What meds have you been on? Did they work?

[soJACKedup]

Let's make this straightforward.
I've been on Paxil, and it was OKAY. I can't say I was cured from my anxiety, but it was improved. I'm looking for something that would work better though.
I've also tried alternatives...
I've tried fish oil, and it helps a little. And I TRIED St. John's Wart, and it made me throw up every time I took it, so I stopped.

[scottt]

I did *horrible* on SSRI's. They made me edgy, shaky, and I couldn't have an orgasm. On top of that, the anxiety seemed worse instead of better. Effexor was the worst by far. It seemed more like an anxiety drug than an anti-anxiety drug. When I stopped taking it I thought I was being electrocuted.

Buspar had no effect on me, one way or the other.

Serzone worked GREAT for me, but was pulled from the market due to concerns about liver damage. Of all the drugs, that helped me the most. I wish I could still take it.

I switched to Xanax, which worked great for panic attacks and claustrophobia, but I had more general, persistent anxiety so switched to Valium about a year ago (10 mg day). At first it didn't seem like it was doing anything, but after about two weeks I noticed an overall, mellow calming effect and a turning down of the mental noise, letting me do things I couldn't do before.

For example, in the past, if the subway got too crowded I had to get off the train out of sheer panic, but now, though I still feel some discomfort, I can just read and/or listen to music and not feel such a sense of impending doom.

I can now go jogging, be in a large crowd at a movie theater, etc. I've also lost about 30 pounds (still need to lose about 10 more) because I don't eat out of anxiety anymore. It seems to ratchet down the terrible, endless thoughts I constantly had before.

In the past, on the crowded subway I'd be thinking "what if there's a fire" "what if there's an earthquake and we're all crushed to death" "what if someone has a gun and starts shooting" etc. and I just don't think these kinds of thoughts anymore. Also, the nice thing about Valium is that if I'm having a particularly good period I can go a few days without taking it, or can just take a half or quarter dose.

The only downside is that I occasionally have some very bizarre dreams but that's something I can live with. Also, it doesn't mess you up sexually the way SSRI's do. Also, my MD said that I will build up a tolerance eventually and it won't work as well. So far, that hasn't happened, except that my insomnia is starting to return a bit.

[mhdwjw]

Xanax is great for fast acting relief. For long term Effexor has actually increaed by anxiety and basically made me feel like crap particularly nauseas so after 2 months I have just stopped that. Just started on Zoloft.