Aa
are there any GOOD meds?
Hi everyone. I keep seeing all these posts about bad experiences with meds and I am wondering if anyone has any good experiences with meds? I am getting my meds switched Monday and I'm nervous with everything I'm reading. Thanks!!
Thank you all for your responses! I have to reply from my phone so forgive me for being unable to be more personable. I don't have a computer.
I have been trying some natural remedies, such as teas and stuff. I've also switched to decaf coffee. But the worrying just wont stop.
Anyway, I will talk to my doctor about the meds mentioned on Monday. Maybe one of them will prove good for me. :-) thanks again everyone!
I have been trying some natural remedies, such as teas and stuff. I've also switched to decaf coffee. But the worrying just wont stop.
Anyway, I will talk to my doctor about the meds mentioned on Monday. Maybe one of them will prove good for me. :-) thanks again everyone!
Medications for anxiety will affect us all differently, but remember that you will always read about a horror story because information is so readily available. I would venture to say, you can find a horror story about any type of medication on the internet, but whether you choose to use medication is up to you.
I have had great success with SSRIs like Zoloft and initially I was very nervous about taking it, but I started to realize for every horror story about it, there were many more experiences where people were very happy with the results, so take everything you read with a grain of salt, in my opinion. Educate yourself, keep an open line of communication open with your doctor, and be patient with the process.
I also believe that medications will not 'cure' you of your anxiety in the long term, but in my experience, they are a very useful tool to use while you learn to confront your anxiety through counseling. Combined, these can be a very powerful combination in my opinion.....keep us posted!
I have had great success with SSRIs like Zoloft and initially I was very nervous about taking it, but I started to realize for every horror story about it, there were many more experiences where people were very happy with the results, so take everything you read with a grain of salt, in my opinion. Educate yourself, keep an open line of communication open with your doctor, and be patient with the process.
I also believe that medications will not 'cure' you of your anxiety in the long term, but in my experience, they are a very useful tool to use while you learn to confront your anxiety through counseling. Combined, these can be a very powerful combination in my opinion.....keep us posted!
I know someone who was on Prozac for anxiety for a long time and said that it really helped, it was the only thing that made her feel 'normal' again and able to function. She has since been able to come off the medicine and has been feeling fine. Xanax helps me but it is short lived and can make me feel sleepy. Really those are the only two GOOD experiences that I can speak of with any (however little) credibility.
I am nervous about medications too, and I had a not-so-good experience recently which made me even more nervous. But after talking to my doctor about the recurring episodes of anxiety I have, we decided I might need a bigger push (than just yoga/exercise, breathing, therapy, relaxation techniques, etc.) to break the cycle so I could really dedicate energy to getting to the root of the problem vs. worrying about the symptoms. So I'm starting Prozac. Hopefully this will NOT make me turn into the Incredible Hulk or the voice from "Deep Thoughts." :) And if it does, I'll call my doctor, and she'll take me off, or if I'm ready, try something else. I figure, a few days or weeks of trying is not likely to be life-altering if it is not a good experience.
One thing that was really helpful that she did was allow me to taper up from a very tiny dose on my own schedule, because I am very sensitive to side effects (or 'any' effects really). For example, I start with a tiny dose and expect to go up to the next size doze within 4-7 days, but if I don't feel right, stay at the tiny dose til things calm down and then move. If it's just not working out, call her. This made me feel like I had more control over the process.
Anyway, I hope just sharing this 'I know how you feel' is a little encouraging!
I am nervous about medications too, and I had a not-so-good experience recently which made me even more nervous. But after talking to my doctor about the recurring episodes of anxiety I have, we decided I might need a bigger push (than just yoga/exercise, breathing, therapy, relaxation techniques, etc.) to break the cycle so I could really dedicate energy to getting to the root of the problem vs. worrying about the symptoms. So I'm starting Prozac. Hopefully this will NOT make me turn into the Incredible Hulk or the voice from "Deep Thoughts." :) And if it does, I'll call my doctor, and she'll take me off, or if I'm ready, try something else. I figure, a few days or weeks of trying is not likely to be life-altering if it is not a good experience.
One thing that was really helpful that she did was allow me to taper up from a very tiny dose on my own schedule, because I am very sensitive to side effects (or 'any' effects really). For example, I start with a tiny dose and expect to go up to the next size doze within 4-7 days, but if I don't feel right, stay at the tiny dose til things calm down and then move. If it's just not working out, call her. This made me feel like I had more control over the process.
Anyway, I hope just sharing this 'I know how you feel' is a little encouraging!
I know it's a personal choice, but I might try the naturopath route before signing up for hard meds. I was on Prozac for years before I found a natural regimen that worked for me. The prozac calmed me down but i felt so ... different. Anyways, I know the meds work for a lot of people but I'm a skeptical person, especially with the pharmaceutical industry.
When I first started having Panic attcaks about 5 years ago. I was put on a variety of meds that did not work until I got Lexapro and Klonopin. They worked great for ME. Recently I had a another panic attack and incrreased Anxiety and my PCP said the Lexapro had stopped working ( I had stopped taking Klonopin and long time ago) and put me on Zoloft and XANAX. What a disaster! I ended going to a Psychiatrist who put me back on the Lexapro and Klonopin which has me back to normal. I am also seeing a pschologist for therapy. I encouage you to try that also it really helped.
I guess my advice is that it may take you awhile but you will find the right med and you will get better. SSRI's take a wek or 2 to work so dont be dicouraged. Also try therapy as it will help you in the long term.
I guess my advice is that it may take you awhile but you will find the right med and you will get better. SSRI's take a wek or 2 to work so dont be dicouraged. Also try therapy as it will help you in the long term.
Thanks so much for your tips! They are wonderful and I am definitely going to use them. .
I would really appreciate it if you could send me those recipes, when you get the chance. I will try anything.
I would really appreciate it if you could send me those recipes, when you get the chance. I will try anything.
Although I don't have answers or information about medications for anxiety, I am going to copy/paste some tips/techniques that have helped me control my anxiety and panic disorders to the point I don't need medications, even emergency medications.
Ok, there are pre panic tips and full panic tips.
Let's start with the pre panic tips.
A rubber band around the wrist can help if you use it before the anxiety turns into an anxiety attack. As soon as you start to feel weird you snap the rubber band onto your wrist. For some people, this can "snap" (pun intended) them out of going into the anxiety or panic attack.
When you start to feel the anxiety coming on, think of the most odd thoughts you possibly can. Wonder what a star would look like if it were really a circle in disquise.......how many cattapilars would it take to reach from the earth to saturn if they were drinking caffine. Distracting your thoughts with such bizaare thinking will redirect your mind from getting worse.
Sit down on a bench or chair, put your head between your legs, and force yourself to breathe in deeply, and breathe out deeply. It's when the breathing gets to short and quick that the panic gets worse. At first you might feel like you can't do it, but with practice, you can.
If you wear correctional glasses, take them off. For some reason sight plays into some peoples anxiety problems.
Ok, now for when you are in an actual panic attack.
Cold water on the face, forehead, neck, and wrists can help calm the anxiety or panic down. If it's cold enough, it's kind of like shocking you out of the attack.
To add to the cold water technique, if you are in full blown panic attack, find ice as soon as you can, put it into some kind of rag or cloth, wet it, and rub it all over your head, face, neck, and behind your ears. Again, the cold shocks the mind out of the anxiety.
Here are some tips to prevent the anxiety and or panic attacks.
Stay away from caffine, as a rule, it is the MAIN reason people suffer from anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Surround yourself with comedy whenever you start to feel off. Laughter is another technique that can fool the brain into concentrating somewhere else.
Keep a herbal tea you made handy when you are out and about. If you want, as long as you make sure it is safe for you, I will send you some "calm down" recipies that are 100% natural and legal.
Also, there are disposable instant cold packs you can buy from 99 cent stores to use for the cold, this makes it easy to find relief when driving, at work, or some other place a sink is not always available.
Ok, there are pre panic tips and full panic tips.
Let's start with the pre panic tips.
A rubber band around the wrist can help if you use it before the anxiety turns into an anxiety attack. As soon as you start to feel weird you snap the rubber band onto your wrist. For some people, this can "snap" (pun intended) them out of going into the anxiety or panic attack.
When you start to feel the anxiety coming on, think of the most odd thoughts you possibly can. Wonder what a star would look like if it were really a circle in disquise.......how many cattapilars would it take to reach from the earth to saturn if they were drinking caffine. Distracting your thoughts with such bizaare thinking will redirect your mind from getting worse.
Sit down on a bench or chair, put your head between your legs, and force yourself to breathe in deeply, and breathe out deeply. It's when the breathing gets to short and quick that the panic gets worse. At first you might feel like you can't do it, but with practice, you can.
If you wear correctional glasses, take them off. For some reason sight plays into some peoples anxiety problems.
Ok, now for when you are in an actual panic attack.
Cold water on the face, forehead, neck, and wrists can help calm the anxiety or panic down. If it's cold enough, it's kind of like shocking you out of the attack.
To add to the cold water technique, if you are in full blown panic attack, find ice as soon as you can, put it into some kind of rag or cloth, wet it, and rub it all over your head, face, neck, and behind your ears. Again, the cold shocks the mind out of the anxiety.
Here are some tips to prevent the anxiety and or panic attacks.
Stay away from caffine, as a rule, it is the MAIN reason people suffer from anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Surround yourself with comedy whenever you start to feel off. Laughter is another technique that can fool the brain into concentrating somewhere else.
Keep a herbal tea you made handy when you are out and about. If you want, as long as you make sure it is safe for you, I will send you some "calm down" recipies that are 100% natural and legal.
Also, there are disposable instant cold packs you can buy from 99 cent stores to use for the cold, this makes it easy to find relief when driving, at work, or some other place a sink is not always available.
Thanks for the comment! I am so concerned my anxiety will get worse as I am barely functioning the way it is. I think I may have done it to myself when I switched my antidepressant several months ago, or it was due to a traumatic hospitalization I was forced into. I'm not sure because they both occurred around the same time.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Don't let the horror stories scare you....everyone reacts differently to meds.
I've had great, successful stories with several meds....Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro (at diffferent times).
There are some pretty common initial side effects, but there are a lot of success stories! Listen to your doctor and allow yourself to have your own experience!
I've had great, successful stories with several meds....Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro (at diffferent times).
There are some pretty common initial side effects, but there are a lot of success stories! Listen to your doctor and allow yourself to have your own experience!
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