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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 13:11:24
Hi, my situation is complicated.
I have really awful anxiety. I also have tardive akathisia. I take ativan for both TA and anxiety. The problem is that I don't think ativan works well enough for my anxiety. I've tried other benzodiazepines and it's the same thing with them. Maybe the dose isn't high enough but my doctor doesn't seem like he'd raise the dose.
Basically, I wonder what other drugs I can take for anxiety that won't worsen tardive akathisia. I can't think of many. Propranolol comes to mind but I've had breathing issues throughout my life. I tried clonidine once but I felt really weird on it and couldn't take it anymore.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on November 12, 2012, at 13:30:46
In reply to need help with anxiety medicine, posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 13:11:24
you know GABA medications like Depekote, and Gabitril, Nuerontin....those could be added to ativan and may have increase the effect of it but I have to say they are not direct in its actions to relieve anxiety. I'm thinking serogeneric medications[SSRI's with Stablon] because SERO does relieve anxiety, but the main one is GABA.
You can get GABA at stores....it will make some diffrence, go on google and type it in...it should come up with results.
This is a silly suggestion but have you maybe asked about xanax xr? great because it works 24 hous, and regular alprazolam lasts only 3-4hours at best.
ill look for some more stuff for anxiety ill let you know...
:)
r
Posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 14:04:55
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by rjlockhart37 on November 12, 2012, at 13:30:46
> you know GABA medications like Depekote, and Gabitril, Nuerontin....those could be added to ativan and may have increase the effect of it but I have to say they are not direct in its actions to relieve anxiety. I'm thinking serogeneric medications[SSRI's with Stablon] because SERO does relieve anxiety, but the main one is GABA.
>
> You can get GABA at stores....it will make some diffrence, go on google and type it in...it should come up with results.
>
> This is a silly suggestion but have you maybe asked about xanax xr? great because it works 24 hous, and regular alprazolam lasts only 3-4hours at best.
>
> ill look for some more stuff for anxiety ill let you know...
>
> :)
>
> rThanks. I always wondered about GABA supplements.
Posted by Phillipa on November 12, 2012, at 14:35:29
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 14:04:55
What about gabapentin heard it works well in addition to a benzo? Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on November 12, 2012, at 15:13:59
In reply to need help with anxiety medicine, posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 13:11:24
i'm so sorry you are going through this neuroscience. anxiety is awful enough, but akathisia is absolute hell, i know from experience. as far as benzos go, i sometimes wonder, if there is a god, he or she is really messing with us. every rose has thorns, every kitten has claws, and every benzo is *wonderful* but then tolerance develops. :(
the only thoughts i have are maybe an ssri, or remeron, or maybe gabapentin or lyrica? lyrica doesn't work so well for me, but other people have had great experiences with it. gabapentin has really helped me, but like a benzo i have developed tolerance to it. but then, everyone is different, maybe you wouldn't have the same problem.
and if you haven't tried remeron, it can be amazing for anxiety.
i wish you luck finding a solution. i feel bad for you b/c i feel like anxiety and especially akathisia are wayyyyy worse than depression, and that's saying a lot. hope you feel better soon.
Kat
Posted by neuroscience on November 13, 2012, at 6:38:18
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine » neuroscience, posted by ChicagoKat on November 12, 2012, at 15:13:59
Thanks for your replies. I think it's possible I gained a tolerance with ativan. I'm afraid of asking for a higher dose because my doctor might take me off of it completely. Unless maybe I ask in an indirect way like "what happens if I get a tolerance to this medicine".
I was thinking about two things now: Metoprolol and Lyrica. Metropolol because it's like Propranolol but it doesn't have as strong effect on the lungs. Lyrica seems interesting to me. It's different from the other drugs and it doesn't seem to cause akathisia as a side-effect. I wonder how often it's given for anxiety. I see advertisements on TV all the time for it but to treat fibromyalgia.
Maybe I could stay on Ativan if I end up taking them.
Posted by ChicagoKat on November 13, 2012, at 9:25:46
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by neuroscience on November 13, 2012, at 6:38:18
> I was thinking about two things now: Metoprolol and Lyrica. Metropolol because it's like Propranolol but it doesn't have as strong effect on the lungs. Lyrica seems interesting to me. It's different from the other drugs and it doesn't seem to cause akathisia as a side-effect. I wonder how often it's given for anxiety. I see advertisements on TV all the time for it but to treat fibromyalgia.
neuro, Lyrica is absolutely used often for anxiety. in fact, in Eurpoe it is officially approved (by whatever their equiv. of the FDA is) for the treatment of GAD
Kat
>
> Maybe I could stay on Ativan if I end up taking them.
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 13, 2012, at 9:49:46
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by ChicagoKat on November 13, 2012, at 9:25:46
opiates are sometimes used for tardive psychosis. long shot with most docs, but...if nothing else is working...an opiate, maybe?
high dose b6 (several hundred mgs/day) helps TD and acute akathisia. Maybe it would help tardive akathisia? I'd couple it with a b-100 and a hefty dose of niacinamide.
Posted by neversaynever on November 15, 2012, at 10:04:56
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by Christ_empowered on November 13, 2012, at 9:49:46
The way to stay on ativan is to have a good anxierty AD has a back up. ATIVAN on its own often lead,s to way to high dose,s an trouble. I know this only to well,but with a good ssri like lexapro has your point man, you stand a good chance of ativan still working . It still works for me after 35 years 4MG a day , but dont ever try to take them from me now or i will die in front of your eyes, detox is worse than death ,i have done it once never again.
Posted by neuroscience on November 26, 2012, at 3:33:30
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by rjlockhart37 on November 12, 2012, at 13:30:46
> you know GABA medications like Depekote, and Gabitril, Nuerontin....those could be added to ativan and may have increase the effect of it but I have to say they are not direct in its actions to relieve anxiety. I'm thinking serogeneric medications[SSRI's with Stablon] because SERO does relieve anxiety, but the main one is GABA.
>
> You can get GABA at stores....it will make some diffrence, go on google and type it in...it should come up with results.
>
> This is a silly suggestion but have you maybe asked about xanax xr? great because it works 24 hous, and regular alprazolam lasts only 3-4hours at best.
>
> ill look for some more stuff for anxiety ill let you know...
>
> :)
>
> rthe xanax xr, why do you think it a silly suggestion? is it because it's rarely prescribed?
Posted by meltingpot on November 27, 2012, at 6:55:14
In reply to need help with anxiety medicine, posted by neuroscience on November 12, 2012, at 13:11:24
Hi,
I tried Lyrica for anxiety for over a month but it didn't seem to help much with anxiety, just made me feel a bit drunk and really affected my concentration.
Zyprexa has always helped me a great deal with anxiety and sometimes helps to lift my mood.
Denise
Posted by neuroscience on November 28, 2012, at 2:54:18
In reply to Re: need help with anxiety medicine, posted by meltingpot on November 27, 2012, at 6:55:14
> Hi,
>
> I tried Lyrica for anxiety for over a month but it didn't seem to help much with anxiety, just made me feel a bit drunk and really affected my concentration.
>
> Zyprexa has always helped me a great deal with anxiety and sometimes helps to lift my mood.
>
>
> Denisethanks, i'm too afraid to try zyprexa though
This is the end of the thread.
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