Medication that's helped eased anxiety

[Livinrooman]

A question purely out of interest and curiosity really.

Which medication has helped you the most in treating anxiety?

[allnew2me]

I've not had any actual anxiety medications. The only thing I've had is beta blockers. They have helped a lot. I was a shell before starting them. Not even really existing. Externally people would think I'm living like normal now if they had seen me before and for those who didn't I look like a normal person again. I think I'm existing now. I'm more in touch with the world I certainly wasn't in touch with it at all before starting them. They have taken care of my physical symptoms. I get them pop up about once a week but they are on a much smaller scale. They were constant all day and night before. All day I spent wrapped up in a blanket as I was so cold and shaking. My heart continually raced with a few palpitations thrown in. I felt wretched. hurt all over, so weak, couldn't do anything as I couldn't focus on anything except anxiety it completely swallowed me up etc etc. So that's all I've tried is propranolol xx

[Lawley3 in reply to allnew2me]

Hi,

Did you get breathless too before you were given beta blockers? I get breathless just from standing up and if I have to walk up stairs or any incline I could faint with the chest heaviness and breathlessness. Doctors can't find out what is causing it. Going for a second opinion soon.

[Agora1 in reply to Lawley3]

Hi Lawley3, I hope you go for a second opinion soon. Since everyone is different as to how their bodies react to medications, it might just be that beta blocker is not for you. The one I was started on (low dose) made me so lightheaded that I literally had to crawl at times. I am now on one that gives me no ill side effects. Wish you well....

[Lawley3 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you for your reply.

Best wishes to you x

[allnew2me in reply to Lawley3]

There were and still are times that I felt like I've forgotten to breath and that's then caused me to feel squashed of air and like I'm breathless from a run...minus the stitch and tired muscle! I put it down to being worked up as it could happen in bed or as I stood or sat. It does still happen now but not as much. It was numerous times a day and now it's maybe once a week, twice at the most. It's awkward to explain but then I find explaining any of this really hard. I know how it feels but I can't put it into words.

I do smoke 😶 so I also put some of it down to that. Didn't give it a great deal of thought until you asked now I've been sat thinking about it. Maybe it's not smoking related if others get it too xc

[Lawley3 in reply to allnew2me]

Thank you for getting back to me. It is so frustrating trying to work out of this is anxiety causing my symptoms or something else. I have been diagnosed with functional neurological disorder and cfs so I don't know if these are causing the breathlessness. I wish I could find a medication to help with this symptom of breathlessness and chest heaviness.

Best wishes to you

[allnew2me in reply to Lawley3]

If it helps any (I know everyone differs) my husband has had cfs/m.e for around 14 years and he doesn't get shortness of breath.

I know everyone differs with how they have symptoms and side effects with different things and that's just his symptoms.

Hope you manage to get an answer whether it is anxiety or a symptom of something else xx

[Lawley3 in reply to allnew2me]

Thank you so much for your reply. It is interesting that your husband doesn't get any breathlessness so I wish I know what was causing it. I have to wait until May to see the cardiologist then I am having a cardio pulmonary stress test done so hopefully I will then know either way.

Xxx

[allnew2me in reply to Lawley3]

I don't mean to make you think that there is something other than anxiety or cfs doing this to you as it's just us two with our symptoms it could well be either or both. I'm not sure if breathlessness is a symptom of cfs. I don't want to check with anxiety running so high in me or I'll be turning into Dr death and watching for little things with him 😃

I have anxiety and do get it but he has cfs and doesn't. So I'm leaning towards it being anxiety as medically I don't have any illnesses. The most colourful thing I have is hayfever. Mentally it's anxiety and depression for me. The breathlessness does appear when I'm having a bad time. Not in a panic attack sense but just really anxious in general rather than just anxious all day. Like my anxiety is usually at around a 5/6 every day all day with peaks at certain times. When I'm at a 8 all day with peaks that is when the breathlessness happens. Not necessarily at the peak time it could be any time xx

[Lawley3 in reply to allnew2me]

I have previously been seen by a cardiologist and had a modified stress test because at the time I was pregnant so this time they are going to do a full stress test just to make sure. My neurologist believes that it is all part and parcel of my fnd that I have but this is not listed as a symptom. I have normal blood pressure and have had countless ecgs echocardiogrammes etc and all have come back normal but this breathlessness only happens when I walk up any incline such as stairs or even the smallest ramp! Occasionally if it is a bad day it can happen just from being in an upright position. and this may sound silly but only after a warm shower does it ease up for a couple of hours then gradually it's like I can feel my body starting to stiffen up and along comes the breathlessness again. Very strange. Xxx

[allnew2me in reply to Lawley3]

I really can't help with the fnd. I truly hope you get to the bottom of it though xx

[Hidden]

Xanax stops my panic attacks dead. It's supposed to be used short-term though. So far, Prozac (Fluoxetine) has helped me the most with my every day feelings of anxiety and dread.

[Jadedflower1944 in reply to Hidden]

I just started fluoxetine yesterday ,I inderstand they take cpl weeks to work so it's good to read they have helped you

[Jadedflower1944 in reply to Hidden]

How long did it take for fluexetine to work for you .

I'm only on the third day ,desperate for it to kick in

[Agora1]

Xanax by far was the best working medication. Fast but not long lasting.

[helly1]

ive been on sertraline and its helped mealot I felt terrible on them for first 8 weeks but just kept taking them I feel fine now xx

[Shon48]

Phenergan , an over the counter antihistamine . I've tried every possible alternative method , medication etc with the same results ---- zilch !!!!! Phenergan has given me my life back after 41 years of anxiety/ panic attacks . Might not work for you but well worth giving it a shot. If asked at the counter why you need them just say it's for travel sickness. Gives you a great sleep too . Good luck

Shona

Shon48

[Livinrooman]

Thanks.

I have tried it in the past.its the same stuff as sominex(promethazine) a sleep aid.

Unfortunately for me it gave me the old restless leg syndrome.

Good to hear it's helped you.

It does also act as a very weak antipsychotic which would explain the anti anxiety effect.

I've also heard that diphenhydramine can help which is nytol(non hearbal one) in the UK.