Anti-Depressant Anti-Anxiety Drugs

[*mandi*]

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone takes any anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications that you would reccomend? Im going to see a doctor soon, and I am afraid they want to put me back on Paxil...But I've had bad expiriences with the side effects. The Nausea, D*, sexual side effects.


I know all medications have these side effects....and they all work differently..but with Paxil, it only took away the anxiety a little bit. Anyone have any reccomendations or any info about these types of drugs? OR any that actually work? Thank you [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]

[kate1966]

I use a real low dosage of xanax...it's for anxiety...it works really well with no side effects...never had anti-depressants...i am scared of them...and their side effects.........but i get the generic of xanax...it's the same but cheaper...good luck.

[aguerra29]

I don't recommend xanax. That is for short-term anxiety attacks and is very addictive. I had great results with Lexapro. I did have a few side effects, weight gain and sexual side effects, but the side effects were MUCH better than the misery I was in without the meds. I have been on the meds a year and my life is 1000% better. Everyone will react to different drugs differently, so don't give up if one drug doesn't work for you. Of course, you need to talk to a licensed counselor in conjunction with taking the meds to help work through the underlying issues. Sage has put together a great information packet to give to your doctor regarding this phobia specifically. Popping a pill is not the cure all, but it definitely pushes you in the right direction.

[mjewell]

I like Xanax too. Yes, it can be addicitve if you are using it at a high dosage regularly, but if you only use when you really need it and you stay at a low dosage it shouldn't be a problem. Plus it has no side effects except maybe a little drowsiness, and you don't have to take it every day, just when you need it.


I take Lexapro too, just started three weeks ago, but the only reason I started it was because I started having chronic persistent anxiety and was having to take several Xanax a day. If you are looking for something you only have to take in emergencies, i think Xanax is a good bet.

[*mandi*]

No. Im not looking for emergencies! I need something on a daily basis b.c I have persistant anxiety. Do any of these you listed treat depression also? I think thats why I was prescribed PAxil before, b.c. it treats anxiety and depression. Has anyone else taken Paxil?

[mjewell]

Oh, sorry I must have had your post mixed up with someone else's.


I have not taken Paxil but I have heard it tends to have more side effects than other anti-d's. Lexapro treats anxiety and depression and I have not had any side effects with it. My sex drive is gone but it was gone before I went on Lexapro, so I can't tell a difference.

[aguerra29]

that is correct lexapro is for both depression and anxiety. I have several close friends who are on Lexapro as well and say great things about it. I cannot say enough good things about it. It saved my marriage and my sanity.

[shiva]

Lexapro turned me into an insomniac. It took 2 months to be able to sleep again after going off of it. But again.. I am very sensitive to medication...

[bexcelica]

i havent taken paxil.. but a girl i knew gained 40+ pounds when she took it. i take 100mg of zoloft a day. it works well for me. plus i take ativan when i need it. either i would recommend.. no side effects, ativan makes you a little sleepy

[*mandi*]

half of these drugs ive never heard of, and im always searching about anxiety meds. Hopefully I can be put on something to get back on my feet. I'll have to ask about Lexapro. Thanks for all the good info

[meercat]

Over 10 years ago, i was put on Xanax for anxiety and Prozac for depression, both worked wonderfully! I eventually weaned off of the Xanax because i did not want to become addicted. The Prozac worked beautifully for both depression and anxiety! The only thing i noticed, while being on it for many years, was it affected my short term memory at times...but no physical side effects at all. I eventually tried going off antidepressants, but i only lasted 2 years, then my anxiety came back. Now i'm on Zoloft. It's a bit milder than Prozac...meaning, it doesn't effect my short term memory. No physical side effects from Zoloft either...at least for ME, i can't speak for anyone else. We are all chemically different, so what works for one, may not work for another.

I have resigned myself to the fact that i'll probably be on an antidepressant for the rest of my life.

One note though...chances are, no matter what brand of antidepressant you or your doctor may choose, usually you will feel tired or sleepy for the first week or so, until your body becomes accustomed to it.

Best wishes :-)

God bless!

Paula

[stef]

im on aropax for depression, anxiety and panick attacks and it also
treats obsessive compulsive disorder, social and general anxiety
disorder. i hav been on it for five weeks and it actually takes six
weeks to kick in but i can feel it working already. i had severe
agoraphobia, panick attacks, anxiety and depression. i feel slightly
lifted already and it hasnt even realy started working properly yet! i
will be on it for a loooong time but i cant wait to be fully cured
again! i take the australian brand called paxtine which is exactly the
same just made in aus... its very well known for its success... but yer
it all just depends on wot ur being treated for... the side effects are
awful in the first week but ur body grows accustom to the drug after 10
days and then it works like a charm... i recommend it!! <!--
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[tcsarah]

I take Paxil (called seroxat/paroxetine over here) and it has worked absolute wonders for me. I've been on it around five/six years now and the difference it has made to my life is amazing. My life was so very restricted because of phobias, anxiety and depression before taking this, it was awful. I had tried Prothiaden before this and the side-effects were horrible and it didn't do much for my panic attacks or anxiety. The only side-effect that bothers me with Paxil is insomnia, but it's something I'm willing to put up with as for me the drug's pros far outweigh the cons.


When you say Paxil caused nausea and diarrhoea, was that even after you had been on it for a while?

[*mandi*]

Yes it still caused nausea and diareah....not everyday...but atleast once a week. I was told it was from the paxil.

[meercat]

Mandi, i only know one thing that Paxil did to me that was awful...and that was if i missed a dose or 2, MAN i felt like i was hit by a truck!!! It was like i had the flu or something! Felt like when i turned my head, the world had to quickly catch up!! It was such a bad feeling, but that was because Paxil is a day-to-day med, and if you miss a dose...BAMM! you FEEL it! But Prozac and Zoloft didn't do that to me, yet they're in the same SSRI family. Could it be that when you felt that badly on the Paxil, do you remember if you missed a dose? Other than that..it worked very good for my anxiety and depression. I only went off of Paxil because with any busy day, i easily forgot to take it and i was tired of feeling sick from that!

[*mandi*]

I never missed a day ever! I just dont understnad why it made me feel that way. Maybe it was all in my head? Who knows. I would like to try it again...but it was hell trying to get off of that pill! I felt so awkward...so spacey..my head felt so weird. I cant even explain it. Bu tim sure you went through withdrawl from it too.

[meercat]

Yep, that feeling you described when weaning off of them, WAS what i felt each time i missed a dose!! YUCKY!!!

If i were you, i'd definitely ask your doc about a different kind to try.

Best wishes :-)

[madisonsmom]

I take Zoloft. I have tried other meds but I am real sensitive and have side effects. Zoloft treats anxiety and depression too. I have had NO side effects except it making me tired when I first started taking it and every time I increased the dose. I take 200mg which is the therapeutic dose for OCD/anxiety.


I also take Ativan as needed and ONLY as needed. I have taken Xanax too but that needs to be used with caution (and Ativan) as it is highly addictive.


Many of the anti-depressants treat anxiety as well as depression. I personally have NO sexual side effects from Zoloft.


Here is some of the medications along with potential side effects. Keep in mind that ANY medication can have the potential to cause nausea. I usually dont pay attention to that. When I was in nursing school, nausea and v* where a no fail when it came to side effects/adverse reactions to most medications.
<H2 align=center>Medications for <A name=Anxiety>Anxiety</A> Disorders</H2>


Medication can play a useful role in treating anxiety disorders and may be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications are often used to ease symptoms so that other therapy can go forward.



<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2>
<T>
<TR>
<TD align=left bgColor=#808080 colSpan=5>
Common Medications</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#808080>Chemical Category &amp;
Brand Names</TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#808080>Target Anxiety Disorders</TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#808080>How It's Thought to Work</TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#808080>Benefits</TD>
<TD vAlign=top align=left bgColor=#808080>Drawbacks</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Benzodiazepines:
<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2>
<T>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Ativan
Dalmane
Librium
Restoril
Tranxene</TD>
<TD vAlign=top>Centrax
Klonopin
Paxipam
Serax
Valium
Xanax</TD></TR></T></TABLE></TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>GAD
Panic Disorder
Social Phobia
Insomnia</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Enhances the function of GABA.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Fast-acting, with most people feeling better in the first week and many feeling the effects the first day of treatment.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Potentially habit-forming; can cause drowsiness; can produce withdrawal symptoms.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Beta Blockers:
Inderal
Tenormin</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Social Phobia</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Reduces effects of adrenaline.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Fast acting; non-habit forming.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Should not be used with certain pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, hyperthyroidism, and angina pectoris.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Azaspirones:
BuSpar</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>GAD</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Enhances the activity of serotonin.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Effective for many people; less sedating than benzodiazepines.</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Works slowly; can't switch from benzodiazepines immediately.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs):
Eldepryl
Marplan
Nardil
Parnate</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Panic Disorder
Social Phobia
PTSD
OCD</TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#dddce2>Blocks the effect of an important brain chemical, preventing the break-
down of serotonin and

[madisonsmom]

Oh yea...Zoloft has worked WONDERS for me. I used to be nauseous everyday but I am not anymore. There is something out there for you. I was REAL reluctant to take any meds because I dont like them but I was really suffering from this and was desperate to try ANYTHING.


I do take Ativan on occasion for sudden anxiety attacks - but the situation has to be extreme for me to have an attack.

[*mandi*]

Thanks so much for all the info Madison. Now I can check out what would be best for me with a doctor. Its just hard to start a medication knowing it will make me nauseas and possibly V*. Icouldnt bare that