I have a problem. I'm scared to death of taking medication. I've been on medication for a year but I just can't get past worrying it's going to hurt instead of help in the long run. Here's what's going on.

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder a year ago. I've been anxious all my life and my family and friends agreed with the diagnosis. I am seeing a psychiatrist in combination with a cognitive therapist. I'm fine with the therapy. But, I've never been comfortable with the medication. My doctor perscribed EffexorXR. When I went on line I read all these horrible things about the withdrawl symptoms. But, I took the medication. It worked wonderfully for a year. Then, just after Christmas I had zero motivation. I slept all the time. I never wanted to leave the house. I didn't take out the trash or do laundry. I told this to my doctor and he upped the medication. It didn't really help after the first week. A month later he ordered blood work to check for a thyroid condition. Somehow the hospital messed up and didn't send the results for everything he had ordered. He asked how my anxiety was and I told him I was worrying a little. I told him what I was worrying about and he immediately suggested I try Gabitril. Every time I say anything he perscribes a medication, but I guess that's what a psychiatrist does in response to a problem.
I went on-line and read all these horrible things about Gabitril. Every medication has such horrible things written about it. How can you tell what is real? Why didn't my doctor mention that the FDA has not approved Gabitril for use in patients who do not experience siezures? I don't have siezures. I just have anxiety.
I feel it does no good to ask my doctor because he wouldn't perscribe it if he thought it was going to kill me. I don't know what to do. The worst thing about having an anxiety disorder is that I can't tell when I really should be worried about something.
How do other people treat anxiety disorders? Is cognitive therapy alone enough?

Hi - I know exactly where you are coming from! I, too, have GAD and have had it most of my life. One of my toughest battles has been learning to trust my doc. Like you, I find myself very unsure of what to "worry" about...like anxiety makes it difficult to decide what is a legitimate concern and what is not. I am taking meds. (klonipin) and reading self-help books, and relying alot on my faith to try to learn to control my anxiety. One useful piece of info. I picked up was that GAD is not hard to diagnose, so you should trust your doc. if he has diagnosed you. Remember, however, that your docs. are working FOR you, you are paying them for their advice and expertise, so you must ask any and all questions you have. If you feel you can't do that, then maybe you need to find a doc. who you are more comfortable with. I really can't answer your question about whether or not cognitive therapy would be enough, but I can encourage you to ask your doc. that question. I know how hard it is to recover when you have something, some awful possibility, Like what is this medication going to do to me?, in the back of your mind. The best way to recovery is through peace of mind, so do whatever you have to do to work towards that! Best of luck, Marirose

Thanks, I guess I don't have much of a choice when it comes to medication. Either I trust the doctor or I don't. If I don't, then I certainly don't know what to do on my own. This man went to school for years, but at the same time, he really doesn't know me. He seems nice and caring, but I still worry about the side effects. I guess I have to decide if living without the worry is worth what I might be giving up. I know I couldn't be as successful a person as I have been without the meds the doctor perscribed last year. He was right then, I don't know why I don't trust his judgement now.