To go on meds or not?

altj · Post by **altj** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:54 am

Im currently taking half a mil. of xanax every night to help me sleep and not wake up with panic attacks Ive been to the dr. on and off for problems other than anxiety and everytime i see the dr they suggest lexapro, buspar etc. i really do not want to go on meds for anxiety. im 3wks into this program and i feel like ive made some progress. there are still days where i feel anxious and sad but ive tried paxil and lexapro and both of those made me feel so much worse. my question is, is it possible for me to get through this without meds? i do plan to wean off xanax soon and i am alittle worried about that to any suggestions?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:00 am

First, I recognize everyone is different so take my story for what it's worth: I've been an anxious soul all my life but managed to live with it for the most part. Twice I've had major break downs with terrible panic attacks, agoraphobia, and ensuing depression. The first time, when I was 17, I got help from a therapist who worked exclusively with anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It took about 6 months to dig myself out of that dark hole, and I was able to go in the Army, graduate college with honors, get married and live anxiously ever after. Until this past September when everything caved in on me again. I realize now it was my own flawed thinking and bad habits that put me there. I got help right away: went on 10 mg Lexapro, took 1/2 Klonopin to get through the night until the Lexapro kicked in, and started this program. The Lexapro worked fantastically after the first week of side effects wore off. I saw things clearly, the sky seemed bluer, my kids were even cuter than before. Essentially, my depression lifted and my brain reset to the chemical balance it was meant to have. I've just finished weaning off a week ago and still doing extremely well. The anxiety is back, but I know how to deal with it. I float with the body sensations, I stop the obsessive scary thoughts in their tracks. I'm sleeping like a normal person now which I haven't done in decades. The moral to my story is yes, you can do this medication free but as for me, I'm glad I took it. I was very anti medication too, scared of the side effects, scared of getting hooked and never going off. It's that black and white thinking we do and it's just negative thinking at it's worse. Do what's right for you. In my case, yes I was afraid to take the medication but I guess I was finally more scared of not taking it that made the decision for me. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:41 am

thank you so much for your response!

bernard123 · Post by **bernard123** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:08 am

Sometimes I think my anti-depressant medication isn't working. I've been on it for about a month and still have a hard time to function (or find happiness in anything). I'm on amnitriptilyn (sp?). I take 2 pills a night and when I tried to take 3 (to see if more would help), my whole body went numb before I went to sleep (scary). I mentioned it to my doc and I lessened the dosage. This medication helped me through my last depression which lasted about 6 months. Should I get him to change my medication? I'm also on antivan for anxiety attacks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:09 pm

Only you and you're doctor can decide if you should switch, but again here is my experience: First I took Cymbalta which I did not react well to at all. I was already anxious to the max and this stuff nearly made me jump right out of my skin. The three or so days I took it, I might have gotten 5 hours sleep if that. I switched to Lexapro and within 4 days, I was already feeling better. At 2 weeks, I was dancing around the house, smiling, laughing, and enjoying life again. There are alot of choices out there, and if I were you, I would definately explore my options. If you do try to switch meds, see if your doctor has samples in case the med doesn't work for you. They say it takes a month to fully take effect but you should know long before that if going to work or not. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:26 pm

Hi altj.

If you have anxiety with no major depression and the medication's side effects bother you, you can try to do it it without meds. It will be difficult in the beginning. I did and i'm glad I did because I didn't have the hassles of the med's side effects and being weaned off the meds. Some medications are addictive and very hard to get off of.

I had every body symptom and fear that I can think of, now i'm doing great. At one point I couldn't even leave the house. It can be done. But the choice has to be yours.

I had the prayer and the program and it was enough!

If you have depression you may need medication, but you can get through anxiety without drugs. After all, you can't stay on it forever and you are going to have to deal with it without drugs one day - unless you plan on being on drugs forever.

Take care.
DeeDee.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:56 pm

thanks for all the responses