What is the best anti-anxiety medication?

Question:

I know this depends on one's particular physiology and symptoms and so on, but in my experience each medication tends to cause the same side effect profile in most people. Currently I am on 20 mg per day of Lexapro and I am trying to decide whether or not to try a different medication. I have been on it for several months and, although it has helped my anxiety it has come with a cost. Namely, I have the following unpleasant side effects: (1) apathy, low motivation; (2) fatigue, drowsiness; and (3) anorgasmia, decreased sex drive. Also, I do not feel as though Lexapro has addressed my depression, only my anxiety. Decreasing the dosage isn't an option because the positive effects just disappear. But I do not want to go through withdrawal (brain zaps, mostly) if it's just going to be the same with a dif med. If anyone has had a similar experience and can offer some advice, I'd be very grateful. (No need to respond if you just want to tell me it's all in my head or need God.) Thanks.

Answers:
I have successfully been treated with Prozac for several years. It was the only thing that worked for me after trying several others. Also, my doctor put me on xanax temporarily for the anxiety and panic attacks. Now I take Prozac daily and have just gotten stronger and stronger. best wishes

I have been using Zoloft. It seems to work well.

if your problem is depression, imipramine HCL (Tofranil)...
75 to 100 mg by mouth daily in divided doses, increases by 25 to 50 mg. Max. daily dose is 200 mg for outpatients and 300 mg for hospitalized patients. take full dose at bed time whenever possible... watch out for possible possible morning dizziness upon standing up quickly. avoid alvohol while taking this drugs!

adverses rxn:
CNS: stroke drowsiness, sizziness, seizures confusion, excitation
CV:MI. arrythmias, heart block
EENT: blurred vision, tinnitus, mydriasis.
GI: dry mouth, constipation, nausea and vomiting
GU: urinary retention
Metobolic: hypoglycemia
Skin: rash, photosensistivity reactions, pruritus, diaphoresis

I find that prozac has the least amount of side effects. I never taken Lexapro so idk. It works gr8 4 depression in my opinion. Good Luck =)

Lexapro 20 mg/day dose doesn't seem to cause these many side effects,as far as I know (I'm a pharmaceutical product specialist for 5 years now ,specialized in antidepressants) Lexapro has the cleanest profile among SSRIs,
My advice to revise with your psychiatrist, I feel that you're suffering an incidence of Psychosomatic disorders,may be you need to add a mild anxiolytic to your treatment.

I don't recommend prozac or zoloft at all,adverse events are much stronger that Lexapro

I was on Lexapro for years, it helped both my anxiety and depression. I did have many of the negetive side effects you mentioned, but for me it was worth it not to feel the way I did unmedicated. Because my anxiety was severe I also took low dose of Xanax when I needed it. You have have to take more than one kind of medication to get the desired effect.

I was on Lexapro for quite some time and I experienced the same side effects as you mentioned. I have since tried Lorazapam and that worked wonders. I think that every drug can affect each person differently. You should talk to your Dr. about getting on a new one until you find what works with your body. As for the withdrawal. If you slowly start decreasing your dosage (of course talk to the dr. about it first) you can wean yourself off of it with out the "brain zaps".

I started having terrifying panic attacks every day, just out of the blue in August, 2006. They were absolutely horrible, and I have two small children to take care of while dealing with the panic. I went until December, 2006, literally suffering, and then I was lucky enough to find a book called Panic Away. It came with a money back guarantee, and promised to rid you of panic attacks forever. I asked my husband if it was ok to order it and he said to do it. Well, I ordered it, downloaded it and read it in the same day. After reading it I can tell you that I will never have another panic attack. I was having them daily and haven't had one since the day I got the book (two months now). The book is amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who suffers them.

If you want to know a natural remedy you can relax by having a nice soak for approx. 15 minutes in a warm bath to which you can add 6 drops of lavender and 4 drops of Ylang-Ylang.

What is the best anti-anxiety medication?

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