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To take meds or not to take meds

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NightOwl

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Hi all,

I was recently prescribed Atarax to take for anxiety at the onset of symptoms. I've only had to take it once since being prescribed a couple of weeks ago and it did help to calm me down, but also made me feel pretty groggy the next day. In anyone else's experience do you find it's better to try and deal with anxiety through coping skills and techniques or is it better to just take the medicine. It's a non habit forming drug so I'm not worried about becoming addicted, but I also don't want to become emotionally and physically dependent on it either. Am I making myself suffer needlessly when I could just pop a pill as soon as I feel anxious? Or is it better to try and manage the anxiety on my own? Thanks for reading.
 
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Rogdog

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Hi NightOwl

My personal experience (I claim no expertise) is that you do both. I have struggled with anxiety (social and GAD) my whole life. I have spent a lot of time in therapy, gyms, controlling what I eat, and how much I sleep, etc. All of those help. But I also take Venlafaxine (snri US brand Effexor). The drugs have been amazingly effective. In the past I have also used Buspar and various Benzodiazepines.

Combined, I think I make the most progress. Individually, both help. I wouldn’t give up either.


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NightOwl

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Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps knowing about what other people have gone through. :)
 
Cuchculan

Cuchculan

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It can depend on how bad the anxiety is and what the dose of the Xanax is. Low dose won't really do much if the anxiety is very high. If it is just normal anxiety it will work. But like you said, you may feel a bit groggy after taken it. That side of things you get used to. Few weeks down the line you might not feel as groggy. Can't say I even felt that way the following day. More the same day. I would calm down and feel a bit groggy then. But it efects different people in different ways. Klonopin ( Clonazepam ) might be a better option for you. Difference between them both is that Xanax has an instant kick in effect. Klonopin is a more steady, slow release.
 
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ladybj

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NightOwl said:
Hi all,

I was recently prescribed Atarax to take for anxiety at the onset of symptoms. I've only had to take it once since being prescribed a couple of weeks ago and it did help to calm me down, but also made me feel pretty groggy the next day. In anyone else's experience do you find it's better to try and deal with anxiety through coping skills and techniques or is it better to just take the medicine. It's a non habit forming drug so I'm not worried about becoming addicted, but I also don't want to become emotionally and physically dependent on it either. Am I making myself suffer needlessly when I could just pop a pill as soon as I feel anxious? Or is it better to try and manage the anxiety on my own? Thanks for reading.ers
Click to expand...
My personal experience...I prefer to learn to manage my anxiety as oppose to taking medication. Learning to manage my anxiety has helped me a LOT. However a few years ago when my anxiety was very bad..I took Ativan which helped a lot to calm me down. But I knew I did not want to depend on it..so I weaned off but end up started taking Valium..which I take a very small pea size at night to help me sleep, on an as needed basis. I am not a medication type person, therefore, I had no choice but to learn to manage my anxiety....which I am glad I did. I feel sooooo much better than I did years ago.
 
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MainerMikeBrown

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Nightowl, I've always found it best to do both...take medication and also use coping skills/psychotherapy in order to cope with my anxiety issues. One without the other doesn't work as well for me.
 
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Trying123

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Nightowl, I am finding that using both medication and coping skills are starting to work for me. I am therapy, pray often, read self help books, journal, and trying to learn to meditate.
 
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