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Suggest Medication For Anxiety With Less Side Effects

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Posted on Tue, 2 Jun 2015
Question: I am trying to get off of years of taking Clonazepam. I have been given Gabapentin last year which enabled me to get off of alprazolam It also caused crazy binge eating and a 20 pound weight gain. I got off that and was put on lamotrigine last October. This helped me to bump down the clonazapem a little bit. I had eczema already and was having night sweats very bad for the last 2years ; however the rashes escalated to the point where my dermatologist said to get off lamotrigine. I was told to get a systematic workup which so far didn't raise red flags. I'm going to have an allergy workup next week. I wish there was something safe to take for my PTSD, Anxiety and Depression that would be hard on my body. As I wait for the next step;are there medications that have the least side effects that are "anti-anxiety" and apparently I was having success with "mood stabilizers". I just don't want to gain any more weight or get addicted to any other prescriptions ;especially some that might be hurting my insides (as the bad rashes were supposedly a symptom of. I am also taking a small amount of Zoloft, bio identical estradiol, prometrium and clonidine. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FEEDBACK!!



doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Drugs like Topiramate, Baclofen, Propranolol can help in your case

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. You are trying to get off from Clonazepam and have PTSD, Anixety and Depression. Gabapentin helped to get off from Alprazolam but this caused binge eating and weight gain. Lamotrigine was added as mood stabiliser but caused rashes. It is very common to have side effects of rashes with Lamotrigine. You are also taking Zoloft for anxiety in low doses.

If we consider right mood stabiliser that can help you in mood then drugs like Topiramate can be used. Topiramate is a good mood stabiliser drug that doesn't cause weight gain but instead helps to loose weight. In some studies it has been found to be useful in detox programs also so it can also help to reduce the craving of clonazepam and have added advantage in Clonazepam addiction. You can discuss about this drug with your psychiatrist.

Sertraline is a good anti-anxiety drug. The drug cause weight gain but that is not a very significant weight gain. You have mentioned that you are taking low doses of the drug. In my opinion if doses can be increased then that can help you in anxiety. In addition to this drugs like Propranolol can be used on SOS basis for symptoms aggravation of anxiety. The drug is not an addicting drug and it also doesnt cause weight gain. Discuss with your psychiatrist about this drug.

For drug craving and to get off from clonazepam drugs like Baclofen can also help. The drug is known to reduce craving and it eases the withdrawal. In various studies it has been found useful in benzodiazepines or Clonazepam addiction. This drug also doesn't cause weight gain.

So just to sum up-

Mood stabiliser drug Topiramate can help you. The drug will help in mood stabilisation, in getting off from Clonazepam and will also help in loose weight. The drug is relatively safe drug. Anti-anxiety drugs like Propranolol can be used on SOS basis. Please visit your psychiatrist for detailed prescription of the drugs I have mentioned.

Thanks I hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts or if you need further clarifications in my answer. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)
I am having trouble responding. The text I type up doesn't seem to be submitted. I wanted to add that I also have bad insomnia. I gave a more elaborate response earlier ;however I'm doing this very abbreviated one in the hopes that it will get "submitted" successfully. THANKS VERY MUCH!! XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Antipsychotics in low doses can help in good sleep

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up again

Topiramate is a good drug that causes sedation also and this can help you in sleep. For sleep you have been taking Clonazepam and other benzodiazepines which proved helpful. Other drugs like second generation antipsychotics in low doses especially Quetiapine can help in sleep. The drug would help in sleep as well as well as will help in good mood stabilisation. Though the drug is known to cause weight gain but in low doses its not significant. You can discuss with your doctor for prescription of this drug. The drug is also free of serious side effects.

Please check with customer care if you are not able to submit question or having any problems in reading your question, they will surely help you.

Thanks, Hope this helps you. Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5192 Questions

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Suggest Medication For Anxiety With Less Side Effects

Brief Answer: Drugs like Topiramate, Baclofen, Propranolol can help in your case Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. You are trying to get off from Clonazepam and have PTSD, Anixety and Depression. Gabapentin helped to get off from Alprazolam but this caused binge eating and weight gain. Lamotrigine was added as mood stabiliser but caused rashes. It is very common to have side effects of rashes with Lamotrigine. You are also taking Zoloft for anxiety in low doses. If we consider right mood stabiliser that can help you in mood then drugs like Topiramate can be used. Topiramate is a good mood stabiliser drug that doesn't cause weight gain but instead helps to loose weight. In some studies it has been found to be useful in detox programs also so it can also help to reduce the craving of clonazepam and have added advantage in Clonazepam addiction. You can discuss about this drug with your psychiatrist. Sertraline is a good anti-anxiety drug. The drug cause weight gain but that is not a very significant weight gain. You have mentioned that you are taking low doses of the drug. In my opinion if doses can be increased then that can help you in anxiety. In addition to this drugs like Propranolol can be used on SOS basis for symptoms aggravation of anxiety. The drug is not an addicting drug and it also doesnt cause weight gain. Discuss with your psychiatrist about this drug. For drug craving and to get off from clonazepam drugs like Baclofen can also help. The drug is known to reduce craving and it eases the withdrawal. In various studies it has been found useful in benzodiazepines or Clonazepam addiction. This drug also doesn't cause weight gain. So just to sum up- Mood stabiliser drug Topiramate can help you. The drug will help in mood stabilisation, in getting off from Clonazepam and will also help in loose weight. The drug is relatively safe drug. Anti-anxiety drugs like Propranolol can be used on SOS basis. Please visit your psychiatrist for detailed prescription of the drugs I have mentioned. Thanks I hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts or if you need further clarifications in my answer. Take care.