Are There Any Medicine Left That Can Fix My Anxiety?

Posted on Mon, 2 Sep 2024

Question: Hello doctor, i suffer from anxiety disorder since many years and have tried taking treatment multiple times using different SSRI & SNRI meds. however all serotonin acting drugs aggravates my RLS symptoms so as a last option, i was prescribed bupropion 150 XL , its been like 2 weeks but i don't feel anything except that my RLS is disappeared, on top of that this medicine cost a lost so just to control rls symptoms this is not an good long term option for me. I have RLS due to dopamine imbalance, no other cause got ascertained after several tests, there are also mild neuropathy symptoms as well.

So my major ques, is are there any medicine left that can fix my anxiety?? I have mixed general & social anxiety, my life is crippled as just any thought gives me internal XXXXXXX heart attack like feeling, heartbeats increase , also hands and feets gets cold. I am so tired looking for relief but this RLS have caused an hindrance to my treatment.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (71 days later)

Brief Answer:
Anxiety and RLS

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If your anxiety is under control and your main issue is RLS then yes we can focus on conventional medicines for RLS like-

1) Pregabalin can be used. Pregabalin can help in reducing the RLS and should help in anxiety too.

2) Vitamin E supplements too help a lot in RLS

3) Other anti anxiety drugs like Flupentixol and Melitracen combination. This FDC has great effects in anxiety and helps in RLS too.

4) Low dose benzodiazepines like Etizolam or Clonazepam can help in RLS and anxiety too.

You can talk with your doctor for these medicines.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Thanks for your reply doctor, can sertraline be tried in my case? I am pretty sure that it will aggravate my Rls but my anxiety & espc. mood swings sometime gets on worse side so doctor recommended me sertraline but i haven't tried it due to fear of side effects such as rls aggravation & sexual side effects offcourse. I am looking for long term safe option considering side effects profile, eventhough i understand there aren't much options left in my case.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Anxiety and RLS

Detailed Answer:
Hi, again

Yes Sertraline can be tried for anxiety. But if you have tolerated other SSRIs in past only then we can think of starting Sertraline. A lot of individuals, when Sertraline is started develop side effects like gastric upset, restlessness or even sometimes RLS symptoms.

For anxiety yes you can think of Sertraline but relatively higher doses shall be needed.

For RLS other drugs which I have mentioned can be kept in option.

Thanks, Best regards.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Saisudha Kotla