To ask if you have any good advice on medication for anxiety?

[rainbowninja]

Been on Sertraline and Propanolol for a long time and things have gone from bad to worse, always wanted to come off meds rather than find new ones but having to rethink. Anyone got any success stories or private psychiatry recommendations? Been harmed by bad advice in the past

Escitalopram Changed my life. Completely shut off that awful nagging voice and sick feeling I used to have 24/7. Please don’t give up, once you have the right meds the difference is incredible

Sorry things are tough
Have you tried Citalopram? I’ve found it better than Sertraline.

What exactly are your symptoms at the moment?

Thank you @HereTodayHereTomorrow I'll look that one up

@Purpler5 I've been on Sertraline for 6 years since I fell pregnant with my daughter and came off Prozac. After an initial improvement it's been a slippery slope backwards. Main issue at the moment is constant train of catastrophic thoughts about having a panic attack I cannot escape from

So sorry to hear that thing s have slipped @rainbowninja.

Maybe you should speak to your GP? Is increasing your dose of Sertraline an option?

If Prozac has worked for you before, perhaps that’s a good one to swap to?

Sadly, I don’t think there is any way of knowing for sure In advance which meds will be best for you.

If you do need some short term more acute help then you could ask for diazepam/lorazepam. These are only suitable for very short term use though as are addictive.

I know how debilitating and painfully difficult these types of thoughts are. Be kind to yourself and do the other things that help alongside meds. Exercise, meditation, being kind to yourself, reaching out to friends/family, healthy eating etc.

Good luck

My partner had panic attacks all day every day since he was a small child-even in his sleep.

He's been taking Citalopram for almost a couple of years now. The only thing that's ever stopped the panic attacks.

A word of warning though: for the first 8 weeks or so, the anxiety can increase and a lot of users say it's unbearable and so stop taking it. If you have this side effect it's worth persevering though.

Also, I would recommend getting your vitamin d3, b12 and folate levels checked-low levels of vitamin d3 and the b vitamins are surprisingly common and the early symptoms are often anxiety and or depression.

Im assuming you've tried different doses of setraline? I doubled mine recently with dhpport of gp and it's made my anxiety so much better!

Also a fan of Escitalopram over sertraline.

Just as propranolol is also a heart drug I'm assuming that you have physical (racing heart, palpitation) symptoms too? Would you try CBD oil? It really calms me when my heart is going ninety. Also having a physical routine to go through when particularly anxious helps. So I do a splash of cold water to both wrists and then clench and unclench each muscle in my body from top to toe, just to bring me back to my body. I'm not at all suggesting you stop your meds, maybe try the cbd oil alongside what you're on. Your pharmacist can tell you if it's safe with both (I think it is I take mine alongside an SSRI).

Wow, thanks all for your input. I'm waiting for the GP to call me back now although I'm also waiting on a psychiatry appointment so I'll see what they say.

I've been recommended CBD oil before so will look into that.

Right now, it's the anxious thinking that is driving me mad, it's completely taken hold. Horrible place to be

I moved from Sertraline to Venlafaxine which is helping

Just wanted to add that I was prescribed fluoexetine in January for my severe anxiety. It didn't take effect for a few weeks and it was hell but once the medication had gotten into my system I felt a lot better. I've not felt severe anxiety for a while now, so I assume they are doing the job.

If you can access any therapy as well, that might help too. I want to come off the meds eventually but need to deal better with past traumas through therapy with my psychologist before I start reducing down my dosage. Trying to deal with the reason for the anxiety as well as the resulting symptoms.

@CarrotVan that's interesting, hope transition was ok x

I'm currently weaning off Escitalopram. It's excellent for anxiety but I've put on a ton of weight and I can't shift it. I'm hoping I can go med-free for a while and shift these godawful pounts.

@cakebythepound1234 funnily enough, I was on fluoxetine a few years back and was doing ok, then I got pregnant and my gp switched me to sertraline. I've been fighting a losing battle ever since... I started somatic experiencing therapy a few weeks back, I had such high hopes but now the therapist is saying she thinks I need to get the meds right before we can address the reasons for the trauma. Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better x

I've had really bad panic attacks on and off since aged 10. Was on prozac for a while, but came off it after 3 years.

I would definitely say speak to your GP re: any new medication and referrals etc, but this is what has helped me:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (if you haven't tried it already), especially when it comes to tackling those intrusive thought patterns that can lead to anxiety, and helping you break away from safety behaviours that exacerbate the problem. You should be able to get six sessions on the NHS, and there are also a few articles online about techniques from CBT that you can use day-today.
• Magnesium supplements. Again if you look online, there's a lot about how magnesium can be good for anxiety, as long as you're able to take them.
• Meditation/hypnosis. I know people always say this, and it doesn't work for everyone, but I find exercises that physically relax me and ground me have a knock on effect and I tend to feel less anxious and wired for a day or so afterwards. I do a lot of youtube videos, but I've known people who have gone for actual hypnosis with a therapist and found it very helpful.
• Cutting down on caffeine. I am so much less jittery when I've had just a couple of cups of tea and coffee.

The books 'Overcoming panic and agoraphobia' and 'Overcoming anxiety' are meant to be really good. There are also podcasts that can help too: Anxiety Slayer has helped me, likewise Owning It, which has a talk down I've used before when panicking while out and about.

Sometimes it depends how your anxiety manifests itself - a large part of mine is a about panic attacks and borderline agoraphobia, so you might not relate, but I hope you find something useful.

Anxiety is horrible, and so much more debilitating than a lot of people realise. I hope you find something that helps you OP. x

I had severe anxiety so had to take lorazepam. Which was the best drug I've ever taken! You can feel it work within 20 mins.

I now have minor anxiety. I am now on mirtazipine which has been good.

Proponalol didn't work for me but I tried it when I was at my worst so maybe it was t strong enough back then.

Cbt and decent vitamins have made a huge difference too.

I was also low in b12 which made a massive difference.

@teacatten thank you, I do really relate to a lot of what you say. I've similarly suffered since childhood. Have found strength in the past from a lot of the things you have mentioned. I guess I'm just a bit overwhelmed right now, tired of coping and managing it and just want someone to switch it off for a bit (wouldn't that be great).
Given that even the therapist is saying to look at meds, I'll explore those options but then I'll be back on the self help bandwagon and will check out some of those podcasts. Don't know if it's up your street but there's also a podcast called 'a little peace of mind' which is good for anxiety sufferers.

Pregabalin works wonders for me. I've always had sweaty hands as part of my anxiety and this medication stops that.

I take atarax at night. It reduces anxiety and helps me sleep, which also reduces anxiety.

Have you tried CBT? Currently receiving it and found it really helpful

Another vote for citalopram. It's massively reduced my panic attacks and GAD. It is supposed to be more for anxiety than depression, unlike some other ADs.

Thanks @rainbowninja , hope you find something that works for you soon.

[quote rainbowninja]@teacatten thank you, I do really relate to a lot of what you say. I've similarly suffered since childhood. Have found strength in the past from a lot of the things you have mentioned. I guess I'm just a bit overwhelmed right now, tired of coping and managing it and just want someone to switch it off for a bit (wouldn't that be great).
Given that even the therapist is saying to look at meds, I'll explore those options but then I'll be back on the self help bandwagon and will check out some of those podcasts. Don't know if it's up your street but there's also a podcast called 'a little peace of mind' which is good for anxiety sufferers. [/quote]
I know what you mean. Self-care stuff is all well and good, but sometimes you just need something to keep your head above water. Thanks for the podcast recommendation - haven't ever listened to that one but I will give it a go!

Citalopram helps me a lot x