Alternative to benzodiazepines

[overthinkersanonnymus]

Looking for the unicorn 🦄

Are there any instant anxiety relieving medications available that I can speak to my GP about?

I have a panic disorder that's well managed with an SSRI for everyday life, but I have agoraphobic tendencies and I'm desperate to get out and live my life. I need a holiday!

Any suggestions or information would be so helpful

Apologies if you've already tried/considered therapy but agoraphobia (or any phobia for that matter) responds very well to remedial hypnosis. Why? Because there's a part of your subconscious mind that has developed the belief that 'out there' is somehow dangerous and therefore it trigger the emotion of anxiety to stop you putting yourself in harm's way - overriding your conscious mind which knows the outside world is safe.

It's not instant - on average it takes around a month. But it is permanent.

Propranolol is good for anxiety. It reduces the physical symptoms which in turn reduces the anxious feeling. If you use that in conjunction with anti-anxiety meds and therapy it may help. Hope you get your holiday!!

I don't have a panic disorder as such but do get waves of overwhelming panic and anxiety. I've just started on Propranolol 40mg, it's really good! It takes the heart pounding symptom away which in turn slows your breathing and then you get more oxygen which calms the mind, it really has worked for me! I'm also titrating citalopram.

Promethazine 25mg is good for anxiety, you can take max 2 a day.

What psychotherapies have you tried? Treatments like CBT are usually first line for anxiety disorders, including agorophobia.