I want to be drug-free! - Anxiety Message Board

purrsia · 03-26-2005, 11:25 AM

I suffer from panic and anxiety. I take Welbutrin XL 150 mg, Zoloft 150 mg, Xanax 2-3 mg daily. I feel like I'm poisening my body. But, I know I can't just stop the drugs because I'm worried about the anxiety and panic returning. I still suffer from anxiety sometimes, especially lately. It's driving me crazy and so hard to live like this. My doctor is starting me on Klonipin next week and taking me off Xanax. Again, this is worrying me because I don't like starting new drugs for fear of how I will feel, and secondly, because he's just stopping the Xanax and moving me onto Klonipin. I know Xanax is something that just can't be stopped. Is anyone taking Klonipin and getting good results?

So anyway, my question is, can you please tell me what you do to relax yourself while being anxious. Are there any good books to get? Someone said something about Yoga. What exactly is this? I'm willing to do anything to get off my meds. Accupuncture, chiropractor...anything? Please let me know.

hry33 · 03-28-2005, 12:51 PM

klonapin and xanax are both valium type meds and similar, K lasts longer then X

its possible that your antidepressants arent working properly as they should stop most anxiety

learn to relax, many books and tapes are available on relaxation and stress reduction, yoga helps some but not all, some get severe panic attacks and anxiety on the yoga mat

massage and jacuzzi baths help a lot, along with gentle exercise and long walks

I think you still need to stay on your meds for now

Punkdizzle · 03-28-2005, 01:50 PM

when i started having panic attacks about 10yrs ago i went through what seemed like every drug on the market.. nothing and i mean nothing helped they just made me feel worse.. very groggy and dizzy what was worse (to me anyway) is they had me on 5mg of Xanax a day and it did nothing but turn me into a zombie i couldnt think or really do much of anything but lay in bed.. and i would still have panic attacks many times a day... once i stopped taking the meds i felt tons better.. mentally i was still fighting the anxiety/panic but it was much easer for me to cope with it not being all drugged up.. it took me about 1 yr after dumping the meds to become panic free and i have not had an attack since.. (7 yrs so far) i still have issues with anxiety now and then but breathing and doing something relaxing to me helps alot also finding a hobby to keep your mind off of the anxiety helped me alot..

i think the big things to remember are
1. it cant hurt you
2. it will come to an end no matter how bad it gets it WILL end.
3. fighting it only feeds it let it happen and just accept it as "that thing that happens to you now and then but goes away" knowing it cant hurt you helps in this area alot... for me it did anyway

i am not saying you should stop taking your meds.. they work great for some ppl and for others like me they do nothing.. i would def talk to your Dr. before trying to do it without meds.