Re: Short term medication?
Originally Posted by
Limeslime
I feel I’ll only need them for 3 months to get me through the period of time until I either get a diagnosis or discharged.
Has anyone been on short term anxiety meds? Is that even an option? In the past but has taken me 6 months+ to wean off them, so unsure if this is the right thing for me or not.
Has anyone used anything for only a few months and had success?
Depends on the type of anxiety med. Drugs like the benzodiazepines and pregabalin, or sedating antihistamines which moderate the symptoms without affecting the underlying physical brain changes which manifest as anxiety (also depression) can be effective in the short term. However, antidepressants which do tackle the physical cause should ideally be taken for longer periods as they can take 3 months just to become fully effective. Most guidelines recommend they be taken for about 12 months the first time and 18 months if there is a relapse. Imo, there are strong arguments for remaining on them permanently if the disorder reasserts itself for a third time. If available the cognitive, behavioural (CBT, REBT, etc), or mindfulness therapies are a good alternative as they have the same positive effects on the brain as ADs.
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The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.