Anyone taking anti-anxiety medication?

Question

I have taken anti-anxiety medication for approx. 9-10 years. Has anyone ever been able to stop taking them for good? I would like to never have to depend on them again but I am afraid of the affects it will have on me. I didn't start having anxiety until my twins were 3 years old, could I ever stop having anxiety attacks? Pleeaaasseee help me, I think this medicine is making me a zombie!!

I am presently taking Zoloft and have been for several years.

Answer 1

i was on paxil for about a year, then got off it. it's been about 2 years now since i stopped taking medication for my anxiety on a daily basis. at first it was hard, and my anxiety returned in full force. i spoke with a counselor once a week and was given these little white pills for "emergencies". eventually my panic attacks became less severe and less in number too. now i am taking no medication at all, and doing fine (fingers crossed). it's not easy to get off the meds, but it is possible. i wouldn't reccomend doing it by yourself tho, make sure you have a professional helping you.

Answer 2

see a doc when you try to come off them, you will halucinate if you are taking stuff like xanax if you come off them cold turkey,probably see demons in the clouds throwing stuff at you and here all kind of explosions and the like,best bet is to decrease slowly,say you take 1, 3 times a day then do 3/4 3 a day for week then half 3x day for week then 1/4 for 3x day for week then 1/4 ,2 times day for a week, then 1/4 1x day week, then the hard part to stop, but doing like that will make it less drastic then full blown, i know one guy went cold turkey off vallium he was taking like 100 mg or more a day, he went cold turkey and shot his shotgun through the ceiling, not sure what he seen up there but better to do it slowly than to just stop

Answer 3

wow, that it a strong one! my ex use to take that and the doctor weaned him off of it and put him on something else, ask about that.
those were his exact words too a Zombie.
I take paxil and have been for several years and I don't think that I could stop. I have tried and it wasn't good. but it doesn't make me a Zombie. I had depression. Good luck♥

Answer 4

I have to take them myself everyday. The only thing I can say is to talk with your doctor and be very truthful with them. the medication may be lowered as time goes on. This is a problem I personaly Think that as time goes and you learn when it is starting you will be able to control them better. I still have them and I personaly think that all you can do is take your medication and learn self control if you can.

Answer 5

first off all you shouldnt take any drugs because look what happens you get depended on them i am so anti medicine and will not take them and have never felt better in my life i havent been sick in two years. drug companies just want you to take pills for the rest of your life so they can make money because if everyone was healthy the drug companies would go out of business so i advise people not to take drugs for stupid little aches they will just go away on their own and your also weakening your immune system.

Answer 6

i had attacks so bad i was on meds for a year. then i decided i wanted my life back. slowly i weaned off them and tried new things. some anxiety i cannot erase like tunnels, getting really drunk. other than that i'm okay. i have an ocassional twinge back with some things but i used controlled breathing and though exercises.

Answer 7

Talk to your doctor before you do anything. But, I have been off the "happy pills" for over a year and have never looked back. It is possible, but make sure to talk to your Dr..

Answer 8

Talk to your shrink for a reevaluation of your condition. Personally you might wait until the twins finish college.

Answer 9

You mentioned feeling like a zombie...are you taking Effexor by any chance?

Answer 10

i was once told that anxiety is a psycological problem. the doctor then stated "if you still have anxiety you need a new therapist".

go figure