I have been taking pills for Generalized anxiety disorder for the past 5 years. I am taking Escitalopram Oxalate and Clonozepam on Doctors advice. My question is whether I will be able to stop these medicines one day ? or I will have to take these type of medicines for the rest of my life?
Is there a permanent cure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Question posted by Lyla123 on 18 Aug 2009
Last updated on 20 January 2023 by aggietim
12 Answers
aggietim
20 Jan 2023
I have taken a lot of drugs in my 65 years. I have ADHD which is severe, then I have Major depressive disorder and Generalized anxiety disorder. If you started to use some therapy sessions about your wishes I am sure they could be accomodated. For me the Clonazepam was not hard to quit taking if you reduce the dose slowly. If you have GAD the symptoms may come back and the same goes for the other medicines you are taking. Your symptoms might come back. If you learn some coping strategies and are confident in them you can get off at some point. You can learn to deal with the feeling. People with Major Depressive disorders are the ones that can't stop taking the medicines. You can overcome yours though with help,.
bull 4520
7 Sep 2012
No
sorry-amm
Inactive
19 May 2012
Hello Lyla123. I doubt it. Permanent is a very strong word and so I will answer no. Regards, pledge
nikicole1986
4 June 2010
Iam looking for same thing iam on 1mg klodopin right now unforunatly No there is not best anti deppresent my doctors have told me is celexa iam on it i dont see much diff tho its for anxiety and deppressioni got off my meds xanax 3yrs on it awful still suffering no med will cure u just yourself and therapy unforunatly iam sorry best wishes.
AJ011872
21 Feb 2010
I definitely recommend a good cognitive behavioral therapist to identify your triggers and automatic thoughts and teach you ways to cope and counter any negative thinking. Therapy and the use of meds is definitely a better approach than one OR the other. Eat right, exercise and get regular sleep to help reduce symptoms. Meditation and yoga are also helpful.
xckgirl
17 Jan 2010
I think that more research should be done for this. I too have panick attacks that don't stop with gad doesn't stop while the paxil I took for 18 yrs stopped working and upped it made it worse now off paxil going through friggin withdrawls from it and hopiong to god the lexapro will work I just thing that if someone important had this they probably would have this whole thing down to a science so we wouldn't have to suffer from it anymore. I wish u the best suzy
ChelseaMetherell
2 Oct 2009
Well it all depends, sometimes people can be taken off their axiety medication. Axiety can be overcome overtime. In some cases.
depends
1 Oct 2009
Junior, I also live in Australia and I agree that we have one of the best health systems in the developed world.
This is not to say that we don't have doctors who are very quick at writing prescriptions for anti-deps when patients present with anxiety/depression. Many GPs do not fully understand mental illness. They have a job to do and sometimes they see up to 60 people in a day so they do not have the time to psychoanalyze patients.
IMHO we need to take a holistic approach to GAD. Medication is a significant but complimentary part of the equation.
Is there a permanent cure for GAD? That may depend on how much you want to work on your disorder and how much mental stamina you have left.
For me, the hardest part of dealing with anxiety is the "exposure therapy". I have to force myself to get out of the house and mingle with society. The alternative is to let the anxiety win and ruin the rest of my life.
Taking Xanax (and I did for 15 years) is like a "false economy" in the sense that you end up not being able to function without it and the addiction side is pure misery.
Get the best help you can afford. If you cannot see a great psychiatrist join a support group and you get alot of value out of it. And like some people have posted here, DO exercise and eat healthy as these activities will work BETTER than the best tranquiliser on the market.
Best wishes to anyone who suffers from debilitating anxiety disorders and keep fighting the good fight!
Junior1962
1 Oct 2009
Depends
I fully agree that GP's don't fully understand mental illness. That is and has been for many years, a large part of the problem. I don't think I mentioned it before but having done 4 yrs of study in psychology I am now an associate member of the Aust Psychological Soceity and I know that they have done a lot of good work in getting some - albeit limited - access to being Medicare providers. As you would know, this means that people now have affordable access to a form of treatment that can offer more than just pills.
There is also the problem that where mental illness is concerned, there is still a lot of stigma in our society. People won't go to a psychiatrist because of this. They don't consider themselves to be 'crazy' and don't want to deal with the stigma. They tend, however, to be amenable to the idea of seeing a psychologist. Thankfully the medicare access that the psychological profession now has, is opening up a lot more treatment options for people. Trouble is, it's only a drop in the ocean compared to what is really needed. Also, the powers that be have decided exactly what therapies can and can't be offered under Medicare which means that psychologists can't always give a person what the psych thinks would be best for the person.
As for GAD - I know that there are differences in the way our brains work (I am a sufferer too). One brain structure that is affected is the amygdala and this has a lot to do with our flight or fight response. In GAD sufferers it is overactive, therefore our bodies feel heavily threatened (as though we were being confronted by a life threatening situation - like coming face to face with a tiger or something! LOL) even when the stressor is only minor. There is another part of the brain that has a stutter and this in involved in - how do I describe this - a feedback loop. It has a lot to do with why we overanalyse, always looking for a reason for the anxiety. What we need to realise is that sometimes there just isn't one. It's just the way our bodies operate. I think of it as having a nervous system that operates in a state of hyperarousal. Having said that, CBT can help to change the way we think which, in turn, can help a lot in reducing the stutter.
Whether or not medication is needed long term is really something only the person can decide in conjunction with whoever is treating them. There is no 'have to' - it is personal choice.
Regards
Junior
Inactive
1 Oct 2009
Junior & depends,just wanted to touch base with you guy's it's great to hear about how australias health care system is an get some insight. I know very little about addiction except what I 've been through personally. I have always been a happy person no mental health problems ever. Never took anything except an occasional smoke. I didn't start having anxiety problems until I met someone and fell in love with a person that did have mental problems. I would love to surf and play my guitar and record with my band. Nothing like good surf and then gettin' together with your mates and playing tunes. I was "happy" then I started taking pills for stress of work and this woman that seemed to pull the happiness from under my feet. I started taking methadone not knowing what I was doing. This started a 4 year spiral of depression and anxiety. I've had nothing but bad expierience after worse expierience.
I was put in a meth clinic and found that to be a people factory. Pay your $12 come back tomorrow do it again. Didn't even talk to a counselor for a month. Then I went to five more dr's. I quit the meth. And couldn't figure out why I felt so bad. Then it hit me. I read about the bup. Therapy $500 down and another$400 for the meds. My dr says 30 days its over. After thirty days I felt great and almost cried. I thought it's over- wrong!!! 5 days later after tapering to the letter it slammed me. I go to another dr off the internet. He seemed like a great guy even went to his birthday party and got to be "friends"with him. He came by my sailboat one day and borrowed $30,000 from me on a 90 day personal loan. Never heard from him. I went to him and got pissed and had to hire a lawyer to get 60% of my money back. This guy would still treat me for free after we smoothed it out. Then he put me on xanax 8mg a day. I read the book and asked the pharmacist and 8mg is maxed out. He then put me on some kind of phsycotopic drug called doxepin-hc,said it was to help me sleep. I took it back to him after I took one and said I don't like this. He said I "insist you need it" to make a long story even longer I was never told not to quit taking it. He never even took my blood pressure nada. I had a seizure one night woke up with four paramedics digging my tongue out of my throat. I went to another dr that told me you never take the two drugs together. Now I'm on a slow taper. I refuse to let this crap ruin my life. I'll get as low as possible and lock myself in my room for 30 days,whatever it takes to get out of this hell. My anxiety was self induced. I can understand others mental problems. If you need a drug to live take it. But i've found too many dr's around here that just take the money and run. Be careful who you deal with and personally I think the suboxone is just another scam. It is an opioid to get you off an opioid. Makes alot of sense. How bad are the w/d's. I couldn't find a rehab that would take me in so I'm on my own. A little less each day. Until you can jump off the train. Good luck guy's and god bless you all. Rstuds
depends
1 Oct 2009
Junior, I wish that I had the indepth knowledge into how our brain works. I am self educated on the matter from reading credible books and attending classes delivered by some of the best Psychologists in Australia. NOT from the internet :)
I do understand the concept of the "stutter" in the brain-only at a very rudimenatry level.
I liken cronic anxiety to being attacked by a sabre-toothed tiger but your legs are stuck in mud and you cannot escape. The cat is stuck as well and presents a constant danger.
Or, it is like that feeling when you nearly fall backwards off a ladder and there is an intense rush through your whole body. In the case of terrible anxiety-that feeling can last hours.
I my life experience I found that I had to get a good psychologist as well as a psychiatrist as the latter was mainly interested in prescribing medication and enjoying their golf lol.
Seriously, my therapist (psychologist) I see every week has been a pivotal part of my recovery.
Perhaps I should have mentioned in the previous post that I have been doing CBT and ACT therapy for about a 18 months.
My very first full-blown panic attack (in 93) lasted for 2 hours and I ended up in cardiology for a week due to traces of heart tissue in my blood. Anxiety has dogged me ever since.
Here are some sites I have found useful in my recovery. I will not post links and I am sure some of our friends from A-merica might get some value out of them. Especially a free website called... moodgym.
Try: sane.org *most of these are .com.au
blackdog institute
the happinesstrap
beyondblue
reconnexions
Good luck!
depends
2 Oct 2009
rstuds1,
it's great to hear that you have reached a point where you realise that drugs are going to f**k the rest of your life up.
Don't be hard on yourself for what you have taken in the past. We only have this moment and the future to enjoy. If you need to reflect-focus on the great times you had surfing and the value of having great friends and how they respect you if you respect yourself.
I used to be sceptical about going onto one benzo (Valium) to get off another (Xanax).
Until I realised that nobody can step straight off a large dose of Xanax without going through the most horrific withdrawal known to mankind!
When it comes to opiate withdrawal, I tend to agree with you. I used to swallow around 160mg a day of Oxycontin for the pain of two prolapsed discs in my back. Needless to say that the addiction to the drug surpassed any misery of cronic back pain. I did a cold turkey withdrawal and the worst effects were over in 5-7 days (try 2 weeks+ for Xanax).
My doctor fully supported my home-based detox from Oxycontin and I did it with the support of my loving partner who helped me through the worst of it. I would not recommend going it alone.
Xanax is like "anxiety" in a tablet. Long term use will just create withdrawal anxiety and you end up with more symptons than you started with. This is a FACT. It sounds like you were not born with anxiety so you will have a much better shot at living anxiety free when you stop the benzodiazepines.
rstuds1, please think about joing a support group for tranquiliser addiction or enrole in a course about addiction. I could have gone through rehab 20 times and failed but what made a difference was the education I received about substance abuse and recognising the difference between a "lapse" or "relapse".
If you don't understand people with a mental illness-hang around with "healthy n positive" people until you feel that you are back to the person you were before drug abuse. Then read more about mental illness if you are at all curious..
Take care and good luck.
depends
2 Oct 2009
rstuds1
I just read your post again and saw that you DO undestand people with a mental illness. My apologies for reading it incorrectly..
depends.
fragile1
28 Sep 2009
Lylal23: I too have had generalized anxiety w/panic attacks for quite the length of time. It's been approx. 2 months now that I have been taking Celexa-(citaprolam-I believe that's the correct spelling for the generic). This is the only anti-depressant that has truly helped not only w/my overall anxiety, but social anxiety and depression as well. I hadn't taken anything other than Xanax-(as needed) for my anxiety for several years as other meds. either didn't work, or made my anxiety worse therefore, for approx. 5-6 yrs., I didn't take any meds. other than the X's. Like I said, until recently, I had asked my Dr. if I could try Celexa as I read good reviews on this med for anxiety/depression and thus far, I am impressed w/the results. Best of luck to you-
Inactive
31 Aug 2009
Hi lyla, that sounds like a question for a real pro(dr. ) mental health is so complicated. I too have been on the clonazepam just to keep away from the more dangerous xanax while I detox from suboxone. I don't know your history but I would hope you could get off all chemicals one day. I guess I would ask myself why do I have anxiety??Is that a question you can answer? Dr's are business men first then dr's. If they get you well they don't make $$$. The oxalate I'm not familiar with but I wouldn't want to take it if I didn't have to have it. I hope and pray for your release of the anxiety you are going through. I think half the country is on some anti-depressant. Some good love might help. I hope you have a husband or boyfriend to help you through this. 5 years is a long time to be on benzos but it can be done by tapering down. Just don't take it until you need it and see how that goes. I know this isn't much of an answer for you but i'll help anyway I can,take care.
Junior1962
31 Aug 2009
rstuds, researchers have found differences in the brain function of those of us who suffer from anxiety. "Getting through it" isn't as simple as changing the way you think or having someone to help you through. There is a reason for it that is just as valid as having the 'flu or diabetes. I can attest to suffering with GAD for 20 yrs trying all sorts of short term drug therapies, changing the way I think, thinking I was weak because I couldn't handle stress... I now know that I am actually very strong and that I have a legitimate disorder. BUT... I prefer to take medication these days because it gives me a quality of life that I didn't have before.
I also disagree that Drs are business men. I think that is a very cynical and harsh view. Drug companies are in it for the money, not necessarily Drs. People enter helping professions for - surprise surprise - they actually want to help. WE are the complicit ones because we GO to Drs looking for the model of treating people that they are trained in - medicine.
jhymowech
5 Sep 2009
My son has also tried clonazepam, however it caused urinary retention. So, it was not an option. Also, the dosage he was prescribed was too low to be of much help.
doxipups
8 Sep 2009
Lyla, do you trust your prescriber? Do you feel that s/he truly has YOUR best interest at heart? Reflect on why you want to try to get off the meds now and discuss your options with him/her on a comprehensive plan to handle your anxiety in other ways - trying alternative medicines like accupuncture or trying other/same medications when you are experiencing an attack as was suggested earlier. Believe me, I can understand wanting to be chemical free, avoiding long-term effects, etc. But at the end of the day, I want to feel like myself and be there for myself and my family. For me, the benzo Klonopin is doing that - for now. I am sure that some day I will be in the same place you are questioning why I am facing a lifetime of anti-anxiety drugs - which is what I've been advised - on top of other lifetime maintenance medication for a missing thyroid.
If you don't feel your prescriber is there for you, go find another medical provider, and don't stop looking until you find the one that's right for you. I got really lucky and find the right one within 3 chances.
Inactive
8 Sep 2009
Lyla, I'm glad someone else looks at these dr's? The way I do. Junior seemed to disagree about dr's being business men first dr's second. Thats why they went to school in the first place to make $ mabe I just ran into a lot of bad ones their are good dr's out there but when you throw in the pharma- copanies perks billions of $ they are going tosell their products. Example suboxone. I saw dr's wanting $2,500 up front to start you on this wonder drug that in itself is very addictive and hard to get away from. Pain is pain. I have alot of friends with anxiety disorders and are taking a host of meds for it. Stats show 27,000,000 scripts for lexapro alone. Is it the way we live in this country run to the med cabinet when things go south? My love of my life committed suicide last year dealing with bipolar disorder. My heart is broken I just only wish she could have found a good dr and some meds that work and i'd still have my beautiful angel. I hope you stabilize and your mental health improves. Take what works throw out what doesn't
Junior1962
1 Oct 2009
rstuds, I am an Aussie and obviously our health system works differently to yours (I'm assuming you are from the US?). For example, advertising of drugs like antidepressants is illegal here. Also, we have Medicare which means that all Aussie citizens have affordable access to Dr's and hospital care. It has its shortcomings, like long waiting lists for 'elective surgery' but at least social class doesn't come into whether or not you can get health care.
I don't blame Dr's for the problems that people have with drugs (obviously some are better than others). I blame the drug companies and their sales reps. I don't believe Drs are given all the information.
Also, Drs have a strict ethical code, one of which is 'do no harm' (I am an assoc member of the Aust Psychological Society and know a bit about this, although I acknowledge that our code is diff to that of medical drs) so I doubt that $$$ are as big an influence as you think - at least not for medical Drs.
Part of the problem is that people go to their primary care DR for psychological/ psychiatric problems and the primary care Dr simply puts them on medication. From what people online are saying, it seems to be worse in the US than it is here, although I know it happens a lot here as well. I personally believe in a combination of drug therapy AND 'talking' (psychological) therapy. Problem is, not everyone can afford or access the psych therapy part. Esp in America where the cost of drugs appears to be sky high, leaving little cash to pay for therapy. Our fed govt funds a large part of the cost of drugs for us, so any drug on the scheme rarely costs more than $30. Also, psychiatrists can access Medicare. A couple of years ago limited access was granted to psychologists as well which has given more people access to the proper psychological health care that they need. It is nowhere near enough but at least it is something.
Kind regards
Junior
Junior1962
19 Aug 2009
Hi Lyla123
I just tried to post a fairly long reply and lost it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I suffer from both GAD and Major Depressive Disorder. I've also recently completed 4 yrs of study in psychology, my prime interest area being mental health.
My understanding of GAD is that some people suffer one episode while others have 'lifetime GAD'. I fall into the latter category *sigh*
In terms of meds: The only way to know for sure is to try coming off them. Clonazepam is a benziodiazepine and these are highly addictive. Think Valium. It is in the same class of drugs. Also, SSRI's such as the one you are on CAN bring about withdrawal problems and need to tapered to try to reduce or eliminate these.
I recently switched from long term use of Aropax (11 yrs) (the so-called poop out effect where it doesn't seem to work properly any more) to Lexapro, then to Cymbalta. The last two didn't agree with me at all and for the past week and a half I haven't been on anything. A psychiatrist has told me that if I don't take medication, I will relapse (the anxiety) within 4-5 months. However, this is the longest I've been off a/d's for 11 yrs and I want to give my body time to settle first. I'm considering going back on Aropax as I know it and trust it.
Hope this helps :)
Inactive
28 Aug 2009
Hi Lyla123 i was diagnosed with a chronic panic disorder when i was 12yrs old and am now 41. Up until 12months ago i was on xanax which is also called alprazolam. I was on a very high dose, 2mgs 4 times a day. To me xanax was a wonder drug, but i became addicted to it an went into rehab 12mths ago to detox off of it. It was extremely hard to get off the stuff. Anyway since then my g.p. has put me on valium-diazapam but i only take it when i feel a panic attack coming on, and believe me it is so much better to take it when you only really need it. i found that when i was taking it 4 times a day i felt worse. The best thing i ever did was to get off the xanax and take control of my life because xanax takes all of your control away. My suggestion is that you only take your meds when it's really necessary. i hope this gives you some insight about taking medications. take care. bevck41. :)))
inpain777
2 Sep 2009
can you tell me the difference between valium and xanax ? isnt valium more addictive ?
jhymowech
5 Sep 2009
I've had general depression /w some anxiety most of my life. I take Wellbrutin daily & Atavan as needed. That works for me but not my son. My son, now 20, has ADD and bi-polar. Though the bi-polar is relatively under control he is plagued /w depression daily & recently severe axniety especially in public. He has been thru many medications over the last 6 years. So far GABAs seem to work better than SSRIs. Recently he is taking (among others) Atavan (aka lorazapam). Does anyone know from experience how this compares with Xanax? Does Xanax help depression as well as anxiety? How does it compare for sedation?
bull 4520
7 Sep 2012
Br-md-sorry no honey
doxipups
18 Aug 2009
I can only say that my hcp has told me that I could be on meds forever. I don't mind though - they help my day to day life and I feel better. I also exercise, see a counselor and eat well. I have tried to go off the Klonopin because I've been doing all these other things and feeling well, but I end up a mess again. For me, having anxiety is not a short-term disorder, I am comfortable with the thought that I may need meds for a long, long time.
jackie sharp
3 Dec 2009
i have took klonipin for maybe 2 yrs.its the first thing i took that really has helped me (i only take it at night before bedtime,for me its been a miracle drug,but my dr. has up and left this city and ive been looking for a dr. that doesnt freak when i say something about klonipin,im going to a new dr.next week and feel like if i even mention it,he'll just tell me where to go.i know alot of people who abuse it,and in florida the drs. are careful about what they perscribe.i guess i'll just hand him my chart and let him tell me.i could tell these drs. i know why i have an anxiety disorder,(childhood trauma)but i dont think most of them give a rip.im in my 50's and just now getting where i'm open about myself,i wish the drs. would care alittle bit.past history seems to play a big part in what is wrong with a person (at least in my case)
Related topics
anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, escitalopram
Further information
- Escitalopram uses and safety info
- Escitalopram prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Escitalopram (detailed)
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