advice on taking medications while going through the program

[music4life]

Hi everyone. I am considering going on anti-anxiety medications, and I want to know what your thoughts are about them. I feel as though anxiety has taken over my life. I almost always have a headache, muscle soreness, shakiness, exhaustion, trouble breathing and frequent heart palpitations. And because of all of this, I often feel depressed and unmotivated to do the activities that I used to love. How effective are anti-anxiety medications, and what are your thoughts about them?

[Guest]

I started on Xanan .5 mg several years ago and it helped fine. About 3 years ago, I got in troule taking 3 Klonopin a day and went cold turkey off it.
My doc has prescribed 2 mg of Xanax for sleep, and it makes me feel hungover severely. Plus, I craved more about midday and was shaking and jumpy by summer time. Now I take 1.5 mg at night and .5 mg if needed in the day which is done less and less.
I'm all for getting medical help and medication if you need it. I'd start on a mild dose and see what happens. Those work for me, but too much was worse than the anxiety itself.

[Guest]

I had taken klonopan for a little while and it really worked for me but I also have depression so I was on an anti depressant too, lexapro is really good for anxiety also. I have been on it now for about 6 years and have been getting up the courage to start weaning off. If your anxiety is that bad deffently talk to your dr about the meds help you to cope with it and give you a peace of mind so you can do the program and develop the skills and then get off them. Best of luck

[SOON TO BE HAPPY]

Possibly the smallest dose of ativan or xanax would be helpful. I used to take xanax for years only as needed and now take ativan only as needed..the smallest dose.

[Barb G.]

I take lexapro for mild anxiety and it works great and I feel like myself on it. I highly recommend it.