Meds for constant anxiety

[carolm]

Years ago, before anyone knew better, I was perscribed xanax. I agree with your assessment of it. I could feel it, like a valium. I didn't know they had xanax slow release. I will ask my psychiatrist about it, but I don't think he'll find it advisable for someone who is an addict.

Thanks for your support.
Stay strong.
Carol

[Ten Chips Down]

Forgot to mention: *very expensive*, Carol.

You ain't missing nothing.

[carolm]

Shutterbug......

Have you made any decisions and have you tried provigil yet? It is very expensive unless you have insurance.

Thinking about you.

Carol

[helpagirl22]

im not sure if this will help but i have been on any different meds. I am currently on Effexor XR and Xanax and Ambien. I have been on Prozac and Lexapro but find that Effexor XR works the best. I have also taken seroquil and that works wonders so you may want to check on that. Im not sure if this helps but thought id try!

[carolm]

Hi Help,

What kind of a drug is seroquil - antidepressant or anti-anxiety? I have been on many antidepressants, but zoloft seems to work for me somewhat. My pyschiatrist has me also taking effexor XR and I think this one might really work. Don't want to get too excited yet.

Take care,
Carol

[helpagirl22]

seroquil ...im not sure what category its in but i know its non addictive and its an anti anxiety medication when taken at low doses and a sleeping aid when taken at higher doses. ive used it for both and it works!!

[Ten Chips Down]

Hi all,

Seroquel (actual spelling of the trade name) is, can you believe it, in a similar class to lithium (it's a "salt"). In category, it is much closer to neuroleptic.

It is not an antidepressant or anxiolytic.

It has some limited use in schizophrenic patients and is widely used for bipolar disorder to control the manic symptoms.

HTH
TenChips

[helpagirl22]

The Medication is widely used in addicts/alcoholics to control anxiety and help people sleep at night.

[shutterbug]

thanks all....i haven't decided anything for certian yet, but i plan to get off the Wellbutrin as soon as my bill is cleared with my pdoc.

I actually haven't been having the severe anxiety lately that I had when i started this thread.

Ten chips: I've taken a half or whole dose of the Providal a couple of times when i've been in my zombie like state of depression that acts very similar to narcalepsy and other sleep disorders....and I barely noticed any difference.

My most difficult issue in life (except with the anxiety is going high) is waking up in the mornings and being able to stay awake long enough to tell my body to move out of bed. Unless experienced for oneself, it's near impossible to know how truely difficult this is. When I'm having really bad times with it, mom will tag-team me int he mornings ringing my phone off the hook until i answer and then when I fall asleep while still on the phone and start snoring....my mom will starting yelling in my ear until i wake up again. Last year, my sister even had a full phone conversation with me where she told me that a long-time friend of ours barely escaped and survived a house fire where he was living...and his partner didn't make it out at all and died. Later that day she asked me about the converstation...and i had absolutely no recollection of it. It's like being on severely sedating drugs that you can't shake. It makes work life difficult b/c i'm often very very late.

[shutterbug]

i didnt' do well ont he seraquel (which was prescribed to me for slight paranoia). I craved sugar and chocolate in VERY unhealth degrees until I went off of it.

[Ten Chips Down]

Buggie:

That is an unusual condition to say the least. Just trying to to describe it takes some doing, I see.

Have you been diagnosed? This thing have a name?

[Christian]

Originally Posted by splendra

((((Jenna))))

I suffered from terrible anxiety and panic attacks what helped me so much was

blue green algae...with the cell wall removed.

I believe I had a trace mineral defiency and the BGA's comeplete trace mineral profile brought my brain into balance. I did not ever once go to the doctor about it cause I knew I would not take any meds for it. I did not even think that the BGA would help it at all when I tried it the first time. But the very first day after I tried it when I woke up I cannot tell you how good I felt... I felt so good I thought something was wrong with me I did not remember abvout the BGA until later in the day. I worked in a bar and I thought it was possible someone slipped me something that made me high or something but as I recounted my night at the bar I realized no one could have possibly gooten to my water that I always drank and kept far away from the reach of the public and I did not leave the bar all night even to go to the restroom....

I have only had anxiety one once since then when I stopped taking it for a few months as soon as I got back on it the anxiety when a way....

I just want to encourage you to seek out something other than drugs...

ill have to agree with Splendra. I take Chlorella, which is an algaue with cell wall also broken down. It is a perfect food, meaning it has every vitamin and macronutrient so you could theoretically eat it only and be healthy ... but it comes in pills I take, it also works great for DETOXIFICATION. Heavy metal, mercury, and I assume other impurities as well/. So I'd say thats a good place to start also...


I sometimes take MOdafinil as well, I think the best usage is 50mg a few times a week or month, based on your own feelings. it can deprive deep brainwave sleep, so i dont see how its good to take often rly, since long term deficiiencies can develop.

[upanddownjj]

Re: Welbutrin - I got MANIC on it - first time ever manic..Doc said I have to put it on my list of "allergies" - don't see how it could help anxiety

Hugs

[shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Ten Chips Down

Buggie:

That is an unusual condition to say the least. Just trying to to describe it takes some doing, I see.

Have you been diagnosed? This thing have a name?

In my case...it's called Major Depressive Disorder (in a bipolar II person, with rapid cycling). Not all people in a major depressive episode have the same kind of sleep/wake problems though....some actually develop insomnia.

Actually, I think most people who are diagnosed with chronic fatique syndrom are misdiagnosed and are most likely in the middle of a major depression....but i could be wrong. This theory needs more research before I feel more certain about the statement

[shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Christian

ill have to agree with Splendra. I take Chlorella, which is an algaue with cell wall also broken down. It is a perfect food, meaning it has every vitamin and macronutrient so you could theoretically eat it only and be healthy ... but it comes in pills I take, it also works great for DETOXIFICATION. Heavy metal, mercury, and I assume other impurities as well/. So I'd say thats a good place to start also...


I sometimes take MOdafinil as well, I think the best usage is 50mg a few times a week or month, based on your own feelings. it can deprive deep brainwave sleep, so i dont see how its good to take often rly, since long term deficiiencies can develop.

Where can I get the algea (with or without no walls)?

[Ten Chips Down]

Originally Posted by Ten Chips Down

Hi all,

Seroquel (actual spelling of the trade name) is, can you believe it, in a similar class to lithium (it's a "salt"). In category, it is much closer to neuroleptic.

It is not an antidepressant or anxiolytic.

It has some limited use in schizophrenic patients and is widely used for bipolar disorder to control the manic symptoms.

HTH
TenChips

Hi all,

Was doing my usual reading and can now confirm that Seroquel is indeed in a class known as "atypical antipsychotics." Its generic name is quetiapine fumarate and contrary to my inaccurate statement above, its primary indication is for treatment of schizophrenia, paranoia, and bipolar disorder.

It's an interesting drug the more you dig: People who extolled it for anti-anxiety and use as a sleep aid were right on after all.

This-

And y'all listen up, you'll find this interesting:

As it is non-addictive and has sedative proterties, a study was conducted with participants who had a history of substance abuse and they reported largely positive experiences in using it to control anxiety and help them sleep! (The average effective dose use was 150mg/day.)

Boy, I'll tell ya, the things you learn.

Prolly wouldn't be a wise choice for me though, as it seems bad for ppl w/ diabetes or elevated blood-sugar levels, and I have a strong suspicion I'm at least pre-diabetic.

But damn, you know - interesting stuff.

-TCD-

[Christian]

you can get algae at any health food store, i reccomend chlorella from my research. try shopping online for a good price.


also, my friend recently gave me seroquel, that stuff is CRAZY. i slept really well on it =]

[Ten Chips Down]

LOL

You should try taking it! I hear it works even better! (than sleeping ON it)



hahahah

[mikiglen]

provigil can definitely be psychologically addictive, esp if you are a pill popper or a high chaser.
i am starting symbiax tomorrow for GAD, anyone ever tried that? and is there anything completely nonaddictive you can take at the onset of an attack to prevent or stop it?
thanks
misti

[Ten Chips Down]

'Sup, Misti

You know, that's a good question.

Shoot, I'd never paid any attention to olanzapine (Zyprexa) until now.

Let alone Symbyax. Symbyax is the combination of Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Prozac (fuoxetine).

This one completely flew in under my radar. I am humbled and frankly stumped. Sure, I could sit here and tell you that Symbyax was FDA-approved in 2003, that the term "antipsychotic" occasionally pops up in my reading - but hell that's rote.

I don't know what it is. It seems indicated for quite the smorgasbord of depression-related maladies, including bipolar disorder and depression associated with schizophrenia.

We all know of course that the Prozac portion is an SSRI. It's an antidepressant.

But what of the olanzapine component? Well, classed as a thienobenzodiazepine (new to me) it appears it's there to control . . .manic episodes? I don't know. I can tell you it affects quite a few neurotransmitters ranging from serotonin to dopamine ("Although the exact mechanism of SYMBYAX is unknown, it has been proposed that the activation of 3 monoaminergic neural systems (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) is responsible for its enhanced antidepressant effect." rxlist.com)

But again, that's . . .anyone could tell you that. Grrrr. LOL

I certainly would not rule it out as being a very nice, nonaddictive remedy for GAD. As to something non-addicting that works fast at the onset of intense anxiety or panic attacks? Well when the drugs companies find that one, you won't have to ask. It's the magic-bullet pill we're all waiting for... lol

Keep us apprised at how well this stuff works for your GAD; Symbyax (whose name was obviously inspired by the term, symbiosis) is supposed to yield relief in as little as one week. Could there be synergy occuring here? Hmm.

Here, read this - interesting summation, about halfway down, starting with, "Meanwhile, on December 29th, 2003, Lilly announced that a new antidepressant was approved by the FDA..."

Interesting, if mixed, commentary.

Hope that helps some!

Ten

[Codieneaddict]

Originally Posted by shutterbug

okay....so any options out there other than benzos that have worked well for anyone?

I'm on Effexor and Wellbutrin and either one or both are suppose to 'help' with anxiety, but I may need something more.

From what I've read Wellbutrin is sort of a stimulant and in alot of people it causes anxiety. There's a website that I use frequently. It's patient reviews on almost any drug. I'll post the link if that is okay. If not, mod's feel free to remove it. Take care.

askapatient.com

CA

[mikiglen]

thank you, ten
i take my first dose tonite and will let you know in the am
mis

[mikiglen]

symbyax 10pm
wake with baby at 3 am, cannot walk, dizzy, disoriented
back to bed at 4, up at 645, very, out of it
symbyax, or opiate WDs?

[Ten Chips Down]

Could be either or both.

I have a new 'blow-out' on Symbyax going up soon, look for it.

[Ten Chips Down]

Meh, fuh-get about it, i'll just post it in here.


Here goes...

This being December's birthday, i had another appointment with my shrink today. (Marking eight weeks now on 20mg Celexa. The stuff is just remarkable for me. LOL But that visit is for another thread. i'll post a linky to it went it goes up)

But while there, I saw a full doctor/pt information package on Zyprexa and can now say with certitude that if used for anxiety, then Symbyax is definitely being tried for an "off-label" indication, as the olanzapine component is in the neuroleptic or anti-psychotic class of drugs. It is described as an atypical neuroleptic, which just means it's sorta new and structurally different from classical neuroleptics like Thorazine and Rx'd for schizophrenia and "the acute manic phases of bipolar disorder."

Combining it with fluoxetine is controversial to some psychiatrists because the respective dosages are fixed and cannot be individually adjusted if the practitioner wanted to do so.

Rx'ing Symbyax for GAD is technically an unapproved use of this medication. There is nothing wrong about that, as it's done all the time to great effect with many drugs.

But... just an FYI and hope this info helps you.

Ten