Anxiety Medications/Supplements

[NeverToHaveLovedAtAll]

Hey there everyone.

 

Things have been a bit rocky for me lately. This medication that I have been on for anxiety is REALLY wrecking havok with my body. I am on Lexapro at the moment. It states that it is only an anxiety medication, but looking further into it, it is also for depression.

 

Lexapro is causing some weird side effects with me, which include, loss of appetite and hunger pains, sleeplessness, breathing control, and just overall weariness.

 

I am REALLY looking to move onto a supplemental/herb for my anxiety. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with some and can recommend some for me. I am looking to get away from Lexapro ASAP!

 

Thanks for your time and let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

[cc2006]

Lexapro can be tough. The people I've known that were put on it usually have issues and quit. Supposedly if you stay on it long enough everything evens out though ... but if the side-effects are troubling then definitely consult your doctor about it.

 

The breathing issues are the biggest concern I can see from your list.

 

 

I've got St. John's Wort (a whole bunch cuz' I got it super cheaply) that I was told could be good for anxiety. I don't feel any different if I take it or not ... so .. who knows?

 

Is your anxiety a constant ... or is it just in certain rare occasions? I get anxious around large crowds (weddings, BIG parties, public speaking, etc) or if under a lot of stress ... so I got a script for Xanax .. because I can just pop one or two of them and in 15 minutes I'm level again.

 

If your anxiety is more of a daily constant then that wouldn't be good for you, sadly.

[shes2smart]

I was prescribed Lexapro for depression. I'm not a medical professional, so for all I know it could also be used to manage anxiety, too.

 

When did you start taking the Lexapro? If you started recently and these symptoms are occurring, have you called your doc's office to report it? Heck, if you've been taking it a while and all of sudden started having those symptoms, I'd suggest giving them a call, too.

 

Are you seeing a counselor in addition to the meds? If you (ultimately) don't want to be on these types of meds, counseling is a must so that you can learn non-drug ways to deal with and control your anxiety.

[NeverToHaveLovedAtAll]

@cc2006 -- My anxiety is constant, but seems to be worse at night.

 

@ shes2smart -- I have been through counseling and it did nothing for me. My anxiety is just there and we have been through doctors and just been told that it is something I have to live with until such a time that it takes care of itself.

[NeverToHaveLovedAtAll]

Any other feedback?

[shes2smart]

@ shes2smart -- I have been through counseling and it did nothing for me. My anxiety is just there and we have been through doctors and just been told that it is something I have to live with until such a time that it takes care of itself.

 

"takes care of itself"?

 

Personally, I wouldn't accept that as an answer. Why? Because it puts you in the position of being passive and victim-like....and that can cause MORE anxiety.

 

I have dealt with chronic, endogenous depression for most of my life. Started with counseling in my teens and continued with it (very unsuccessfully) on and off through my 20's. Got prescribed anti-depressants in college and HATED them. Lots of nasty side effects. But, they also had the side effect of making me lose weight, which I LIKED, so I put up with the other side effects until the vivid nightmares prevented me from sleeping. They never did much for the depression though.

 

Around my 30th birthday, I met a counselor I clicked with and I was finally ready to deal with my issues in a deep and meaningful way. To some degree, I believe that ANY competent therapist would've been fine because I was at a point where I was ready to do the work.

 

I had a major depressive episode a few years ago brought on by work-related crap, and that's when I went on Lexapro. It was a Godsend at the time, but I still HATED it and wouldn't start taking it until I hammered out an agreement with the prescribing doc that I was not going to be on it for the long haul. I took it for less than a year and haven't needed it since.

 

You say you've been to counseling....but how many times? How many different counselors? How many different methods have you tried? It's fine that you want to look into alternative methods for managing this...like supplements and so forth, but I suspect it's going to take more than just taking a supplement or a drug for you to manage it.