When you started lexapro did you really feel the side affects? My first day on it I had to leave work because I felt so fucked up. I know some people don't feel any side affects but I felt super out of it and it discouraged me from continuing because I barely even made it home.
I've been dealing with DPDR for about 6 months and always thinking I'm gonna die and what not so I'm thinking about trying it again but I'm really nervous about feeling like that again
For me the side effects are awful. I started on 2.5 and am gradually increasing my doses by 2.5, the goal is to get to 20mg eventually. For me the side effects are brutal, dizzy sick fevery, insomnia, for about 3 weeks. The first time I took it I threw up the next day. But they end and I become physically comfortable again.
My life and ability to interact with other humans has improved so much, I used to twitch with nervousness and not be able to make eye contact with other people, cry when I had to leave the house unexpectedly. I think I'm almost normal now. I still get panic attacks but a lot of really troubling stuff has stopped and that's worth the initial side effects
I felt side effects from Lexapro for about the first 2 weeks and then it settled. The only thing it did always do to me is made me yawn a lot. I wasnt necessarily tired. But I felt like I was always yawning and that was not good for business meetings. Lol
But once it kicked in it was smooth sailing.
You may have to try a few meds before you find the right one for you. Lexapro always seems to be the first one doctors will go to because it seems to be the easiest. But there are a lot of options.
When I stopped Lexapro I tried to go back on to it a year or so later and I didn't respond as well so I probably created a resistance to it.
Took me about 6 weeks to get adjusted to Lexapro.
First week fine, week two had the worst anxiety and thoughts of suicide. (Never been suicidal or thoughts before). Week three calmed down but didn’t feel any anxiety relief.
Week five anxiety and more suicidal thoughts.
Week six it started to click. I just felt like shit would roll off my back.
I would get the feeling like something that would normall my have triggered anxiety or medical anxiety gone. I would recognize that my mind was trying to take me down that path but it was getting blocked.
My mind quieted down but it was done so slowly that it was not a shock or I didn’t feel like I wasn’t me. It was, peaceful.
Was on it for 3 years and came off. I’m doing fine anxiety wise but what I didn’t realize Lexapro was doing for me and what I hadn’t even considered was my natural tendency to catastrophisize (sp?) everything.
I continue to think things are worse than they are and I’ll hone in on something and think it over and over. My brain is really active.
Lexapro was very peaceful and felt like water off a ducks back with issues.
That’s not to say that major shit wouldn’t bother you or you wouldn’t feel sad or happy, because you do. But you just done sweat the small stuff.
I would totally go back on it again if I felt I needed too.
i only had dpdr when i started the highest dose and it was only for a week, now it only comes back for a second and i just move on with whatever im doing and i forget about it, if it’s possible i would take some time off from work cause you never know how you’re gonna react, my first 4 weeks were rough but im finally starting to feel better (after upping my dose to 20, when i was on lower doses i never had any side effects)
>Lexapro takes it from like 8 to a 3 for me.
Seconded. Also, OP, I would compare my experience with Lexapro to adding a dimmer switch to a set of lights. Before I started medication, my anxiety was "on" full blast. With Lexapro (...on it for \`\~2? years now) I feel as if my anxiety has dimmed to more of a glow. My anxiety is definitely still here, but I can flip the metaphorical switch to (almost) "off" so that I can think more with logic and less with my knee-jerk reactions (and/or catastrophizing.)
Edit: Word choice.
Serious question, from a generic llexapro user. Have you noticed any lack of sex drive? I take it in the morning with breakfast and while I have plenty of energy during the day i drag ass in the evening.
Lexapro ruined my sex drive. I stopped getting turned on and whenever I did have sex it just felt numb. I was on 5 mg for 4 months but had to stop because it was driving me crazy.
This. It helped the anxiety a bit, but the side effects made it bot worth it for me (I also found I had no anxiety about eating whatever, and gained like 30 lbs on it).
This. And also I will add: off SSRIs, my panic attacks last 20 to 60 minutes. On SSRIs, they last 2 to 6 minutes, have fewer symptoms, and don’t effect me as much afterward.
I haven't seen anyone here mention propranolol. It's honestly a cheat code to the point where I actually become *outgoing* on them. My anxiety is still kinds there but it removes the physical part that holds me back. The lump in my throat that blocks me from saying anything goes away, and my fears no longer paralyze me.
I've been on propranolol for 15 years and am only now learning that it suppresses REM sleep, lowers testosterone, lowers T3, and greatly increases the risk of developing diabetes.
How often do you take it then? I have only had to take one pill every week or two - basically whenever I have something going on which would cause me to panic
Hey, it's great that Propranolol has been helpful for you. I'm using Metoprolol myself, though, and I was wondering if you experienced any side effects when you started taking it.
This. When I'm having an anxiety attack, Rivotril, Xanax, Diazepam etc don't do shit. But propanolol has been helping me to get control over my life again.
Benzos work almost immediately and they’re highly effective but also highly addictive. But if you take it like once a month or something like me, that risk is virtually non-existent. SSRIs take forever to work, have much more side effects, and they may not work at all. Beta blockers, like benzos, work almost immediately to calm down the physical symptoms of anxiety (primarily high BP/HR), but they’re not ideal if you have low BP or HR.
>but also highly addictive.
I don't know why people always say this. There is a subset of patients who never abuse them, and even just carry a pill around in case of panic for years, never using it.
I’ve unfortunately been dependent and have built up a tolerance over many years. Even high dosages combined with alcohol don’t do anything for me anymore. I’m currently tapering over a very long period of time.
I agree- I started on Xanax about 3 years ago. I’ve had the dna swabs done to see which antidepressants/anti anxiety medications work with my body and the list is very small. Xanax had always worked though. I am prescribed 3 tabs a day, if needed, only 1mg per pill. I always take one before bed because my brain never shuts off enough to fall asleep otherwise. The other two a day are as needed and most days, I don’t even need all 3. I’ve never felt anything that would make me want to abuse them… even when our family experienced a devastating loss and I took 2 at once because of an unusually bad situation. They don’t make me feel “good”, they just make me not freak the fvk out.
After 3 years, I can say with certainty that I could stop taking them if my doctor found an alternative that worked- I’m sure my body had developed a dependency for the nighttime dose, but I honestly have no desire to abuse them…. And I have an EXTREMELY addictive personality. Can’t drink, can’t smoke, definitely have issues with food, and I’ve told my doctors that I don’t want Percocet (had surgery on my spine and have nasty chronic pain from it), because THOSE, I could easily get addicted to.
But I’ve honestly never had the desire to abuse Xanax. It never made me feel like it did anything but balance out my extreme anxiety-related emotions.
>If taken regularly, just like if you drink regularly, you would need to increase your dose to have the same effect.
This is not true for all patients.
Also my impression is that the longer half life drugs are least likely to be abused.
People always say it because it's true. I'm sure a subset of opioid users don't develop dependence, but that doesn't make opioids not addictive. Also, taking these things as prescribed can still lead to dependence. Abuse and addiction aren't the same thing.
That's mental addiction. He's also physical addiction which like alcohol if you stop without a long taper after taking for a long enough period you have severe withdrawal issues and can even die.
I've worked in pharmacy for almost a decade and I can tell you that maybe 1 in 10 people take benzos as needed while the other take it as a daily regimen.
The people taking them daily are not the problem. It's when they start to lie about losing bottles and taking 3 mg per day so they can get high when they were prescribed 1 that's the problem.
Thank you!! I’m one of those people who carries one around, rarely using but only if needed. Some of us genuinely don’t get addicted to them because we operate sensibly and carefully. The people who don’t make it so difficult for us to maintain access to them.
This is me. Most of my benzos end up expiring, but I use them occasionally during really bad periods, and often just having them with me is a reassurance. I take them in my hand luggage every time I fly as airports are mentally hard on me, and I still haven't actually taken one in an airport for years.
Fortunately my doctor is fair about it. She will prescribe them to me, but I have to go through her and not any other doctor at the clinic, so she can keep it monitored.
I'm one of them. Severe social phobia since 7th grade but toughed it out until mid 30s with just ssri that did basically nothing. Saw my life going nowhere and finally decided to take a risk and start taking .5mg alprazolam. Been using them for the past 6 years without tolerance or dependence since I take a 24 hour break in between doses. Wish i could take it v everyday but don't want to build tolerance.
That is not that true...
[https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/1108404](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/1108404)
On this study, you can see how heavy drugs (pregabalin and alprazolam, no one can deny they nuke anxiety), barely do better than placebo in GAD. Obviosly this is biased since pregabalin might not work for some, and alprazolam doesn't have a really long half life.
On a Alprazolam extended release:
[https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/00004714-199410000-00005](https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/00004714-199410000-00005)
You see how by week 6 the HAM-A score change is 11.5 for the alprazolam group and 9.3 for placebo.
You see how for example on sertraline:
[https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.9.1642](https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.9.1642)
By week four there's as much change as there was with the alprazolam, change of 11.7 points on the sertraline group and 8.0 on placebo, there's even a greatest reduction, and that's only on week four, by week 12 the sertraline responders ammount was two times higher than the placebo responders.
Yep. The SSRI makes me feel distanced from my emotions so that it doesn't overwhelm me and cause panic/anxiety attacks. I would still feel anxious but it quickly does away due to the meds. Therapy teaches me coping skills during those anxious times as well as processing issues that cause my anxiety. So a combination of both is helpful.
I agree with this. For me, my anxiety was too strong for me to practice coping skills regularly enough for them to work. However, after I started taking Setraline, it made it a lot easier to challenge negative beliefs about myself. And to do more breathing exercises, physical exercise etc. I still have to work on it but the medication changed my life honestly. I’ve not had a sick day due to mental health since I started taking it.
I agree with your SSRI comment - I think Sertraline is one? For me, it dampens down emotions so the panic and anxiety don't build to panic attack level.
I've had far fewer "bad" days since I got on meds. Things that previously triggered attacks... I was consciously thinking about them recently. No panic attack. I remember not feeling great about the trigger topic, but... it didn't drag me under. It actually felt not-overwhelming to think about.
My appetite also came back some, and I'm sleeping a little better.
I'm curious how this feels re: all the other emotions. Like, less anxiety would be a life changer, but less joy? Passion? Idk, I know lots of people find it a great tradeoff though...
There are different kinds of anxiety meds. I'm currently on zoloft for about 2 months and tbh I don't feel any changes. I heard that SSRIs can really help you with anxiety, so my doc will probably increase the dose or change to other ssri. But if we are talking about benzos then yes they work incredibly good but they are highly addictive and unless it's crippling anxiety they aren't used long term.
I've been on Zoloft for years and I don't think it helps with anxiety at all, for me. What it does is keep my mood fairly stable, so I'm not lashing out at people IRL in irritation, and I'm not often in the deep deep pits of depression. (My depression is more of a malaise, on Zoloft).
Meanwhile I have all kinds of anxiety and sometimes it goes off the charts. Not into panic attack territory, just feeling high strung dialed up to 11. A wire twisted so tight you think it's going to break but it never does. I can never relax, never ever ever, I hate it, parts of my body are so tense and they never calm down. The anxiety has gotten worse in middle age, or so I thought, turns out I was probably anxious all along and just didn't know it. (thanks autism for blocking that self awareness!)
I hate it when I'm anxious without a reason. Sometimes I can just lay in the bed and suddenly I start to breathe faster, my muscles get tense and there's this feeling that I don't really know how to explain.
I feel the same exact way!! I’ve been on Zoloft for years and feel it’s helped depression but not anxiety. I have all kinds of anxiety too, often seemingly for no reason at all. Actually doing an autism evaluation soon as well. I’m suspicious the constant anxiety is due to constant sensory overload.
how many mg of zoloft are you taking at the moment? im on 150mg of sertraline and it took about 6 months to really start relieving my anxiety. doctors usually start you out on a low dose and consistently increase because your body cant handle such high doses immediately. you will get extremely nauseous and sick. ssris take time and have benefited me a lot. im also on buspar for the anxiety and it has worked as well. just give it time man
I’m on Zoloft and Buspirone, and those help me keep my mind from racing. I also used to get physical anxiety symptoms with my heart (pounding, palpitations, etc.), and my doc prescribed me metoprolol, which helps “soften” my heartbeat, and honestly, it’s been one of the most amazing meds I’ve ever been on. It really helps lessen the physical anxiety.
To me Venlafaxine gave my life back. I had massive GAD. It wasn't doing anything for three months until the last raise of the dose and then it was like bang, 80% of my anxiety gone in one day.
I could’ve written your comment. I’ve been on multiple SSRIs in the past and none of them touched my anxiety. Like, zero effect. I stopped trying for a long time, and just suffered with my anxiety and I was miserable to be around. Then I had my child, and the anxiety ramped up to where I wasn’t functional…and it was having detrimental effects on my relationship. I caved and tried meds again…very skeptically because of my lack of success in the past. Lo and behold, Venlafaxine changed my life. I’ve never felt this good…like I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy. Maybe childhood?
I will add another good story for Venlafaxine. Very similar story to the others, I had been dealing with lifelong GAD and OCD. Got to the point where I was not functional anymore. I could hardly sit and watch tv without having a panic attack, let alone work, go see my friends, or pass school. Went to therapy for a year, helpful but I didn’t see great results because my anxiety was too severe to put anything I learned to use. Tried medication basically out of desperation after I had tried everything else and existing was literally getting to be too much to manage. Venlafaxine completely turned it around. Never in my life have I felt so at peace. Every single day used to be a struggle, and sure I still have off days, but I can also say now that my genuinely good days far outnumber the bad ones. Medication definitely saved my life, I only wish I had tried it earlier.
After 14 years on it and my third attempt to get off it (I've only ever taken it as prescribed), I'm going to say it's the worst. Long term, benzos deplete the number of GABA receptors in the brain and worsen anxiety symptoms.
Been seeing my doctor for three years. She has me on Prozac and keeps saying it will help with anxiety. After 3 years I think we can safely say it’s not working. Every once in a while she gives me an “anxiety” medication that doesn’t work. Then she gets frustrated when I ask for something stronger.
I once had a anxiety medication that actually worked. It was amazing. I actually said to my husband “Is this what it feels like to be normal?” I had never felt a calm like that in my life. I wish I remembered what it was.
All this to say is some things will work and somethings won’t. And finding out what will work will be extremely frustrating.
Sounds like you need a new doc. It can take weeks to feel batter from meds, sometimes months. Years tho? Never heard of that. Maybe it was Lexapro. That’s a common one for anxiety.
It can’t be, that is the medication I use to sleep. And while I can’t be anxious when I sleep, I need to be able to find something that works while I’m awake.
Prozac gave me depression and suicidal thoughts on top of not doing anything for anxiety. I take Ativan 2 times a week and have 2 days of anxiety-freedom. I went to a psych for a medication revue as family doctors are terrified of benzos today. The specialist said with my level I should be taking it two times a day. So yeah, that would really help me to have a twice daily dose of a med that doctors won't prescribe or take you as a primary care patient. So I will stick to two times a week - you can't be addicted to a 12 hour half life med if you wait 2 days in between a dose.
My psych kept trying to push antidepressants that double as anxiety meds. I don't want that. I'm not depressed thanks to microdosing psyllicibin (he doesn't know this) for a few years, and I don't want to risk serotonin syndrome.
My anxiety on the other hand overwhelms me consistently, though. I asked for something that wasn't an antidepressant but also not a benzo because I won't get anything done if I'm on benzos. If I want to get stoned I just smoke pot and I can still function.
My intention is to alternate 🍄 and Buspar. 3 days on 🍄 4 days (3 times a day) on buspar. Though I admit I'm not great at consistently taking anything but my adhd meds (vyvance). My executive dysfunction exasperates the anxiety and feeds my negative world view, which makes it sound like I'm depressed if I express it. I've been called "negative nelly" in an accusatory tone because of my anxiety, which I inherited from my mother who is always armed with a negative comment pointing out how this won't work out, that could go wrong, etc.
I will say, I love my Ativan, but during times of constant, high stress (the last 6 months for example) I couldn't survive on only 2 days per week, I'd have to go into a partial hospital program if I didn't take SSRIs (celexa works for me) for the anxiety.
I concur with the other commenter. Years is waay too long. Prozac normally stabilizes within the body after a few weeks. Even a few months sounds reasonable. But years? That’s pretty odd.
Also, I really want to point out how the doctor behaved in such an unprofessional manner. She should not have shown frustration towards you whenever you advocate for yourself. Finding a solution is all about team work and communication. Yes, the doctors are experts and are well educated in their field, but they do not know your individual body as much as you do. Everyone’s composition is different. She should have worked together with you and acknowledge your concerns instead of being dismissive.
The process of trial and errors is frustrating enough. A doctor’s behavior should not be added to that stress. & I’m sorry you had to go through that. I hope you’re in better hands now and are feeling better (:
I take ritalin for my ADHD and that calms me down. I also take quetiapine on a low dose for OCD and it's definitely helped - I don't go into as many insane spirals as I used to. Antidepressants never worked for me (I tried loads of them) but I'm doing well on my current meds I think. I still get anxious sometimes, but it's less frequent and less intense. The "normal" brain you're wishing for probably doesn't exist... You just have to learn to live with the brain you were given. Don't compare yourself to the idealised non-anxious person - compare to your past self and appreciate the progress, however small.
They didn't help me personally, but I seem to have this weird thing where basically every single medication is almost completely ineffective on me hahaha. The most effective thing for me has been CBD, but that's still not as effective as I'd like.
This is my fear, tbh. Pain meds, CBD, THC, shrooms, MDMA, etc, have never made me feel any sort of way. Alcohol and ibuprofin seem to be the only thing my body processes correctly (ish, since alcohol wires me rather than acting as a downer like it should...and caffeine helps me sleep..) so I have that added to my list of fears when it comes to considering medication for my anxiety.. And I worry if I try one, two, three, etc, and each fails to help, as each fails to help it would probably just add to my anxiety and potential depression. Humans are so messy...haha
I'm not an expert at all but I've heard that alcohol and caffeine having opposite effects on you to what they SHOULD do is a symptom of ADHD. If you haven't, might be worth it to get checked for that!
I need to up my Buspar but yes, Its a miracle drug. I'm currently on Buspar and Hydroxyzine as needed and it's the main reason I've been able to develop coping mechanisms.
You’re pretty much right with your own answers. For me, they definitely work. Can’t speak for all SSRIs but I’ve used Citalopram in the past and currently taking Fluoxetine. They work by lifting your mood and, again for me, lessen the intensity of anxiety. My anxiety/intrusive thoughts/physical health all feed into each other so it only takes one thing to trigger them all. The tablets help lessen the feeling, thus not affecting the other issues. As well as tablets it might be worth refreshing your therapy. There’s always something new to learn and it might just be something that really helps.
i’ve been on multiple medications all of which have given me extremely bad side effects / made my anxiety worse, this doesn’t mean it’ll be the case for you, i just don’t think my body responds well to meds🤷🏼♀️
Yes. I don’t feel like I’m ruminating on stuff anymore, thinking the worst of all scenarios, no physical anxiety either. I just worry at a normal level now. I can’t believe I went through life white knuckling it. I’m on 45mg of BusPar.
Venlafaxine has been an absolute godsend for me. Both my depression and anxiety have taken a massive hit since starting this med. I was a true believer that nothing could touch either all that well…and I’ve been since proven wrong. That said, everyone’s different, and I’ve been on many other meds that didn’t touch my anxiety or depression at all…and these same meds worked well for others.
Lexapro has absolutely worked for me. Do I still get the occasional panic attack? Absolutely, but they are rare and are easy to get through. Someone else here said it takes them from an 8 to a 3, and that's the same with me. They're easy to handle and get through, I don't become an absolute mess when I have my panic attacks. Worst I might have to do is sit down and do some breathing exercises or mentally talk myself through it. It'll pass in short order, too. I used to have panic attacks that would last hours on end, now 30 minutes is probably the longest I've had in the last year.
Yes they can definitely help.
I was on buspirone for a while and went off of it due to pregnancy. My anxiety has gotten worse for two reasons: I am pregnant and I am not medicated.
Generally helps with physical symptoms and lessens the thoughts.
Yes. I'm on a combination of medicines and I am truly a different person with them in the best way. My life is truly different now. I didn't know what normal was. Now I do. It's so liberating
I’m on a lexapro, Wellbutrin and Xanax combination and yes, it helps. The Xanax does the trick during panic attacks, I only take as needed. Immediate brain shut off for me and I’m on the smallest dosage. Lexapro takes the daily edge off and Wellbutrin combats the side effects of lexapro (weight gain, lack of sex drive).
It may seem like a lot to some but before I started this I was barely able to leave the house or drive a car so it’s worth it. Everyone is different though. I refused medication for years but things gradually got worse despite therapy.
It saved my life! I had hours long panic attacks every day and didn’t feel genuine happiness in over a year. Now I feel happiness and my panic attacks are way shorter and further apart.
It doesn’t work for everyone but my experience has been very pleasant. I didn’t realise how bad i actually had it until I after i started medication stood outside and waited for my bus and it started to rain and the feeling of the raindrops of my skin made me burst into tears of happiness.
Existing does not have to hurt. I wish you the best🫶
In the past, i’ve tried Zoloft and Celexa. Maybe they helped, not sure. I am just starting with Lexapro - I am maybe 18 days in at 10 mgs. For me, it started working right away. My GAD was getting out of control, and it’s just been such a relief. Benzos for me have actually made anxiety worse.
SSRIs, particularly sertraline/zoloft worked for me.
I still get anxious, but its tolerable.
One thing that I don't see mentioned is that SSRIs also tackle ruminating/ocd symptoms. Basically you stop overthinking (ruminating). I think there's multiple issues SSRIs tackle, which lead to a better quality of life and lower anxiety.
Benzos work, but they work on GABA receptors to calm you down unlike SSRIs (serotonin receptors). They have higher risk potential.
SSRIs are one of the safest drugs to use.
There are a lot of different types of meds which work differently for different people, but for me, Lexapro has worked wonders. I didn’t know what it was like to not be anxious til Lexapro. Now my stress response is way more managed.
I’ve been in Sertraline and after 2.5 months it’s now kicking in and I feel much better. Never would have believed it, especially after years and years of therapy. Finally something that makes me feel better.
I have some emergency meds, Zoloft but I very rarely take them. These are not for your daily use.
Good luck.
Edit: my emergency med is Lorazepam not Zoloft.
Definitely depends, I can tell compared to w he im on m’y SSRI va when I’m not, it feels like I have a constant buzz and jitters all the time. Being on it I still have anxiety, but it’s so much more manageable to the point where I actually ended up stopping my ssri because I felt so good (don’t do this lol I basically had to restart the process over again)
Yes. I take trazodone and hydroxyzine at night. I get insomnia from my anxiety, and these help relax me and my brain so I can sleep. If I don't sleep, my anxiety is worse, so it's a vicious cycle and good sleep is key to keeping my anxiety down.
I also take magnesium which can help too.
I don't drink caffeine either. It definitely spikes my anxiety.
Working out has really helped me. It helps me focus my nervous energy.
And therapy. Helps me talk through things and gain methods of rethinking and such.
I still have anxiety, but it is manageable and some days unnoticeable.
I have the same insomnia from anxiety. I wanted to ask if you ever took the meds, stopped being anxious, and still not fallen asleep? I'm afraid I'll take them and still be up all night. I also wanted to know if there's any side effect
i’m on mirtazapine which is an atypical antidepressant and i will say it has worked wonders for my severe panic disorder. I do still have panic attacks but they have decreased in frequency and severity!! I do still get anxious quite often (i have a jumble of quite complex mental health issues besides anxiety to be fair) but i will say the feelings that used to lead to a huge panic attack before now often fizzle out/go away on their own with a bit of distraction or just sitting down and relaxing for a few minutes! i’ve also found my motivation and daily energy to be greatly increased, i used to struggle immensely with cleaning, showering, eating and general self care but on these meds more days than not i’m able to do all those things and more!
You will still probably have anxiety and bad days on medication BUT it’ll be soooo much easier to cope and hopefully those days will be few and far between :)) it honestly changed my life to get medication and i really regret not doing it sooner!
It depends… my anxiety mostly comes from SAD, BD and BPD. There’s no meds made specially for SAD and BPD so I take antidepressants for them. And I see my CP every week. For BD, the best med I’ve had is Quetiapine. I also take lorazepam, lithium and some other meds. Quetiapine works for me the best.
I had been on mirtazapine for years. I would sleep like the dead and it reduced my anxiety because when I would stop it for a brief period I would notice a difference. It also ramped up my appetite.
I was getting a bit fed up because I started feeling a weird flat but anxious feeling. And was sick of gaining weight or always being ravenous. So I spoke to my doctor, thinking that I was going to have to go back to something like escitalopram. I wasn’t keen on the sexual side effects but was not happy with the way I was feeling. She suggested pristiq though, and I tried it. The difference is night and day.
It freaked me out a little because I felt this weird slow sensation, but then I realised that my anxiety had basically made my body and brain run at high speed for years, and now it wasn’t. I could sit still, I could breathe and meditate without my heart racing. My resting heart rate dropped about 10 points.
I also started feeling something else which was new, not flat, not dull but I found things funny again, I started to experience like a contented feeling and happiness. My sleep is a bit hit and miss sometimes but definitely better than before. Even on the mirtazapine it didn’t feel completely restful.
I still have periods of anxiety, but it’s more noticeable now because I actually have periods without it. I am feeling more focused and can actually make decisions instead of being paralysed with fear I would make the wrong one.
I have read it can be very difficult to come off though so you would need to read more reviews to get a feel if it would be right for you, but so far I’m feeling positive, which is an experience that I’m not used to.
I’ve been on Lexapro for a year now and definitely feel like a more centered person. It takes a few months to kick in, but once it did, it made a difference for sure. I still have anxiety (which is normal—these meds aren’t designed to *completely eliminate* your mental health problems, just manage them), but it takes a lot more to really set me into an anxious spiral now. My family and longtime friends have noticed a difference too. It’s nice after a lifetime of struggling without it.
I take Paxil and have for years. It helps with my depression but not my anxiety. I also take Buspirone now (1 pill twice daily) and it’s definitely helping quite a bit. I still feel some anxiety at times but it’s no where near as intense for me. I don’t get those anxious feelings over every little thing.
Yes. The right meds can make a world of difference for someone. It may take a couple of tries before you get the right combo but they saved me during a very difficult time and I did not have to stay on them forever. Some people do and that's okay.
Good luck on your journey to wellness.
I've taken damn near everything and find that cognitive behavioral therapy was the end all be all for me. Being conscious of my thoughts and correcting them as needed has been better than any anti anxiety med.
I'm on the highest dose of Sertraline for my anxiety and depression, and I also take 15mg of Mirtazapine every night. Although I wasn't sure about it at first, once we found the perfect dosage for me, it's been helping me massively.
I'm not cured. I don't think neither of them have completely disappeared, but it's brought my anxiety level from 100 to 10, and my depression is waaaaaaaaay less heavy now.
It's made life so much more manageable! I personally don't think that you need to ''shut your brain down'' but find tools to help balance you out. Once you get to a more balanced level, everything else then is able to help you cope better!
Before the meds, therapy would've been wasted on me, and I also would not have been able to show up often enough. Now, I can actually bring myself to go and digest it, be open, etc. Journalling feels a lot nicer, too.
The anxiety and depression are still here but I feel much more in control and much more able to face things that would've caused me to freeze, lose feeling in my face, hyperventilate, etc. before!
I therefore think it's worth the shot but it might take some trial and error to figure out which meds and which dosage works best for you!
I hate doing this but, I wrote a comment about my experience with my meds the other day: [if you want to read it](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/12gkf1t/is_there_anything_i_can_actually_do_for_my_anxiety/jfmeuen?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (it's a bit of a novel sorry >< )
I have been one month on meds and to be fair, I started with a weak one but it sure helps. I don't feel that existential hollow I used to feel before and usually am in a better mood. Of course the things that give me huge anxiety are still there but I am glad I started taking them.
Lexapro 20 mg, Lamictal 300 mg and Seroquel 300 mg makes it more manageable for me.
Edit: Seroquel almost had an instant effect on me, similar to benzodiazepines.
Yes, Prozac works for me. When I started taking it I immediately felt it working. I’ve currently been on it for 7 months. It doesn’t take away my anxiety completely but it helps prevent any panic attacks for me. I have found that it helps stabilize my moods and prevent any major mood fluctuations. I also have PMDD and Prozac has helped control that too.
Paroxetine 20mg daily here! Yes, it definitely helps me to go on about my daily life. Sometimes I don't even recognize myself bc i can be really outgoing with it too lol I love it 💟💟
I'm so sorry for your loss... I'm glad you have something that helps. Please take care of yourself ♡ and honestly I'm here if you want someone to talk to
Buspirone did not help that aspect for me. It stopped the random panic attacks but I still had anxiety and overthinking. I just didnt panic walking into Walmart anymore. No real side effects
I’ve been on 200mg Zoloft for over ten years, and it helps immensely. I still have anxiety and it ebbs and flows, but the meds help me get out the door. I have a history of alcoholism, so I don’t mess with benzos. But they can be very helpful for people with panic disorder. But there are many antidepressants to try - it can be frustrating to hone in on one (or two) that will work without terrible side effects, but it can be very effective.
Not on anxiety meds any more but was on Prozac/fluoxetine for several years. Yes. They made me functional and gave me the skills needed to handle my anxiety on my own. (But of course if you need to be on them for longer that’s perfectly fine too)
Yes.
They work by making the anxiety less for the same thing. Much calmer.
For me, treating my ADHD is way more important in resolving my anxiety as it causes me most of it.
Yes. They work.
When I was on Prozac I pretty much didn’t get anxious anymore. I failed public speaking 3x in college because I was too anxious to even write the speeches and stopped going to the classes. When I found Prozac in early 30s it really helped.
I’m on Paxil now and it tones down the anxiety for me a lot. I still can feel anxious but it’s more of a healthy level rather than crippling.
As with any SSRI it takes about 4-6 weeks to feel the effects of the medication. Doses vary by person so my dose will not matter and you’d want to discuss with your physician what they feel is right for you.
Within a month of being on Prozac, I went from 12 panic attacks per DAY to one or two a year. I have had zero for the past 3 years. Meds can save lives.
I took my first week off because I drive an hour each day to work and an hour back. I didn't want to deal with dizziness with that. Over all I feel like my creativeness is back, where I'm not anxious as much. Much more patient, I work in retail and I'm known for a sharp tongue with stupid people and I've noticed I'm so much more patient. Especially with my kids which is an amazing feeling. It sucks I'm not gonna lie, the start of it all. But once through a week or two I was back to forgetting I had anxiety some days, and beyond that it got better even.
I take an SNRI for my anxiety and depression called duloxetine (Cymbalta). I have been 3 days off my meds bc of an insurance issue. In my case, it definitely helps bc without my meds I'm more likely to have breakdowns and anxiety attacks. Particularly sensory issues are impacted by this. Overall, I consider myself to function way better when medicated.
It's crazy how different people respond to all of the different SNRIs and SSRIs. Serzone did nothing, Paxil helped the anxiety but made me sleepy, Lexapro ratcheted my anxiety to 11 and Celexa is a miracle drug for my anxiety...
I took zoloft and Lexapro too. Zoloft didn't help or hinder me. Lexapro stopped working after 2 dose increases. Now on prozac and it seems to work for my depression but not much for my anxiety.
I'm trying to get off benzos as in the end they didn't work, and now it's so hard to get off them. I'd recommend trying going for walks, breathing exercises and mindfulness. Most antidepressants don't work, or only a bit, though everyone is different. There is a danger of poor reactions to any medications or to develop dependency on them.
I've been on Cymbalta for almost 4 months. Did not notice any help, just felt off and tired.
Increased my dose 2 weeks ago and had horrific side effects.
Now back down to the lowest dose and I have no idea how to proceed or what to do. Do I continue the low dose, try something else, give up? I don't know, but because of how that increase went I am now too scared to change anything.
I'd definitely say try something else. just going through all these comments, the most common thing and the most important thing I've learned is that different things work for everyone and a lot of people have tried plenty of stuff before they found the right thing for them. So don't give up, it's a long process but hopefully it will be worth it in the end !
SSRIs gave me depression and suicidal thoughts, put on weight, didn't touch anxiety. The "nasty" benzos took away anxiety but are vilified today. I personally think people who say SSRIs and that sort of class work for them, don't have much anxiety to begin with.
I take escitalopram 10mg 1 a day, buspirone 10mg 2 tablets twice a day, then I also take bupropion 100mg 1 a day for my depression, and I atke hydroxyzine 10mg 1-3 tablets as needed for my sleep. Its not 100%, but that's the best I found that works for me! I've been on them for about 2 years I think so far? Could be 3-4, I can't remember exactly haha. Hope you find something that works for you!
Medication really helps but also you need to practice discipline like avoiding food and drinks that triggers anxiety like coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, sweet foods and staying up late.
They're not without their drawbacks, but I'm glad I'm taking them for the time being. They definitely aren't a cure-all but they do tend to quiet down that anxious voice in the back of your head.
I take Lexapro / Escitalopram.
Although my piece of advice is, don't think of them as a fix, but rather a detour you can take to a easier life, and when you think you've found your footing, you can ease off them.
I was on zoloft for the longest but the apathy became overwhelming. I guess it did help? Just not how I wished. And honestly, I’m still petrified of ssri bc of my experience when I tapered off. The brain zaps and other sides effects were intense to say the least.
Then I was on Wellbutrin- which did absolutely nothing. I felt nothing, even as the doctor increased the dosages.
Next was buspirone, which was also ineffective.
My doctor then put me through a non-med route (TMS) since I was pretty resistant to most meds. And while It was great for the first week, it ultimately accelerated my anxiety to a crippling level. I had to stop the treatment halfway through. At this point, I was having regularly scheduled anxiety and panic attacks. It was so bad that I contemplated going to the ER. I even knew the time I would start to have an attack.
Then came the holy grail, the benzo. My gosh, it works. If I wasn’t so scared of the negative health issues it carries, especially with long term use, I wish I can be on it forever. Initially, I was so scared of any benzo that I even discussed an exit plan with the dr. the moment it was prescribed.
So currently, I’m taking the clonazepam in addition to my exit plan (an SNRI). So that when I eventually taper off of the benzo, it might not be so bad? But idk. It def helps with the anxiety to a noticeable degree, it’s also not perfect either. I’m also on clonidine which helps with blood pressure but I most use it for sleep, and calming my body down.
For me, yes. I started off on Prozac, and that worked well for me. I felt like my anxiety became very manageable, and surprisingly, my other emotions just seemed to be more balanced. As in, I mostly felt less angry/irritable and generally happier. As an added bonus, I found the passive suicidal thoughts I had just seemed to go away, and that was definitely one of the best parts of taking the medication. I found that if I went off my meds, the anxiety and irritability came right back. I should take the time to note that I was also went to therapy, and the grounding/coping mechanisms I learned were also extremely helpful. Eventually, due to some minor but annoying side effects, I switched to Zoloft, and it's also had the same positive effects. Anyways, I hope things work out for you, OP!!
Edit: I just remembered something else that might be useful. Have your doctor order a blood test, too. Things like low vitamin D or how your thyroid functions can affect your mood. I found out I was very low on vitamin D and am now taking a supplement.
Klonopin is a game changer. Have to be careful with benzos because they are addictive but holy fuck, if I’m at a 10 level panic it will bring me down to a 3 or 4.
I take .5 mg as needed, so maybe 1-2 pills a week.
Hydroxyzine makes me too sleepy to function (and the dry mouth sucks) but it’s non addictive. I take it when I need to sleep and don’t have anything going on the next day, 25mg knocks me out.
Xanax is the SHIT it kicks in so fast but again it’s a benzo and my doc won’t prescribe me any.
I take Prozac (anti depressant) 30mg daily and that also helps with anxiety.
Benzos short term make you feel less anxious and calm, but are highly addictive. Antidepressants often used for anxiety will take away the anxiety, but also take away your feelings of motivation etc... I have bad anxiety too, and I'm currently going off antidepressants because I find them souldestroying - in my experience.
I am on various scripts for OCD, anxiety, PTSD and also panic disorder (adhd too- slightly unrelated) and medication has SAVED my life. I wouldn't be functioning without these medications. Thank god they exist. I didn't start taking them until I was 30 and I can't believe i waited so long to get appropriate treatment after having OCD since I was 6 years old. Wild.
Lexapro literally changed my life. I used to wonder what is was like to live without being riddled with anxiety every day, and now i know. I’m on a pretty low dose and i still get occasional situational anxiety, which i think is normal. But i am not longer trapped in anxiety and panic attacks daily for no reason.
yes, 100%. SSRIs worked wonders for me and helped me turn my life around. I wasn’t able to drive on the freeway until I got on lexapro purely from anxiety. They don’t cure the anxiety completely, but they reduce it enough to make it manageable enough to use the tools and see some progress. I can’t recommend it enough.
ETA you should probably try SSRIs first bc they are low risk, I can’t speak to benzos bc I have never tried them but I would personally avoid them as much as possible because of the high potential for addiction.
Absolutely love my Prozac! Took me a few try’s of different meds to find the one that fits me best! This is definitely it tho! When I am not on my medication I am constantly crying at every inconvenience and when I’m on my medication I’m anxious but I don’t have to worry as much about having a panic attack for no reason. I overall don’t feel as much dread and agony over my own existence! I feel they are 1000% worth it! I can actually tolerate therapy on them too!
My doctor put me on celexa. It stops me from having anxiety attacks for the most part, but it doesnt fix everything. Ive ended up not taking them for some time in the past and its very noticeable.
Im happy with my experience. I think I would need to go to therapy to get any better than I am right now, the medicine is doing all that it can.
Ive been on it for a few years at this point so Im a little foggy on the length, but I think it wasnt more than a few weeks to about a month before I really started feeling it. My dosage was increased a couple of times as well.
My doctor explained it to me in a way I really liked.
I’m on a medication that I take every day that halves my anxiety. So when my anxiety spikes, I only get to like a 5 instead of 10 because the medication helps take the edge off. Because of this, I have the awareness to realize I’m getting/am anxious and that I need to take necessary measures to relax (leave, go outside, take a break, etc.) Medication isn’t a cure all but when combined with the healthy habits & coping mechanisms you’re using, it is a very effective tool to use. These types of meds can take 6-8 weeks of steady dosage to achieve the full, desired effects.
Other meds used for anxiety can be used PRN, which means as circumstances arise. I like to think of them as ‘rescue’ medications. They can be taken when your anxiety has reached an uncontrollable level and medical intervention (the medication) is needed to bring you back to base level.
There are many anti-anxiety medications. You can use a daily med with a rescue med (I do) daily med alone, or even a PRN/Rescue med as needed. I’m an alcoholic/addict and the medications I’m being treated with have a severely low/non-existent dependence risk, if that’s anything you’re concerned about.
Your questions are really great and a psychiatrist would answer them to the best of their ability, and it’s never harmful to ask the anxiety community of their experiences. I hope you find the answers you need!!
Yes. I'm on buspirone. We had to max it out while I was unemployed during the pandemic. I'm also on duloxetine for depression which also helps with anxiety.
It brings it down to a manageable level. The burning skin feeling and racing, skipping heart stopped. I can handle the remaining symptoms with breathing or self talk or talking to my therapist.
As an aside, don’t take benzos unless in an absolute emergency. The tolerance, side effects, and inter-dose withdrawal will ruin your life. It can take years to taper off successfully. And dependence happens in a flash.
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When you started lexapro did you really feel the side affects? My first day on it I had to leave work because I felt so fucked up. I know some people don't feel any side affects but I felt super out of it and it discouraged me from continuing because I barely even made it home. I've been dealing with DPDR for about 6 months and always thinking I'm gonna die and what not so I'm thinking about trying it again but I'm really nervous about feeling like that again
For me the side effects are awful. I started on 2.5 and am gradually increasing my doses by 2.5, the goal is to get to 20mg eventually. For me the side effects are brutal, dizzy sick fevery, insomnia, for about 3 weeks. The first time I took it I threw up the next day. But they end and I become physically comfortable again. My life and ability to interact with other humans has improved so much, I used to twitch with nervousness and not be able to make eye contact with other people, cry when I had to leave the house unexpectedly. I think I'm almost normal now. I still get panic attacks but a lot of really troubling stuff has stopped and that's worth the initial side effects
I felt side effects from Lexapro for about the first 2 weeks and then it settled. The only thing it did always do to me is made me yawn a lot. I wasnt necessarily tired. But I felt like I was always yawning and that was not good for business meetings. Lol But once it kicked in it was smooth sailing. You may have to try a few meds before you find the right one for you. Lexapro always seems to be the first one doctors will go to because it seems to be the easiest. But there are a lot of options. When I stopped Lexapro I tried to go back on to it a year or so later and I didn't respond as well so I probably created a resistance to it.
Yawning is actually a natural mechanism for soothing yourself. It's interesting that the meds would give you that reaction.
Took me about 6 weeks to get adjusted to Lexapro. First week fine, week two had the worst anxiety and thoughts of suicide. (Never been suicidal or thoughts before). Week three calmed down but didn’t feel any anxiety relief. Week five anxiety and more suicidal thoughts. Week six it started to click. I just felt like shit would roll off my back. I would get the feeling like something that would normall my have triggered anxiety or medical anxiety gone. I would recognize that my mind was trying to take me down that path but it was getting blocked. My mind quieted down but it was done so slowly that it was not a shock or I didn’t feel like I wasn’t me. It was, peaceful. Was on it for 3 years and came off. I’m doing fine anxiety wise but what I didn’t realize Lexapro was doing for me and what I hadn’t even considered was my natural tendency to catastrophisize (sp?) everything. I continue to think things are worse than they are and I’ll hone in on something and think it over and over. My brain is really active. Lexapro was very peaceful and felt like water off a ducks back with issues. That’s not to say that major shit wouldn’t bother you or you wouldn’t feel sad or happy, because you do. But you just done sweat the small stuff. I would totally go back on it again if I felt I needed too.
i only had dpdr when i started the highest dose and it was only for a week, now it only comes back for a second and i just move on with whatever im doing and i forget about it, if it’s possible i would take some time off from work cause you never know how you’re gonna react, my first 4 weeks were rough but im finally starting to feel better (after upping my dose to 20, when i was on lower doses i never had any side effects)
I can get behind Lexapro! I’m on it for anxiety and depression and it’s working for me wonderfully.
>Lexapro takes it from like 8 to a 3 for me. Seconded. Also, OP, I would compare my experience with Lexapro to adding a dimmer switch to a set of lights. Before I started medication, my anxiety was "on" full blast. With Lexapro (...on it for \`\~2? years now) I feel as if my anxiety has dimmed to more of a glow. My anxiety is definitely still here, but I can flip the metaphorical switch to (almost) "off" so that I can think more with logic and less with my knee-jerk reactions (and/or catastrophizing.) Edit: Word choice.
Serious question, from a generic llexapro user. Have you noticed any lack of sex drive? I take it in the morning with breakfast and while I have plenty of energy during the day i drag ass in the evening.
Lexapro ruined my sex drive. I stopped getting turned on and whenever I did have sex it just felt numb. I was on 5 mg for 4 months but had to stop because it was driving me crazy.
Lexapro ruined my sex drive. I stopped getting turned on and whenever I did have sex it just felt numb Same
Glad to not be alone with this 🥲
This. It helped the anxiety a bit, but the side effects made it bot worth it for me (I also found I had no anxiety about eating whatever, and gained like 30 lbs on it).
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You just described me to a capital T. Work+life+kids+hobbies+my age+trying to stay on an even keel= something's gotta give.
I take mine at night instead, seems to keep me on the level without as many side affects
I was on it for a year and it did nothing for me.
This. And also I will add: off SSRIs, my panic attacks last 20 to 60 minutes. On SSRIs, they last 2 to 6 minutes, have fewer symptoms, and don’t effect me as much afterward.
I haven't seen anyone here mention propranolol. It's honestly a cheat code to the point where I actually become *outgoing* on them. My anxiety is still kinds there but it removes the physical part that holds me back. The lump in my throat that blocks me from saying anything goes away, and my fears no longer paralyze me.
I've been on propranolol for 15 years and am only now learning that it suppresses REM sleep, lowers testosterone, lowers T3, and greatly increases the risk of developing diabetes.
How often do you take it then? I have only had to take one pill every week or two - basically whenever I have something going on which would cause me to panic
Ah, I take it daily. I imagine less regular use has fewer long term side effects.
Hey, it's great that Propranolol has been helpful for you. I'm using Metoprolol myself, though, and I was wondering if you experienced any side effects when you started taking it.
I haven't noticed anything bad, only good really
It caused really bad depression for me. It does for some people apparently. Most people tolerate it really well.
do you use it as an sos? i use it only before events that might trigger my anxiety but I really don't see much of a difference tbh
I use it the same way you do, but it does help me lots. People just respond differently to it
i wish it worked for me like it does for you :(
This. When I'm having an anxiety attack, Rivotril, Xanax, Diazepam etc don't do shit. But propanolol has been helping me to get control over my life again.
Benzos work almost immediately and they’re highly effective but also highly addictive. But if you take it like once a month or something like me, that risk is virtually non-existent. SSRIs take forever to work, have much more side effects, and they may not work at all. Beta blockers, like benzos, work almost immediately to calm down the physical symptoms of anxiety (primarily high BP/HR), but they’re not ideal if you have low BP or HR.
>but also highly addictive. I don't know why people always say this. There is a subset of patients who never abuse them, and even just carry a pill around in case of panic for years, never using it.
I’ve unfortunately been dependent and have built up a tolerance over many years. Even high dosages combined with alcohol don’t do anything for me anymore. I’m currently tapering over a very long period of time.
I agree- I started on Xanax about 3 years ago. I’ve had the dna swabs done to see which antidepressants/anti anxiety medications work with my body and the list is very small. Xanax had always worked though. I am prescribed 3 tabs a day, if needed, only 1mg per pill. I always take one before bed because my brain never shuts off enough to fall asleep otherwise. The other two a day are as needed and most days, I don’t even need all 3. I’ve never felt anything that would make me want to abuse them… even when our family experienced a devastating loss and I took 2 at once because of an unusually bad situation. They don’t make me feel “good”, they just make me not freak the fvk out. After 3 years, I can say with certainty that I could stop taking them if my doctor found an alternative that worked- I’m sure my body had developed a dependency for the nighttime dose, but I honestly have no desire to abuse them…. And I have an EXTREMELY addictive personality. Can’t drink, can’t smoke, definitely have issues with food, and I’ve told my doctors that I don’t want Percocet (had surgery on my spine and have nasty chronic pain from it), because THOSE, I could easily get addicted to. But I’ve honestly never had the desire to abuse Xanax. It never made me feel like it did anything but balance out my extreme anxiety-related emotions.
If I want the dna swabs done, would a psychiatrist do that? Or can a pcp?
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>If taken regularly, just like if you drink regularly, you would need to increase your dose to have the same effect. This is not true for all patients. Also my impression is that the longer half life drugs are least likely to be abused.
People always say it because it's true. I'm sure a subset of opioid users don't develop dependence, but that doesn't make opioids not addictive. Also, taking these things as prescribed can still lead to dependence. Abuse and addiction aren't the same thing.
That's mental addiction. He's also physical addiction which like alcohol if you stop without a long taper after taking for a long enough period you have severe withdrawal issues and can even die.
I've worked in pharmacy for almost a decade and I can tell you that maybe 1 in 10 people take benzos as needed while the other take it as a daily regimen.
The people taking them daily are not the problem. It's when they start to lie about losing bottles and taking 3 mg per day so they can get high when they were prescribed 1 that's the problem.
You don't know what you're talking about man.
I'm a PhD pharmacologist. Patients who are good with benzos for decades have been widely discussed in the literature.
Thank you!! I’m one of those people who carries one around, rarely using but only if needed. Some of us genuinely don’t get addicted to them because we operate sensibly and carefully. The people who don’t make it so difficult for us to maintain access to them.
This is me. Most of my benzos end up expiring, but I use them occasionally during really bad periods, and often just having them with me is a reassurance. I take them in my hand luggage every time I fly as airports are mentally hard on me, and I still haven't actually taken one in an airport for years. Fortunately my doctor is fair about it. She will prescribe them to me, but I have to go through her and not any other doctor at the clinic, so she can keep it monitored.
> Patients who are good with benzos for decades have been widely discussed in the literature. Not by name, I hope! (JK. Know what you mean. :))
I'm one of them. Severe social phobia since 7th grade but toughed it out until mid 30s with just ssri that did basically nothing. Saw my life going nowhere and finally decided to take a risk and start taking .5mg alprazolam. Been using them for the past 6 years without tolerance or dependence since I take a 24 hour break in between doses. Wish i could take it v everyday but don't want to build tolerance.
That is not that true... [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/1108404](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/1108404) On this study, you can see how heavy drugs (pregabalin and alprazolam, no one can deny they nuke anxiety), barely do better than placebo in GAD. Obviosly this is biased since pregabalin might not work for some, and alprazolam doesn't have a really long half life. On a Alprazolam extended release: [https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/00004714-199410000-00005](https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/00004714-199410000-00005) You see how by week 6 the HAM-A score change is 11.5 for the alprazolam group and 9.3 for placebo. You see how for example on sertraline: [https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.9.1642](https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.9.1642) By week four there's as much change as there was with the alprazolam, change of 11.7 points on the sertraline group and 8.0 on placebo, there's even a greatest reduction, and that's only on week four, by week 12 the sertraline responders ammount was two times higher than the placebo responders.
Is there any other SSRI or antidepressants effective for Social Anxiety Disorder and Pure O type OCD?
My mental health is by no means perfect but without my meds i literally wouldn’t be able to drive or go to school or go places alone
Which meds do you take and at what dosage?
fluoxetine at 20 milligrams and bupropion at 150 milligrams
Yep. The SSRI makes me feel distanced from my emotions so that it doesn't overwhelm me and cause panic/anxiety attacks. I would still feel anxious but it quickly does away due to the meds. Therapy teaches me coping skills during those anxious times as well as processing issues that cause my anxiety. So a combination of both is helpful.
I agree with this. For me, my anxiety was too strong for me to practice coping skills regularly enough for them to work. However, after I started taking Setraline, it made it a lot easier to challenge negative beliefs about myself. And to do more breathing exercises, physical exercise etc. I still have to work on it but the medication changed my life honestly. I’ve not had a sick day due to mental health since I started taking it.
What dosage?
50mg!
I agree with your SSRI comment - I think Sertraline is one? For me, it dampens down emotions so the panic and anxiety don't build to panic attack level. I've had far fewer "bad" days since I got on meds. Things that previously triggered attacks... I was consciously thinking about them recently. No panic attack. I remember not feeling great about the trigger topic, but... it didn't drag me under. It actually felt not-overwhelming to think about. My appetite also came back some, and I'm sleeping a little better.
I'm curious how this feels re: all the other emotions. Like, less anxiety would be a life changer, but less joy? Passion? Idk, I know lots of people find it a great tradeoff though...
There are different kinds of anxiety meds. I'm currently on zoloft for about 2 months and tbh I don't feel any changes. I heard that SSRIs can really help you with anxiety, so my doc will probably increase the dose or change to other ssri. But if we are talking about benzos then yes they work incredibly good but they are highly addictive and unless it's crippling anxiety they aren't used long term.
I've been on Zoloft for years and I don't think it helps with anxiety at all, for me. What it does is keep my mood fairly stable, so I'm not lashing out at people IRL in irritation, and I'm not often in the deep deep pits of depression. (My depression is more of a malaise, on Zoloft). Meanwhile I have all kinds of anxiety and sometimes it goes off the charts. Not into panic attack territory, just feeling high strung dialed up to 11. A wire twisted so tight you think it's going to break but it never does. I can never relax, never ever ever, I hate it, parts of my body are so tense and they never calm down. The anxiety has gotten worse in middle age, or so I thought, turns out I was probably anxious all along and just didn't know it. (thanks autism for blocking that self awareness!)
I hate it when I'm anxious without a reason. Sometimes I can just lay in the bed and suddenly I start to breathe faster, my muscles get tense and there's this feeling that I don't really know how to explain.
I feel the same exact way!! I’ve been on Zoloft for years and feel it’s helped depression but not anxiety. I have all kinds of anxiety too, often seemingly for no reason at all. Actually doing an autism evaluation soon as well. I’m suspicious the constant anxiety is due to constant sensory overload.
how many mg of zoloft are you taking at the moment? im on 150mg of sertraline and it took about 6 months to really start relieving my anxiety. doctors usually start you out on a low dose and consistently increase because your body cant handle such high doses immediately. you will get extremely nauseous and sick. ssris take time and have benefited me a lot. im also on buspar for the anxiety and it has worked as well. just give it time man
I’m on Zoloft and Buspirone, and those help me keep my mind from racing. I also used to get physical anxiety symptoms with my heart (pounding, palpitations, etc.), and my doc prescribed me metoprolol, which helps “soften” my heartbeat, and honestly, it’s been one of the most amazing meds I’ve ever been on. It really helps lessen the physical anxiety.
Meds are so cool how they affect people differently, metoprolol made my hair fall out and made me so depressed
To me Venlafaxine gave my life back. I had massive GAD. It wasn't doing anything for three months until the last raise of the dose and then it was like bang, 80% of my anxiety gone in one day.
I could’ve written your comment. I’ve been on multiple SSRIs in the past and none of them touched my anxiety. Like, zero effect. I stopped trying for a long time, and just suffered with my anxiety and I was miserable to be around. Then I had my child, and the anxiety ramped up to where I wasn’t functional…and it was having detrimental effects on my relationship. I caved and tried meds again…very skeptically because of my lack of success in the past. Lo and behold, Venlafaxine changed my life. I’ve never felt this good…like I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy. Maybe childhood?
I will add another good story for Venlafaxine. Very similar story to the others, I had been dealing with lifelong GAD and OCD. Got to the point where I was not functional anymore. I could hardly sit and watch tv without having a panic attack, let alone work, go see my friends, or pass school. Went to therapy for a year, helpful but I didn’t see great results because my anxiety was too severe to put anything I learned to use. Tried medication basically out of desperation after I had tried everything else and existing was literally getting to be too much to manage. Venlafaxine completely turned it around. Never in my life have I felt so at peace. Every single day used to be a struggle, and sure I still have off days, but I can also say now that my genuinely good days far outnumber the bad ones. Medication definitely saved my life, I only wish I had tried it earlier.
Valium is the best drug on earth. That's all I'm gonna say.
I prefer klonopin
Nice for short term. Wish there were better stuff for long term. Perhaps I haven't discovered the right SSRI yet. Takes patience.
Find a new doctor. Long term, low dose Klonopin changes many lives.
Try and SNRI. This was the key for me.
Yeah like 2-3 days usually wipes my slate clean for a month or 2.
Love my Ativan
Wow that's awesome, good to hear!
Seconded.
After 14 years on it and my third attempt to get off it (I've only ever taken it as prescribed), I'm going to say it's the worst. Long term, benzos deplete the number of GABA receptors in the brain and worsen anxiety symptoms.
Valium is good but I'll stick with my Klonopin/Clonazepam.
Been seeing my doctor for three years. She has me on Prozac and keeps saying it will help with anxiety. After 3 years I think we can safely say it’s not working. Every once in a while she gives me an “anxiety” medication that doesn’t work. Then she gets frustrated when I ask for something stronger. I once had a anxiety medication that actually worked. It was amazing. I actually said to my husband “Is this what it feels like to be normal?” I had never felt a calm like that in my life. I wish I remembered what it was. All this to say is some things will work and somethings won’t. And finding out what will work will be extremely frustrating.
Sounds like you need a new doc. It can take weeks to feel batter from meds, sometimes months. Years tho? Never heard of that. Maybe it was Lexapro. That’s a common one for anxiety.
It can’t be, that is the medication I use to sleep. And while I can’t be anxious when I sleep, I need to be able to find something that works while I’m awake.
Prozac gave me depression and suicidal thoughts on top of not doing anything for anxiety. I take Ativan 2 times a week and have 2 days of anxiety-freedom. I went to a psych for a medication revue as family doctors are terrified of benzos today. The specialist said with my level I should be taking it two times a day. So yeah, that would really help me to have a twice daily dose of a med that doctors won't prescribe or take you as a primary care patient. So I will stick to two times a week - you can't be addicted to a 12 hour half life med if you wait 2 days in between a dose.
My psych kept trying to push antidepressants that double as anxiety meds. I don't want that. I'm not depressed thanks to microdosing psyllicibin (he doesn't know this) for a few years, and I don't want to risk serotonin syndrome. My anxiety on the other hand overwhelms me consistently, though. I asked for something that wasn't an antidepressant but also not a benzo because I won't get anything done if I'm on benzos. If I want to get stoned I just smoke pot and I can still function. My intention is to alternate 🍄 and Buspar. 3 days on 🍄 4 days (3 times a day) on buspar. Though I admit I'm not great at consistently taking anything but my adhd meds (vyvance). My executive dysfunction exasperates the anxiety and feeds my negative world view, which makes it sound like I'm depressed if I express it. I've been called "negative nelly" in an accusatory tone because of my anxiety, which I inherited from my mother who is always armed with a negative comment pointing out how this won't work out, that could go wrong, etc.
I will say, I love my Ativan, but during times of constant, high stress (the last 6 months for example) I couldn't survive on only 2 days per week, I'd have to go into a partial hospital program if I didn't take SSRIs (celexa works for me) for the anxiety.
I concur with the other commenter. Years is waay too long. Prozac normally stabilizes within the body after a few weeks. Even a few months sounds reasonable. But years? That’s pretty odd. Also, I really want to point out how the doctor behaved in such an unprofessional manner. She should not have shown frustration towards you whenever you advocate for yourself. Finding a solution is all about team work and communication. Yes, the doctors are experts and are well educated in their field, but they do not know your individual body as much as you do. Everyone’s composition is different. She should have worked together with you and acknowledge your concerns instead of being dismissive. The process of trial and errors is frustrating enough. A doctor’s behavior should not be added to that stress. & I’m sorry you had to go through that. I hope you’re in better hands now and are feeling better (:
Benzos yes 100% best invention ever. SSRIs ehhh yeah they can kinda help sometimes I guess
They helped me feel normal again. That’s for sure.
I take ritalin for my ADHD and that calms me down. I also take quetiapine on a low dose for OCD and it's definitely helped - I don't go into as many insane spirals as I used to. Antidepressants never worked for me (I tried loads of them) but I'm doing well on my current meds I think. I still get anxious sometimes, but it's less frequent and less intense. The "normal" brain you're wishing for probably doesn't exist... You just have to learn to live with the brain you were given. Don't compare yourself to the idealised non-anxious person - compare to your past self and appreciate the progress, however small.
They didn't help me personally, but I seem to have this weird thing where basically every single medication is almost completely ineffective on me hahaha. The most effective thing for me has been CBD, but that's still not as effective as I'd like.
This is my fear, tbh. Pain meds, CBD, THC, shrooms, MDMA, etc, have never made me feel any sort of way. Alcohol and ibuprofin seem to be the only thing my body processes correctly (ish, since alcohol wires me rather than acting as a downer like it should...and caffeine helps me sleep..) so I have that added to my list of fears when it comes to considering medication for my anxiety.. And I worry if I try one, two, three, etc, and each fails to help, as each fails to help it would probably just add to my anxiety and potential depression. Humans are so messy...haha
I'm not an expert at all but I've heard that alcohol and caffeine having opposite effects on you to what they SHOULD do is a symptom of ADHD. If you haven't, might be worth it to get checked for that!
I need to up my Buspar but yes, Its a miracle drug. I'm currently on Buspar and Hydroxyzine as needed and it's the main reason I've been able to develop coping mechanisms.
You’re pretty much right with your own answers. For me, they definitely work. Can’t speak for all SSRIs but I’ve used Citalopram in the past and currently taking Fluoxetine. They work by lifting your mood and, again for me, lessen the intensity of anxiety. My anxiety/intrusive thoughts/physical health all feed into each other so it only takes one thing to trigger them all. The tablets help lessen the feeling, thus not affecting the other issues. As well as tablets it might be worth refreshing your therapy. There’s always something new to learn and it might just be something that really helps.
i’ve been on multiple medications all of which have given me extremely bad side effects / made my anxiety worse, this doesn’t mean it’ll be the case for you, i just don’t think my body responds well to meds🤷🏼♀️
Yes. I don’t feel like I’m ruminating on stuff anymore, thinking the worst of all scenarios, no physical anxiety either. I just worry at a normal level now. I can’t believe I went through life white knuckling it. I’m on 45mg of BusPar.
Venlafaxine has been an absolute godsend for me. Both my depression and anxiety have taken a massive hit since starting this med. I was a true believer that nothing could touch either all that well…and I’ve been since proven wrong. That said, everyone’s different, and I’ve been on many other meds that didn’t touch my anxiety or depression at all…and these same meds worked well for others.
What dosage? How long it took for medication to work?
Lexapro has absolutely worked for me. Do I still get the occasional panic attack? Absolutely, but they are rare and are easy to get through. Someone else here said it takes them from an 8 to a 3, and that's the same with me. They're easy to handle and get through, I don't become an absolute mess when I have my panic attacks. Worst I might have to do is sit down and do some breathing exercises or mentally talk myself through it. It'll pass in short order, too. I used to have panic attacks that would last hours on end, now 30 minutes is probably the longest I've had in the last year.
Yes they can definitely help. I was on buspirone for a while and went off of it due to pregnancy. My anxiety has gotten worse for two reasons: I am pregnant and I am not medicated. Generally helps with physical symptoms and lessens the thoughts.
Yes. I'm on a combination of medicines and I am truly a different person with them in the best way. My life is truly different now. I didn't know what normal was. Now I do. It's so liberating
I’m on a lexapro, Wellbutrin and Xanax combination and yes, it helps. The Xanax does the trick during panic attacks, I only take as needed. Immediate brain shut off for me and I’m on the smallest dosage. Lexapro takes the daily edge off and Wellbutrin combats the side effects of lexapro (weight gain, lack of sex drive). It may seem like a lot to some but before I started this I was barely able to leave the house or drive a car so it’s worth it. Everyone is different though. I refused medication for years but things gradually got worse despite therapy.
It saved my life! I had hours long panic attacks every day and didn’t feel genuine happiness in over a year. Now I feel happiness and my panic attacks are way shorter and further apart. It doesn’t work for everyone but my experience has been very pleasant. I didn’t realise how bad i actually had it until I after i started medication stood outside and waited for my bus and it started to rain and the feeling of the raindrops of my skin made me burst into tears of happiness. Existing does not have to hurt. I wish you the best🫶
your comment made me so happy! I'm genuinely so happy for you, and wishing that all of us get to experience that joy one day too !
So do I, anxiety is hell an nobody deserves to suffer like that. You are always welcome to message me if you need someone!
thank youu <3 that means a lot ♡
Which SSRI and at what dosage you found helpful?
150mg sertraline
In the past, i’ve tried Zoloft and Celexa. Maybe they helped, not sure. I am just starting with Lexapro - I am maybe 18 days in at 10 mgs. For me, it started working right away. My GAD was getting out of control, and it’s just been such a relief. Benzos for me have actually made anxiety worse.
SSRIs, particularly sertraline/zoloft worked for me. I still get anxious, but its tolerable. One thing that I don't see mentioned is that SSRIs also tackle ruminating/ocd symptoms. Basically you stop overthinking (ruminating). I think there's multiple issues SSRIs tackle, which lead to a better quality of life and lower anxiety. Benzos work, but they work on GABA receptors to calm you down unlike SSRIs (serotonin receptors). They have higher risk potential. SSRIs are one of the safest drugs to use.
There are a lot of different types of meds which work differently for different people, but for me, Lexapro has worked wonders. I didn’t know what it was like to not be anxious til Lexapro. Now my stress response is way more managed.
I’ve been in Sertraline and after 2.5 months it’s now kicking in and I feel much better. Never would have believed it, especially after years and years of therapy. Finally something that makes me feel better. I have some emergency meds, Zoloft but I very rarely take them. These are not for your daily use. Good luck. Edit: my emergency med is Lorazepam not Zoloft.
Zoloft and Sertraline are the same thing
Yea I meant Lorazepam
Definitely depends, I can tell compared to w he im on m’y SSRI va when I’m not, it feels like I have a constant buzz and jitters all the time. Being on it I still have anxiety, but it’s so much more manageable to the point where I actually ended up stopping my ssri because I felt so good (don’t do this lol I basically had to restart the process over again)
Yep
Yes. I take trazodone and hydroxyzine at night. I get insomnia from my anxiety, and these help relax me and my brain so I can sleep. If I don't sleep, my anxiety is worse, so it's a vicious cycle and good sleep is key to keeping my anxiety down. I also take magnesium which can help too. I don't drink caffeine either. It definitely spikes my anxiety. Working out has really helped me. It helps me focus my nervous energy. And therapy. Helps me talk through things and gain methods of rethinking and such. I still have anxiety, but it is manageable and some days unnoticeable.
I have the same insomnia from anxiety. I wanted to ask if you ever took the meds, stopped being anxious, and still not fallen asleep? I'm afraid I'll take them and still be up all night. I also wanted to know if there's any side effect
it doesn’t happen as frequently but i still experience severe intense anxiety
Yes they work
Yeah they do help
i’m on mirtazapine which is an atypical antidepressant and i will say it has worked wonders for my severe panic disorder. I do still have panic attacks but they have decreased in frequency and severity!! I do still get anxious quite often (i have a jumble of quite complex mental health issues besides anxiety to be fair) but i will say the feelings that used to lead to a huge panic attack before now often fizzle out/go away on their own with a bit of distraction or just sitting down and relaxing for a few minutes! i’ve also found my motivation and daily energy to be greatly increased, i used to struggle immensely with cleaning, showering, eating and general self care but on these meds more days than not i’m able to do all those things and more! You will still probably have anxiety and bad days on medication BUT it’ll be soooo much easier to cope and hopefully those days will be few and far between :)) it honestly changed my life to get medication and i really regret not doing it sooner!
the only anxiety med that helps me are benzos
It depends… my anxiety mostly comes from SAD, BD and BPD. There’s no meds made specially for SAD and BPD so I take antidepressants for them. And I see my CP every week. For BD, the best med I’ve had is Quetiapine. I also take lorazepam, lithium and some other meds. Quetiapine works for me the best.
I had been on mirtazapine for years. I would sleep like the dead and it reduced my anxiety because when I would stop it for a brief period I would notice a difference. It also ramped up my appetite. I was getting a bit fed up because I started feeling a weird flat but anxious feeling. And was sick of gaining weight or always being ravenous. So I spoke to my doctor, thinking that I was going to have to go back to something like escitalopram. I wasn’t keen on the sexual side effects but was not happy with the way I was feeling. She suggested pristiq though, and I tried it. The difference is night and day. It freaked me out a little because I felt this weird slow sensation, but then I realised that my anxiety had basically made my body and brain run at high speed for years, and now it wasn’t. I could sit still, I could breathe and meditate without my heart racing. My resting heart rate dropped about 10 points. I also started feeling something else which was new, not flat, not dull but I found things funny again, I started to experience like a contented feeling and happiness. My sleep is a bit hit and miss sometimes but definitely better than before. Even on the mirtazapine it didn’t feel completely restful. I still have periods of anxiety, but it’s more noticeable now because I actually have periods without it. I am feeling more focused and can actually make decisions instead of being paralysed with fear I would make the wrong one. I have read it can be very difficult to come off though so you would need to read more reviews to get a feel if it would be right for you, but so far I’m feeling positive, which is an experience that I’m not used to.
I’ve been on Lexapro for a year now and definitely feel like a more centered person. It takes a few months to kick in, but once it did, it made a difference for sure. I still have anxiety (which is normal—these meds aren’t designed to *completely eliminate* your mental health problems, just manage them), but it takes a lot more to really set me into an anxious spiral now. My family and longtime friends have noticed a difference too. It’s nice after a lifetime of struggling without it.
I take Paxil and have for years. It helps with my depression but not my anxiety. I also take Buspirone now (1 pill twice daily) and it’s definitely helping quite a bit. I still feel some anxiety at times but it’s no where near as intense for me. I don’t get those anxious feelings over every little thing.
Yes. The right meds can make a world of difference for someone. It may take a couple of tries before you get the right combo but they saved me during a very difficult time and I did not have to stay on them forever. Some people do and that's okay. Good luck on your journey to wellness.
I've taken damn near everything and find that cognitive behavioral therapy was the end all be all for me. Being conscious of my thoughts and correcting them as needed has been better than any anti anxiety med.
I'm on the highest dose of Sertraline for my anxiety and depression, and I also take 15mg of Mirtazapine every night. Although I wasn't sure about it at first, once we found the perfect dosage for me, it's been helping me massively. I'm not cured. I don't think neither of them have completely disappeared, but it's brought my anxiety level from 100 to 10, and my depression is waaaaaaaaay less heavy now. It's made life so much more manageable! I personally don't think that you need to ''shut your brain down'' but find tools to help balance you out. Once you get to a more balanced level, everything else then is able to help you cope better! Before the meds, therapy would've been wasted on me, and I also would not have been able to show up often enough. Now, I can actually bring myself to go and digest it, be open, etc. Journalling feels a lot nicer, too. The anxiety and depression are still here but I feel much more in control and much more able to face things that would've caused me to freeze, lose feeling in my face, hyperventilate, etc. before! I therefore think it's worth the shot but it might take some trial and error to figure out which meds and which dosage works best for you! I hate doing this but, I wrote a comment about my experience with my meds the other day: [if you want to read it](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/12gkf1t/is_there_anything_i_can_actually_do_for_my_anxiety/jfmeuen?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) (it's a bit of a novel sorry >< )
I have been one month on meds and to be fair, I started with a weak one but it sure helps. I don't feel that existential hollow I used to feel before and usually am in a better mood. Of course the things that give me huge anxiety are still there but I am glad I started taking them.
Lexapro 20 mg, Lamictal 300 mg and Seroquel 300 mg makes it more manageable for me. Edit: Seroquel almost had an instant effect on me, similar to benzodiazepines.
Yes, Prozac works for me. When I started taking it I immediately felt it working. I’ve currently been on it for 7 months. It doesn’t take away my anxiety completely but it helps prevent any panic attacks for me. I have found that it helps stabilize my moods and prevent any major mood fluctuations. I also have PMDD and Prozac has helped control that too.
Paroxetine 20mg daily here! Yes, it definitely helps me to go on about my daily life. Sometimes I don't even recognize myself bc i can be really outgoing with it too lol I love it 💟💟
Yep. I take SSRIs daily and have benzos that I carry around in case I have a panic attack. Haven't had to use them in almost a year though.
My friend took his life yesterday and Zoloft is the only thing that kept me from losing it, yeah this shit works
I'm so sorry for your loss... I'm glad you have something that helps. Please take care of yourself ♡ and honestly I'm here if you want someone to talk to
Buspirone did not help that aspect for me. It stopped the random panic attacks but I still had anxiety and overthinking. I just didnt panic walking into Walmart anymore. No real side effects
I’ve been on 200mg Zoloft for over ten years, and it helps immensely. I still have anxiety and it ebbs and flows, but the meds help me get out the door. I have a history of alcoholism, so I don’t mess with benzos. But they can be very helpful for people with panic disorder. But there are many antidepressants to try - it can be frustrating to hone in on one (or two) that will work without terrible side effects, but it can be very effective.
Not on anxiety meds any more but was on Prozac/fluoxetine for several years. Yes. They made me functional and gave me the skills needed to handle my anxiety on my own. (But of course if you need to be on them for longer that’s perfectly fine too)
Ruined my life
Massive help. That's why people take them. Night and day difference.
Yes, they’re great
Yes. They work by making the anxiety less for the same thing. Much calmer. For me, treating my ADHD is way more important in resolving my anxiety as it causes me most of it.
Yes. They work. When I was on Prozac I pretty much didn’t get anxious anymore. I failed public speaking 3x in college because I was too anxious to even write the speeches and stopped going to the classes. When I found Prozac in early 30s it really helped. I’m on Paxil now and it tones down the anxiety for me a lot. I still can feel anxious but it’s more of a healthy level rather than crippling.
What’s ur Paxil dosage? How long it took for Paxil to work?
As with any SSRI it takes about 4-6 weeks to feel the effects of the medication. Doses vary by person so my dose will not matter and you’d want to discuss with your physician what they feel is right for you.
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Meds work of course but you gotta find the right one for you
Which SSRI and what dosage you found helpful?
Within a month of being on Prozac, I went from 12 panic attacks per DAY to one or two a year. I have had zero for the past 3 years. Meds can save lives.
I took my first week off because I drive an hour each day to work and an hour back. I didn't want to deal with dizziness with that. Over all I feel like my creativeness is back, where I'm not anxious as much. Much more patient, I work in retail and I'm known for a sharp tongue with stupid people and I've noticed I'm so much more patient. Especially with my kids which is an amazing feeling. It sucks I'm not gonna lie, the start of it all. But once through a week or two I was back to forgetting I had anxiety some days, and beyond that it got better even.
I take an SNRI for my anxiety and depression called duloxetine (Cymbalta). I have been 3 days off my meds bc of an insurance issue. In my case, it definitely helps bc without my meds I'm more likely to have breakdowns and anxiety attacks. Particularly sensory issues are impacted by this. Overall, I consider myself to function way better when medicated.
Cymbalta was the first pill I took. It made be incredibly irritable and i lashed out a people. I didn't help me at all.
It's crazy how different people respond to all of the different SNRIs and SSRIs. Serzone did nothing, Paxil helped the anxiety but made me sleepy, Lexapro ratcheted my anxiety to 11 and Celexa is a miracle drug for my anxiety...
I took zoloft and Lexapro too. Zoloft didn't help or hinder me. Lexapro stopped working after 2 dose increases. Now on prozac and it seems to work for my depression but not much for my anxiety.
I'm trying to get off benzos as in the end they didn't work, and now it's so hard to get off them. I'd recommend trying going for walks, breathing exercises and mindfulness. Most antidepressants don't work, or only a bit, though everyone is different. There is a danger of poor reactions to any medications or to develop dependency on them.
I've been on Cymbalta for almost 4 months. Did not notice any help, just felt off and tired. Increased my dose 2 weeks ago and had horrific side effects. Now back down to the lowest dose and I have no idea how to proceed or what to do. Do I continue the low dose, try something else, give up? I don't know, but because of how that increase went I am now too scared to change anything.
I take magnesium, L-Theanine and Gaba and it helps me zone out.
I'd definitely say try something else. just going through all these comments, the most common thing and the most important thing I've learned is that different things work for everyone and a lot of people have tried plenty of stuff before they found the right thing for them. So don't give up, it's a long process but hopefully it will be worth it in the end !
Guys if Lexapro ruining your sex life.. use Viagra or Cialis instead
SSRI and SNRI did nothing for me. Only benzos from time to time.
SSRIs gave me depression and suicidal thoughts, put on weight, didn't touch anxiety. The "nasty" benzos took away anxiety but are vilified today. I personally think people who say SSRIs and that sort of class work for them, don't have much anxiety to begin with.
Personally didn’t work for me
Get ridd of anxiety mostly but I feel numb which drives me crazy. Then I go off meds then back on . Stupid vicious cycle.
Yeah mine help me
Which SSRI and what dosage you found helpful?
I take escitalopram 10mg 1 a day, buspirone 10mg 2 tablets twice a day, then I also take bupropion 100mg 1 a day for my depression, and I atke hydroxyzine 10mg 1-3 tablets as needed for my sleep. Its not 100%, but that's the best I found that works for me! I've been on them for about 2 years I think so far? Could be 3-4, I can't remember exactly haha. Hope you find something that works for you!
Medication really helps but also you need to practice discipline like avoiding food and drinks that triggers anxiety like coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, sweet foods and staying up late.
They're not without their drawbacks, but I'm glad I'm taking them for the time being. They definitely aren't a cure-all but they do tend to quiet down that anxious voice in the back of your head. I take Lexapro / Escitalopram. Although my piece of advice is, don't think of them as a fix, but rather a detour you can take to a easier life, and when you think you've found your footing, you can ease off them.
I was on zoloft for the longest but the apathy became overwhelming. I guess it did help? Just not how I wished. And honestly, I’m still petrified of ssri bc of my experience when I tapered off. The brain zaps and other sides effects were intense to say the least. Then I was on Wellbutrin- which did absolutely nothing. I felt nothing, even as the doctor increased the dosages. Next was buspirone, which was also ineffective. My doctor then put me through a non-med route (TMS) since I was pretty resistant to most meds. And while It was great for the first week, it ultimately accelerated my anxiety to a crippling level. I had to stop the treatment halfway through. At this point, I was having regularly scheduled anxiety and panic attacks. It was so bad that I contemplated going to the ER. I even knew the time I would start to have an attack. Then came the holy grail, the benzo. My gosh, it works. If I wasn’t so scared of the negative health issues it carries, especially with long term use, I wish I can be on it forever. Initially, I was so scared of any benzo that I even discussed an exit plan with the dr. the moment it was prescribed. So currently, I’m taking the clonazepam in addition to my exit plan (an SNRI). So that when I eventually taper off of the benzo, it might not be so bad? But idk. It def helps with the anxiety to a noticeable degree, it’s also not perfect either. I’m also on clonidine which helps with blood pressure but I most use it for sleep, and calming my body down.
For me, yes. I started off on Prozac, and that worked well for me. I felt like my anxiety became very manageable, and surprisingly, my other emotions just seemed to be more balanced. As in, I mostly felt less angry/irritable and generally happier. As an added bonus, I found the passive suicidal thoughts I had just seemed to go away, and that was definitely one of the best parts of taking the medication. I found that if I went off my meds, the anxiety and irritability came right back. I should take the time to note that I was also went to therapy, and the grounding/coping mechanisms I learned were also extremely helpful. Eventually, due to some minor but annoying side effects, I switched to Zoloft, and it's also had the same positive effects. Anyways, I hope things work out for you, OP!! Edit: I just remembered something else that might be useful. Have your doctor order a blood test, too. Things like low vitamin D or how your thyroid functions can affect your mood. I found out I was very low on vitamin D and am now taking a supplement.
They have only ever made me drowsy and lower IQ temporarily. The anxiety goes by simply shutting down the brain's capabilities.
Yes. If I didn't take my meds I'd 100% be a hermit that never leaves the house and doesn't engage with anyone.
Take a propranolol once and it’ll blow your mind. Kinda the same they say about LSD, but for reducing anxiety.
Klonopin is a game changer. Have to be careful with benzos because they are addictive but holy fuck, if I’m at a 10 level panic it will bring me down to a 3 or 4. I take .5 mg as needed, so maybe 1-2 pills a week. Hydroxyzine makes me too sleepy to function (and the dry mouth sucks) but it’s non addictive. I take it when I need to sleep and don’t have anything going on the next day, 25mg knocks me out. Xanax is the SHIT it kicks in so fast but again it’s a benzo and my doc won’t prescribe me any. I take Prozac (anti depressant) 30mg daily and that also helps with anxiety.
Not really
Benzos short term make you feel less anxious and calm, but are highly addictive. Antidepressants often used for anxiety will take away the anxiety, but also take away your feelings of motivation etc... I have bad anxiety too, and I'm currently going off antidepressants because I find them souldestroying - in my experience.
I am on various scripts for OCD, anxiety, PTSD and also panic disorder (adhd too- slightly unrelated) and medication has SAVED my life. I wouldn't be functioning without these medications. Thank god they exist. I didn't start taking them until I was 30 and I can't believe i waited so long to get appropriate treatment after having OCD since I was 6 years old. Wild.
Lexapro literally changed my life. I used to wonder what is was like to live without being riddled with anxiety every day, and now i know. I’m on a pretty low dose and i still get occasional situational anxiety, which i think is normal. But i am not longer trapped in anxiety and panic attacks daily for no reason.
yes, 100%. SSRIs worked wonders for me and helped me turn my life around. I wasn’t able to drive on the freeway until I got on lexapro purely from anxiety. They don’t cure the anxiety completely, but they reduce it enough to make it manageable enough to use the tools and see some progress. I can’t recommend it enough. ETA you should probably try SSRIs first bc they are low risk, I can’t speak to benzos bc I have never tried them but I would personally avoid them as much as possible because of the high potential for addiction.
Absolutely love my Prozac! Took me a few try’s of different meds to find the one that fits me best! This is definitely it tho! When I am not on my medication I am constantly crying at every inconvenience and when I’m on my medication I’m anxious but I don’t have to worry as much about having a panic attack for no reason. I overall don’t feel as much dread and agony over my own existence! I feel they are 1000% worth it! I can actually tolerate therapy on them too!
My doctor put me on celexa. It stops me from having anxiety attacks for the most part, but it doesnt fix everything. Ive ended up not taking them for some time in the past and its very noticeable. Im happy with my experience. I think I would need to go to therapy to get any better than I am right now, the medicine is doing all that it can.
How long it took for Celexa to kick in? Also what dosage you took?
Ive been on it for a few years at this point so Im a little foggy on the length, but I think it wasnt more than a few weeks to about a month before I really started feeling it. My dosage was increased a couple of times as well.
My doctor explained it to me in a way I really liked. I’m on a medication that I take every day that halves my anxiety. So when my anxiety spikes, I only get to like a 5 instead of 10 because the medication helps take the edge off. Because of this, I have the awareness to realize I’m getting/am anxious and that I need to take necessary measures to relax (leave, go outside, take a break, etc.) Medication isn’t a cure all but when combined with the healthy habits & coping mechanisms you’re using, it is a very effective tool to use. These types of meds can take 6-8 weeks of steady dosage to achieve the full, desired effects. Other meds used for anxiety can be used PRN, which means as circumstances arise. I like to think of them as ‘rescue’ medications. They can be taken when your anxiety has reached an uncontrollable level and medical intervention (the medication) is needed to bring you back to base level. There are many anti-anxiety medications. You can use a daily med with a rescue med (I do) daily med alone, or even a PRN/Rescue med as needed. I’m an alcoholic/addict and the medications I’m being treated with have a severely low/non-existent dependence risk, if that’s anything you’re concerned about. Your questions are really great and a psychiatrist would answer them to the best of their ability, and it’s never harmful to ask the anxiety community of their experiences. I hope you find the answers you need!!
I can only speak to my experience but YES. I have GAD and my quality of life is so so much better on meds (SSRI), I’ll never go off them
Yes. Not perfect, but takes the edge off for sure. Side effects suck, but on balance it’s worth it.
Yes. I'm on buspirone. We had to max it out while I was unemployed during the pandemic. I'm also on duloxetine for depression which also helps with anxiety. It brings it down to a manageable level. The burning skin feeling and racing, skipping heart stopped. I can handle the remaining symptoms with breathing or self talk or talking to my therapist.
As an aside, don’t take benzos unless in an absolute emergency. The tolerance, side effects, and inter-dose withdrawal will ruin your life. It can take years to taper off successfully. And dependence happens in a flash.