In the past I used prozac (an SSRI) briefly and it didn't impress me with its effectiveness. I did a little quick research on SSRIs and the side effects include causing anxiety, causing mania, causing digestive problems, and causing loss of interest in or ability to perform sex. Those are just some of the listed side-effects. Doesn't sound like fun to me. To me anxiety symptoms are not indicative of the use of any anti-depressant since anxiety points to the need of a calming med like xanax. Since anti-depressants are mood elevators what good would they do for anxiety, he thought to himself. Proceed with caution! disclaimer: I'm a BPI and I never met a tranquilizer that I didn't like!

I liked Lamictal (sort of) but I found that it wound me up too much... I barely slept on it.... AD's really, really. really get me going

I know benzo's are controlled now but I agree with Tommy they do have a place I think in treating anxiety

I'm on Tegretol and it helps me as well with calming.... Gentle hug sweetie.... Anxiety sux.....xo

Ive been on lamictal for over a year now and have been the most stable i have been in years. its just been my anxiety has been out of control and no matter how much i try its just not going away. I even jog for an hour a day and still no relief. I'll let you guys know how it goes. thanks suncloud and tommy x

Hi bi take Prozac 40 mg which is an ssri. But I also take gabepentin and visteril two or three times a day for anxiety. The convo is working fairly well for me

I’ve been in lamictil for 3 yrs n Geodon also
They both really have helped me a lot
I take Valium 2 mg 3 x day PRN
I’ve been taking celexa for 9-10 yrs
I like it
Hope your anxiety calms down

Pdocs like to try SSRI's for Anxiety before RXing the big guns, Benzo's. They don't always work all that well, and it can depend on you cocktail of meds most of the time. All you can do is try it and see. Unfortunately SSRI's take a little while to build up to therapeutic level in your body, so it can take some time before you notice a difference.

Personally I use Klonopin for Anxiety and always have. My BiPolar Cocktail has too many Mood Stabilizers and Anti-D's in it for one of them to cover my Anxiety issues, I have to use an actual Anti-Anxiety med.

If I may ask what is your normal Anti-Depressant in your BiPolar Cocktail that you take with your Lamictal?

The dr prescribed me Lamictal and Seraquel. I only take the seraquel when needed as it makes me feel very hung over and gives me anxiety. I also have olanzapin but I’ve only ever had to take it once. So for the last year I’ve only been taking Lamictal and it’s kept my moods very stable. Apart from the anxiety of course. I have a healthy diet and run for a hour a day but it’s not enough to keep the anxiety away unfortunately.

So you've been formally Diagnosed BiPolar and you're not on an Anti-Depressant...bout time they added the Lexapro. You've got a Mood Stabilizer on board and RX'd 2 Anti-Psychotics, neither of which are you taking regularly or correctly. As for the Seroquel, it's an anti-psychotic and not a PRN medication, meaning you're not supposed to take it, every now and again when you need it. It does have a drowsiness side effect that wears off the longer you take it and as your dose gets moved to a therapeutic level. When BiPolar you really need to take your medications properly, that cocktail is what gets your brain to a Stable level and gets you to a regular, productive life.

Have you talked to you Psychiatrist about your meds and the fact that you don't take half of them as prescribed? He really needs to know what you're taking and what you're not, it's the only way he can make informed decisions about your care. And some of these meds can cause manic eps or depression if taken together or not with the correct other kind. Meds and taking them correctly when BiPolar is a really big deal.

Take care,
Kat

Hi Kat,

I have a great Psychiatrist. He knows what I do and dont take. I have been stable for over a year now just taking the Lamictal and I havent had any manic episodes apart from very small hicups but nothing major. The reason im taking the Escitalopram now is because my anxiety was getting out of control. Im on day 3 now of the Escitalopram and I have the worst headaches. And I never get headaches, he said it will pass as my body adjusts.. When i take the medicine at night within 30mins or so I feel drowsy and surprisingly quite calm.. I'm really looking for ward to the benefits to kick in and go a day without being anxious