What's the most effective medications for generalized anxiety disorder that aren't addictive/min. side effects

I'm 38 years old and have tried many medications over the years that, unfortunately, haven't been effective. Most of those medications were for depression (Paxil, Wellbutrin, Remeron.) The side effects for those medications made them not even worth taking. (e.g. got more depressed, felt like I was mentally numb and emotionless.) So, my psychiatrist is now focusing on my anxiety, which seems to be my prominent issue. He is thinking about putting me on Gabitril or Neurontin. Any thoughts on those medications--my big concern is side effects/effectiveness?

The only medication that works for my anxiety is klonopin. However, I'm concerned about its addictive characteristics.

My primary anxiety symptoms are an overactive mind that won't turn off, heart racing, chest pain, stomach problems and insomnia. Would you have any suggestions/feedback on effective medications for me with minimal side effects? (FYI-I'm also exercising, meditating, etc.) Thank you very much.

I have had success with Effexor with is primarily used to treat depression, but I had little success with others. I did experience some side effects however after about a week, these subsided. Most of these drugs are not addictive in themselves, but as someone with generalized anxiety, you know yourself that you will become dependant on them. For me, I weighed the pro's and con's of needing a drug vs. not being able to be a productive member of society, I decided that it was in my best interest. Prozac is another drug that seems to be successful with anxiety.

Something else to consider is cognitive-behavoural therapy. Since you are already meditating youseem to be open to these concepts. This therapy helps you to change your thinking while you are experiencing anxiety ie: changing negative thoughts to positive I spent a few sessions with a psychologist to learn these techniques, and found them quite useful. Hope this helps!

well for me prozac has worked very well mayb ask your doctor about trying it? good luck tho

The truth of the matter is finding the right medication for you is a trial and error process. What medication works great for one person may not benefit you at all. I am not a medical profession by any means, but you may not be giving the meds you have taken in the past a fair chance, because some side-effects go away. Every medication on the market does have side-effects. You really cant escape that. It has been known that it can take up to six weeks for some meds to start working. If you have a history of substance abuse, I would highly recommend that you do not take klopin or anything else that has addictive possibilities.

Try a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy when the anxiety starts to pull you down. It will lift your spirits and stop that panicky feeling within seconds, gives you time to take deep breaths and stops you loosing the plot.

oxypitan not really strong just relaxing, but all those medication can cause aduction !! Don't take prozc cause this is really strong ...

Man, are you my clone??? I have everything you got - I too tried all meds, none worked. Paxil was the worst, tore my stomach up.

Finally I found something that DOES work. Cymbalta. No side effects (for me anyway) and quick to work. I also take Klonopin as needed for "bad days". These combo's have been a miracle.

I don't take Klonopin all the time. It freaks me out that its really a seizure drug. And since my anxiety revolves around fear of health problems, that adds to it. It does give me a peaceful nights sleep.

You should really check out reducingstress.net.(http://www.reducingstress.net ) There is a lot of great content, information articles and links on the subject there.

I am 44 years old and tried many medications for GAD and finally found the one that worked for me - Effexor XR. The only side effect that I had to deal with was that it tended to make it more difficult to have an orgasm during sex for the first couple of months. Apparently it wasnt just me, because several reviews I have read of the medicine stated the same thing. It did NOT reduce my sexual desire and it did NOT cause a problem with getting or maintaining an erection. It just took much longer to reach orgasm. However, after a couple of months, that side effect has now subsided and I am back to normal. It was a small price to pay for finally finding a medication that really worked.

Well I take zoloft and it helps alot. I'm like you, not so depressed as just anxious, but the zoloft helps with that and doesn't make me feel wierd. I also take a .25mg xanax at night and I sleep well and that makes me more ready for the day when I wake up. The key to not getting addicted to a drug is to start out with the smallest dose. I was prescribed xanax .25 mg. 3 times a day as needed. I only need the one at night and it does the trick. I am still on that same prescripton 2 years later. I took it like I was supposed to and it was and still is sufficient for me. P.S. I also have taken prozac and wellbutrin and they made me feel totally wierd, but the zoloft doesn't.

I take prozac and that helps a lot. My psychiatrist also prescribed me Ambien for sleeping, and I find that if I get enough sleep, I don't feel so anxious all the time. Prozac can have adverse sexual side effects, but I haven't had any issues with it. Adavan is also good for anxiety, and I think that has very minimal side effects. Good luck!

Read slowly...

1. Relax your eyebrows as you read this sentence;
2. Relax your eyelids, but don't close them;
3. Touch the tip of your tongue softly to the roof of your mouth and let your lips relax;
4. Gently raise your eyebrows;
5. Gradually let your lips form a soft smile;
6. Feel your cheeks pull the corners of your mouth up as the smile becomes "brighter". Feel the warmth on your face;
7. Breathe the smile in with a deep inhalation....;
8. As you breathe out, let your face relax completely again, and feel the smile wash down your body, through your feet and into the earth.

Repeat as necessary.
(You can read this by yourself orally, record it, and play it to listen as a meditation )
The trick is : breathing in and breathing out deeply and slowly.

look at the information on my page.

Gooday. There is no medication that will work for anxiety, every doctor and psychiatrist knows that. The treatment that has the highest cure rate is eft, emotional freedom techniques. It is free, you can download the free work manual, or have a practitioner treat you. If you cant understand the work book you only need email them and they will tell you what to do. I have seen people that have suffered for years cured permanently in 10 minutes. It works for nearly all anxiety, depression, stress etc.

Lexapro it is combo anti anxiety/anti-depressent it has min side affects and is non narcotic (not addicting). As a former drug user and a memeber of 12 step programs I really recomend this medication.