does medication help

[kira]

hi ive been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks and i am thinking of going to the docs for some medication,does any medication work and does it help lsson the symptoms?

[diane07]

Hi kira

We just wanted to welcome you aboard to NMP. We hope you enjoy your stay here and get all the support and advice you need.

Please take some time to read the website articles on the left as well for loads of advice and tips.

[fifeboy66]

Hi Kira

I'm on a low dose of citalopram (20mg). Does it help. Yes but i get help from breathing and relaxation exercises too. Waiting for CBT appointment which i hope will help. I always think i feel better exercising regularly too. So in short yes the pills help but its only part of the plan

Dave

[HRose]

Hi Kira!

I started having major trouble with anxiety/ vertigo when I was 19 and after months of reluctance I, like Dave, started on Citalopram 20mg. It took a few months to significantly recover and I stayed on the pills for almost six years, but in that time I lived a fairly normal life, even managing to get on a plane from Australia to make the big move over here I went off the citalopram in October, and have very recently 'relapsed', but I put that down to going off the meds at the worst time possible. I'm on anti-depressants again now and I'm looking forward to them aiding me in returning to normal (whatever the hell that is). All in all, I do think they help, but I suppose it's a joint effort between the drug and your own will to feel better
Hannah x

[Tyke]

Hi Kira

I have been put on Sertraline (anti-depressant) and Propranolol (beta-blocker). Both these medications helped me. The sertraline took a while to work and had unpleasant side effects in the beginning, but I am much better now than I was a few months ago. Like Hannah and Dave say, you need to combine it with positive steps yourself for the best results.

Tyke

[kira]

thanks everyone for reply,tyke what were the side effects if you dont mind me asking,these are what im worried about even though i know everyones different and all medication different.so difficult to know weather to try out medication as dont want to feel worse as some peoples threads on here mention when starting meds and scared of getting addicted too!good to know they do help some people though and as you all say as long as your getting other help too as its not a cure i know!

[scrog80]

anti depressants usally make you feel light headed for a day or 2 then make me feel worse for a couple of days but then help pick you up al little i take fluxatine and propoanolol (beta blocker) i take 20 mg a day but was on 80mg which made me worse for some reason the side affect i got was shortness of breath but that goes after a few days this is only what it does to me i dont no about any one else

[EvaSunshine78]

Hey Kiri,
In my opinion, I think it depends on a range of factors. I personally don't go near medication but my symptoms may differ from yours. I suffer from Anxiety, Panic, OCD but have always combated the problems by will and positivity and believe me this is not the easy way, but I think it's better to face issues head on or they never leave. Find the root of a problem and eradicate it, it sounds easy and it seems to take forever, but I just feel that if you deal with the problem at the root, you can reverse what negative effect it has had on your life and maybe you can start again. Meds I guess help symptoms but I am no doctor and personally I wouldn't unless the symptoms are uncontrollable. I exercise alot - Yoga and Swimming are great, I try to healthy, to socialise with good people who make me laugh and keep my mind busy. I hope this has helped in some way and I wish you all the luck in finding your answers. xx

[Tyke]

tyke what were the side effects if you dont mind me asking,these are what im worried about even though i know everyones different and all medication different.so difficult to know weather to try out medication as dont want to feel worse as some peoples threads on here mention when starting meds and scared of getting addicted too!

The side effects were very unpleasant. I had diahrroea, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and increased anxiety as the worst symptoms. The diahrroea was probably the lousiest. It would usually start a few hours after taking the tablet. The insomnia was a quite distressing too as I am usually a good sleeper. I also enjoy my food, so the lack of appetite when faced with nice food was a real sickener. Sex was also affected and I do miss not being able to have a beer or glass of wine (not supposed to take alcohol with it).

Grim though all that may sound, it was only temporary (alcohol ban excepted) and I have had many more weeks now of feeling so much better, I'm really glad that I pursued it. Side effects are very common with these, but are bearable for most of us and the end result is usually worth it in my experience. When I was going through the side effect stage, I had no idea how long it would last and imagined it going on and on like that, then as if by magic my body started to tolerate the drug and the side effects suddenly went.

I know what you mean about 'addiction'. The official medical version is that these drugs (SSRIs) are non-addictive and much safer than the old Benzodiazepines BUT you can face problems coming off them, usually if you try to do it too quickly. I hope to come off them fairly soon now as I am so much better, but I am a bit nervous about it.

I would have prefered to take the route that Evasunshine talks about in her post, but I was so desperate with the relentless anxiety and depression that I was well prepared to take the medication. I really was beyond trying to tackle it without drugs but I have tried to improve things so that I am less likely to go back to depression when I come off them. If you can manage without the meds, that's great, but only you know what you are up to dealing with.