Tired of anxiety medication-gabapentin and its side effects, Has anyone tried magnesium and 5htp to help with anxiety

[brodytexas]

I have been fighting anxiety off and on for years. Usually caused by stress situations from out of the blue. Child death then wife with cancer followed by a 8 year old pet dying from cancer etc. I realize these things can happen but its the medical prescribed cure that only adds to the problem. Gabapentin helped but the side effects were horrible or is horrible. I am looking at the anxiety relief from other sources. I am looking at magnesium and possibly 5HTP as a possible help. Any help from people would be appreciated. I am tired of anxiety medication with all their side effects that usually does not work

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am so sorry you have been through so much and are also suffering with your anxiety

I take Gabapentin for pain relief I never knew they prescribed them for anxiety to and as I suffer with anxiety I have not seen they have made a difference regarding my anxiety for the pain I have they do

I am also on lots of medications for one thing and another so if they are giving me side effects I really would not know even though I would like to be able to get of them as they do cause weight gain

Have you spoken to your Doctor about going on something to help with your anxiety as what works for one does not always work for another and they could monitor you on different medications till you find something that helps without side effects

I hope others will see your post and be able to offer more advice and I hope you find something that works for you x

[brodytexas in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you for your reply. I thought Gabapentin was a God send when I first started taking it. After about 2 weeks my anxiety went away but there was a price to pay. It became hard for me to walk(weakened muscles in legs) My eyesight was off and the most important thing to me was its effect on my short term memory. Oh I could carry on conversations but then a word I should know was not there. Then later it many times would pop up. So I have tapered down from 200mg 3 time a day too 100mg a day and am searching for that last leg which could be hard getting off the 100mg. So I am searching for possible combinations to help on that last 100mg. I am taking Magnesium L theonate 133mg twice a day and am wondering about 5htp. Plus once I off this I hopefully can find something to help with anxiety that I can live with. tks brodytexas

[BeKind28- in reply to brodytexas]

Hello

You have done really well tapering down to just 100 mg a day as they are an addictive medication

I understand totally now trying to find a way of getting of the last 100mg and I think if it were me that is when I would talk to my Doctor tell them how I had tapered down to the last 100mg and how can I come of that amount without it affecting me

In the UK it is called a controlled drug one you even have to sign for when collecting it so that says to me you need those that know to give you the advice you need

Let us know how you get on x

[brodytexas in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you brother, It seems like gabapentin is suppose to give help for about 6 hours. So taking it only once a day means that approximately 18 hours is somewhat not active. so I have been playing at extending the hours I am on it. And then carrying the time and side effects a little forward. So it is a little side effects being stretched further each week, I know it sounds good but a little flawed. All we can do is one day at a time. While trying to find the rainbow fix I can liv with. There is so much negative SSRI feed back at present. brodytexas

[BeKind28- in reply to brodytexas]

x

[FlamingoSiren]

I had severe anxiety and was never prescribed gabapentin for it. I was prescribed it for nerve pain, however. That said, there are literally hundreds of treatments for anxiety. I’m currently on lexapro and clonidine. That was the wonder combo for me. My good friend, who refuses medication, took ashwaganda ksm 66 with good results. There are also breathing techniques to help relax. Today, I heard a commercial for Z factor, which is an OTC medication that has a combination of natural ingredients for anxiety. Take care.

[brodytexas in reply to FlamingoSiren]

I really appreciated your reply. I have my eye on ashwagandha but need to review it a little. I am also looking at cbd which I understand can be taken with Gabapentin to help withdrawal from Gabapentin and also as a stand alone treatment. At 84 I hopefully am looking for a stand alone treatment that I can use now. Thank you Flamingo Siren for your help, BrodyTexas