I know this has been posted before but wanted an update.. How many take anti-anxiety meds daily if so what, how much and do they help?
For me I have tried the "natural" for anxiety , I have horrible fears and the "natural" ones didn't do a thing.. The doc put me on xanax several yrs ago and the drug has been a life safer.. Yes they have a bad rep.. but for me the benefits out weight the risk.
I take 1 mg.. a day divided in doses and if I have to leave the house or go to a doc etc.. I can take more.
Addictive, dependent , yes but they help my suffering / fears that lyme took.. Have been on them over 4 years and don't plan on ever being without unless I conquer lyme and there is no longer a need..
Posted by EWT1638 (Member # 11315) on :
Oddly, when I developed anxiety/panic attacks my Psy Doc added Klonopin, it did help. In hindsight, we didn't know I had Lyme yet (misdiagnosed). You might ask about it, it is actual classified as a muscle relaxer.
I am now on a cocktail of low dose meds for depression, anxiety and occassional mood swings. I think all of these except for those specifically targeting depression are due to the affects of neuro-lyme.
Posted by Jessig627 (Member # 36240) on :
Hi Phyl! I've been taking xanax for years. I take .5mg 3 times daily, sometimes less, sometimes more.
For me, the benefit of xanax is that I take it when I need it (which honestly is daily since I suffer from panic daily). But I don't take it until I feel the panic coming on. Some days I only take 1 mg.
I've tried a few anti-anxiety / depression meds meds (zoloft, cymbalta and lexapro) and none of them worked (all pre-lyme diagnosis of course). I'm not depressed, I just have very bad panic attacks. It was my inital symptom years ago. I was only diagnosed 7 months ago and am currently taking abx and haven't seen improvement yet, but I know from these boards that the improvement is slow and takes time.
I realize these are addicitive and most frown upon them, but I have 2 young children and have to care for them and function. Xanax levels me and out and doesn't make me dopey for lack of a better word. The doctors offered me ambien to sleep but I refused them. At least if I take xanax I can still get up if one of my children is sick or needs me.
Klonopin works well for some people but it can lower your blood pressure. I have orthostatic hypotension (another lovely gift from lyme) and can't take the klonopin.
Talk to your doc about what may work best for you. I have yet to find a "natural" cure for anxiety. The few combinations of herbal remedies my doc recommended didn't work at all. And panic attacks are scary. I think we suffer enough from this disease, so until you're feeling better, why add to it? Do what works for you.
Wishing you a full recovery (and to finally be rid of those nasty panic attacks)!
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
My husband is taking Lorazepam for anxiety. He takes 1 mg 3 x per day.
The Lorazepam doesn't take all the anxiety away, but cuts it enough to function.
Yes, its addictive and NOT fun to wean off of.... but he uses it when the anxiety gets too high.
His doctors (pre-Lyme diagnosis) had put him on antidepressants because they didn't know what to do - (he wasn't depressed) and they all caused side effects that weren't good.
Posted by lymeboy (Member # 24769) on :
I have said this many times, and there are many who disagree, but Cannabis has been the ONLY thing that works for me, in regards to symptom management, especially anxiety.
These big pharma mood drugs are addictive poison, and that is not an exaggeration. our livers are stressed enough. More and more studies are popping up showing that cannabis, when vaporized or eaten, has major health benefits and is actually good for the brain. The immediate effects will not help your memory. But that isn't a lasting effect.
There are specific strains of cannabis that can erase your symptoms and help you to live a happier life while treating. BTW I only use it sparingly, not anywhere near every day, or week for that matter, and it suits me just fine.
I have seen perfectly healthy people lose their personalities with pills like Xanax or Klonopin. Welbutrin is one that I tried years before I knew I had Lyme, and it was awful. I'd rather break the law and have real comfort than swallow more poison than I already do. I have also seen people become addicted to pills and that ISNT pretty. It doesn't take much.
I know my opinion may be unpopular, but I truly believe the future will prove me right. In fact it is happening already. I am just hoping to help at least one person avoid taking these pills.
Posted by lymenotlite (Member # 33166) on :
I have neuro lyme and what helped me has been low doses of lithium (about 5mg). You can get it at the health food store. I also had bad anxiety but am much improved.
Posted by daphnesmom1 (Member # 39433) on :
I say take whatever works for you!
I have been taking half of a .5 Xanax at night to sleep since I was diagnosed with Neurolyme in 2007. Sometimes, if I am flaring and freaking out, I'll take another half or a quarter, just to level myself out.
I am currently looking at going the Cannabis route. I think the future of Pot is pretty clear in the US. I'm open minded and believe it must help people take the edge off.
When it comes down to it, when you are sick you have to help yourself and take whatever you need to get through the day. Who cares what it is.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Be sure to take good liver support when taking xanax - and extra cautions if any lung issues. Recently, this information crossed my path:
. . . XANAX . . . depletes the body of essential vitamins, minerals, melatonin and glutathione (the body's master antioxidant). . . .
. . . Benzodiazepines deplete approximately 50% of the glutathione from the white blood cells within five hours, and these cells defend our body from infection and foreign material.
This may explain why prolonged use of benzodiazepines can severely compromise our health. Dr. Jimmy Gutman describes Glutathione as �Food for the Immune System.�
Replenishing the body of critical Glutathione levels not only helps to improve immune function, but also allows the body to detoxify naturally. . .
. . . Xanax can cause severe drowsiness and difficulty breathing, which may be life- threatening. . . .
. . . Xanax can be dangerous for people with lung problems or breathing problems. Be sure to discuss any breathing or lung problems with your healthcare provider before taking Xanax. . . .
LIVER & KIDNEY SUPPORT & and several HERXHEIMER support links, too. -
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Be careful with "tolerance" withdrawal between doses. Xanax has a very short half life and you could begin to experience w/d in between doses.
Some people are very sensitive to benzo.s and will develop a tolerance very quickly. When your body builds a tolerance to a dose, but you do not increase it that is when you could experience what is called "tolerance withdrawal".
Just be aware of bezo w/d symptoms because MANY of them are similar to TBI.s Not saying not to take them as they can be a life saver for alot of people, but just be aware of the potentials.
Posted by phyl6648 (Member # 28522) on :
Tks. for all the replies.. Seems everything has its good and bad.. For now xanax has been good but we are all different. I sure wish I didn't have to take anything..
Posted by Spirocheta (Member # 37889) on :
I take Xanax for insomnia. I also experienced panic attacks ever since my Lyme diagnosis 5 years ago (panic attacks most likely caused by Lyme, not the stress of it). I also experience them pretty badly when on -cycline ABs.
I prefer Xanax now for my DP/DR symptoms since my cognitive destruction began. It seems to now make me more "with it."
Definitely don't stop it suddenly if you've been on a while. I tried that once and it was horrible.
Posted by phyl6648 (Member # 28522) on :
Years ago before I knew about lyme and probably didn't have it then as I was working , traveling and felt well but did have anxiety/panic I thought it was because of a lot of bad things going on in my life..
I took 4 a day everyday for over 2 years and then one day noticed I wasn't taking them as often and before I knew it I was off them completely..
Never had to have any thing until I started with vertigo was given xanax then, not knowing it was lyme.. that was about 14 yrs back just took them s needed.. Then my anxiety became so bad was put on them everyday and still taking .. Maybe one day I won't have to but for now they are a good drug for me.
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
I did not like the idea of addiction or rebound anxiety . In my case depression/ anxiety is a chemical issue due to genetics . Low dose of prozac or zoloft help me have a normal life without serious problems.
I was at a class the other day with several members and almost all stated they have battles with anxiety and take meds for it ! It is extremely prevalent .
The prozac or zoloft keep me from being phobic or strangled by intense fear .