Anxiety about anti-anxiety medications is just another symptom of anxiety.

[Jeff1943]

Nobody seems to have a good word to say about anti-anxiety medications. So many are more concerned with the side effects (rarely felt but frequently imagined) rather than the relief they bring. We can partly blame the pharmaceutical companies for that: every carton of meds contains a leaflet listing dozens and dozens of possible side effects: they do it to cover themself for legal reasons I think.

Some people with anxiety disorder refuse to take medications because they say they don't want to become addicted. But you can come off meds any time you want no matter how long you've been on them so long as you taper them off gradually over several weeks or even a couple of months.

Others start taking anti-anxiety meds and then complain they're feeling worse even though it takes up to 4 weeks for the meds to take effect.

I am very much of the opinion that fear of anti-anxiety meds is just another irrational and unnecessary fear caused by anxiety. Of course, nobody wants to be on medication all their life, we all want to feel fine without relying on meds. But for thousands of people experiencing the absolute misery of anxiety medications have an important part to play, specially if you have family commitments to consider and a job to hold down.

Meds can provide a welcome 'holiday' from suffering and can be used to study and practice self help techniques to protect you from anxiety when you and your doctor decide it's time to taper off the dosage. Whether used as a continual course or just as one-offs when needed, anti-anxiety meds have a major part to play in recovery from anxiety disorder: something that previous generations never had. We are lucky enough to be living in the first era that such relief has been available. It is time for everyone to Accept the tremendous benefits that anti-anxiety meds offer and include them without reservations when appropriate.

[anxiousalexis]

Yes!!! I GET ANXIETY WHEN TAKING MY MEDICATION!!! EVEN HERBS! ANXIETY IS SOMETHING ELSE AHA

[Jeff1943 in reply to anxiousalexis]

Alexis, if your present medication isn't working you should ask your doctor for an alternative that does work. There are always alternatives.

[Cjonesabq]

Agree with you. They are just one part that is helping me through this season and allows me to practice other techniques to ease my anxiety.

[Aazz]

Funny story - when my anxiety first started the doctor suggested Zoloft I took 1 50mg pill and it was horrid all my symptoms intensified and plus some! So I never took it again. Then I was given a low dose of Paxil I lasted only 5 days I read a lot up on medication and it freaked me out. Anyway the funny part my husband took the Zoloft pill one night mistaking it for pain killers. I asked him did he get any strange sensations and he said he didn't feel a thing! So that made me think is it all in the mind? (My husband does not have anxiety by the way).

I do which I could take medication and be fixed but I'm too afraid of the "side effects"

[Pat9]

totally agree Jeff I am taking Pregablaine which is for nerve pain but it also helps with anxiety and I swear by it I also agree you can come off anything done the correct way I have come off two well known substance in my life time and did it consistenly over time without any trouble good post xx

[Chrjuly2017]

Yes! I was given a depression med about 3 1/2 years ago and the doctor started me out on the highest dose you can give. I ended up in the emergency room after throwing up and thinking I was dying. The doctor in the ER chalked up my symptoms to a panic attack and I left feeling humiliated and scared. I ended up realizing days later after calling a pharmacy that I was given the strongest dose of the med. Unfortuanely now I have a fear of taking any depression med. I just refuse. However I think I have more need for anxiety med than depression. So I was given xanex .5 msg. And I have a fears of even taking this med. However I do take it when I absolutely need to. I am more scared of a panic attack than the med. I had a migraine for the first time a couple months ago that left me In bed for 4 days . Now I'm scared of migraines , panic attacks. Thank you for saying that it's ok to take the meds . It makes me feel terrible every time I take one.

[Agora1 in reply to Chrjuly2017]

Hi Chrjuly2017, It is unfortunate that you were put on the highest dose of a med and suffered a panic attack. That doesn't mean that all medications will do that to you, it's just that the doctors need to be aware of what happened and they will start you out on a low dose and gradually raise it if need be.

Xanax is a quick acting med to use temporarily until other methods or meds are found. Usually they are in the SSRI category since antidepressants do work well with depression as well as anxiety w/o being as addictive. It's a matter of finding the right med and the right dosage for each individual.

Migraines, tension headaches do happen. I suffered for years from both. Learning about the different headaches and as how to address them helps immensely in lowering your anxiety level over it. It is more than okay to take medication when our pain whether physical or mental warrant it. It's like anything else, when abuse of a good thing comes about, then it becomes a problem. Under a doctor's supervision, you will be fine in reaching for some relief occasionally. Wish you well Chrjuly2017. x

[Chrjuly2017 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. My new doctor is hesitant on giving the xanex to me. He said if he has to refill it then he wants to dig into the root more and I think he's also thinking a depression med. I appreciate your advice. I am trying so hard to find a fix for everything and it just seems I can't quite find it and In the meantime my family and my work and everything suffers when these headaches / panic attacks surface again. Thank you again .

[Agora1 in reply to Chrjuly2017]

Chrjuly2017, I totally understand. Anxiety and it's symptoms effect more than just us. I trust that your doctor is looking out for your welfare as well as controlling your pain level.

I suffered for many years from Migraines/Tension Headaches. I was originally put on Xanax and a Pain Killer but as the headaches got chronic, I was placed on an antidepressant which helped with anxiety as well as pain level.

I learned different modalities to use in reducing the pain as well as bringing down any anxiety over the pain. When in chronic pain, somewhere along the line, the circle needs to cut or it continues to build.

The forum can add a lot of remedies and helpful methods that others use. Always remember to read with an open mind. What works for one may not for another. Don't get discouraged, stay positive. This is not a life sentence. Things run their course and then disappear. That's life. Try not to get caught up in what's happening right now. It does get better. Believe your doctor and believe in yourself that this too shall pass. We're by your side. x

[Chrjuly2017 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you so much , it's nice to talk to someone who has been there , and found a way through it.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Chrjuly2017]

Chrjuly2017, oh yes I do say it's o.k. to take the meds. You had ONE bad reaction to ONE unnamed medication because your doctor started you on much too high a dose. Now you say your anxious about taking any medications which supports mt view that anxiety about anti-anxiety medications is just another form of anxiety.