RA anxiety and ashwagandha

[cwtch29]

Hi I have ra and I take methotrexate and benepali. I have started suffering anxiety and panic attacks over the last 4 months which is affecting my whole wellbeing and life. I have read that ashwagandha can help with anxiety. I don’t know if I should try this natural supplement because of the ra meds I am taking. Does anyone have any experience of taking ashwagandha with ra meds? I don’t want to start with antidepressants or anxiety meds from doctor as feel I am on enough strong medication, would prefer natural remedies.

Be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

[Deeb1764]

I wanted to try this but my RA team said no so might be worth checking in with them or a pharmacist

[J1707-]

my son uses this to help with anxiety. I did some research on it and it mustn’t be taken with Biologics .

[AgedCrone]

I know I bang on about this…but if you want to take any sort of supplement when on prescription drugs…do ask your doctors. You don’t want to mess up a drug that does work…with a supplement..that probably won’t.

[HappykindaGal]

I’ve been taking it for years and no negative effects. Don’t know if it’s doing anything particularly positive either though. I take mtx and Benepali.

[Katie-Mag]

I can completely understand your reluctance to take additional medication. However, prescribed drugs will have undergone extensive testing to prove they work and aren’t harmful which can be missing for herbal meds.

Maybe discuss your options with your GP? They can also offer talking therapies and give you advice on whether alternative meds can be taken with your RA drugs.

Hope you feel much better soon.

[cwtch29 in reply to Katie-Mag]

Thank you for the advice from everyone. So difficult to think straight at the moment. I know I’m just grasping at straws trying to get a quick fix to help relieve my anxiety. I just don’t want to take antidepressants. Have tried talking therapy but not for me.

Appreciate all your replies x

[cathie in reply to cwtch29]

Maybe something that isn’t meds? Can you get outside into nature? Talk to someone, music, do something?

[Taichigirl in reply to cwtch29]

Hi i also get anxiety as part of my RA. & even small things seem to set it off sometimes. I borrowed a book from library 'Mindfulness - Finding peace in a frantic world' by Mark Williams. It comes with cd but its also on utube. Its not 'woowoo' just very helpful. It leads into simple meditations & helps me sleep. Works better with the short mediation once a day. It always pulls me round. Good luck x

[Boxerlady]

Sorry to hear that you're struggling with anxiety - it really is the pits. Feel free to skip through my long post ( just offering my experience in case it's helpful) but have a look at the link at the end 😁

I experienced anxiety for the first time in my late-40s (now 63) and it was due to peri-menopause although people were less aware of that than they are now. I tried various things in the attempt to avoid mediation (HRT at that time) including counselling and hypnotherapy; both of those were helpful although not effective enough and at those therapists' recommendation, I went back to the GP and eventually started HRT which did help.

I built up quite a toolbox of self-help methods though, one of which was the 321 anti-anxiety exercise which I found very good - I've posted it on here before so will paste the link below. I also found the book "Making Friends with Anxiety" by Sarah Rayner helpful.

My anxiety returned with a vengeance several years later due to family illness and although my old methods helped, I finally listened to my lovely GP and tried some medication - Diazepam initially as I needed something to quickly jolt me out of the panic attacks which were basically making it impossible for me to function and eventually Mirtazapine as I was struggling to sleep. I only used the Diazepam sparingly and for a short time but am still taking the Mirtazapine. I no longer need it for the anxiety (and depression) so am on a half dose but as it helps me to sleep (and I'm dreadful without sleep!) the GP has recommended staying on it and I'm happy with that.

Hope that you find your own way through it all soon but just know that you are definitely not alone 😘💐

Here's the link -

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos.......

[cwtch29 in reply to Boxerlady]

Hi thank you so much for replying to my post and giving me all the information. Will definitely take a look at everything. I did have mirtazapine about 2 years ago due to a family crisis which tipped me over the edge. I took it for about 6 months and it did help but I gained over a stone while taking it which wasn’t good as I had already put on weight taking prednisone.

Will have a read through your post and look at the book recommendation.

Many thanks, I do appreciate you responding x

[NannyNooNoo]

maybe have a look at the side effects of any meds you’re taking? I had an awful time with anxiety a few years ago and tried to analyse why - no issues at home or work etc, so wondered if it was meds; sure enough when I read, anxiety was a side effect 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. I made an appointment with my GP and agreed to wean off that particular med - no anxiety issues since 🤞🤞👍👍

[JenniferW]

Are you aware of anything that triggered the anxiety? If it's not a specific event, then it might be your vitamin levels.

Have you had your iron, vitamin D, vitamin B etc tested recently? I find low levels of vitamin D and iron make me feel low.

I have also started taking magnesium glycinate recently and that has really helped with the anxiety.

Best of luck

Jenny

[Nyreedw]

If you Google it on WebMD it takes its an absolute no for anyone with autoimmune illnesses including RA. It causes the immune system to kick in which is what we take meds to calm down. It can also cause liver problems which is a risk of mtx anyway.