Why has nothing been invented that does the same thing as benzodiazepines but.....

[overthinkersanonnymus]

Don't fuck you up?

The amount of money and research pharmaceutical companies have, why has nothing been created to tackle acute anxiety as well as a benzo?

I have a panic disorder so a benzo like medication that's not addictive would give me my life back!

No real reason for this post, I'm just fed up of having a small world due to panic

I believe they have… but unsure if they’re widespread yet.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-potential-benzodiazepine-replacement

Some antidepressants aren’t addictive… tricky to change brain receptors without impacting on the brain though… and it’s unclear why people are all so different in their serotonin uptake etc so it’s not easy…

Propranolol is really effective. I got it prescribed for a side issue but it has an effect on my anxiety that is so, so helpful. Keeps me alert and relaxed without the valium effect which I can't drive with.

Pregabalin is licensed for generalised anxiety disorder. Still potentially addictive but not anywhere near as much as benzos and for a pure anxiety issue it often works well.

Is pregabalin an instant thing or is it more of a build up med, like an SSRI?

My panic is all internal, so I get racing heart and sweat etc but my issue is catastrophic thoughts and dissociation. I'm was under the assumption that propranolol was for physical symptoms, and do nothing for the mental symptoms?

I could be completely wrong though!

That sounds promising

@overthinkersanonnymus sort of somewhere in between. You don’t take it only as needed like you can with benzos, it’s usually prescribed as a daily dosage, it only takes 1-2 days to build up in your system physically. Although I think some studies show it can take a few weeks to see the full effect. I take it as well as an SSRI personally and for me as well as having a general background calming effect which kicks in within days, I also get a bit of instant or near instant (like within 30-40 minutes or so) reduction of anxiety feeling similar to diazepam straight after taking it. So I have a background dosage and also extra tablets I can take on too as needed if having a particularly anxious day!

This is a good link giving a bit more detail;

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/medications/pregabalin/

It's an effect that propranolol has on the body that causes all the symptoms you describe to calm. I have the same symptoms as you and a host of other ones, part of a complex MH condition. I've been prescribed it for physical conditions associated with MH symptoms, panic, heart rate, blood pressure etc etc. Speak to your GP it's a game changer and also helps you to see the extent of these core illness symptoms are in your head but manifest physically, vice versa. That was my experience anyway and after 25 years of diagnosis, trying many serious meds it's a big relief to feel some self control returning.