BEST medication for anxiety

My therapist said those would be antidepressants. Do you agree or disagree? if so, which specific drug?. thanks!

I'm sorry to give a useless answer. But as I see it. Whatever works. That's kind of disagreeing?

If there were one "BEST" then several drug companies and a dozen kinds of therapy would be out of business. Anxiety isn't a single entity. People aren't biologically or historically the same. And so the best options are going to vary from person to person. And the same person may need different types of help at different times.

Some will do very well with meditation. Or CBT. Or swimming. Others will need meds to give them the mental space to cope. And those could be related directly to the anxiety. Or relate to other issues that are prompting the anxiety, such as depression, psychosis, OCD, etc.

noreally_imfine wrote:My therapist said those would be antidepressants. Do you agree or disagree? if so, which specific drug?. thanks!

Given that there's a class of drugs called "anxiolytics" which are, in laymen's terms, "anti-anxiety medicines", I think your therapist is showing a dangerous lack of comprehension of basic medicine.

You might want to ask for a closer look at that medical degree.

Scienceandcake: she is only a social worker. She said anti anxiety pills such as benzos are good but she believes its more for times of crisis and an antidepressant is better to take regularly vs the benzos which people become more addicted to.

Sorry, I made a very quick and short post and didn't explain well. I guess I'm trying to not write so many darn lengthy posts anymore.

and Ada: that was pretty silly of me to put BEST. I should have re-worded the subject to say something more along the lines of which anxiety medication has worked best for YOU. I know, everyones body is different. Someone could gain weight on the same pill i may not gain weight on. Maybe its a terrible question to ask since everyone reacts differently but I guess I still want to know which medication has worked well on each individual.

noreally_imfine wrote:Scienceandcake: she is only a social worker. She said anti anxiety pills such as benzos are good but she believes its more for times of crisis and an antidepressant is better to take regularly vs the benzos which people become more addicted to.

Well, I don't trust her opinion one bit. In general, anti-depressants are more widely prescribed but have worse side effects. Benziodiazapine is a very hard anti-anxiety drug sure, but it's known that that's an emergency anxiety reduction medication. If you're looking for anxiety reduction there are much lighter options such as beta blockers, SSRIs are often prescribed for somebody who probably has both depression and anxiety (I was placed on citalopram at one point, which was so bad it actually prompted me to flush all of my psychiatric medication and I haven't taken a pill since).

ScienceAndCake wrote:

noreally_imfine wrote:Scienceandcake: she is only a social worker. She said anti anxiety pills such as benzos are good but she believes its more for times of crisis and an antidepressant is better to take regularly vs the benzos which people become more addicted to.

Well, I don't trust her opinion one bit. In general, anti-depressants are more widely prescribed but have worse side effects. Benziodiazapine is a very hard anti-anxiety drug sure, but it's known that that's an emergency anxiety reduction medication. If you're looking for anxiety reduction there are much lighter options such as beta blockers, SSRIs are often prescribed for somebody who probably has both depression and anxiety (I was placed on citalopram at one point, which was so bad it actually prompted me to flush all of my psychiatric medication and I haven't taken a pill since).

May I ask what was so bad when on citalopram? I've noticed a lot of people on here either just aren't on medication or have been on them and gotten to the point where they rid themselves of all pills. Personally, I don't want medication but, I'm not sure if I can keep resisting them. I have high anxiety almost every day.

noreally_imfine wrote:May I ask what was so bad when on citalopram? I've noticed a lot of people on here either just aren't on medication or have been on them and gotten to the point where they rid themselves of all pills. Personally, I don't want medication but, I'm not sure if I can keep resisting them. I have high anxiety almost every day.

It's addictive. You undergo physiological withdrawel. And, like many people, I found it didn't improve my mood at all.

Truth is our society makes us weak. We didn't suddenly become stricken with anxiety disorders and depression on a genetic level; modern society teaches you how to be quite pathetic and needy. The drugs play into that big time. There are some people who genuinely have mental disorders, but most people are victims of the time, as evidence by how many people only get better when they throw their meds away.

Drugs won't cure your anxiety; your anxiety has a cause, a real-world cause that's the actual source of your problem. It's a cause you won't fight or believe you can't, or don't know how to fight, but it certainly won't go away with drugs. You don't have a malfunctioning organ somewhere flooding your body with insecurity, so think long and hard before you put yourself on some damned hard drugs that you'll be able to procure from a doctor with relative ease.

ScienceAndCake wrote:

noreally_imfine wrote:May I ask what was so bad when on citalopram? I've noticed a lot of people on here either just aren't on medication or have been on them and gotten to the point where they rid themselves of all pills. Personally, I don't want medication but, I'm not sure if I can keep resisting them. I have high anxiety almost every day.

It's addictive. You undergo physiological withdrawel. And, like many people, I found it didn't improve my mood at all.

Truth is our society makes us weak. We didn't suddenly become stricken with anxiety disorders and depression on a genetic level; modern society teaches you how to be quite pathetic and needy. The drugs play into that big time. There are some people who genuinely have mental disorders, but most people are victims of the time, as evidence by how many people only get better when they throw their meds away.

Drugs won't cure your anxiety; your anxiety has a cause, a real-world cause that's the actual source of your problem. It's a cause you won't fight or believe you can't, or don't know how to fight, but it certainly won't go away with drugs. You don't have a malfunctioning organ somewhere flooding your body with insecurity, so think long and hard before you put yourself on some damned hard drugs that you'll be able to procure from a doctor with relative ease.

ScienceandCake:

I very much agree with your words. I do think there are a lot of reasons why people end up having disorders: their environment, interactions with people, their upbringing, etc. I live in a city which I think is already a more stressful environment vs out in the country. Also, sometimes, I think life can be easier in other countries than here in America ... but I honestly have NO EVIDENCE whatsoever to back that up besides hearing people talk about the lifestyle out there and not really diving into education, healthcare, taxes, etc. So don't take what i just said too seriously!!!

I know medication isn't a solution. Its a band-aid put on a wound. I'm just worried while trying to figure out the solution drug-free, that ill destroy relationships in the process which I'm tired of doing.

I honestly think my diet plays a huge role in my stress but I'm having an incredibly hard time trying to change that around. Probably one of the reasons is because I don't like cooking. I have a desire to cook but am too lazy and can get pretty stressed out with it.

For immediate relief in situations - As you don't really wish to take medication, try promethazine hydrochloride, you can buy this over the counter. It's an anti-histamine that can have sedative effects and thus reduces anxiety. It's not as addictive as Benzodiazepines and is prescribed as an alternative.

If this doesn't work, speak to your GP and try a Benzodiazepine such as Diazepam, Lorazepam. Although these can be addictive. I've never had an issue with Diazepam.

For long-term solution - Treatment of some description.

missehffs wrote:For immediate relief in situations - As you don't really wish to take medication, try promethazine hydrochloride, you can buy this over the counter. It's an anti-histamine that can have sedative effects and thus reduces anxiety. It's not as addictive as Benzodiazepines and is prescribed as an alternative.

If this doesn't work, speak to your GP and try a Benzodiazepine such as Diazepam, Lorazepam. Although these can be addictive. I've never had an issue with Diazepam.

For long-term solution - Treatment of some description.

Do you take medication or psychotherapy or a combo of both?