Other anxiety drug options?

[theliv]

Hi, I was hoping to get some advice from people who had been on Paxil for anxiety and gone off. I was on 40 mg a day for 5 years, went well for the first couple of years, but I became more and more tired, and was up to sleeping about 16 hours a day, and starting to feel anxious again. First of all, I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? Seems to be better after going off of Paxil (which was absolute HELL). I've been off for a couple of months now and the withdrawal symptoms are mostly gone, but I'm having severe anxiety and related physical symptoms. I really want to go on something else (I know many of you will be tempted to say that I'm looking for the easy way out and should work harder to cure myself, etc., please try to resist this urge). My doctor suggested Effexor, but having done a little research, it seems like it's pretty much Paxil all over again, my main issues with Paxil being low sex drive, major lethargy, and the withdrawal...I don't feel like I'm prepared to commit myself to being on a specific medication for the rest of my life (especially one I haven't tried yet), but I just can't go through withdrawal like that again. So I was wondering if anyone had experience with anti-anxiety meds without the major issues that Paxil has, or if it's just a bit of a pipe dream? I would even be willing to try something that's just less bad than Paxil, but again, the addictive component is a bit of a problem...I'm willing to try, but not commit for life!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Katesmom]

1. What you are feeling right now is still withdrawal. Rebounding emotional issues is stage two of SSRI withdrawal. It's possible to even have the physical symptoms of anxiety without being anxious. In general, these emotional symptoms may or may not have anything to do with your original symptoms, but it is very deceptive when they mimic them. Depression, anxiety, OCD, agoraphobia, and rage are ALL potential emotional w/d issues that can pop up. Like I said, it might or might not come in a familiar flavor. It's just the luck of the draw. Time will help temper the extreme nature of what you are feeling now.

2. Taking a pill is not a cure. At about 12 months post SSRI, you will begin to get a picture of the 'real you,' and if you have not taken steps to deal with your original feelings, it is likely that they will remain part of your thinking patterns. The thing you have to find a way to learn is, Freedom is in YOU, not a pill. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a great jumping off point to learn practical skills for coping with anxiety. Self-help books can give you a leg up. So can cleaning up your diet; you would be shocked at the difference that alcohol, marijuana, caffiene, MSG, artificial sweeteners, etc can make to your emotional state. Find time for yourself to be quiet everyday. Exercise often, even if it's just yoga or stretching, although cardio is ideal if you can tolerate it. All of these are lifetime, side effect-less ways to deal in a healthy way with anxiety.

In the meantime, magnesium supplements (good quality and absorbability is vital here!) also help a lot with anxiety.

As for Effexor, it's worse than paxil. There are people who are hopelessly addicted to it. It's half life is so short and it is very hard on the GI system. It's side effect profile is worse than paxil's. I would avoid it like the plague.

[Amaya's Nana]

I'll reiterate Katesmom's post. You're very much into Stage II of withdrawal (I like that Kim!!!). Hang on. It will get better. While the physical effects of anxiety are quite unpleasant, this will really pass. More than likely it is NOT the return of your original symptoms (I know this because I was put on Paxil for severe panic disorder). Magnesium Glycinate has been a lifesaver for me. I take 600 mg a day and have since I started weaning Paxil in December of 2005. There's a great thread in the Wellness section called The Miracle of Magnesium. It is definitely an eye-opener.

Welcome to Paxil Progress! Please stay far, far, far away from Effexor.

[Iksfreundin]

I'd put my hand up for magnesium and CBT. Check out livinglifetothefull.com - an online CBT service that I am amazed at!

Unfortunately, anxiety has to be understood and worked through - I'm sorry you want us to resist that urge to tell you this, but I have had horrible anxiety off and on this drug, and very very bad during the withdrawal, and the only thing that works is learning about anxiety and how to control it myself. After this paxil fiasco - and the dozens of other drugs tried on me to stop the anxiety - learning about anxiety and how to work through it is the only thing without side effects or life-altering personal destruction, and the only thing that gives me power in my own life.

[summer bee]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

So can cleaning up your diet; you would be shocked at the difference that alcohol, marijuana, caffiene, MSG, artificial sweeteners, etc can make to your emotional state.

i'd just like to throw in the following: i JUST LEARNED that doritos have MSG! i never knew that. it's amazing how it's in so many of the foods we least expect.


the liv: i'd totally recommend trying all non-drug options before you head back down the road of medication. i'm fully off paxil now, & i still have anxiety issues -- but they're far less bothersome than before. i attribute it to the loads & loads of water i drink each day now, the magnesium, the vitamin C, the B complex vitamins, & the CBT course i took. there's really no harm in trying these things out, & if they help, they'll save you from a lot of medical distress!

[erin]

i'm trying fish oil and magnesium to help my transition off the meds (when i taper again). try the magnesium. some people have decent luck with it. couldn't hurt to try and it's cheaper than prescription meds.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

1. What you are feeling right now is still withdrawal. Rebounding emotional issues is stage two of SSRI withdrawal. It's possible to even have the physical symptoms of anxiety without being anxious. In general, these emotional symptoms may or may not have anything to do with your original symptoms, but it is very deceptive when they mimic them. Depression, anxiety, OCD, agoraphobia, and rage are ALL potential emotional w/d issues that can pop up. Like I said, it might or might not come in a familiar flavor. It's just the luck of the draw. Time will help temper the extreme nature of what you are feeling now.

2. Taking a pill is not a cure. At about 12 months post SSRI, you will begin to get a picture of the 'real you,' and if you have not taken steps to deal with your original feelings, it is likely that they will remain part of your thinking patterns. The thing you have to find a way to learn is, Freedom is in YOU, not a pill. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a great jumping off point to learn practical skills for coping with anxiety. Self-help books can give you a leg up. So can cleaning up your diet; you would be shocked at the difference that alcohol, marijuana, caffiene, MSG, artificial sweeteners, etc can make to your emotional state. Find time for yourself to be quiet everyday. Exercise often, even if it's just yoga or stretching, although cardio is ideal if you can tolerate it. All of these are lifetime, side effect-less ways to deal in a healthy way with anxiety.

In the meantime, magnesium supplements (good quality and absorbability is vital here!) also help a lot with anxiety.

As for Effexor, it's worse than paxil. There are people who are hopelessly addicted to it. It's half life is so short and it is very hard on the GI system. It's side effect profile is worse than paxil's. I would avoid it like the plague.

Ditto well rounded and excellent wisdom in these words..words to live by....as for Effexor..hahah.....if Satan failed with Paxil..he succeeded with Effexor


Regards, Johnny

[nellietoo]

Hang in there!! I just wanted you to know that I, too, was on 40 mgs of Paxil - was tired all the time, started having anxiety issues again, and no libido! Weaned off of Paxil because I thought I was feeling better and didn't want to take anymore prescriptions; and eventually ended up on Zoloft a few months later because I was looking for something magic to make me feel better from what I now believe to be w/d symptoms. After a few years on Zoloft I lost that "good" feeling again and started having panic attacks (not really true panic attacks - more like anxiety attacks, there is a major difference) so I went to a psychiatrist - instead of my family physician - who put me back on Paxil and here I am. I don't want to be dependant on a drug - but I definitely don't want to go through the Panic Disorder again. I am going to keep fighting the good fight to because SSRI free and I hope you will too. Keep me posted, you are in great company - these people know their "stuff"!!!