Hi All,
Can you tell me if there are any other medicines for anxiety except for benzodiazepines?
Thanks!
Best wishes,
Kathy

It depends on the type of anxiety that you're going through really... are you having panic attacks? Social Anxiety? Generalized Anxiety? OCD?

SSRI drugs work well for most long term anxiety issues. Some of these are Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Welbutrin. These as you probably know can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to kick in, and most people have to go through a few before they find the one that's right for their needs. Although they are all similar... what works for one may not work for another.

Benzos are mainly for times when you feel like you're going to have an anxiety attack or on your bad days struggling with anxiety. Some people take them long term with effectiveness, but they are habit-forming and not usually prescribed as a long term solution.

there are also antihistamine based tranquillisers
some seem to get help from herbal things such as valerian root

THank you for your replies - I have GAD, social anxiety, agrophobia and panic attacks ...lately I have been hyperventalating all the time and after going through all the pulmonary/heart tests it's looking like anxiety is making me short of breath. I am already on a hefty dose of benzos, so I guess I need something else if I'm ever going to breath normally again. I am taking cymbalta - just started 3 weeks ago - do you think it will help? I have been through the gamut of ssris: effexor, zoloft, celexa, paxil (which helped the anxiety alot of packed on the pounds) etc....
Would a mood stabilzer like lamictal treat the anxiety (I also have severe depression)? Thank you all for your feedback - I don't know what to try anymore and the breathing problem is getting serious....my o2 and Co2 are getting out of balance and starting to cause problems....
Best wishes,
Kathy

PS Can you give me an example of one of the anti-histimine tranq?

to kathy
if you can get benzos I wouldnt bother with antihistamines
hope the cymbalta works, give it 6 or more weeks, gradually upping the dose, staying on the benzos, of course
the best way to breathe is deep and slow, anxiety can effect the lungs making deep breathing difficult, ask doc to check your chest expansion, if its poor, lie in a hot bath and practise deep slow breathing
if hyperventilating, try holding your breath for a while as this may calm you

paxil and the other antidepressants dont cause weight gain or loss, they dont alter the metabolism, however sometimes the apetite is stimulated by them

Thank you hry for the tips - I will try them - also I am currently changing to a doc that doesn't like to use benzos which is why I asked about the anti-hsitimine tranq...
(thanks for the info on the ssris too - I also developed a thyroid problem in the last 5 years and that is most likely the cause of my weight problems...)

Kathy: U sure R having many problems which is clashing w/ ea. other. Benzos
R becoming a tough problem w/ dr's because they R also a great street drug to convert to bad drugs. Xanax @ 1mg4xday isn't high at all but my state
has a high meth. problem so hard to get. Xanax isn't just for anxiety & docs
forget that. It is a smooth muscle relaxant. I don't have anxiety but heavy
stress that causues maybe me to get startled will tighten these vessels & I
get tight muscles. Dr. retired & it took me 3 interviews to get 1 that under-
stands & scripts me. Re: your problems, I'm sure U have alot of daily un-happiness & self put-down. It happens when U R a shut in causing a rise in
a chem ical U make called cortisol. R U on any BP med or Rx-diuretic? This
can take fluid from inside vessel walls & open to have better bllod flow that
gets more oxygen in you. I know someone that had many problems like yours.
I researched & found a Dr. that specialized in medical-hypnosis. After 3
sessions & a hm-cd to use w/ msgs designed specific for her problems, she
used less meds, ate smaller portions, & got out more. It truly increased her
confidence. It may sound crazy to some but it can help w/ heart-rate,
anxiety & social problems once it kicks in. The CD is used at bed-time just if
she had a bad day. Sometimes they make a new one after you've gotten
over the 1st hill. Ck. the thyroid & other things but try to keep moving. Even
a hobby like knitting or? The rx-diuretic is different than OTC. Hypnosis is a
big help but Dr's just don't think abt suggesting it. Don't worry, be happy.

Hi Murphy,
Thanks for your reply - I do have lots going on for a 40 year old....I see an endocrinologist regularly for my thyroid and he checks my cortisol too - I've had several tests - It's usually normal but gets elevated when I'm really stressed (which is a lot of the time). I have been on diuretics and BP meds before - but actually that's the only thing that is doing well right now - last spring I was running 150/90s and now (after gaining 27 lbs ) I'm running 117/79....weird....
I've been going through all of this for 3-4 years now and am about ready to try to some alternative medicine techniques....You're right about the hobby - I had given them all up - but this week I picked up my needlework again--it does help...thanks!
Best wishes to you,
Kathy

Actually XanaxCR (Controlled Release) is very good for people who dont want the side effects of regular Xanax. It just releases a little bit at a time, so it doesnt knock you out or make you feel loopy.