Anxiety and it's meds

[mrgorth]

I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for a couple of years now. I'm on Effexor XR and was on 1mg of Risperdal. My anxiety started coming back strong lately. Higher doses of the Risperdal did nothing so I asked for something stronger. Doc prescribed Buspirone, 10mg twice a day. Doesn't seem to be helping yet. What can anyone tell me or recommmend? It really hurts. Does it take a while to get in your system? Thanks.

[varkam]

1. Depending on what your anxiety symptoms are..

you might try benzodiazepines such as alprazolam. So far as I know, most anti-anxiety meds don't have to build up to a therapeutic level like SSRIs do. I know that's true for benzos, but for non-bzd anti-anxiety meds (such as buspirone), I really don't know.

Definitely talk to your Doc though about getting something that works. You might have just developed a tolerance to Risperdal to where the drug simply won't work on those symptoms anymore.

[BigMama50]

18. I hit anxiety very effectively

with lorazapam (ativan) once a day. I also take 20 mgs. Prozac daily. It is strange. When I take the loraz. I am fine all day long. I don't feel calm or chilled, just okay. If I don't take it I have trouble getting deep, cleansing breaths.

Anxiety is all about management.

[KyndCulture]

2. Hi mrgorth. I've been going thru the whole realm of anxiety meds.

I'm on Paxil, Deseryl and Buspar right now. I don't have a depressive disorder but I do have an anxiety disorder that really got out of control after I was a victim of a crime late last year, I was completely non functioning from anxiety, panic and PTSD so I've been on all sorts of meds since then.

Effexor didn't do much for me except make my head feel like jello. I'd say give the Buspirone about a week or 2, you'll probably notice it's effects in about 10 days, it helped me, I take 30 mg 3 x a day. The deseryl is giving me horrible headaches and I'm gonna ask that they get rid of that. Yes it makes me sleepy and that's what it's for but the side effects aren't worth it.

It's not easy to find the right meds and I hate having to take them. Keeping a diary of anxiety feelings and panic attacks helped me help my doc figure something's out, like the times of day that I felt worse and the kinds of feelings that would freeze me so I couldn't function - panic, dread that kind of thing and I also put in the diary the things I ate in case that was having any effect on how I was feeling or interacting with the meds. She as able to figure out that taking the meds only in the morning wasn't working because they'd wear off after lunch so she broke up the doses and I'm much better now. Still working on it but it's getting better.

Best of luck to you!

[stepnw1f]

3. My Anxiety

was pretty bad while on Effexor XR, so in addition they prescribed Clonazepam. I am now only taking Paxil for both, and I am doing much better. The anxiety is better too, however I have my ups and downs. It all takes time and it will get better for you. Just keep that in mind while you struggle now. It helps...

[hedgehog]

4. The Buspar works for me, but I'm on a higher dose.

The attractive part of it is that the effect is so subtle. There aren't any highs or lows and it doesn't make me drowsy.

[stepnw1f]

5. Is it Chemically Addicting, hedgehog? (nt)

[KyndCulture]

6. Not like Effexor is.

[stepnw1f]

7. Boy DId I Have a Hard Time with Effexor

It was a nightmare weening off of it.

[KyndCulture]

9. I can't even describe what coming off that stuff was like.

I had waves of numbness, my head felt like it was made of fluid.. NEVER again.

I had a bit of a problem yesterday because I had been off my meds for 3 days due to money to buy them, and I was starting to feel a bit sick from the Paxil but nothing like effexor.

[stepnw1f]

10. That's What I'm On Now

SO far it's been smooth. Still have a problem with anxiety now and then, but it is now manageable. Of course I see a shrink as well, so I am consistently checked upon to make sure Paxil is working for me.

[mrgorth]

8. How high?

I'm starting to hurt quite a bit here.

[hedgehog]

11. I'm at the max

2 tabs (10mg) 3 times a day

If I skip a dose, I notice that I crave carbohydrates (Esp. chocolate). That's my indicator that anxiety levels have gone up. Buspar isn't addictive in the sense that it causes a high; it's just that the original symptoms return if I go off of it. The same thing happens with my blood pressure medicine - miss too many doses and it goes up.

[mrgorth]

12. So you're at 60mg/day than right?

I need to do something because I'm feeling sick all day long now.

[hedgehog]

13. Yep

but- talk to your doctor. Everyone is different.

[mrgorth]

14. Thanks

I just needed to know it was safe to bump my dosage up a bit.

[hedgehog]

16. As I said, be sure to check with your doctor first.

Also, the advice in the reply below this is good as well. The pills are to get you in shape so you can do the other good things.

[usregimechange]

15. Effective treatment requires comprehensive care

this means more than just pills. A good therapist, nutritionist, exercise and meditation may help as well, together they may do the trick. Good luck.

[mdmc]

17. i used to call that "side effexor"

I always liked ambien and zanex for anxiety and depression. (ambien at night, zanex in small doses during the day)