Anxiety Medication
Anxiety Medication questions and answers
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Q: Anxiety medication?
I have had problems with pretty severe social anxiety for years. I am in treatment now for an eating disorder, which I mostly used to manage my anxiety. I have made tremendous progress through exposure therapy, but I'm still wondering whether or not I should take medication. It has been recommended to me, but not really pushed by my therapist.
Does anyone have any experiences with anxiety meds? Do you think I should be taking them or is it better to do this through other means (i.e. exposure therapy/meditation etc)?
Thanks!
A: it depends on the severity of the anxiety. I don't think any kind of meditation can help severe anxiety; it would only help temporarily and for more mild forms of it. I have an anxiety disorder and I take Xanax for it and it works great. But it's also very addicting. There are other anti-anxiety meds that aren't addicting like Ativan and Buspirone, but I've found that those don't work for me NEARLY as well as the Xanax. If you do start taking xanax, take the lowest dose unless you absolutely have to take more....The higher dosage you take, the more you're likely to become dependent on it. Hope this helps! Good Luck :)
Q: What anxiety medication do you take and why do you like it best?
What anxiety medication do you take and why do you like it best?
A: I have endured some horrific things in life, but I would NEVER take medication for anxiety. Why would you? All it is doing is masking over the anxiety, it is not teaching you to cope with it & get rid of it by altering your reaction to it. It seems to be an American obsession that medication is the answer to everything. It's not going to make your problems go away so you may as well learn to deal with them.
What's wrong with counselling & cognitive behaviour therapy? Or tai chi or meditation to calm you down? I used to do a tai chi class for an hour & it kept me calm for the next 3 days - no meds required! Also high cardio exercise calms you afterwards & for the next day or so. You can't feel anxious if you've just physically exhausted yourself.
Try the website below, it's a fun way of examining your thought patterns re learning to look at things differently so that you won't be anxious. It has some questionaires so that you can see where you are on the scale of anxiousness & you can do it again in a week to see how you've improved.
Q: How long do I have to keep taking anxiety medication until it goes away?
I've been taking anxiety medication for 3 years now and I wanted to know if my anxiety will ever go away. Everytime I try to stop taking it I get very anxious causing me to seem socially akward but on it I'm just fine. I'm just tired of letting a little white pill dictate my life.
A: you cant just stop those types of meds, if you truly want to be off of them, you have to gradually reduce the dose and frequency under the control of your doctor.
you may be experiencing tolerance to a drug which is different from addicition, meaning you need higher doses to get the same result.
Unfortunatley, some anxiety issues require lifetime medication. Panic disorder especially. some are easier to get off than others.
my personal and profesional opinion is that if it works, keep taking it.
you can work with your healthcare professional on behavior modification in the attempts to reduce and eventually get off the med.
good luck and take care
Q: What happens if you stop taking your anxiety medication?
I suffer from anxiety...once of my symptoms is that I am nauseated a lot of the time. I take medication to keep me from vomiting all day, but lately I haven't even felt well enough to take my anxiety medication. For the past month, I've been taking it kind of regularly, but for the past 4 days I haven't been able to take it at all. What symtoms should I be on the look out for? I see my doc on the 31st, but wanted to know if there is anything I should be on the look out for in myself.
A: You can probably reduce the amount you are taking.
But, before you quit altogether, ask your doctor how safe it is to stop. Some medications cannot be stopped cold turkey because they throw your body chemistry off.
You should also be receiving therapy. Seek out a good neuro-therapist or cognitive therapist in your area.
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Q: How long does anti anxiety medication take to start working?
My dad has bad anxiety and paranoia. He was prescribed Zyprexa and started taking 5mg tablets on Jan. 9th. He then changed the dosage to 10mgs about 15 days ago. So far he sleeps much better and doesn't shake when he gets nervous. But other than that he is pretty much the same. Oh his voice sounds much better. He doesn't sound like a whinny 5 year old child anymore. I guess I am too anxious for the medicine to work, but I am losing hope. It was hard enough to convince him to take it. (He was afraid of taking any medication). How much longer do I have to wait?
A: As a healthcare provider I am so grateful for your support of your father and his mental illness. This will mean more than anything in his treatment. Typically psychiatric care is like buying new shoes. Sometimes you have to try on different shoes and sizes before you find the exact fit. And then with time and adaptation...sometimes you need different size again..or different shoes.....get it? I know that you are anxious for help to come for your father. And the fact that he is now open to taking the very necessary medications is a great progress. Support this, even though the road may be longer than you prefer it to be. It sounds as if you have a psychiatric care provider who is on top of medication dose changes. When I was young my father suffered greatly...I understand your feelings...and it also helped me to choose the medical profession. The hardest part of mental healthcare seems to be not only finding the right medication and dose...but then keeping them taking it regularly. Love your father for who he is ...if he could fix himself he would. And care for yourself, this is difficult, and you need support too.
Q: What is a common Anti-Anxiety medication used in Canada?
I am a 21 year old male. Healthy. No Allergies. Or Physical Medical Conditions.
I struggle with an anxiety disorder and I am going to see my doctor soon. My question is what is the considered the most common/safest anti-anxiety medication that doctors in Canada are prescribing now?
A: The most important thing to ask your doc is not the most common meds, but the one that is right for you. The medication that helps me most with anxiety and depression is perfectly safe, but not as widely used anymore. SSRIs (the class of drugs that includes Prozac) are usually considered first line medications for anxiety, though there are a host of other drugs that also work.
Some medications cause different side effects and work differently in different people. Do any other members of your immediate family (including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) take anti-depressants or anxiety medications? What worked well for them? Recent research indicates that psychiatric meds that work well for a family member have a better chance of working well for you.
Good luck!
Q: What are alternatives to taking anxiety medication?
I'm 17 and my mother refuses to take me to the doctor. My therapist even sent her a letter of recommendation saying it would be good if I was on some kind of anxiety medication. I think my mom thinks I might abuse them but in no matter have I prooved to her that I would do that.
So unless she goes with me to the doctor they won't see minors or she atleast has to call when I arrive there alone.
Do you know any other alternatives, besides meditation; which I do but I need something just besides that.
A: It is disappointing that your mother is interfering with your treatment. Anxiety is often debilitating, and your therapist has clearly made it known that you can benefit from anti-anxiety medication. Perhaps you can ask you therapist to speak with your mother about the very low-risk of addiction involved with responsible use of drugs like Xanax. No doctor would prescribe a dose large enough for you to get hooked on. Another alternative is to take an antidepressant (SSRI). Many of these drugs (Paxil in particular) are very useful in treating generalized anxiety and panic disorder. They are non-habit-forming (impossible to get addicted) and virtually impossible to overdose on. That being said, as you noted meditation is often helpful in reducing anxiety. You may also want to try various breathing exercises (you can find them online or ask your therapist) and get in more physical activity. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which help calm the nerves and produce a "happy" feeling. I hope things work out for you.
Q: Is there anything you can do for a child with seperation anxiety other than medication?
My daughter is five years old and is showing signs of seperation anxiety. I have been told that she should be on anxiety medication from her school counselor.But I don't think she needs medication. Is there anything else I can do to help with her seperation anxiety? Her doctor said he would prescribe her hydroxyzine for anxiety and I could decide to give it to her or not, that it was completly up to me. But I don't know what to do?Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
A: Here are few suggestions; decide which are more feasible based on what you know of your daughter and the situation personally.
1. Create a situation where she is familiar with the place where ever you are leaving her kindergarten/school/babysitter/extended family member's home. You can do this by creating an orientation where she becomes familiar and safe with the new environment after some time of meeting the people and activities of the new environment.
2. Whenever you go, make sure she has something from home like her favourite toy, blanket or her school bag - just for a sense of security.
3. This might not be feasible if she has allergies or something which prevents this, but a dab of your perfume or usual worn scent on her neck, wrist or clothes can remind her of your presense and give her sense of ease.
4. Make sure you do a proper goodbye when you leave her. It's not beneficial in resolving seperation anxiety to say goodbye a few times then never leave or finally manage to leave on the sixth goodbye. OR leaving without saying good bye and she didn't anticipate you going that can cause some anxiety. So ensure a proper, meaningful good bye that is said once and make it official. Make sure her caregivers and you also tell her that you will coming back soon and in mean time distract her with various activities.
They (suggestions) all maybe way off and not applicable or inappropriate, it depends on what you feel about the situation personally.
Q: Anxiety medication that is safe while pregnant?
I am currently taking xanax for anxiety, but my husband and I would like to start trying to have a baby. I would like to switch my medication over now to something that I can continue to take while I am pregnant. Any mom's out there have some advice?
A: Talk to a doctor to see if the medication can affect your pregnancy, only he/ she can give you professional advise. It's not worth taking the risk for something as important as having a baby. Some medications may have side effects.
The free ecourse I found below helped me with my problem.
Q: What would happen if you were on anti-anxiety medication and you smoked weed?
My friend just got put on anti-anxiety medication (I can't remember the name of it) and she's a regular pot smoker (at least 4 times a week). I was just wondering if this was dangerous or a bad mix. and yes i know, she should quit, shes stupid blah blah, but i really just need an answer, considering i lecture her enough. thanks!
A: I really doubt anything bad will happen. Pot isn't a very powerful drug and it's not going to affect you after the effects wear off. Like you may feel paranoid while you're high, but that's not going to carry over to your regular life unless that's already an aspect of your personality. Anyway, definitely don't worry about the two things mixing and causing a problem. However, it might be worth it to worry about your friend's problems with anxiety. Don't lecture her about other things because that could be contributing to her anxiety.
Q: Does anyone take anti-anxiety medication or know someone who does?Do they work?
Does anyone take anti-anxiety medication or know someone who does? I may go on medication for Anxiety Neurosis, what do you know about the medications for this? Do they work?
A: I take Lexapro for anxiety and it truly does help me. Good luck!
Q: Is it better to tough it out, or take the medication when feeling anxiety?
If you have an anxiety attack and you have a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication (as needed), is it best to try to tough it out without the medication, or is it best to take medication?
A: I am in the same situation and I choose to take the meds as needed. I have three kids and an anxiety attack can lead to strokes and heart attacks. No way am I missing out on my kids.
Q: My doctor gave me some sleeping medication and some anxiety medication, but I have to take them 8 hours apart?
I can't take them at the same time, because they "go in the same path." So if I have to take the anxiety medication at 4pm, I have to wait until midnight to take the sleeping medication? I'm only taking the sleeping medication for a week to get on track, so I won't have to worry about this after this week is over.
A: You were prescribed the anxiolytic ( possibly Xanax?) for daytime use. It also has the side effect of causing drowsiness.You were prescribed a hypnotic med for sleeping. If you take them too closely together it could cause you to become too sleepy and might even interfere with your respiratory reflex. These two drugs would have a synergistic effect when combined, making them more potent than they would normally be.
Q: how many different anti depression and anxiety medication is there on the market?
iv bin on medication now for about 7 years and iv bin on about 6 different anti depression medication and about 3 different anti anxiety medication i was just wondering how many are out there?
A: For anxiety medications there's more than 50. Most of them are members of the benzodiazepine class, and only about a dozen are used commonly. There's probably 30 total that you can get in the US.
For antidepressants there's about 19 in common usage. That however discounts the tricyclics. Hard to say how many there are, because a lot aren't made. I'd say at least ten. It also doesn't count the MAOIs - there's about 13 of them in clinical use, though you do not see them very often.
If you're going to count different formulations (controlled release, transdermal, sublingual etc) you can probably double all those numbers.
Q: Are some people abusing anxiety medication?
More and more lately I have been hearing my friends,family, aquaintances, and even strangers telling me that they are taking anxiety meds. I do bielive that people with real chemical imbalances should try medication but lately I feel like people are using it as a crutch.
A: I completely agree with you. There are the chemical imbalances that need that to get any better, but i think all too often anymore drs especially GPs are all too willing to give an rx for anziety or depression, with someone decribing those kind of symptoms, without determaining if they need them, or really just need therapy/coping skills and such.
Personally i dont think GPs should be able to prescribe those kinds of meds....think they should have to refer them to a psychiatrist.
But yes, they are overly prescribed. Though i dont think abused is the right word cause they are not like pain killers or anything.....if there is no chemical imbalance there really is nothing that the med can do.
But this is also why studys are coming out that anti depressants are not ver effective......because so many people are on them that do not need to be, not that they are not effective for those that need them.
Im saying this as having bipolar disorder and anziety, and being on meds for them.