Anybody try an NaSSAs (Mirtazapine) for anxiety

[anonymous680]

I'm currently on .5 mg of Klonopin 3x a day. I stopped it before and did fine for a while, but I had the most disturbing panic attack ever. Klonopin keeps me under control most of the time, but I will take an Ativan if needed. I dont like taking drugs if I don't have to, but the panic is completely random, severe, and has no triggers. Even with the benzos, the impending doom feeling has trouble leaving. Thoughts do not cause the doom feeling, it's just there. I do not feel depressed, suicidal, or any of that nonsense.

So I'm seeing a psych, and she doesn't want to put me on further drugs until my brain MRI and EEG. I failed some memory test at the neuro, so I also have a 8 hour neuropsychological evaluation. They have tried me on SSRIs and SNRIs and they are total **** drugs for me. I gave them a chance, but they are bad for me. I've tested positive for Lyme disease so that's why they are making sure I don't have lesions on the brain or what-not.

I've never been pro-pharmaceuticals, and I prefer natural stuff, but at this point I want something powerful that will treat my symptoms. Therefore I did some research before seeing my psychiatrist.

Two drugs that I found that seem to help with anxiety pretty well and had interesting pharmodynamics:

Mirtazepine (Mirtazapine): NaSSA
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

Imipramine (Tofranil): Trycyclic
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki?search=Tofranil

I'd much rather be on opiates than benzos. Too bad they don't give those for depression and anxiety anymore. I already know how much benzo withdrawl *****, and morphine withdrawl is safer than benzo withdrawl. It would treat my pain at the same time too. Everything should just be legal in my opinion, and I'm sick of big brother making all decisions.

[Paxiled]

Long term use of opiates causes depression, so that wouldn't be a good solution anyway.  Just saying.  I did try imipramine.  It helped prevent me from getting additional anxiety attacks, but didn't stop me from still being phobic to the things I already had become phobic about.  But it stopped working, and I ended up on Paxil, which worked better, but also left me destroyed upon discontinuation.  The side effects of imipramine are annoying, but it does show good results.  I believe the other med is remeron, which is very sedating and can cause huge weight gain, but some on this site have found it works pretty good.  I think Mr. Green is on it, or was, and likes it.  My psychiatrist only uses it for the elderly who won't eat anymore, because it apparently can cause hunger to escalate considerably.  Of course, you never know until you try.

[anonymous680]

Anybody try either of these drugs for anxiety? I am more interested if anyone has tried NaSSAs. Recent studies shows that NaSSAs are more effective than the stuff we all hear about from the friendly pharmaceutical companies.