Opinions - Best Anti-Anxiety Pills?

[RealGanjaMan]

My counselor has suggested that I get a prescription for Anxiety. I was wondering, what is the best brand in terms of actual Anxiety suppression? also what about recreational use?

Thanks,
-RGM

[glitterfly]

are you also taking an SSRI? when i first started taking SSRIs for depression my dr. gave me lexapro b/c it is also prescribed for anxiety. the lexapro helped a LOT with my depression and obsessive thinking. unfortunately the drug seemed to stop taking effect after about a year so i switched SSRIs. I was just recently prescribed Klonopin (clonazepam) for my anxiety. I have yet to take it exactly as prescribed b/c it tends to make me sleepy, but it certainly helps with my anxiety. Klonopin also does have some recreational use if swiy chooses to partake in it. Very much the same as Xanax or other benzos. As far as which is best is concerned... that is really an individual matter and can only be discovered through trial and error...it will also depend on whether you're taking a SSRI or other anti-depressant since many of those target anxiety and may be sufficient for anxiety suppression. SWIM personally prefers Klonopin for anxiety treatment and Xanax for occasional recreational use. but like i said, what works for some will not work for all. hope that helps!

[RealGanjaMan]

Thanks for the in-depth reply! But no, as of now I am not taking any medication for anxiety, or actually any medication at all. I guess I'll just go talk to the doc and see what we can come up with.

Thanks,
-RGM

[MrJim]

Hey bud,

You're talking about benzodiazepines. There is a subforum on it here under Downers and sleeping pills.

[RealGanjaMan]

Alright, heres the deal. I wa talking to my friend J, and he has the same anxieity problems as me and says valium works good for him.

Do you think if I asked the doctor to try Valium first he would be cool with it? I mean is Valium hard to get a prescription for or what? (By the way, I'm not self diagnosing like some people here, My councelor(sp?) actually reccomended it to me and said he would help me aquire something)

[RealGanjaMan]

By the way, its for social anxeity and school-related anxeity.

[dopenose77]

SWIM is prescribed Ativan. It works quite well for anxiety. For recreation, however, xanax is much better.

[MrJim]

Originally Posted by RealGanjaMan

Alright, heres the deal. I wa talking to my friend J, and he has the same anxieity problems as me and says valium works good for him.

Do you think if I asked the doctor to try Valium first he would be cool with it? I mean is Valium hard to get a prescription for or what? (By the way, I'm not self diagnosing like some people here, My councelor(sp?) actually reccomended it to me and said he would help me aquire something)

Your best bet is to tell your doctor about your social anxiety and the problems you are having. He will prescibe you something - Ativan seems like a real popular first choice for doctors these days, so it could be that. Take them as prescibed and meet with the doctor again when he wants you to. If the first med worked, that's great, problem solved. If not he'll switch your meds and try the next one.
Doctors just don't like being told which med to prescribe. That makes them think that someone is trying to get a script for something they shouldn't have, whether they need it or not.

[MrMouse]

I'd stear clear of short acting benzos unless you can control use and have a need for rapid results (Xanax). The short half life results in the need to multiple dose. On an as needed basis though they are fine.

For continual use valium might be a better option due to it's extremely long half life but the effects are not as strong as short acting ones.

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha01.htm