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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don’t take benzos because I have a family history of dementia.

You have to accept a little trial and error here. If you have a gyno you like, you might talk about starting first with HRT. Hormones can really play a role. As a second step, I’d try an SSRI. Which one works for you is anyone’s guess—but don’t accept unacceptable side effects (eg, dullness/flatness, daytime grogginess, weight game over a few pounds, zero libido). Be willing to try something else if one doesn’t work.

Common options for anxiety are lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac. My psychiatrist had me quarter the dose and only titrate up once I was good with any side effects. They can be rough for some of us for about 1-2 weeks. But they should dissipate. If they don’t, it’s probably a long-term side effect and you might want to consider a different med.

I found success with Zoloft. Long-term effects are increased appetite (it could just be that my anxiety is an appetite suppressant—so I’m careful what I eat) and less great orgasms (I will often just skip a dose if I’m expecting to have sex—it immediately goes back to normal). I would describe these both as annoying but minor.

I felt kind of blah and sluggish on Lexapro, though it helped. I haven’t tried Prozac as my gyno told me it tends to come with more sexual side effects than Zoloft.

Positives on Zoloft: I stopped fighting with my husband (I was always irritated and angry due to anxiety, and that affected my relationship); I feel happier and more “me”; and I can reason better with my anxious thoughts (I still feel anxiety but I tend not to spiral out for months at a time).

Good luck! I have also tried HRT but I’m 49 and I don’t think I’m read for estrogen yet (my whole body started twitching, my period was super heavy, and I was very irritable). The progesterone is like a magical sleeping pill though! 100 mg and I sleep like a baby and all the way through the night. [/quote]

Thanks for all this! I’m going to start with a low dose (5mg) of Lexapro for two weeks and see how it goes. I’ve tried Wellbutrin for depression years ago and loved it. But when I tried it again years later it gave me crushing panic attacks. In my 20s I tried Paxil and Zoloft for depression and I couldn’t handle the fatigue. I’ve had a hard time with BCP in the past so I’m wary of HRT. Now that I’m post menopausal and anxious, not depressed, it will be interesting to see how my body chemistry has changed. I’m nervous about the trial and error approach, and I’ve always favored alternative remedies, but I clearly need something. My doctors and family agree.[/quote]

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