Good anxiety drug??

[Jamie55]

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a good anxiety drug other than Paxil, Effexor or Lexapro.  I was on Paxil for years and it worked well for me but my doctor switched me to Lexapro which made me extremely sick as did Effexor.  Anyway, now I am about to go back on Paxil because it was the only drug that really worked for me and didn't make me sick but I have one problem.  I take Toprol for high blood pressure and I checked some drug interaction websites and they advise that Paxil and Toprol can have some kind of interaction with your heart so I'm thinking I have to use a different anxiety/anti-depressant medication or else switch my high blood pressure medication.  I have a call into my doctor about the BP meds but I was wondering if anyone has any good experiences or recommendations as to a good anxiety medication.  I also took BuSpar in the past and I guess it helped a bit.  Help!

[klanac]

Look up Holistrol for high blood pressure. It works wonderful for me and is natural and can be t aken with any medication

[suzi-q]

Have you looked into Prozac or Zoloft?  Those drugs are similar to Paxil..however, they may have the same interaction as Paxil because they are also SSRI's.  I also like the above suggestion about maybe changing blood pressure meds.

Good luck!

[nana902]

I also was on Paxil for years with good results.  Then changed to Celexa because of weight gain.  Then is summer..got myself in a real "funk" with 9 weeks of Bladder Infections and doctor put me on Efffexor.  I did not care for it and it upped my blood pressure.  So now we are weaning me off and I have been so sick.  I going to go back to Paxil.  This is been a terrible month..can't wait to find the right "potion" again.  Anxiety..shaky, no appitite.  What a life!!!  Nana

[drjoyce]

You might try a triciclic rather than an SSRI--most specifically Imipramine.  Start with 25 mg and up to 50mg if need be:  these are very low doses and should not affect weight.  Propranolol  a beta-blocker can also be extremely effective and non-addicting.  With panic they may need to combined with something like Imipramine or Ativan.  Ativan is awesome but can be addicting--although I'm not sure how something someone needs is truly addicting: My opinion is that when you want to take it but don't need it, then you're addicted.