Best medication for anxiety??

[auntiepammy]

I've suffered with anxiety my whole life, but didn't see a dr about it till I was 24.
I was given 20mg paroxetine, and it changed my life for the better.
Six years later I fell pregnant and had to come off of paroxetine as the dr said they weren't sure of the effect on an unborn baby.
I felt ok during my pregnancy, but when my baby was six months old the anxiety crept back in.
I went back to the drs (different surgery as I'd moved) and they prescribed me 50mg sertraline, which then increased to 100mg.
I was ok on that for about four years, then last year went through a traumatic relationship break down, I felt sertraline wasn't working for me anymore as my anxiety was terrible.
I again returned to the dr and asked to be put back on the paroxetine, big mistake.
It was no more effective than the sertraline had been at the end, and I gained a stone in weight.
I went back to the dr again and they put me back on the sertraline, as I thought maybe due to my relationship breakdown (which would cause anyone anxiety!) my anxiety had been worst and might not be due to the medication not working.
So now..... Ive been on 100mg sertraline for about 3 weeks now, I started on 50mg and was put up to 100 three weeks ago, and I've still been feeling anxious.
I'm so worried that I'll never feel 'normal' and ok again, I have a drs appointment next Thursday, and I don't know whether to increase the sertraline, or whether there's a better drug to treat anxiety.
Sorry for the essay! I just want to ask other people what medication worked best for their anxiety?
I'm scared I'll never find a medication that works

Don't worry, there are medications that can help. How does your anxiety present itself as different symptoms need different medication? X

I've been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder, I get incredibly anxious over situations that I really don't need to be anxious about, although at the time my anxious thoughts tell that I'm being reasonable.
When I'm anxious I get very shaky, and it's noticeable, and the thought of someone mentioning it makes me even more anxious

Claire weekes.

Paroxetine is good against anxiety but it made me pack on weight like nothing I've ever known. As did Sertraline.

Currently on Amitriptyline which is Ok

Thank you all for your replies, it helps that you're listening (or reading)

I have only ever taken citalapram and it worked wonders for me x

I take propanolol and citalopram. Hoping to drop one of them soon

Pregablin.

Thank you. I've heard before that citalopram is good

Diazepam

Diazepam/lorazapam are good for very short term use (a week or two) longer term buspirone is helpful. I have also had pregabalin before but it can be awful to come off of, I have seen people really struggle.
If constant worry is a feature the book 'the worry cure' can be helpful.

Pregabalin did wonders for my anxiety. I've also heard that buspirone can be good for anxiety but I've personally never had any experiences with it. Pregabalin can be used as an add on to sertraline if you wish to continue it. Personally sertraline surprisingly did work for me, unlike fluoxetine which made me a suicidal wreck. Maybe ask the doctor if there are any add on medications that can help with anxiety. Pregabalin is one that can be used long term unlike benzodiazepines like Diazepam. Good luck hun xx

Diazepam is the only thing that really helped but the doctor won't keep you on it for more than 8 weeks. Citalopram helps a bit.

Propanolol helps me a lot. It makes your heart beat slower so you feel calmer. I use it in "emergencies" like for a job interview or something. It's a good drug because it's non-addictive compared to benzos.

It's okay to increase the sertraline until you find a dose that is therapeutic for you. It really is. You said that you have been on 100mg for three weeks. It can take up to ?eight weeks for sertraline to reach its full therapeutic effect. If you feel able to hang in there for a while, there is still potential for you to feel the benefit of sertraline.

Citalopram is relatively similar to both paroxetine and sertraline, although some people respond to one but not the others. I had horrific side effects from sertraline and tolerable ones from paroxetine. No pregnancy for me in the mix yet though.

The merry-go-round of looking for a drug that works for you is horrible; at the same time it is important to give the medication a fair shot if you can bear to. Propanalol or benzodiazepines might tide you over until the SSRI takes effect.

Hang in there.