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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LucidDreamer on December 31, 2012, at 2:33:49
I need to find a med to help alleviate anxiety. I just started Parnate, but I figured I need to add something to Parnate to help with the anxiety. I've basically come down to Namenda (memantine) - NMDA receptor antagonist, Lyrica - Epilepsy drug, Zyprexa -Atypical Antipsychotic, and Geodon - Atypical antipsychotic. Has anyone here ever taken any of these drugs for anxiety? Anyone know which class of drugs causes worse cognitive impairment, Antipsychotics or Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)? I know both Zyprexa and Lyrica cause cognitive impairment, especially Lyrica from what I've read. I wanted to know if anyone who has taken either has been able to manage the cognitive dulling. Also anyone here take Geodon or Namenda for anxiety? If so can you tell me how effective they were and any side effects? Also if anyone has taken Geodon, did you start grinding your teeth at night? Any input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Posted by SLS on December 31, 2012, at 8:03:25
In reply to Namenda, Lyrica, Zyprexa or Geodon for anxiety?, posted by LucidDreamer on December 31, 2012, at 2:33:49
Everyone's neurobiology is different enough such that the same drug can have opposite effects on two different people.
Of the drugs you listed, Zyprexa was the most effective for mania for me. It was not at all sedating. It also produced a clarity of thought rather than cognitive impairments. Were it not for the weight gain and risk of diabetes, it would be an outstanding drug. From what I can see, Zyprexa makes for a good anxiolytic in certain schizoid disorders. Seroquel is probably a better anxiolytic for non-schizoid disorders. Lyrica and Geodon both produced profound cognitive impairments for me. Don't discount Neurontin. It might have some advantages over Lyrica in terms of reducing anxiety without the feeling of "getting high" that sometimes accompanies Lyrica - especially early in treatment. I get the feeling that Neurontin produces a more stable an persistent anxiolytic effect. Supposedly, Namenda can actually cause anxiety. I am not familiar with its use as an anxiolytic.
Other non-benzodiazepines drugs that are compatible with MAOIs:
Doxepin
Perphenazine
Hydroxyzine
Phenergan
Buspar
Seroquel
Propranalol
Trimipramine
Amitriptyline
Baclofen
GabitrilIf you have PTSD, you can add prazosin.
If you have GAD, Nardil is probably more effective than Parnate.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on December 31, 2012, at 9:40:11
In reply to Re: Namenda, Lyrica, Zyprexa or Geodon for anxiety?, posted by SLS on December 31, 2012, at 8:03:25
In all seriousness why are so many anti benzo? Once years ago even 12.5mg of seroquel literally left me speechless unable to speak in a hospital. But I think they had given me 50mg with benzos that night. But the addition of the seroquel the docs immediatedly discontinued it. With the diabetes and other side effects of the antipsychotics why them? I know neurotin helps a neighbor sleep but she also takes xanax. What used to be good meds are now considered by many to not be good. It gets very confusing. Phillipa
Posted by baseball55 on December 31, 2012, at 19:01:34
In reply to Re: Namenda, Lyrica, Zyprexa or Geodon for anxiety? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on December 31, 2012, at 9:40:11
My p-doc was very resistant to prescribing me benzos because of a history of substance abuse. He prescribed low dose seroquel instead. Then, after a few weeks, I went to my appointment and he said, you've gained weight. Let's get you off the seroquel. I hadn't even been aware of the weight gain, but had gained huge amounts of weight on other AAPs and had finally lost most of it. So I appreciated his being cognizant of this.
I take xanax for sleep (I used to take ativan, but it only lasted a few hours) and without a sleep aid I am disabled by insomnia because of parnate. I've never had a problem, only take it before bed and, if I run out because of taking a double dose (which I sometimes do if I wake in the middle of the night), I am fine (though sleepless) until I can refill the scrip.
But I had a friend who took xanax for years for panic attacks and needed a 30 day rehab to come off it. For months, she was not herself. And she never abused it. Took it exactly as prescribed.
So we all respond differently.
Posted by LucidDreamer on December 31, 2012, at 21:24:11
In reply to Re: Namenda, Lyrica, Zyprexa or Geodon for anxiety?, posted by SLS on December 31, 2012, at 8:03:25
Thank you to those who responded.
Posted by rjlockhart37 on December 31, 2012, at 22:34:14
In reply to Namenda, Lyrica, Zyprexa or Geodon for anxiety?, posted by LucidDreamer on December 31, 2012, at 2:33:49
Zyperxa and Lyrica....tell your docotr to start zyprexa for ... racing thoughts or something...lyrica is used for anxiety offlabel but it is vary effective in some cases.
Both that combination im 90% sure that will help. It's just getting the doctor to write the script, play chess and checkers with them....
I'm on zyprexa 20mg....it wipes my mind out...no anxiety, sometimes no thought either...lol, but lyrica is hard to describe...its vary similar to nuerontin....it has a calming effect with mood elevating stuff in some people. Really go for lyrica...if zyrexa can't be prescibed.
r
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