Hi this is my first time on here, I've been diagnosed with having genralized anxiety disorder, I'm on 30mg of citalopram and my gp gave me 2 weeks of diazepam to help the shaking, I feel so depressed and went to see a mental health nurse today who told me maybe the citalopram isn't working and maybe try fluoxetine and pregablin or promethazine, but all the promethazine is just a buy over the counter drug, where the reviews on pregabelin sound wonderful, my anxiety hits me as soon as I wake up and doesn't leave me alone all day, I shake , I feel sick, palpitations, hot flushes, needing the toilet often and I do not know when it will leave me alone, I'm having negative thoughts that disturb me, hate being alone and signed off work, the diazepam really did help but I don't think my gp will give me anymore, how do you people cope with GAD xx
Oh geez - I've been there. I've tried basically every drug out there. Have you tried Lorazepam? A few friends have been on that & its helped when other's haven't. I'm on Tramadol right now, but on a really bad day or I just need a little extra help & want to fall asleep I take a Lora before bed since it makes me sleepy. I started Tramadol about 5 years ago. I'm not sure if you're in the UK or not (I'm in the USA) but from when I've read from others its easier to get in the UK; here its considered a narcotic. Its mainly used for pain, but also for anxiety, restless leg, and with some anti-depressants.
Also, I'm assuming by your username you're female - no idea but what also helped me was getting the Mirena IUD since its a steady stream of hormones (I was a whack job during that time before!). Have you tried talking to a therapist/psychologist?
I saw a mental health nurse yesterday and they want to try a medication called pregabelin brand name lyrica, my gp won't give me anymore diazepam but there the only thing that helps, is lorazepam the se kind of thing? How did you cope with the body tremors and horrible thoughts going through your head? Yes I am a 24 yr old female and I'm finding each day so tough to get through, it starts from as soon as I wake up in the morning and these body tremors are awful, I had it before and turnt to alcohol which made me end up in hospital and I can't drink again, only low alcohol drinks, I feel so depressed and just want help x
I haven't been diagnosed with GAD, but I am a sufferer of chronic depression, verging on clinical. I suffer anxiety and panic attacks when not on medication.
I have tried lots of different doses of citalopram, started on 20mg, went to 40mg then up to 60mg. I was stable on 60mg, then the GP took me off it as they are now not allowed to prescribe 60mg! I went down to 40mg and struggled. I then went onto 30mg of amitriptyline along side my 40mg of citalopram. This worked really well. Due to personal reasons my depression got slightly better and I decided to come down to 20mg citalopram, continuing my 30mg of amitriptyline. I find these two work excellent together for me, no anxiety or panic attacks for nearly a year now. Hope this helps! 
Mine is more anxiety than depression, but I get the suicidal thoughts which causes me more anxiety and it's like that every day, I had an appointment at a mental health clinic last Monday and the letter has only been faxed an hour ago to my gp surgery, I don't think theses professionals understand how this illness can really affect us, they might try me on a drug called pregabalin, and I've read up on forums about it online and it sounds like a miracle drug, I've had diazepam and that really helped calm me down, but I'm really fed up of feeling shaky, feeling sick, agitated, palpitations, it's awful and is getting me so down! How did you cope xx
Sorry for the delay in reply.
It sounds like you're having a pretty bad time of it Hun 
I had two counsellors at once, I was put on reduced hours at work and my employer and my manager were extremely supportive. I've been diagnosed with depression for 4 years now. In the first 6-12 months until the tablets started working properly I was scared to drive my car as I thought I'd purposely find a bridge, then it would worry me and I'd have panic attacks and anxiety attacks.
Any mental health issue is a daunting thing, recently I've been trying to stay calm and not let things stress me out, doubled with my meds I've been stable.
Have you got people around you who understand what you're going through? Even if it's only one friend who understands it can be really helpful. Xxxx
Yes I have my aunt and uncle that live 3 doors away from me and I have my fiancé but men don't really understand how to deal with it, when I suffered with this 3 years ago, I started drinking to stop the shaking and just to calm me down, but the drinking spiralled out of control as my mum passed away suddenly then I moved with my dad to get out of London and I and my dad got admitted into hospital and he passed away but they saved me, and my aunt and uncle are like my mum and dad now, I have those thoughts when I'm driving and it petrifies me, and also when I take my tablets in the morning I panick because I think "what if I take them all" and I just want these awful thoughts to stop!
How did you overcome your negative thoughts, the GP wouldn't prescribe me the pregabelin as it's not licensed for anxiety so I've got to stop the anti depressants I'm on and start this new one called duloxetine tomorrow which I'm nervous about!
What medications do you take to help you and what anxiety symptoms do you or used to get xxx
Sounds like you've been through a lot, at least you have your aunt and uncle and your fiancé. I know what you mean about men not fully understanding though! Have you had counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy? I couldn't get on with cbt but the one on one sessions helped.
To stay positive... It's mainly been from earlier this year, I split from my long term partner and was left to pay the mortgage on my own, I had to think positive as I couldn't risk losing my job and home. I got in a new relationship and that's kept me positive. And talking to my dog (stupid as it sounds) has kept me really positive! He loves me no matter what my mood!
My anxiety symptoms; just always had a bad feeling about things, and I got scared to go into busy areas as I thought everyone was going to laugh at me and stare at me. Even shopping in tesco petrified me. But being on my own I sort of forced myself to do it. Along with the regular meds.
I now take 20mg citalopram and 30mg amitriptyline. I started to ween off amitriptyline this week and have done a few days on 20mg and I've been really down, shaky, fast beating heart today so I've gone back to 30 as I don't want to get back in a rut as I've now managed to get stable!
Xxx
Hollie, I'm strongly advising not to go on lyrica... I'm still very angry about being on this medication. I went on it for depression and anxiety, it turned me into a vegetable. I couldn't even shower or brush my teeth. I have no memory of the twelve to 18 months I was on it.. It took along time to get off it and to get my head half normal again... Please really investigate and research this drug first.
Firstly Laura, I talk to my dog as well he is my baby and your right, however you feel they will love you regardless, I have taken my first new tablet today called duloxetine brand name cymbalta, and I felt very panicky about taking it this morning, as my doctor told me to stop taking my citalopram, and switch straight on to duloxetine, (which I thought was unusual) but I've done what the doctor said, has anyone tried the duloxetine? I feel still on edge today and feel tired (but I have had 2 late nights)
And Linda my Gp will not prescribe me prescribing me lyrica that's why he has put me on duloxetine, do you have GAD, and what symptoms do you get xx
Hi again Hollie. Im glad youre not taking lyrica. I suffer chronic anxiety and panic disorder. Mine is caused by alot of trauma over the past 8 years or so. once you get on the merry go round and in the system (so to speak) it just feels like there is no escape. I have major trust issues and a bit of a fear of corporate type people. that is just a very small part of my anxiety. I truly struggle with what we have become in the millenium. Im quite reclusive, but not to the point where it controls my whole life...i take day by day. I think you will be fine with cymbalta. its a fairly gentle medication i think. Good luck.. Try hard to stay in control of you.
Hello, how do you manage to get through each day, I hate getting up in the morning as I wonder what kind of day I will have, I get suicidal thoughts that then makes my anxiety worse, and I want those thoughts to go away as well as the anxiety, I've been taking my dog for long walks and just trying to keep busy, housework etc, but when your fuelled with anxiety it's so hard, how do you get by on a day to day basis and what medications help you xx
Hollie, i ask the same questions as you. I hate that initial feeling when i wake up. Im alot better now, it used to progressively get worse as the day got on. Where as now, it seems to go away once im awake properly and tell myself to think good things. i need to keep my mind active. i know sitting and thinking is my biggest enemy. I was at my worst when the docs had me on all sorts of meds.. some for pain, some for depression, some for anxiety. Im on just pain killers and oxazepam 30 mg 3 times a day. This combo seems to be keeping me sane and motivated. Most people would be asleep on the meds im on, but not me... they do the opposite, they control the anxiety and turn it into good energy....dont know how or why, but it does...Everybody is different and the anxiety has to be treated accordingly. i struggled for years at the fact that meds are keeping me functioning. its only this year that ive come to terms with the fact that its the way its going to stay. ive now got a fantastic doctor, i think that having him is whats helped me. the docs before were just giving me different pills that were not of addiction and sending me off. My doctor is actually a pain clinic doctor, so hes not obligated to steer me away from meds of addiction. Hes allowed to offer medications that work, wether addictive or not. Dont know wether you are happy with your doc or not, but it is very important that you feel confident and trust that he / she is genuinely interested and listening to you.. i hope this little bit of input has helped.....
I have Ptsd among other things and am on so many pills ptions I gave up the one thing I love "Driving" got rid of the car so am now basically housebound!I take gabapentin3200mgOramorph 10mg when needed (pain)Citalopram20mg thiamine100mg 2x pd Lansoprazole 15mg simavastin40mg vitamins Zomorph 60mg and paracetamol and ascorbic acid thats partly for pain and partly for Depression anxiety/PTSD and none of them help to be honest I still feel panicky and anxiou all the time the only saving grace is I sleep a bit more but still wake in pain!
I was on 30mg of citalopram and 3 days ago my Dr switched me to cymbalta, but he doesn't talk to me when I'm in there he just types away on his computer and then says try this tablet and come back and see me in 3 weeks and if I need him in the meantime just make an appointment, it's just the negative thoughts I hate, the days seem to drag on (especially days like today when it's pouring down) I've done my housework and I'm now sitting here waiting for my fiancé to get home from work and I'm anxious, usually I'd take the dog for a walk along the beach just to pass some time but I can't do that today, because of the weather, I just want to feel myself again and feel relaxed, have my appetite back, and look forward to Xmas, but I have no enthusiasm about it. I just want to feel normal xx
hi ive been where you are and tried different medications from the doctor. citalopram is the one that worked for me along with cognitive behavioural therapy. the CBT really helps because they help you to stop the behaviours that is making your anxiety worse. its like a vicious circle. maybe ask your doctor about cbt. hope this helps
hello hollie
i'm taking pregabalin, but it's prescribed by my consultant than my GP. i'm giving it a try. i take others too. it's horrible having suicidal thoughts and i'm sorry you get them. i haven't had them often though, and they passedsorry too that i find my GAD difficult to deal with- there's some depression too. what is cymbalta? is it helping you- i hope so. kind wishes.
Hi
I was on citalopram and have been for 4 years but the gp said I should stop that and try cymbalta, I haven't been on it long only 5 days, and I've had a really bad day today and also weekend, I've been crying most of the day, and I am going to be having CBT I'm in the waiting list but there going to phone me on Friday so I presume after the phone call from the CBT team I will get an appointment, I just want it all to go away I feel so down and try to think positive but then the negative thoughts seem to over ride the positive ones, I feel awful xx
Hi Hollie
I have had the exact symptoms now for 2 months. I'm dying from fear and if I'm gonna get better. How are you feeling now ? And what has worked for you?
Thank you.
Hi Farrah, I'm still feeling the same I am considering ringing my gp surgery for an appointment tomorrow as I still feel very down ( actually just stopped crying) I don't feel anything is working for me, I'm on 40mg of fluoxetine and 300mg of pregabalin, I have being off work since September, and everyday is a battle, I sometimes have better days than others, but I have had a bad week this week, I also have a meeting with my manager tomorrow just to see how I'm doing, I need to go back to work because I need the money, but I just can't face it at the minute, I'm just a nervous wreck x