What is your drug of choice for anxiety ?

[Jhettinger]

just looking at what you all take

 

[lisa g]

I take 7.5mg of Mirtazapine at night. I recently started to have anxiety so my PCP prescribed 5mg of Buspirone that I take in the morning. He also wrote a prescription for Xanax 25mg if I feel panicked but so far knock on wood, I haven't had to take it.

 

[lgelb]

Lisa, that is not an ideal combo.

 

[KimT]

Xanax is good for panic attacks. Remeron helps with depression, anxiety, and sleep. I have an Rx for Xanax but rarely use it. I do take Valium because it's the only drug that relaxes my muscles.

Benzos are not good if you have breathing issues. Neither are narcotics yet I have some.

You have to weigh the benefit against the risk.

 

[lgelb]

Most PALS better preserve remaining motor function and maximize mental acuity with a regimen that does not include benzos or other CNS depressants. When the indication is "air hunger," that is about BiPAP settings, until the very end.

When it is ongoing depression/anxiety, there are lots of agents that provide a consistent "coverage level" with once-daily dosing. Medical conditions, other drugs used, etc. and the nature of the mood issues can inform where to start.

When it's situational anxiety, often the situation itself (like not getting overheated or stressed) can be adjusted. A simple fan all night is both white noise and air flow, for PALS and non-PALS alike. Some PALS have their humidifier heat maxed out in all seasons...easy to adjust.

When it's musculoskeletal pain, benzos were never intended for that and often the solution is better positioning/support in beds, wheelchairs, recliners, etc., massage, passive ROM exercises, etc. That often plays into falling/staying asleep as well. In cooler weather, especially, I continue to plug (pun intended) low voltage heated mattress pads under the mattress overlay as a drug-free muscle relaxant.

As context, Kim has other chronic conditions that cause pain, such as a connective tissue disorder. So her need for muscle relaxants will be different.

 

[Jhettinger]

I stay stressed out . my situation at home is not the best , caregivers are a constant issue . but #2 issues at night are my biggest issue for now .

 

[Turtle3008]

Hello!

I myself take Lexapro (20mg) along with Hydroxizine (50 mg, Only take this when I have really bad panic attacks). It has helped me out a lot but I notice now that my body is adjusting to the Lexapro and I am not able to go any higher. Buspar also helps but I quit taking it with Lexapro because of the adrenal surges I would feel.

When I had anxiety for the first time at 23 I was on Zoloft and Diazepam. This combination left my mind blank and while I did feel little to no anxiety I hated the overall physical and mental feeling of taking them both.

Hope this helps!


-Jose

 

[lgelb]

When you say #2 issues, is that worrying that you might have to go, or actually having to get up?

 

[lgelb]

Also, just a note for those on Nuedexta that because it has quinidine, which affects the heart, you do not want to mix that with a whole slew of CNS drugs, including but not limited to mirtazapine, trazodone, SSRIs, and SNRIs.

The rhythm problem that the combination of those can cause is more likely to happen with certain nutritional imbalances, which in turn are more common in PALS due to eating difficulties and tube feeding.

 

[Jhettinger]

what happens when I go #2 and the freak out that it causes from my caretaker

 

[jethro]

zoloft. it eliminates pseudobulbar episodes. instead nuedexta. it does many other things

 

[Lori7]

I used to be on benzos and they were great for anxiety, but my GP reduced them to a very low dose because they’re addictive. I’m also on Paxil, an SSRI, for anxiety and depression in the morning. A couple of months ago, after I received my diagnosis, I was anxious and couldn’t sleep at all, so I was put on quetiapine or seroquel, which is an antipsychotic, at night. The quetiapine really helped, and I’m not up all night frightened any more, but go to sleep. I still wish I had a little bit more benzos for sudden bouts of anxiety, but with all the other pills I take it might make me too groggy. I hope this helps

 

[Jhettinger]

talk to me about your panic attacks.

 

[Lori7]

When I think too much about dying, I get a terrible feeling of dread, followed by a wave of anxiety. Then I have to distract myself with reading on the computer. If I get anxious at night, it’s difficult because I don’t have anything handy to distract myself, and my husband is sleeping, so I can’t bother him. However, I usually fall asleep soon from my medication, or think about something interesting I read on the computer that day. I know I’m prolonging the denial, but I try to take some time each day to listen to music and think about my situation.