxiety medication is?? I am considering some sort of medication for my anxiety. Im afraid of becoming addicted to them, and from what I hear most anxiety medication is highly addictive so I have put off any sort of treatment for my anxiety.

[aembry]

Is the hair analysis very expensive?? And I wonder if I can just get that at my local doctors office?

Propranalol is what my doctor prescribed to me. It is a very low dose, I think only 10 or 20mg. I have not gotten it filled yet... I am very weary of any kind of medicine.

[Julie359]

Hiya, in a blood test they check ur blood count, electrolytes and probably in ur case, because of anxiety, thyroid.  It wouldn't be tested for vitamin and most minerals.  Besides in a hair analysis depending on the clinic u choose they would also look for the heavy metals and food sensitivites I explained.  Some test for over 100 common sensitive foods, like cows milk, wheat etc and it doesn't cost as much as most people think.  In my opinion it is a highly valued test to have.  

Also regarding the beta-blockers, I take Propranalol\Inderal, I would say to u start on a low dose.  I was on 40mg a day, which helped immensely with the heart symptoms, sweating etc but upon a visit to my doc I had a massive panic attack in front of him n he increased it to 80mg.... Then I started getting extreme problems, it turned out my heart was struggling as the drug slows ur system lowering blood-pressure and slowing the heart.  over a course of about five months I reduced this does and now am on 20mg which I find is a stable dose for me and controls the GAD without all the horrible side effects.  Some people only need a once a day dose of 10mg, which from what ur saying about the anxiety not being too bad sounds like it would be an ideal dose and u shouldn't get side effects on it.

[Paxiled]

I've never taken a beta blocker, I guess because I never had any heart-related symptoms.  So I can't tell you much about side effects except that from what I've read and been told, they're less than with antidepressants and benzos.  As for herb side effects, yes, herbs and amino acids can have side effects.  So can food.  Most people don't have any problems, but some do, and as with meds, side effects can run the gamut.  On the other hand, virtually nobody dies from them, and the side effects go away when you stop the remedy, which isn't always easy to do with meds.  The reason is most likely that herbs and amino acids are recognized by the body, whereas meds are new and the body hasn't had time to adapt to them -- maybe it never will.  But meds are stronger; if herbs had worked as well as some say, nobody would have invented meds.  Problem now is, profit has so infected medicine it's hard to tell good info from bogus info.  Maybe the best thing is to see a naturopath or herbalist you trust.  You can start by reading a book called Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist at UCLA.  As for specific side effects, google things, check the archives on this forum, read books about herbs.  There are contraindications, but since there are so many herbs and amino acids used in the treatment of anything -- there are a lot of natural substances out there! -- you kind of need to pick some to narrow down the field.  But as with meds, side effects will vary with the person -- some get none, some get a lot, depends on your sensitivity, the quality of the herb, its potency, and how your body chooses to react to it.  Good luck.

[hava]

This pranayam will relax you and ease the palpitations gradually. I would like to know how you feel after 21 days of anulom vilom, but continue the breathing for life.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom pranayam–
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
December 23, 2010

[allmymarbles]

It can be found in any large vitamin store. If there is not one near you, go to the internet. I use Nature's Way. Don't buy stuff from supermarkets.

[aembry]

Thanks so much for your responses! Paxil I do think I will try some herbs or something before I turn to medicine. I know you said there were side effects to most of them, but are any of them bad?? My doctor did discuss beta blockers with me, but I am not sure about those either. I have heard a few bad things abotu them. Do you all know if they are safe??

Julie I have had blood test done recently to check things when I started having the heart palps but all was fine. Would my blood test show this or would I still need the hair analysis?

Also, does anyone know if Buspar is very effective in someone who is sensitive to meds and never took anything?? My doctor told me that this was non addicting it just took awhile to work. But from what I have read it is not very effective.

[Julie359]

Hiya, I would personally recommend getting a hair analysis done to check for vitamin n mineral inblanaces.  Have a look on google for a trusted web-site or go to ur local health food store who maybe able to assist u with this test.  Minerals n vits such as magnesium n calcium, B vits, if are low in ur system can cause nervousness n anxiety. U should get a written report back from the clinic u choose telling u if u have an imbalance and what is the best way to correct it. The test will also look for heavy metals like mercury, u find in fillings and if the levels are too high in ur system that too can cause anxiety\depression in sensitive people.  

Also I totally agree with Paxil, before u decide to go onto any medication try herbal first, why not try drinking several cups of chamomile a day and maybe a cup or two of valerian before bed, while waiting for ur hair analysis results.  Then once u have them follow the supplement plan, change and improve ur diet and I'm sure u'll start to feel better very soon.

Good-luck and let us know what u decide to do.  

[Paxiled]

Holy basil is another good herb for lowering cortisol.  Both may lower blood sugar, so be aware of that.  There are a lot of natural relaxants.  One of the better ones for regular usage is passionflower.  If your problem is mild, my own opinion is, don't get involved with meds.  They're for those of us with serious and chronic interference with the ability to function.  Although natural remedies aren't completely safe, far from it, they are much safer in general than meds when used at proper dosages and purchased from reliable manufacturers, and much easier to stop taking when there's a problem.  An herb that might help with the palps is hawthorn, used for blood pressure, but with herbs, don't expect miracles -- meds are a lot stronger.  Expect it to take some time, and you'll need to meditate, maybe change your diet, exercise, all the stuff you've heard about that are used in a holistic program that would include natural remedies.  There are also amino acids that might help, including taurine, which manufactures GABA in the body.  As to your med question, given what you say, if you want to try a med you might want to look into beta blockers -- they're specific for heart palps and are used for social anxiety and certain specific phobias sometimes, and are said to be easier to quit than benzos, which are addictive, and antidepressants, which may as well be considered addictive.  If the gentler stuff doesn't work, the meds will still be there for later -- they aren't going anywhere.  Good luck to you.

[aembry]

I may try that if there is no side effects. Where can I find this at?

[allmymarbles]

It stabilizes cortisol. High cortisol can cause anxiety. It has rid me of anxiety and panic attacks. Before that, occasionally I took a very small dose of Zanax to suppress anxiety, but that was not a good thing to take. The herb has no side effects, and unlike some medications, it is not addictive. It is best taken in the evening.

[aembry]

My anxiety is not really that severe. I am guessing I have GAD, my doctor did not tell me what kind of disorder I have.. all I have been  told was that I have anxiety. I have this undescribable nervous feeling everyday. Sometimes worse than other days. I also have palpitations which started over 4 months ago and have continued everyday.  I do not have bad panic attacks.  The extent of mine have been nervousness/shakiness, hot flashes, shivering, etc. I was given Buspar, took it for a few days and it made me very sick to my stomach and dizzy so I have not taken it anymore. I'm not sure if it was just where I wasn't used to it or what. I have never taken anything in my life other than antibiotics and birth control. So I am very weary of taken any kind of medication.  I would just like for the nervous/anxious feeling to ease up and my palpitations to stop.  The palpitations are my biggest complaint and I feel as if it's just a cycle. Anxious/palps/anxious/palps etc.

What is ashwagandha and what does it do??

[allmymarbles]

Try ashwagandha, and herb. Very helpful and soothing.

[sgately11]

I have never really become addicted to any of the medicines but that is certainly something you should watch for in the Benzo class, Klonopin and Xanax, Valium etc. What I have found is the withdrawal and side effects are the most devastating.

Benzos. - Side effects, slow thinking, tiredness, dull feeling. Wiithdrawal - A very very bad experience that can last from no days to years. Good Effects - They stamp out panic right away, but lose effectiveness over time for some.

SSRI's Many side effects to start mostly weight gain, sexual side effects, and random thoughts. Withdrawal the brain zaps and SSRI Flu (Flu like symptoms). duration 3 days to months.

I think its a trade, you give up panic, but you get allot in return. They probably wont prescribe Benzos to you so it will be between SSRI, and SNRI, or Cognitive Behavior Therpay which is medication free.

How severe is your anxiety, and is it GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD or all of them?