Quote:
Originally Posted by BFella
Guys, the reason I don't want to be on daily medication is because it either 1. doesn't work at all or 2. works VERY minimal and has WORSE side effects rather than helping. It's just NOT my thing at all, it VERY rarely works, I've tried Prozac, I've tried Effexor, I've tried many things under the sun and they just DO NOT WORK at all, they're horrible.
Also, I don't have an addicted personality, I was prescribed Xanax yesterday and took it because of a bad panic attack, after that I felt fine, had a few minor panic attacks today at my aunts funeral but nothing enough for me to take Xanax so I didn't, I went all day today feeling "relatively" normal and okay.
Also, I believe it's GAD, because I get anxiety and anxiety attacks for NO reason at all, I will feel fine, then my mind will start racing, then I'll feel light headed and then start freaking out even more and have "shortness of breath" out of NOWHERE at all.
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I understand your point, but to be honest Prozac and Effexor are a couple of the worst of the antidepressants (yes, they're antidepressants used to treat anxiety) to use for anxiety.
If you have GAD, I'm sorry but a daily medication is the way to go. my recommendations to try are, in this order:
1. buspirone (Buspar)
2. citalopram (Celexa)
3. sertraline (Zoloft)
4. escitalopram (Lexapro)
5. paroxetine (Paxil)
The thing about all these drugs is- even though they're similar, some do not work at all for some patients, but then another will work wonders. You really do have to give them all a fair shot (try at least 2 months) to know. All of these drugs are extremely safe. I would literally try all these drugs before I'd think about Xanax for GAD.
One trick you may want to try- start one of these drugs, and in the meantime while it takes it time to start working, use Xanax as needed. After a month or so, you should be able to get off the Xanax- your body should not be too used to the drug at that point and you will not be addicted.
You're right...they will not "pack the punch" that Xanax will, and they will take about a month to start working well, but they are the way to go in your case.
I know you said you don't have an addictive personality. You don't have to. People don't WANT (except drug-seekers) to get addicted to these medications, but you can't help it. It is a physiological response from you're body. That's the whole point of addiction- you lose control and your body has to has to have the drug to feel "normal" after you take it long enough.
Obviously, I can't force you to do anything...I don't want to. I am simply providing my professional opinion. I see this every day in my clinic.
Good luck with whatever you decide!