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Anti anxiety medications

8 replies

Nsbgsyebebdnd · 27/06/2018 22:12

Does such a thing exist? I'm suffering with anxiety and have got to the point where I've booked an appt with the gp to discuss. Are there medications for anxiety? From the limited knowledge I have the drugs that are used are meant for depression? Just wondering if they have helped people as I feel that I need to try something. I've tried cbt too

OP posts:
JamPasty · 27/06/2018 22:19

Yup, there certainly are - I'm on sertraline and it's been fab. Some people have side effects from them, but I didn't. They take a few weeks to work, but are well worth it. Best wishes!

Nsbgsyebebdnd · 27/06/2018 22:33

Thanks jam- do you mind me asking how it helps the anxiety? What is the difference in the way you feel? If there is a way in which I could reduce the constant anxiety that would be amazing

OP posts:
DollyPlastic · 27/06/2018 22:36

I'm on propanalol. It's brilliant and my anxiety is almost under control now.

It blocks all the horrible physical symptoms, racing heart, breathlessness etc and lets my head have some peace.

I honestly can't recommend it highly enough

SweetDahlia · 29/06/2018 12:11

Buspirone helps me with my anxiety

Hope all goes well xx

LuMarie · 29/06/2018 12:26

Anti-depressants often have an effect on anxiety too, so this may be the first thing suggested to you.

However they do have side effects that might bother you.

I had issues with anxiety but was not depressed (properly assed by specialists so not just my opinion).

I didn't want to take an antidepressant, but tried, goodbye sleep and libido, didn't really work for heavy anxiety with physical symptoms/nervous going outside parts.

So a specialist gave me pregabalin (lyrica). It's approved for anxiety in europe, has other uses in other countries. He said that it didn't work for everyone, as with anything, worked absolute wonders for me.

Physical symptoms gone, was up and out, really a life saver. Side effects are sleeping a bit longer, bring it on I hadn't slept well in years and I love bed, not drowsy though if I didn't sleep lots. You absolutely cannot drink alcohol with it, it's collapse danger reaction so it's not an option unless you're willing to not touch alcohol. I don't drink so I was fine, but it's a serious no drinking one!

Other side effect that did interfere for me was that it's hard to memorise new material when studying, or keep things in head when reading. It's not a memory issue per se, I wasn't forgetful, I just couldn't recall and store things I read. This was a problem for me as I was studying, it was really a battle. I had no problems with things I had learned in the past, so still could do my fancy lots of thinking intellect work, but I couldn't get languages I was learning to stick in my head. In the end though I figured that if I couldn't go out the house or was freaking out constantly, life quality was interrupted enough that studying just needed to be put aside.

I took them for about two years, stopped recently, I fell like a genius because suddenly I can memorise and learn so quickly again, plus I'm flying through books! I don't regret at all though, they were a life saver for anxiety.

LuMarie · 29/06/2018 12:27

*assessed by specialists!

Lol, I was properly assed by them quite often too though!

JamPasty · 29/06/2018 22:23

Hey, sorry for not replying until now.

Thanks jam- do you mind me asking how it helps the anxiety? What is the difference in the way you feel? If there is a way in which I could reduce the constant anxiety that would be amazing

With the caveat that I may be extremely lucky, and I'm not sure it always works this well for everyone, basically it took the anxiety away. I feel like how I felt before I became anxious. Sometimes I still get anxious about something, but it's manageable whereas before I could barely think through the anxiety. I had talking therapy as well, which helped me address some of the assumptions I was making about life, and also helped me be much more aware of how I was thinking. So for example, I might still start thinking negative thoughts at night, but not I know to just tell myself that nothing is as bad in daylight as if feels at night, so I can just ignore the night-time worries cos they're probably not realistic.

I hope it goes well when you see the GP!

JessGK · 26/02/2019 13:36

Hi! I also tried cbt. I started to worry because it was getting harder to regulate my emotions. But it doesn't work so good. I then noticed symptoms of anxiety, I became nervous and apprehensive. Sad I have started Buspirone. It helps me at the moment. Hope you'll find smth to cope with your anxiety, but I think you should consult your doc first.

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