What’s a good drug to try for my constant worry/phobias

[Sostupid20182]

I am constantly worried. Let’s look at my last most recent examples.

I felt pains in my stomach, they became very real and very rapid. I went to my doctor, he felt around, issues ultrasounds, and apparently I’m completely healthy. The pains went away when I found something new to worry about.

I made a mistake, hooked up with a girl, and then thought she would be pregnant for sure, EVERY DAY I stressed about the fact, and had her send me pregnancy tests once a month for months.

Then in the new year I thought I got some sort of STD, and after 2 urine cultures, 2 months apart, apparently I was wrong about that too (just like my stomach pains, and the pregnant girl)

And now I am full of HIV fears after a one thing that is considering to be “low/no risk”.

My doctor tried me on Effexor (I hated it and stopped), and Clozpaman, they weren’t so bad but I don’t think they were strong enough and didn’t do enough for me.

My worry makes me lose sleep, I can’t enjoy day to day life, and I always feel like the worse is abou but I come or happen, but it hasn’t yet and I’ve spent so much time convincing myself it is that I’ve wasted 1-2 years I could of enjoyed in peace.

[specialmom]

Something really important to remember about all medication for anxiety that is long acting is that first, they could have some start up side effects. They call those transient side effects and they peter out (get less and less) as the body gets used to the medication.  And second, it takes these medications 6 to 8 weeks to become efficacious and work properly.  It's important to give a full trial of something before discontinuing it and you should never stop anything you've started without consulting with your doctor and lowering the dosage slowly.  That's another trick to taking them, titrate up or start at a lower dose and increase over the course of a few days or week to the dose the doctor wants you on.  

It is sometimes trial and error and don't think because one drug doesn't work for you (or someone else) that another choice won't.  There are a percentage of people that never respond to these medications but it is low. And again, side effects are not the same for all and are often transient and will go away during that start up period.  If something isn't tolerated, by all means, another medication would be appropriate.  

There are other ways to deal with anxiety.  Talk therapy, CBT, this helps.  Healthy lifestyle choices such as eating well, getting proper rest will help.  Exercise will calm the nervous system and release endorphins.  Medication, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, hypnosis, all can help.  

If you have a doctor who is not interested in caring for you fully including your mental health, then seek another doctor.  You're a consumer in health care and have choice.  And therapists actually don't need a referral to be seen by an MD.  You can call and schedule that all on your own.  (at least in the majority of health care systems).  so, don't allow barriers to stop you from seeking help for your anxiety. And I'm glad you are at the point of seeing that the issue IS anxiety and it's time to do something about it!  Good luck and let us know how you are doing!

[Sostupid20182]

The clozapam was a drug that worked quickly. It’s a take it as needed or whatever kind of drug. It just wasn’t strong enough. I needed something stronger. The Effexor is a kind of drug that takes awhile to build and work, but again I tried it for 4-5 months and it didn’t work at all. The problem is, where I am we are in a health care crisis and finding new doctors is not that simple. Having a doctor at all is currently a privilege. Also without his referral I would not be able to afford seeking therapy.

[specialmom]

That's unfortunate.  I'd put your name in and TRY to see a better doctor.  And do double check about a therapist/psychologist ---  it is no skin off your doctor's back to refer you so be forthright that you want to see one.  Sometimes being persistent will pay off.

Yes, I'm aware that one is short acting and those in general are used for acute episodes of anxiety.  But to treat the disorder of anxiety, a longer acting medication is necessary. Effexor is just one choice. There are MANY!  SSRI's, SNRI's and other classes with different drugs within the class.  Ask for a different choice. And remember, never stop medication cold turkey.  Be compliant when taking it.  And also, talk to your doctor about dose.  Perhaps you were on a starting dose and increasing the dose would be an option to receive therapeutic benefit.  You should see your doctor again.  Anxiety and unreasonable fear are hard to live with and with treatment, you shouldn't have to!

[Sostupid20182]

Well for right now I really need something fast acting, until I can ease my mind of my current (and most stressful fears) of HIV. I can’t sleep, work, or function at all while worrying for the THREE MONTHS they tell you wait for testing!  

I do believe that’s why he tried me on the Effexor, to try and “cure” my anxiety in general, however I felt like a zombie. No energy. No ambition. No sex drive. It was over all terrible.

[Paxiled]

You don't "need" anything.  It's this kind of thinking that is the problem in those of us whose anxiety gets out of control.  In the form of therapy considered the most successful for anxiety, CBT, it's called catastrophization, meaning you make a catastrophe out of everything.  While therapy has nothing anywhere near a guarantee of success, it the only thing we have so far that can cure your problem -- medication treats symptoms, not the cause.  Now, I don't know where you are, but any doctor other than the one you have would be a good thing.  Any doctor today who is unaware that mental illness is like any other illness and if left untreated just gets worse is beyond being an idiot.  If you have to travel to get a good doctor, it's a good thing.  Also, Effexor isn't an anxiety medication, it's an antidepressant.  Because it targets norepinephrine as well as the serotonin most people are more aware of, and because norepinephrine is part of adrenaline basically, it can actually take a non-anxious person and give them an anxiety disorder.  For depressed people it can work well, because they often need a boost, and often anxiety is actually caused by depression, but if anxiety is the primary problem this is not a drug a psychopharmacologist would give you.  That's a psychiatrist who gets extra training and specializes in medication.  It's also a very hard drug to stop taking for many people, so if you don't taper off of it slowly it can also cause anxiety and other problems, and I'm going to bet your doctor has no ability to use these meds properly.  I'd really make the best effort you can to get into therapy, and if you feel you need medication, the quick acting ones are not the best, the longer acting ones are better because they don't wear off.  Those benzos are also addictive drugs, although antidepressants are also not easy to stop.  I'm just reading your description, though, and seeing someone who for whatever reason or for no reason at all has gotten into a pattern of thinking that with intervention might fix.  Whatever you try, best of luck to you.

[Paxiled]

By longer acting I mean antidepressants that aren't the stimulating ones like the one you were given or wellbutrin, such as tricyclics or ssris.

[specialmom]

Effexor does have a generalized anxiety indication.  It is commonly used for treatment of anxiety disorder.  :>)  Just chiming in . . .

[Sostupid20182]

Yes he gave me Effexor to hopefully put my anxiety away for good, however it didn’t work. I was still anxious, worried, and I felt like a zombie, no energy and no ambition. It was no good for me at all. I would be willing to try another SSRI but right now I want something to calm me down so I can make it through day to day. I don’t want to/can’t make it peacefully a month waiting for suck other SSRI to kick in that’s why the benzos are a good fix to keep me from going insane before they kick in. The clozapam was 0.5mg 3 times daily and just did not take the edge off

[Paxiled]

Mom, docs use all kinds of drugs for things they don't work for.  It's what they do.  Because Effexor does target serotonin, it can help with the symptoms of anxiety, but because the other neurotransmitter it targets is quite stimulating, on purpose, it's not a first choice anxiety drug.  Docs today believe all antidepressants treat anxiety and depression, and sometimes they do, but you wouldn't start treatment for high cholesterol, for example, with statins if you knew how often statins cause lifelong debilitating joint pain, you'd first try dietary changes, if you weren't in a hurry or trying to sell drugs.  So yeah, if you're depressed and suffer from anxiety because of it, Effexor might very well help, it might be a life saver, but because it can cause anxiety as well why would you use it if you had an alternative?  Not to mention, it and Paxil are by far and away the most difficult drugs to stop taking, probably harder than heroin.  You really can't go by what docs use drugs for, you have to take a look at what the drugs actually do in the body, because once a drug is approved for anything a doctor is allowed to use it for anything else.  How many people are taking Seroquel, a very strong med for very severe problems, to help them sleep because it's so darned sedating and because the marketer illegally sold it for that purpose?  On the other hand, if you've tried the tricyclics and the ssris and they didn't help any, then the snris and even wellbutrin are other things to try, just as if you've tried more benign things and they didn't work, then you turn to the Seroquels and the statins.  As I keep saying, doctors are supposed to follow their oath that says, first, do no harm, but that doesn't mean never use them, it just means they're not first steps.  

[drifter0213]

give the pill a chance to work

[Sostupid20182]

I took the Effexor for almost 4-5 months and it completely drained me and didn’t really make me feel any better. The clozapam was to low of a dose in my mind. It would work but only briefly and not near as effective as needed

[purple1234567]

Anti-anxiety medications can be tricky- what is a great fit for one person may cause some issues for another, so there really isn't a "best" option that will work for everyone.  Make sure to talk with your doctor about the different options- you don't just have to take what they give you the first time.  Also, anti-anxiety medication works best if you are also seeking counseling for the issue, so don't be afraid to reach out for that as well- if you have not done so already.

[Sostupid20182]

I have tried and my doctor has no interest in referring me to talk to someone. He is old and doesn’t believe much in the line of mental illness