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Q. I am an anxious person and find that I don’t handle stressful situations very well. My doctor prescribed Lexapro but it made me very nauseated. I woke up in a deep sweat with my heart racing.
I know there are other drugs as well, but I am concerned about their side effects. Are there any natural alternatives that won’t produce side effects?
A. Lexapro can cause nausea, sweating and palpitations. Drowsiness, headache and sexual difficulties have also been reported.
Finding a natural approach for anxiety may be a challenge. Physicians used to rely on a category of medications called benzodiazepines, which includes drugs likelorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). These medications can help reduce anxiety, but they can also be habit forming.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one approach that does not require medications. You may want to ask your physician for a referral. Herbs such as valerian and passionflower have sometimes been used to help control nervousness.
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Holy basil has worked wonders for me.
Rick
You should always try a more natural approach to fix your anxiety problems. My doctor would prescribe riddlelin and later anti-depressants. But these drugs always would cause other problems. I found a reading, eating healthy, exercising, sex with your partner, and meditation really did the trick.
Cherry
Take more B6 vitamin supplements, go for a long walk every day, and try meditation. These can help relieve anxiety.
CSN
I have found 5-HTP to be a help with anxious thoughts and getting a good sleep.
Kathy
If he has OCD exposure response prevention therapy works the best.
EF
Thank you so very much. I will try both of your suggestions. I believe that choline is one of the B vitamins. It was also suggested to me to have my son try the B Complex vitamins. He’s on a very good multi but I will research choline to get an idea as to the dosage recommended for anxiety. That will be impt if we try the Complex route. I will order your book suggestion.
onw
Do advil gel caps cause any kind of trouble? I take it for this cold, sinus cough everday. And some at night. My skin and hair are not up to normal, or could it be the ativan? Any input is welcome..
onw
what is choline??? And where can you get it?
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: CHOLINE IS A NUTRIENT. IT IS ABUNDANT IN EGG YOLKS. SEE OUR INTERVIEW WITH DR. STEVE ZEISEL, #720, Brain Nutrition.
DGR
Just discovered, choline helps anxiety. Also get the book The 10 Dumbest Mistakes that Smart People Make which is a cognitive therapy self work book. Doug
EF
I found every comment here useful. I also own the People’s Pharmacy books and have purchased their other publications (incl Sleep Disorders). My 30 yr old son has tried many presc drugs during a pd of 10 yrs (diag: Chronic Anxiety Disorder) and his current one of six mos: clonazapam has resulted in extreme aggressive behavior in an otherwise passive personality. He simply cannot sleep w/o something potent (tried valerian, melatonin) and has been taken to the ER on several occasions when he ran out of his meds after not sleeping for many days at a time.
He has just begun seeing a clinical psychologist for therapy. We will give Gogi Berry and fish oils a try but he is so dependent that it may require a rehab setting to make changes. Very costly!
ka
Paxil worked for me.
Linda, San Antonio, TX
I have taken Valerian on and off for years, for stressful times, muscle pain, and to help me sleep. It works very well.
onw
This was all useful information.. thank you.. I wonder if BuSpar takes time to get into your system and start working.. I am glad to know, that Ativan will not be so addictive, if you use it when you know you are getting an attack.. I believe in ter and joes Pharmacy books and have all of them, they have loads of really good info.
Cindy B.
Regular use of benzos such as ativan, klonopin, valium, etc., is simply not appropriate for most people. These meds are usually given as “prn’s” to inpatients in crisis to help them regain control, and afterward most of them sleep for hours. They are almost never prescribed at discharge.
Yes, they can be taken situationally in times of extreme crisis, but they are certainly addictive and often abused.
As GK noted, there are other med choices not quite so sedating. I’m not a pharmacist but I do work on inpatient psych units so I’m familiar with a lot of meds. I know that most any meds marketed as antidepressants have a general “smoothing out” effect, which translates to a notable reduction in anxiety levels for most people — and unwanted side effects are minimal. These meds work mainly on serotonin or dopamine channels to produce an enhanced feeling of wellbeing.
Some people, especially those with strong bipolar traits, do find that antidepressants disinhibit them or enhance their manic symptoms (both of which could lead to the suicidal ideations we’ve heard about recently) — so it’s important to monitor their use carefully, especially at first.
I myself have a lot of anxiety and do take Wellbutrin during times of high stress only. That works great for me, though most prescribers will insist Wellbutrin must be taken every day to maintain that therapeutic window. Anyway, I rarely take even Wellbutrin anymore these days, because the fish and flax oils I take daily (essential fatty acids) work so darn well to control my anxiety, WHILE IMPROVING MY HEALTH! These EPA oils are said to gradually lessen anxiety, mania and depression, and they really do!
Lastly, there are over-the-counter meds such as Hyland’s Calms Forte and many other homeopathic/herbal remedies, and they work very well for me too. And no nasty chemicals or side-effects! CB says, check them out!
t
I take Fish oil and it is helpful, but I accidentally discovered something that helped me enormously. I had some serious problems come up during the day and normally that would disturb my sleep.
I had started taking Goji Berry powdered drink mix in the morning and before I go to bed. I had been on it for its anti-oxidant qualities for a few days. Much to my surprise I was calmer than normal and even though I did wake up once during the night I had this unbelievable peaceful feeling and was able to go right back to sleep. I later checked the web and found that helping to deal with stress is one of the Goji berry’s strongest benefits.
s
I use aerobic exercise such as swimming, walking, etc to relieve my anxiety and stress! Controlled breathing exercises are good too.
Larry Burk, MD
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a safe, drug-free, inexpensive method for relieving anxiety, http://www.emofree.com. It has been used successfully for PTSD in war vets, phobias, and many other types of anxiety. EFT involves tapping on 8 acupuncture points on the face and chest while repeating a short phrase summarizing the anxious feelings.
GK Pharm Student
There are numerous prescription medications for anxiety that were not listed above. These are not addictive: buspirone, hydroxyzine, trazodone, mirtazapine.
Using benzodiazepines as needed when a stressful situation arises or you know a stressful situation will arise can limit the addictive potential of benzodiazepines. For as needed use lorazepam can be absorbed sublingually (under the tongue) for faster onset of action or use without water. Several products are produced in an orally disintegrating form: clonazepam, alprazolam.
Low doses of the blood pressure medication propranolol may also be useful as needed for stage fright (giving a speech or performance, it as been studied in surgeons to stop hand tremor).
It is also important to be familiar with your anxiety. Are there triggers? If so cognitive behavioral therapy might be the way to go. Like smoking is a habit anxiety can be a habit. Stopping a link in the chain may stop anxiety from becoming unbearable.
onw
I have lots of anxieties, due to lots of changes and losses in my life. I find Ativan helps a lot. I have a minimum dose, but you do rely on it.. My Dr. said she wants me to try Bu Spar, what do you think????
KF
I took a self-hypnosis class at my local community college and found it to be very helpful in keeping me on an even keel.
crandreww
Natural Approaches to Ease Anxiety:
When I was taking a Statin Drug, Lipitor, I developed Global Anxiety, and it wasn’t until I stopped the Statin, and started a regimen of a high quality Omega 3 fish oil, that my anxiety was gone. I do know from discussing this with Dr. Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD of the UCSD statin effects study I was in, that some people are more prone to Anxiety as a result of statins effects.