anxiety medicine?
I have been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks for years. I have tried many maint drugs,effexor, lexpro, zoloft, with not help. I have suggested to my doctor that maybe I could have a prescription for xanax, Klonopin or ativan to take only as needed. I generally can feel my attacks comming on and can prepare for a stressful situation if I have some fast acting mild meds to help. A dentist gave me ativan for dental treatments. I take it only as prescribed and fould it to be very effected. How can I get my GP to understand that I do not want to get high, but I must be able to function at some level in my life. My sister suggested that I would do well to attend counseling and that drug therapy could be a part of that. Are doctors just affraid of creating additicts that they would allow their patients lose their entire quality of life? I have never had a problem with addition Any suggestions?
Filed under: Anxiety And Panic Alternative Remedies
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i know exactly what you are going through. obviously the doctor realizes the anxiety, or the depressants wouldnt have been prescribed. the only thing is is that they are supposed to genarally prescribe something that helps the relief of the panic attack ecspecially since the depressants can take up to many weeks to work. i was on ativan and now i take xanax. i would suggest asking one last time and telling the doc the attacks are notlessening if still if nothing is done, to go to another. good luck
Try going to a different doctor, if this one does not listen to your needs then it is time to find someone who will. Besides with those type of meds, it is sometimes necessary to try multiple meds before you find the right one that works for you.
you may need to switch to a new gp or go see a psychiatrist.
Ativan is very addictive which is why doctors are reluctant to prescribe it for long periods of time.
There are still other drugs out there,only paxil come to mind at the moment. Remember that it takes about two months before you body adjust to the medication and in that time it isn’t unusual to have full symptoms.
Definitely seek therapy. Drugs are just a band-aid, they will cover up the symptoms without dealing with the real issue and providing you with the tools to deal with the stress constructively.
I have been depressed my entire life. I am told now, I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. It took me 25 years maybe more to find a doctor that would prescribe Klonopin. It is a life saver. I don’t know why it is so hard to get the medication we need. xanax is too much of a roller coaster ride. It takes you to a good place and with in 2 hours you are where you started and it is not time for another pill. A friend told me to ask my doctor for Klonopin. He ask why would I want Klonopin. I just told him a friend was taking it and it helped her very much. So, I have been on Klonopin and Effexor for years now. Life is not a bowl of cherries but I can cope.
Anti-anxiety drugs such as xanax, klonopin, ativan, valium carry that small risk of dependancy. but one of the main reasons other than dependancy (and withdrawal) for them to not want to write a script is, that over time your body will become tolerant to the drug rendering it less effective(which is why addicts take more and more for the high). those drugs are meant to be a crutch until the anti-depressants or therapy kick in. those drugs aren’t a cure for the problem, only a temporary relief to numb the "pain".
i have the same issue, where the anti-depressants just weren’t helping the panic/anxiety, and the ativan was a godsend, but they wouldn’t let me continue it due to the possibility of addiction, and also becoming "immune" to it. i am seriously considering CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to help myself instead. its worth a try.
you could also go to another physician, but they’ll probably tell you the same thing. i think most doctors would rather see you progress without the need for medication, than create an addict.