Natural Remedies - suggestions? - Anxiety Message Board

Jchandra88 · 05-29-2004, 04:04 PM

Hi,
I recently tried and quit Lexapro after having the worst panic attack I've ever experienced due to the drug. I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions for non-drug remedies? The side effects are not worth it. It made my anxiety ten times worse. I'm willing to try other things...likes herbs for example.. I tried exercising and couldn't do more than a minute or two. I've just not enough energy for exercise. It also makes my heart race and palpitate if I do anything the least bit strenuous (like walking up and down stairs). I'm not very overweight (at least not technically), and I never had problems with my heart racing before this anxiety (if that's what it indeed is) came on.
So if anyone has any tried and true advice for me, I'd very much appreciate it!!!Thanks!!

clairey21 · 05-29-2004, 04:31 PM

Saint johns wart can be very good! takes time to work and can have a few side effects but not like drugs. Can have side effects like fatigue but usually goes in time, stay out of the sun without sun cream on! as it makes skin sensative. Start on 300mg a day and slowly increase as you get used to it, up to around X3 300mg a day.

5htp is an amino acid that raises serotonin like SSRI drugs, has some side effects but you may not get any as some dont. Can cause tummy aches but take with food if it does. Start on 50mg and increase slowly!

INOSITOL very good for panic attacks and OCD they say i have read great things about it! its a vitamin B, you take GRAMS of the stuff! people with OCD take up to or over 18 grams!! you get it in powder form and each 1/4 teaspoon is around 750mg so getting higher doses is easy and relitivley cheap. Said to be very calming. It raises serotonin also. Can cause gas! but that goes usually. Start from 500mg-1000mg and increase until you feel good.

SAMe (pronouced sam-ee) is a very strong natural alternative! works in under a week! has side effects but its still not a drug. Can irritate the stomach, but we are all different remember. Start on a low dose! some find with SAMe if its too strong take it every other day.

There are herbs that work after a few minutes unlike the above which are long term things which work over time and you have to take daily. Like kava kava, passion flower, valerian which are herbs but if you get bad panics they problem wont touch the sides really. But saying that valerian is good for sleep! so thats worth it if you lie awake going mad! LOL.

An amino acid called L-theanine is good for mild anxiety! works within 20 mins but no good for panic attacks does have a relaxing feeling though. is quite expensive!

If would give the SAMe or inositol a try first and if you dont get on with either of them or the side effects annoy you go onto the 5htp and when comfortable with that you can add saint johns wort if you feel you need too as they are together.

I would also add a vitamin B complex with all of them and fish oil! as the brain adores fish oil and lots of it! beware the fishy burps mind! get a brand called 'fisol' for that as they are specially coated to avoid that happening.

I have listed some of the best natural alterntives! they arent drugs but they can work like them! if not better i have found! so go slow and you can allways email me if you want any advice along the way

bingling · 05-31-2004, 11:50 AM

UH.....well SSRI'S do not raise the level of seratonin..they hold in in the body longer..therefore 5htp..does not do the same as SSRI's.

clairey21 · 05-31-2004, 02:25 PM

Many studies show that people who suffer from insomnia and panic are depleted in serotonin so by raising the levels you are helping combat these problems, 5htp does that and act as a buliding block to keep it there.

SSRI's and 5htp increase serotonin, the only difference is in how they increase it. SSRI's reuse existing serotonin and 5htp increases it therefore if you are depleted in serotoin 5htp will help you a great deal.

Jchandra88 · 06-01-2004, 11:56 AM

What's different about all of the things you suggested -- from the drugs? I mean, what differentiates the medical drugs from other remedies? If they both do the same thing, then how come more people don't go for the natural remedies than the prescriptions? You'd think if it cut down on costs and side effects, people would be all about it. I just wondered...

Thanks for your suggestions, Clarey21. I already had St. John's Wort in the house and so I've been trying 1000mg a day of that and a multivitamin that includes B. I hope it helps. It seems to have been having some effect on me, as yesterday I almost seemed back to normal. It seems like it's whenever I go outside and anywhere in public that I get most of my problems. Is that social anxiety?

Although today, I feel worse again...my chest is tighter and the palpitations that were seemingly gone have returned. I'm scheduled for a pelvic exam today.. which might be part of the anxiety. Does anxiety come and go? Is there no warning when it'll strike? If not, that's awful. I can't live life that way...never knowing when the anxiety will come on..

I haven't been able to find Inositol or SAMe or 5htp anywhere though.. I'd prefer not to buy it off the internet if I can help it. I've only checked the rite aid and walmart near me... I live in a small town, so we don't have many stores.
Do you know where I might find these?

Thanks again!