Psychiatrist won't perscribe me anti-anxiety meds

[Christine16]

I posted this in the GAD forum--but now I see this one is probably the more appropriate place! 

I'm 22, and I'm on Lamictal for Bipolar disorder (works great), and just got put on Ambien, much to my dismay (don't really want to use it...), and I told my psychiatrist about my anxiety issues; avoiding going out in public, thinking people are always looking at, and judging me, not being able to concentrate in class because of this, avoiding eye contact, racing thoughts, feeling extremely awkward around people, etc. She did not offer me any help for this at all. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I feel as if I have social anxiety.

Is it just that some doctors don't prescribe benzos? I'm going to find another psychiatrist, because my current one is not being helpful at all. It is so frustrating to have to deal with this, and her not even trying to give me anything to help. I can't live my life like this--never going out with friends, feeling like I stick out in a room full of people, etc. I feel something is wrong with me--like everyone else doesn't have a hard time with simple things, like meeting new people, while I do.

Also, I plan on asking the office what their policy is on benzos--but being as I am young, they'll probably think I'm just trying to get some drugs, right? I'm just really afraid that I'm not going to be able to get something to help me with this.

[Cuchculan]

You do get some shrinks who feel that medication is never the answer. I have come across a few in my time. It is as if they have their own med free approach to treatment. That if the mind works against you it can also work for you. So they like to go with the exposure method. Putting you in situations you hate most of all. With the theory that it gets easier every time. My own view on medication is that it is needed like a spring board. To help steady the boat. Before you go out and tackle the problems you are facing. Some people see benzos as being highly addictive. There are some I would stir clear off. That's just me and past experience. You see the main problem is the likes of Xanax is only meant to be used short term. Though some doctors leave patients on it for a long time. By which time it reaches tolerance levels and stops working. Then you have to come it, which can be a very slow and hard process. If used in the correct way there would be no problems at all. But what you can find is a lot of people hooked on benzos. So modern day shrinks and even doctors can be anti-benzo. But all the medication is the same. Be it an SSRI or a Benzo. Just as hard to come off both. New doctor might place you on something new. Problem is that you might not get what you want. They might think something else will work better. Which will have you thinking they have it in for you. Medication is all about trial and error. May take a few goes before they find the right one for you. Just be patient. See what you are offered. It either works or it doesn't. If it doesn't let you doctor know. With any luck they will find the right one for you and your condition and things will begin to pick up for you.

[Smoky Jo]

Hello.....   Welcome, sure you will find this site helpful.

Seems to me you have social anxiety, the reason I say that is because you
described all the symptom of social anxiety, and I have been diagnosed with
social anxiety and I have the same symptoms.
I know it is difficult to concentrate with SA, especially when you are in school.

There are  psychiatrist who are reluctant to prescribe medication and like you
said, your doctor could think you just want drugs. I ran across a few psychiatrist
that wouldn't prescribe any medication what-so-ever.

Keep searching for the correct  psychiatrist, he or she will prescribe some
anti anxiety medication. Just tell them exactly what you are feeling, especially
about people judging you, looking at you and avoidance, just what you stated
in your post. With symptoms like that I'm sure some doctor will help.

Have a good day and good luck

[Christine16]

Thank you guys, so much! I feel much better after reading this. I will start looking for other psychiatrists and hopefully I will find one who is willing to give me meds for this.

Also, I was wondering, if it is okay to take bipolar meds with anti-anxiety meds.

[sixpack]

Thank you guys, so much! I feel much better after reading this. I will start looking for other psychiatrists and hopefully I will find one who is willing to give me meds for this.

Also, I was wondering, if it is okay to take bipolar meds with anti-anxiety meds.

that is a question that you need to ask your doc or pharmacist.  I do know that my daughter took lamictal for seizures a few years back for a short time.  We had to discontinue it because it didn't work well with another seizure med she was taking.  I know that she took Xanax for doc appts etc at the time for calming her down.  But again---ask a pharmacist or prescribing doctor.

[anxiousntex]

Is it just that some doctors don't prescribe benzos? I'm going to find another psychiatrist, because my current one is not being helpful at all. It is so frustrating to have to deal with this, and her not even trying to give me anything to help. I can't live my life like this--never going out with friends, feeling like I stick out in a room full of people, etc. I feel something is wrong with me--like everyone else doesn't have a hard time with simple things, like meeting new people, while I do.

Also, I plan on asking the office what their policy is on benzos--but being as I am young, they'll probably think I'm just trying to get some drugs, right? I'm just really afraid that I'm not going to be able to get something to help me with this.

For what it's worth, my advice is to listen to your doctor as he/she may have good reasons for not prescribing benzos.  Developing a dependence on this type of drug is highly probable and a very difficult drug to quit.  I speak from experience after having been on them for many years for treatment of anxiety symptoms.  There are other drugs available that can be quite effective at treating anxiety disorders (such as Buspar and the different classes of ADs - SSRI, SNRI, DNRI) without the possibility of developing a dependence. 

[kite]

Yes, this is definitely something to talk about with your doctor.

But from my experience talking with my doctor...  I am bipolar, and also have GAD and social anxiety.  My doctor allowed me to take benzos.  I tried quite a few - valium, klonopin, ativan, and xanax.  Most (from what my doctor told me) pdocs don't like to turn to benzos right away, as others have said, because of the risk of dependency on them.  She said that typically when they are prescribed, it is for short-term use only, until another medication has time to kick in to help with the anxiety symptoms (such as the SSRIs, SNRIs, etc.).  Trying to detox off benzos once your body has become dependent on them can be horrible.  But in my case (your mileage may vary), they worked well for me because I had very bad side effects from the SSRIs and SNRIs.  However, I also had a second opinion during the time I was on the benzos, and that pdoc told me that he would have never given them to me to begin with.  *shrug*

One major issue I ran into while on the benzos (specifically the xanax) was a dependency issue.  I started out at .25mg dose once a day.  Toward the end, before I stopped taking them, I was up to 2-4mg.  That's a pretty darn high dose.  But, my body did develop that dependency, so the doses kept getting upped, and then when I had to come off of it....  argh.

Anyhoo, that's just my $0.02.  Talk to your doctor.  Talk to more than one if you feel like it.  They can probably explain it better than us non-doctor folk can.  :)

[anxiousntex]

Kite,

I couldn't agree with you more.  Speaking from personal experience, I am into month #8 after tapering off of Xanax and I'm still dealing with symptom flares on a daily basis.  The first few months after stopping the Xanax seemed surreal and almost like a virtual hell.  I can say most confidently that I am glad to be off of benzos and will NEVER use them again.

Rich

[lindahurt]

I think you should find another psychiatrist.  There is definitely something wrong if you doc will not even consider bezons

[michigander]

Bezos can be beneficial for some. I would find a doctor who is open minded, but keep in mind that no doctor is likely to consider benzos as a first line treatment.

[Loren7979]

Find a new psychiatrist for real.  You are paying them.  If they can't help you, stop paying them and pay another one that understands you.  I'm not much older than you and I got the benzos.  I really need them right now.  I'm working on trying not to need them, but they help for the time.

[Pug60647]

Find a new psychiatrist for real.  You are paying them.  If they can't help you, stop paying them and pay another one that understands you.  I'm not much older than you and I got the benzos.  I really need them right now.  I'm working on trying not to need them, but they help for the time.

I agree, if the one you're seeing now isn't a good match for your situation...don't waste another 6 months to a year of your life. Switch clinics. It worked for me.