Hello,

I am posting this poll to see what prescription medications people prefer for their anxiety and panic attacks. I think that the benzos (Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Kloponin) and SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro) are most commonly prescribed, but occasionally people use other medications or classes such as SNRI's (like Effexor, Cymbalta or Remeron), tricyclic antidepressants or mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants, Buspar, other types of tranquilizers etc. to help stop their panic attacks. In rare cases, some find herbal supplements such as GABA, Kava, Valerian root or St. John's wort to be helpful.

I have had experience with a variety of meds and am still undecided on what works best with the least side effects. In my experience, benzos seem to have less side effects than SSRI's (such as sexual side effects, aggression etc). Both types of meds can be difficult to stop taking and can have withdrawal effects, especially if stopping cold turkey. Benzos are much faster acting and work best early on, but often work less well or lose their effectiveness over time (I seem to be experiencing this tolerance phenomenon with Klonopin at the moment). On the other hand, SSRI's can take 2-4 weeks to work (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer), can occasionally exacerbate anxiety/panic (especially early on) but tend to work better over time. I had good responses to SSRI's such as Paxil and Celexa in terms of my anxiety/panic but couldn't tolerate the side effects, especially on Paxil. Klonopin seems to have far fewer side effects, but I seem to be building a tolerance and keep having to increase the dose to have the same anti-anxiety effect. I am also taking Remeron which doesn't have too many side effects other than drowsiness (mainly in the morning), but while immediately after a dose (taken at bedtime) I feel much calmer--almost like taking Xanax--I just feel more jittery and anxious the next day, especially in the evening just before it's time for my next dose. At one point I also tried Buspar but had no response. I am still looking for the right combination and dosages of meds.

Back to the poll...what is your choice of meds and why? Please mention what you take for anxiety/panic, including the dosage and time(s) of day, etc. If anyone finds meds outside of benzo's or ssri's to be effective at treating panic attacks, please list those as well. Also, please list any coping strategies, techniques etc. that you have used for lowering anxiety and stopping panic attacks.

i've ticked both as i use Benzo's to get me through the start up until the meds kick in



Torch xxxx

Oh forgot to add, i take Cipralex 20mg (dosage has just been increased) at night for depression & anxiety/panic attacks and Diazipam 2mg when needed to get me through the rough times.




reason for edit : brains not with it


This post has been edited by Torchwood: Jun 23 2008, 12:07 PM

I take mirtazapine so i ticked other.

The benzos work quickly. And when I feel like my heart is gonna fly out of my chest and around the room, thars all I care about. My Zoloft works very well for every day. But for an unexpected attack...benzo

I have had to deal with panic disorder, major depression and gad, so my experience has led me to use all the above in the past. I initially started on an ssri, and when it didn't reduce the anxiety in a month, also used ativan to reduce it so I could return to work. After 7mo., I was able to just use the ssri as it finally took the anxiety down.

Three years later, I'm on a snri, a beta-blocker and neurontin as I have a pain disorder along with depression. I had the pain disorder years before the anxiety and depression set in but am able to deal with all the symptoms, now.

I guess I'd have to say the each of us go through these disorders at a different pace and we each find our way of dealing with them as individuals. I really didn't like being on a benzo, but it was the only thing that worked on the anxiety for the longest time. They have their place in helping us deal with an anxiety disorder! I know I was amazed at how quickly ativan reduced the anxiety that I had suffered with! If I had know that, I probably would have been able to safe myself tons of time and more symptoms developing by just asking my doc for help. I know now that being bullheaded about trying other meds got me nowhere!

Jackie

Tried Lorazepam which turned me into a zombie, then Paxil CR and Gabapentin but the side effects of these meds were too much to deal with.
After those three the Pdoc, GP and Neurologist placed me on a Beta blocker and Buspar which are doing the job just fine, with little side effects.

I think to alleviate the immediate symptoms of a panic attack, it's good to take a benzo., but I think to reduce the number you have or get rid of them all together, a long term AD solution should be considered.

I'm on mirtazapine, and it mostly covers it.
At my worst, I took propranolol [beta blocker] prn. That helped, but just repressed feelings and made me more depressed the next day. It did help me get through difficult times though, like Saturdays - the busiest day - at work.

Now, when I'm feeling extra anxious, I use Rescue Remedy, or take a passiflora. [I have my doctor's permission.]

This post has been edited by achingheart: Jun 29 2008, 02:05 PM

Hi achingheart,
I've always wondered how propranolol fared, thanks for the post. I saw that it's used by some (prn) for public speaking, along with musicians to alleviate stage fright. The singer with a band I used to gig with once in a while swore by this med, said it gave him an advantage over the jitters.

I take seroqual for my panic attacks and anxiety.

I have changed back to snri's again this time to Cymbalta to help with nerve pain,and lamoctagine and using benzos to keep my anxiety stable. Only went on to them ( benzos ) when i was in transition from high dose of effexor on to cypramil which was not worth a talking about and had too use benzos to hold me together i am trying to get off them but i feel i might have to go up on my snri's or lamoctagine to do this as i have tried cutting down by half .Not good.........

Have a nice day.....

benzos are evil. i self medicated with xanax for over 6 years and i probably can fully remember about a year of that time. not to mention they had a grip on me like none other

I prefer benzos. I don't like the side effects of SSRI's. I do take 5-HTP and it helps me for my serotonin levels with no side effects.
I only take .25mg. of ativan when needed. And that changes often. I'm also in talk therapy.

I think it depends on the person. I can't tollerate an AD on it's own, it makes me worse.
Klonopin, only .50 X 2 has helped a lot. I also take a small dose of ativan, .50 for really stressfull times. I'd rather take my chances on addiction, than be frantic. 6+ yrs and hardly any increases, I'd say I'm probably ok. I don't take them to get high, just relief.
Xanax was a bad choice for me, my doc was aprehensive about it, but willing to let me try it. It definitely made me feel a little too good, I got off it within a mo and switched to Klonopin. Much better for me as it aides in stability.