Who knows anything about the medications that Drs. usually prescribe for anxiety disorders?

Question

I was recently diagnosed with Severe Anxiety Disorder. I always knew i had problems with anxiety but it had gotten worse and worse over the years having to go to the emergency room and such. I wanted to know about medications, and anything that people on here knew about the different affects of medications. After leaving the hospital about a week ago for an anxiety episode i was told to see a dr so i can be prescribed something, but i really don't like taking medications :( and feedback will be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

I have it too. After trying a bunch of stuff through the years I finally found Buspar. Works great. Finally something that works ;-) no more anxiety.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/buspir...

Don't take addictive drugs like Xanax!!

Answer 2

Buspar is the #1 med. to treat anxiety disorders. Dosages can be adjusted to suit your conditions results.An excellent med. proven tried & true to be quite effective... Request trying this from your DR. Paxil etc, have terrible side affects. Some produce suicidal tendencies so be careful. Give Buspar a try...Hpoe this info; helps you. God luck!!!

Answer 3

i agree paxil is awful! xanax works but its highly addictive! i have been on it over 10 yrs n dont think i could get off it :(

Answer 4

i've been prescribed paxil and lexapro and xanax. paxil is horrible don't ever take it. i liked lexapro i took it for a while and it helped me.

with paxil i couldn't get horny. and i felt no different.

lexapro for the first weeks i had to pee frequently and my dreams were strange and very vivid.

xanax calms you down and puts you to sleep sometimes. i prefer xanax.

i've also taken ativan it's good also.

i used to go to the emergency room all the time, i thought i'd be dying they would tell me i was ok and i'd go home and i'd be fine. i wouldnt leave the house for years, i didnt want to get far away from the hospital. anyway if you want to talk about it sometime you can email me

Answer 5

If your anxiety symptoms are severe enough to impact your daily functioning (and it sounds like they are, if you going to the ER), then your doctor may consider putting you on medications.

Antidepressant medications, such as Paxil and Zoloft, are often very helpful for people with anxiety disorders.  They may be used in conjunction with benzodiazapine medications such as Ativan or Xanax.  Generally, the antidepressants are taken on a schedule (once or twice a day everyday), and the benzodiazepines are taken only when you need them (like during a bad panic attack).  

Of course, any medication can have side effects.  Antidepressant medications can cause dizziness, fatigue, increased/decreased appetite, nausea, and decreased s*x drive.   Benzodiazepine medications can cause sleepiness and are addictive if used improperly.  

Use of any of these medications requires that you be closely monitored by your doctor.  In addition, medication is of limited use unless it is combined with therapy.  In cases of anxiety, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be very helpful.  This type of therapy focuses on coping skills and techniques that help you learn to deal with anxiety symptoms so you can depend less on medications.  

So please talk to your doctor.  This is a very distressing but very common and very treatable problem.  Good luck to you.