Posted by fachad on April 14, 2002, at 15:30:07
In reply to Magic anxiolytics, anyone? , posted by Thrud on April 14, 2002, at 7:23:12
I think there is always some cognitive impairment that goes along with relieving anxiety.
Here are a few suggestions.
First, with any med, regardless of what class (benzo, TCA, SSRI, etc.) always consider trying a "sub-therapeutic" dose. The drug makers set the “standard effective doses”, and they are often too high.
Maybe a drug that you tried would have relieved your anxiety at a lower dose and not caused the sexual or cognitive side effects.
I think your choices are benzos, SSRIs, TCAs, and H1 blockers.
Of benzos, I think Xanax is supposed to have the least side effects, and Klonopin is supposed to be the smoothest.
Of SSRIs, I personally don't like them, but you might be able to get some benefit without the sexual side effects if you went really low on the dose, like 5mg/day of Paxil, or 25mg/day of Zoloft.
Of TCAs, I know that doxepin at 10mg or 25mg was shown to be as effective as Valium by one study. Nortriptiline is probably the "cleanest" anxiolitic TCA, again in the 10mg or 25 mg dose range.
Finally, hydroxyzine pamoate used to be marketed as an anxiety med. It comes in 25mg capsules. They make 10mg hydroxyzine HCL tablets, but I don't think the HCL form is as good as the pamoate form.
No Holy Grail here, but maybe a low dose would allow some benefit without too much side effects.
> Hi all.
>
> Are there any drug groups beside benzos that are effective for anxiety BUT:
>
> 1) Do not kill your sexual function.
>
> 2) Do not kill your intellect.
>
> Unfortunately a broad range of benzos do this to me.
>
> Please do not suggest the SSRIs, Wellbutrin etc.: been there, hated that.
>
> I think my quest for the Holy Grail will never end....
>
> Thrud
poster:fachad
thread:103028
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103061.html