Ive been talking to a friend about my major anxiety and She recommended something she got prescribed

Mental health
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She's recommending me to ask the doctor about Alprazolam. She said it helped the world with the anxiety and stress when it comes on. It's gotten to a point where i cant sleep for longer than 3 hours without waking up in a shaking fit from a nightmare. Consistently im already on a anti-depressant for Minor PTSD. But im unsure to if this will actually help my situation or if its at least worth mentioning. If anyone has been prescribed with it please enlighten me on the side effects ect and your personal experience

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How long have you been on the anti-depressant? They do actually help with anxiety, and panic attacks but over time. I personally took a low dose of clonazepam which is in the same class as what you’re talking about for years ‘as needed’ for panic attacks and extreme anxiety and it worked great! Usually within 30 minutes I was already starting to feel better and was able to go about my day. The only issue with that is the benzo’s are highly addictive and people start to depend on them more and more where it isn’t really giving your mind a chance to do its own job so doctors are reluctant now to write scripts for them and the withdrawl is horrible from what I’ve heard, I personally didn’t have any withdrawl but mine was just as needed here and there for years and I stayed at a very low dose. But if used correctly, they are a great and will help a panic attack or extreme anxiety pretty quickly and I never had any adverse effects from them. Just be very careful, and be sure to just take them in extreme cases and work with your physician so they can closely monitor it.
Best Wishes!

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Alprazolam is a benzo, they do tend to be very effective for short term relief of anxiety but they are very addictive if used on a regular basis and you tend to become tolerant to the effects quite quickly so need a higher dose to get relief.

I would say they are useful if used now and then, when you are really desperate and need some relief but not as something you take daily or for a long time.

I have been on diazepam for years, I can’t face the ordeal of tapering off it and being a benzo I know I am tolerant to it, it doesn’t help my periods of extreme anxiety at all anymore and I am awfully unlucky in that I have never in 20 years found an anti-depressant that helped but many people do get relief from them, it can take time for them to work though and often to find the one that suits you best and the right dose too.

I always shoot for therapy now, even if I was on an effective medication I would because it helps me and a lot of people benefit from it, my daughter has found some anxiety relief from Citalopram but her doctor thinks therapy will improve things even further which I agree with.

Obviously the choice is yours to make and you and your doctor are the ones to decide what is best for your individual situation but it’s always a good idea to explore all options and to be fully informed about things before starting them.

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that is the generic version of Xanax. not a SSRI.Great for short term relief. can be addictive. do not take with alcohol. dont take anything not prescribed by your doctor.

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I was on mirtazapines and zactin for roughly six months. They seemed to help a little but wasnt quite enough. I’d still occasionally go back to my anxiety and terrible thoughts. The panic attacks are like nothing ive experienced in the past even when in terrible situations. I was told Benzo’s can be highly addictive but if it helps. Then im honestly willing to try anythin at this point. Im 17 have terrible mood swings. Minor PTSD. and my life has been severely effected by it. I cant go out with my friends anymore just from the straight fact of the attacks. I just want to be able to go into a public space without breaking down in literally every way.

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Ive been contemplating maybe pot. But thats illegal where i am

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Is xanax a good or a bad drug sorry. I dont know much about all this stuff besides the ones ive been prescribed and thats mirtazapine and zactin and they seem to be too weak in terms of helping and strength

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stuck on diazepam for four years, like you no antidepressant worked for me. i am still depressed and take about 7mg diaz its doing nothing much now. cannot lift these depressive mornings, and want off benzo but not better. how do you manage depression.

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Totally understand how anxiety can be debilitating, I’ve been through some pretty horrible stuff.
My suggestion would be to see if you can find a long term anti depressant that works for you, and the proper dose, there is real relief from that. I’ve found that zoloft is very effective in treating anxiety/panic attacks, PTSD, and thoughts. I previously took it on several occasions and had huge success with it. Just something to possibly mention to your doc.
You can also talk to your physician about taking a benzo for a short period to get you by until the anti depressant kicks in. Just make sure to closely monitor it with your doctor and work with him on a plan to come off once you find the right med/dose because you really don’t want that for long term regular use.
Best Wishes Kyle, I do know how you feel.

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Thank you so much for this feedback. Not just you but everyone. i felt like i was alone. Like people tried to understand how i felt but they just couldnt :confused: . But im hoping to consult my doctor and let him know how my progress is coming along. With my feedback on how things are i think he should re-evaluate what im on currently. The “ZACTIN” im on now used to work. But overtime i gained a tolerance too it. Originally i was taking a anti-depressant for sadness and flash backs of a thing i wont disclose. A terrible time in my life. I just want something to help with everything being so LOUD and full on. Its like when i have the attacks the whole world is closing in on me…Ive been trying to ride my bike as a release but due to my town being the litteral Crack capital of australia . i try not to talk to too many people

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Wondering… you say you took Zoloft with success on “several occasions”…

Did you start and stop? How long did you stay on it? Trouble stopping? I ask because I m considering another go at n SSRI… was on Celexa for a year and a half… helped… had a bit of trouble stopping, but reduced dose slowly and used melatonin to ease withdrawals…
thx!