Meds for long term anxiety?

[Rumpel]

I have a weird anxiety issue which is long term now. i was diagnosed with PTSD to begin with. Personally I feel that my anxiety is actually casuing me to feel depressed as it curtails my life and sense of enjoyment of life so much - it stops me doing things I want and need to do.

I have been taking citalopram for about 3 years now in various mg. The ADs don't take the thoughts away they just make me able to cope with things a bit better - like I don't actually feel so scared about this awful thing happening.

It is like when you have a terrible headache - paracetamol takes the edge off but you are still aware of the tightness in your head IYKWIM?

Anyway I have tried all sorts - acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnosis you name it.

What I want to know from any of you is if you suffer from anxiety attacks - social anxiety, phobias, OCD type thing what is the best meds you have found to help you cope? I am fine if in the house - it is if I have to go out, especially somewhere unknown/new that I start freaking out so it isn't all the time but a lot of the time!

TIA

[FreddiesMum09]

I have ocd which was diagnosed when i was 19. I took citalopram for years but when i was going through a bad patch my gp upped the dose to 60 mgs and i got terrible side effects. He changed my meds to fluxoetine 40mgs and i find it works much better than the citalopram ever did.

I also really struggle leaving the house and hate going to new places and the fluxoetine has helped with that. I think it is worth discussing a meds change with your doctor as it made all the difference for me. Good luck.

[Keziahhopes]

When I had a few months of what felt like debilitating anxiety my gp prescribed me specific anti anxiety medication (propanol) on top of the prn diazepam which helped (I have a form of PTSD) ...

could you ask your gp about medication to take at specific times of anxiety that work immediately (the ones I had were like this), or a review of your AD?

The one thing I found work, despite me dismissing it was a CD I put on my ipod that was music- well the sound of waves, but they come in jungle sounds and a few others- that contains alpha beats... I didn't quite understand it but it helps left and right sides of brain do whatever they should do. I was very sceptical, my counsellor gave it to me and I used it and found each time I used it less.

[alypaly]

i have been on trimipramine for years. it helps me sleep better as i have really bad sleep problems too