Anxiety Pills

[Strezzed]

I don't mean to sound rude. But I am sure some of you are on meds for anxiety. And my question is do they really work? They must not work if you still need to post on the forum?? I mean if these pills the doctor wants me to take help with anxiety then ......do they really work or not?

I hope I am making sense  or at least explaining what I mean right.

[Happy]

Yes....anxiety meds work.  The reason we post on here is because most of us don't want to be dependent on them.  It also depends on what meds your talking about, an SSRI works to decrease anxiety in about 80% of users.  Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Klonopin, are specifically for anxiety.  They work to calm the entire system, so yes, they do take care of anxiety but they make you tired as well. 

I suffer from panic attacks so I take an SSRI (Celexa) and Xanax for acute attacks.  They have been life changing for me...they're helping me get my life back!

Happy

[Half_A_Person]

Meds do work, but no medication out there will completely cure you of anxiety. They just give you some extra help so that you can function more efficiently. I find benzos especially helpful because they really relax you, however it doesn't last too long and they can make you feel dizzy, sleepy and disoriented.

IMO, the best way to deal with anxiety is to have meds + therapy. That way you can maybe wean off the meds after you've learned ways to cope with anxiety.

[Strezzed]

The doctor wants me on prozac. But I read here that prozac works but at first it made someones anxiety worse. And does prozac but on weight ?

[tigerpaw]

I was on prozac 60 mgs for 2 or so years, and it worked ok, meaning I could get my life back to normal and not have the anxiety symptoms. I did not find it to cause any weight gain.

As far as making the anxiety worse at the begining I only found that my mental outlook was changing, and the anxiety symptoms were getting better. I think some start to panic when their panicgoes away because they were so used to it.  That's just my opinion form reading many posts.

[Strezzed]

Thank you for your replies and I have decided to make another doctors appointment about my chest/shoulder pain. (In hopes the doctor will just request the stress test)Because I have decided to go get the pills and start taking them. (Just gotta find the perscription) . I am hoping the doctor does this last test that I feel I need to help move on. Hopefully it will be the last time I have this anxiety at this level anyway. With the new pills I think will cause some anxiety as I hate taking pills. But I guess I gotta do something as my HA seems to be getting worse.

[tigerpaw]

Good for you.

I found the longer you wait the worse it gets at times.  I kicked myself once because I knew it was coming on, and I procrastinated, and then when I really needed the Lorazapam i was out.  Then its a week to get the dr on board and the pharmacy  to dispense it.

[FeelingOptimistic]

Hi Strezzed,


YES, meds really do work.  (at least they have for me.)

The reason that I am here is because I remember feeling alone, isolated, desperate, and hopeless before I saw a counselor and tried meds.  I hope that a "welcome" or word of encouragement from someone who has "been there" might help someone who is down right now and reaching out for help or understanding. 

What did you decide to do about meds?


Hope you are feeling better.

FO