Posted by SLS on August 18, 2012, at 6:20:25
In reply to Re: Can topiramate help anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by Beckett on August 17, 2012, at 21:30:19
> Hi Phillipa, I have an anxiety disorder along with other issues. Sometimes I don't understand why I have a bad flare. I cannot handle the stress the average person can.
Have you tried Buspar (buspirone)? It works well for some people to treat chronic anxiety. There is more often than not a delay in the appearance of a therapeutic effect. It can take 1 - 3 weeks to work - just like an antidepressant. Buspar acts as a partial agonist of 5-HT1a receptors, as does Viibryd. However, it also blocks D2 receptors like a mild antipsychotic. Buspar does not inhibit the reuptake of serotonin.Most people don't regard Phenergan (promethazine) as being an anxiolytic, but I saw it work better for anxiety than did Zyprexa for someone with schizoaffective disorder. The Zyprexa had been working pretty well, but the weight gain was unacceptable. I was pleasantly surprised to see him respond so completely to Phenergan.
I wonder if Rhodiola Rosea would be at all helpful. I see a few people report that they respond to it and glean improvements in anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments. Unfortunately, I see that it is not immune to pooping-out.
Topiramate can effectively treat mixed-states in bipolar II disorder. I have seen it begin working for someone at a dosage of 200 mg/day. It completely abolished the dysphoria, irritability, and rage. This same person was then maintained quite well at a dosage of 100 mg/day. I actually gained a small amount of motivation and energy from topiramate the first time I tried it. However, it most recently was depressogenic for me when added to the other drugs I am currently taking. I think the development of kidney stones is dosage-dependent, so there are good reasons for starting at a low dosage and moving up slowly. Starting at 25 mg and increasing by 25 mg each week is a prudent pace to help prevent cognitive issues. One can use the starter-pack available that is used for treating migranes.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1023435
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120818/msgs/1023583.html