To ask for these meds for severe anxiety and panic disorder?

[PinkLemonadee]

I've been struggling with anxiety for a couple of years now but over the last several months it's reached a point where I cannot function. I can't take part in family life. I struggle to go shopping or even to drive anywhere, to the point where I've had panic attacks picking my kids up from school. I've pretty much given up driving after having a panic attack at a set of traffic lights. It's absolutely unbearable.

My mum passed on Friday after a short illness and there's a house to clean out and the other arrangements to make and I can't do anything because of the stupid anxiety which is ruling my life. I am utterly terrified of the funeral because I know I'm going to have the physical anxiety and I can't cope with the feeling for much longer.

I currently take propranolol which is doing absolutely nothing to help. I'm part of a group online for anxiety support and saw clonazepam recommend for acute attacks and Hydroxyzine for daily management. I understand that both of these can't be used long term but I'm hoping if I can break the cycle of anxiety I might be able to cope better.

I have been refused anything other than antidepressants (sertraline) which did nothing but make me feel unwell for the three months I took it.

I have a review with the mental health team on Monday so will ask then. I feel like I can't even grieve properly because of the anxiety - it's absolutely crippling.

Well it's definitely worth asking, and asking for a review of your current medicine in light of your current situation. Good luck x

Personally I wouldn’t march into a mh review asking for benzodiazepines (clonazapam) by name as you will be perceived as a ‘drug seeker’

I would go to the review tell them the severity and impact of your symptoms and let them recommend something to help you.

unless you have a very well established relationship with them and they know whether you can safely use benzodiazepines for short term without getting emotionally or physically dependant on them - they are often very hesitant to give them as the potential for addiction is very high.

I use them sparingly when I am desperately unwell - and my team know that if I ask for them I really need them. Usually it is them begging me to take them for a few days not the other way around.

they are a good drug but only break the cycle / are not for long term use - just to get you through an absolute crisis.

long term it is decent therapy you need to learn skills to manage your anxiety / panic disorder .

Do you have a partner at home who can help you with your mum's house, the upcoming funeral and all the other things?

Because if the answer is yes but he's not supporting you, they may see that as the problem, and no drugs they can prescribe are going to help with it.

sorry for your loss.

i pay for private acupuncture. it can calm me down and make me a functioning human again within the hour. and it lasts a while too. It does cost though, usually £50-£75 a session where i am. i wouldn’t be without it though. i gp monthly or six weekly depending on my finances.

Might be worth trying another ssri such as fluoxetine

That's exactly what I need right now. I can't go on like this especially when it's affecting my kids so severely too. I'd be absolutely fine with a limited prescription because my brain feels fine but the physical anxiety is absolutely destroying me.

No I'm on my own. He passed when the boys were very small.

SSRI's are first line treatment for anxiety, but if not tolerated or ineffective, the 2nd line is Pregabalin (which I found very effective for anxiety), with a very small supply of diazepam (max 3 doses over 2 weeks) . The ones you are mentioning are much further down the treatment line.

GP might give you a few low dose diazepam to get you through the funeral.

Have you tried Duloxetine? It works brilliantly for my anxiety.

I'm so sorry about your mum and the loss of your DC's dad

I wouldn't go in asking for certain medications but definitely ask for a review of the situation. I tried 2-3 different anxiety medications before finding paroxetine which (alongside therapy) has been an absolute game-changer for me.

OP I am so sorry you’re struggling and so sorry for your losses. It’s not surprising given all you’ve been through that you’d be struggling. I agree with the advice of others that best to explore the situation with the MH team and see what they suggest. I would suggest doing some research on reputable sources about options beforehand if feeling more prepared and in control of your situation would help you with the anxiety. What I would recommend, as someone who has struggled with a severe anxiety disorder, is to be open-minded with your approach. Have you looked into therapy options? Maybe you could look into somatic breathing exercises which might help you to calm down in the moment. I would also ask questions and go onto any medication fully informed. I take pregabalin and have had some issues reducing my dose, and I believe that’s a known issue with the drug. That’s not to say that more medication isn’t the right choice for you, but you need to be aware of downsides. Also, MH teams are very stretched and it may be easier for them to offer you medication without addressing the underlying issue. So I’d try hard to get help with that too and maybe look to go privately if possible.

In my experience they are so reluctant to prescribe any of the drugs ending in “pams”

they really don’t like the clonezepam - sound like you have had it before if you know about it

I reckon they may give you some 2mg diazepam

what about needing
to drive though with either of those medications?

Sorry for your loss OP. I agree though that it's not a good idea to go ask for these meds - as others have said they are the sort that are tried much further down the line and only after other, safer, drugs have been tried first (or alternatives to meds) Benzos can have severe side effects and be really problematic to come off them even from small doses.
Is the online group mainly American by any chance? I sometimes see medication discussions on English speaking sites that are out of kilter with how things would be done here.

OP some of the best things you can do for anxiety are free and available. I don't mean to dismiss because I'm in the same boat as you in terms of anxoety, but the progress I'm making is outside of the healthcare system because there just aren't the facilities to help.

Have a read of Dare by Barry McDonagh, there's an associated Facebook support group and it's really down to earth and friendly. Not even a bit cultish.

You are in a crisis right now so go to the Dr, but longer term there's better support online that you're going to get at the GP unfortunately. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you get what you need.

I've never had either before but it was mentioned multiple times on the group as a good "rescue drug" to stop the panic feeling.

I really don't want drugs. I want to feel like a sane and functional human again and I think that's going to take drugs unfortunately.

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine so the chances of being prescribed this for ongoing use are slim. Maybe ask for diazepam for a couple of days to get through the funeral.

I’ve recently started Buspirone which is an anti-anxiety medication but it’s typically only for specialist prescribing in the UK. I had to pay privately to get it which is frustrating because it can’t be misused and there’s been literally no negative side effects.

I was prescribed mirtazepine when I was having really bad anxiety and panic attacks and a few diazepam’s. Mirt really worked for all the physical symptoms of the anxiety and panic and got me out of the black hole- but it’s not great for other things. It massively increases your appetite so you will likely put on weight. It also makes you quite sleepy. Good luck. Anxiety is an absolute bitch! X

I despair of the rules that now restrict Diazepam. Yes, it's a highly addictive drug, yes, it can be abused, yes, it should be monitored, but I have used it for crises on and off over the years, and also for crippling back spasms and I'd say it has saved my life, not ruined it. Nor have I had a single symptom of addiction. Also the pathetic 2mg dose does nothing- a large glass of red wine sedation does more. I can go 6 months and not need one (I usually have 5mg). I can then have an emotional crisis and at the most, I shall have one 5mg per night, to help me relax and/or sleep, get through dealing with my DC's extremely abusive father (my exH), like attend a parenting session or a graduation whereby we both need to be there, and I've tried virtually every other option (SSRI, SRNI, Pregabalin), available and Sertraline does help, but I need to take that every day, and it completely numbs my emotions to the point where I have not shed one tear for my dad who died after a horrific illness over two years ago. That is not normal. I also can not laugh much either-I used to so enjoy a belly laugh. My emotions can be extreme, but without that little tablet to take the edge off, which has now been stopped as I have had to move Drs due to a house move, I shall have to resort to the sedation of a large glass of red wine. Not really appropriate when you are having to go for a gynaecology appointment that you struggle with PTSD over, or to speak at a funeral. An hours sedation at most is all that's requested and needed. Utterly ridiculous-my old GP knew me well and always allowed me to have an odd prescription if needed. New one talks to me as if I'm some sort of drug addict in the waiting.

They won't want to prescribe benzos because of their experience of people with drug seeking behaviour. It's not a good plan OP. Don't go the pregabalin route either.

People who are frustrated about lack of prescribing for theses type of meds don't appreciate how addictive they are and how commonly they are misused.

Saying from experience of working within the NHS and personal experience of having a previous partner who misused pregabalin.

You won’t get clonezepam then probably - they see it as a “dirty” drug

they will wince if you ask for it - the GP would not prescribe it - it would need to be mental health team

clonezepam will not make you feel like yourself for very long - it’s a very short term thing if at all - it will make you drowsy

sound alike you need a medication that you can take for long term

I’ve just been through what you are and there is no magic drug you can take long term - the hospital literally only let me take clonezepam for two days up to a week maybe but that was in patient - I know the hell you are probably in and my heart goes out to you

I want it (something) for short term use though.

What you think that will be enough?

just sharing what I found when mentioning clonezepam

Can you ask them to increase the dosage of propanalol and for a short term supply of diazepam? That's what I had when I was in crises. Im still on citalopram now which I can also increase for short periods.

I don't know which is why I'm asking.

I don't take medication. I rarely take anything and it's not something I know a lot about.

I just know I can't keep having panic attacks like I am because I cannot cope with it for much longer.

CBT is the go to for panic attacks - have you had some of that?