Please suggest anti-anxiety meds for my husband!

[PikkuMyy]

Hi,

My husband has suffered from lifelong depression and anxiety, but it's the anxiety that really affects him.

He has never wanted to be on medication but things have reached a point where he is looking up medications trying to see if there is one that would help him. So I know that things are very bad for him.

We are currently trying to sell our house, which is of course stressful, and there are many painful memories for him tied up in it. In the process of selling it, we'll need to live in it for up to a year, and I know that he is dreading it.

But while this situation is temporary, it's just a catalyst for him realizing how bad his anxiety is in general. He has really bad insomnia, he can't relax, he's always worrying about both big and small issues, and he's just generally very uncomfortable by it.

He's looking for something to take possibly for a short time (6-12 months) but with the realization that if it really makes a difference, he'd take it for much longer. I had a good suggestion from a friend, but it's not good for men. There is the impotence issue to be considered.

If anyone has a significant other or family member who is doing well on a daily anti-anxiety med, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks so much in advance.

[kaydee]

Hi, there--

I am an anxiety & depression "lifer" myself. Part of my diagnosis is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which is the sort of low-level grinding anxiety and worry I have carried around for as long as I can remember. That sounds like what you describe for your dh. In addition, occasionally my anxiety will spike into a very debilitating almost panic-like state that lasts anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.

I have tried many antidepressants, and have found that Paxil is best at controlling the generalized anxiety. When I first took it, it was like a miracle to me--I didn't realize that I could, in fact, live without the constant worry and fear. Several SSRI antidepressants are approved to control generalized anxiety.

The Paxil isn't perfect (there are bothersome side effects, none of which, for me, are worse than the anxiety), and it has not been perfect at eliminating the occasional heightened anxiety state. So during extremely bad periods, I will take an occasional Ativan--never more than 2 per day, and never for more than 1-2 weeks, though, because they can be habit-forming, and I am very wary of that (my father, also an anxiety sufferer, was addicted to Valium).

For the past six months, I have also been on Lithium, because a new doctor I saw thought I might actually have a variant form of bipolar disorder (which would help explain the brief, recurrent episodes). I'm not sure if that is an accurate diagnosis, but since I have been on Lithium, I have not had any anxiety episodes. This doesn't sound like it applies to your husband, but you never know.

Having struggled with this for more than 10 years (or, really, my whole life) I have come to realize that for me, staying on medicine for the forseeable future and probably for life is likely. Whenever I have gone off meds, I have relapsed. But many, many people can simply take them for a short time (although 12 months is the recommended minimum for antidepressants in order to decrease the likelihood of relapse).

Good luck!

[PikkuMyy]

Thanks so much for responding, Kaydee! I'll share this with my husband.

[kaydee]

Originally Posted by PikkuMyy

Thanks so much for responding, Kaydee! I'll share this with my husband.

You're welcome! I hope things get brighter for you both.

[Lilacmoon]

Not a Rx but... Buspar often helps with anxiety, it is not addicitive like the Benzos... ativan, klonopin etc. It also does not have the horrific rebound anxiety of the benzos'.
As for OTC, extra omega 3's, B complex and Valerian (also good for sleep) are helpful. Remember to always check for contraindications if he is on Rx antidepressants. Some people find Bachs Rescue Remedy helpful. As a sufferer of the same, I know that heightened stimuli at bedtime is a big no-no. No computer time, no bill paying, no worrying before bed. Easier said than done.. I Know.. best of luck. Sending health and happiess.