Anxiety meds

[Anonymous]

Buspar was very helpful for me. No weight gain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born with GAD and panic disorder and never knew a single person with anxiety when I was younger. None of these SSRIs did a thing for my anxiety except give me depression to go with it. But they work for everybody else. I really wish stress would not be confused for the real thing as it impacts the small number of us who really have it.

None of you have real anxiety or even know what it is.

I’m sorry you haven’t had a medication to help you, but that doesn’t mean the people they have helped are faking it.

For me the magic combo was intense, long term therapy and later a medication. The medications I tried at the outset didn’t help, but ten years into therapy they did. Everyone responds differently to treatments, and I hope you keep trying different approaches to get some relief.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash - every one of these impacts you in a different way than others. I have 2 kids with anxiety on 2 different meds as one just doesn't work as effectively for the other. Lexapro has a weight gain side effect for 1 and not the other as well since we tried both on Lexapro and Zoloft.

Dr should be telling you it's trial and error. Unfortunate you have to just try it to know which you prefer - other people sharing their experience is not gonna help as if affects everyone a bit differently.

[Anonymous]

SSRIs only helped me during the two episodes of my life I was in the pit of despair (PPD and another trauma induced depression). For my regular underlying GAD they've never done anything unless I was on an extreme dose and in that case it made me extremely apathetic and not myself. For occasional intense anxiety I take a low dose of a benzodiazepine but do my best not to rely on them. For me an SSRI will never be able to nip the anxiety in the bud like a benzo and I've come to realize that the rest of my anxiety management has to come from the heavy lifting of lifestyle management (good sleep, nutrition and exercise).

[Anonymous]

Female. 54. Started Lexapro at 52. Gained 17 lbs that was 💯 due to the drug. I work out 5x a eeek and my diet didn’t change. My primary care still insists it wasn’t the Lexapro. I am certain it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: have you seen the research about sucking on sour candy to distract you from your thoughts? It essentially refocuses your attention.

Most people are less anxious at home; you just need to build resilience and coping mechanisms rather than perseverate on items that stress you out.

Google the research.

OP—PP’s message to just do what they advise may make you feel worse. I’m a very resilient person with strong coping mechanisms who after decades of looking after everyone and having a lot of unusual stressful events found that I had worn out my coping mechanisms. I started Lexapro and it is helping me reset and slowing the speed of my ruminating thoughts so I can get things done, be more focused and respond thoughtfully to some very serious health and life changes going on with me and my extended family.

If sour candy works for you, Great. Use it. But it may not and that is okay. We all have different brains, different personal history, different life experiences, etc. that all play a role in how we feel and function.

I know a couple people who listened to similar advice from the PP and just kept trying harder and harder and harder and then another unforseen life stressor happened and they broke.

If you need Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Prozac or something else to help slow the rapid thpughts while you build your coping mechanisms and resilience, please consider doing it. We can’t always control our environment and life circumstances.

Being by the ocean calms me. Right now I can’t be there all the time. I don’t have someone cleaning my house, driving my kids to all their activities, managing their chronic medical conditions, doing the laundy, helping my elderly mom, etc. There’s a lot on my plate and I can’t delegate it or afford to pay people to do it. I don’t need anyone telling me I’m not trying hard enough to cope or build resilience. We don’t life others lives. We life our own and you should do what makes wense for you.

Be well. Have faith and as you move forward and make decisions try to stay present and do what is right for you right now. That will help you get through.

Also, I’m not having bad side effects from Lexapro. My understanding is everyone is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Female. 54. Started Lexapro at 52. Gained 17 lbs that was 💯 due to the drug. I work out 5x a eeek and my diet didn’t change. My primary care still insists it wasn’t the Lexapro. I am certain it was.

Younger, and it was sertraline for me. My weight gain was also 100% due to sertraline. I eat healthy, work out, and can NOT lose weight.

I'm in a different place anxiety-wise and am trying to come off it right now. Not just because of the weight but it is a factor.

[Anonymous]

Zoloft- no weight gain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH takes Zoloft and seems to think it’s helping quite a bit. That said, he did put a bit of weight on.

You might ask your doctor to try Buspar or Cymbalta. I don’t think either of those are linked to weight gain for most people.

Exxua (gepirone)- ganechanger:

"..Unlike most other antidepressants, Exxua doesn’t carry a warning of weight gain or sexual dysfunction, suggesting that it may increase compliance for patients who experience these common adverse effects from other treatment options..."

https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Pharmacy-Today/Article/fda-approves-new-er-antidepressant#:~:text=Unlike%20most%20other%20antidepressants%2C%20Exxua,other%20treatment%20options%20for%20depression.

I am not depressed at all though, I am actually 100% happy and content when I can just be home and chill and not worry about things. The issue is I have two teens and a job and some social situations that really stress me out and worry me to the point I feel like I am going mad.

Lexapro will fix that but will kill your sex drive and add weight. I’ve done 3 rounds of Lexapro and tons of therapy and now feel like I can handle it without meds.

That's a no then because weight contributes to my anxiety.

It doesn't cause weight gain in everyone. You really have to try it yourself. It was amazing for my anxiety and helped me sleep. I didn't gain weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born with GAD and panic disorder and never knew a single person with anxiety when I was younger. None of these SSRIs did a thing for my anxiety except give me depression to go with it. But they work for everybody else. I really wish stress would not be confused for the real thing as it impacts the small number of us who really have it.

None of you have real anxiety or even know what it is.

I can relate. I have extreme anxiety which causes physical symptoms like severe tachycardia (hospitalization level) which then causes more anxiety. No SSRI drugs worked and actually were too activating for me and made things worse. Turns out it wasn’t just anxiety but was also a cardia arrhythmia. I now take propranolol and it’s been a life saver for me. Literally. Look for another explanation if your panic causes extreme physical symptoms. I had to go to SEVEN cardiologists before one believed me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH takes Zoloft and seems to think it’s helping quite a bit. That said, he did put a bit of weight on.

You might ask your doctor to try Buspar or Cymbalta. I don’t think either of those are linked to weight gain for most people.

Exxua (gepirone)- ganechanger:

"..Unlike most other antidepressants, Exxua doesn’t carry a warning of weight gain or sexual dysfunction, suggesting that it may increase compliance for patients who experience these common adverse effects from other treatment options..."

https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Pharmacy-Today/Article/fda-approves-new-er-antidepressant#:~:text=Unlike%20most%20other%20antidepressants%2C%20Exxua,other%20treatment%20options%20for%20depression.

I am not depressed at all though, I am actually 100% happy and content when I can just be home and chill and not worry about things. The issue is I have two teens and a job and some social situations that really stress me out and worry me to the point I feel like I am going mad.

Lexapro will fix that but will kill your sex drive and add weight. I’ve done 3 rounds of Lexapro and tons of therapy and now feel like I can handle it without meds.

For lexapro, are you M or F?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Female. 54. Started Lexapro at 52. Gained 17 lbs that was 💯 due to the drug. I work out 5x a eeek and my diet didn’t change. My primary care still insists it wasn’t the Lexapro. I am certain it was.

what is your height and weight? I am 43F and have gained some weight on Lexapro but I do have other medical issues as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born with GAD and panic disorder and never knew a single person with anxiety when I was younger. None of these SSRIs did a thing for my anxiety except give me depression to go with it. But they work for everybody else. I really wish stress would not be confused for the real thing as it impacts the small number of us who really have it.

None of you have real anxiety or even know what it is.

At least we have the Mental Health Police here and can ignore the diagnoses and advice of actual doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take Zoloft 75 mg. It helps a lot. No weight gain.

I take 50 mg and have actually lost weight.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take Zoloft 75 mg. It helps a lot. No weight gain.

I take 50 mg and have actually lost weight.

Same.

Same here. I eat when I'm depressed and anxious. When its managed with meds I can make better choices and lost weight.