[rachel h]

What kind of meds are used to control anxiety disorders long term? I have heard that some SSRIs are now used to treat anxiety as well as depression. Do these medications tend to work very well for anxiety? Are there some that have more side effects than others? Thank you...

[sanakruz]

High doses of Paxil are effective for many, 60 even 70 mg.

[rachel h]

Thanks for your reply... I'm not too knowledgable about anti-anxiety meds...

[Nurse Ratched]

Unfortunately, SSRI's can actually cause anxiety as one of their side effects in the short term, so sometimes low doses of benzos will be used as a very short term concurrent tx with celexa or other SSRI's in the initial 2 week period or so.

[the new girl]

Paxil max is 50-60 mg/day

[MoJoeRN,C]

With extreme anxiety e.g. "panic attacks" Paxil is the drug of choice, individually titrated to therapeutic response. Stress reduction and coping instructions/groups in conjuncion very effective with enhancing, augmenting the therapeutic response. Paxil is also useful for depression when the person is a "chronic worrier" and it is the anxiety which causes the depression.

[giggles66]

I am sorry about changing the subject, but I have a question. Can someone tell me about the medication Risperdal. I know it is a psychiatric med. What mental health condition(S) is it used for?
What are the common side effects? Can risperdal help a person's ability to focus more at school? What are the long term effects if any with this medication? Thanks For Your Time

Carmen

[gingerzoe]

I work with adolescent boys at a juvenile facility. Our doc has used risperdal for treatment of ADHD the impulsive type, especially if the resident has anger problems. We have had alot of success with this and the doses are small say, .5 bid. maybe alittle higher. He does do aims(abnormal involuntary movement scale) monthly. If you are not familiar with this term it is to identify if there are side effect from the medication(risperdal is an antipsychotic) There can be irreversible side effects, but not as many as when thorazine and haldol were prescribed. Hope this helps.

[Murt]

About Risperdal:

Great drug, used a lot in Sweden.
Its fairly lenient on side effects, the main advantage is that weight gain is not an issue. The main side affect is that the consumer may get extra-pyramidal effects and Parkinsons similar symtoms, ie cant sit still etc. It also has an alleged affect on white blood cells and the should be monitore although ive never witnessed this myself.

The parkinsons symptoms can be controlled with anti-parkinson medicine, "disipal" is one drug here, cant remember the name of the active substance though.

Its mainly used as an anti-phsychotic, i presume it would help concentration in school but only if the individual was being distracted by a phsychotic disorder or something likewise.


Long term anxiety, Buspiron seems to work well,

www.buspar.com

dixyrazin (esucos) is a similar but short term & fast working drug

[FutureRNMichael]

What does everyone know about Gabitril(Anti Anxiety med, fairly new)? How does it work for long term solution to Anxiety/panic attacks?

Murt -- Risperdal is notorious for causing weight gain. Not sure where you have been but I personally know people who gained 25 pounds when they started taking the drug.