Curious..anyone take anti-anxiety med for NCLEX?

cyde · Aug 6, 2013

i thought about that too @ one point. a fellow student was taking her kids ritalin for exams but i wouldn't recommend it. i stress really badly too. what i found that works for me before a test is, st johns worth, sublingual b12 and ginseng. i started taking it during child development and peds and i found i was able to relax and focus. my brain processed so much better a didn't feel the pressure. meditation helps too!! lol hope this helps.

NAM123 · Aug 6, 2013

okay.. :)

did you take all 3 together st. johns worth, sublingual b12 and ginseng..or ur just saying all of these work...I want to give it a try but scared what if it effects my ability to think..

its so sad that I feel like I have to find something to relax me.. err

cyde · Aug 6, 2013

well i would take the b-12 first then i'd eat something. after eating i'd take the herbal supplements. i did this about and 1 1/2 hrs before a test. i'm on a beta blocker so i really have to watch what i take. taking an rx like ritalin was too risky and this worked great for me. in fact i probably should start taking it now cause my test is next week and i've been a wreck for 3 days already. :wideyed: i would suggest trying it before test time and seeing if it helps.

cyde · Aug 6, 2013

awww, don't feel bad about having to find something to help you relax. some people handle this kind of stress better than others. believe me there are quite a few of us out there. and if anything the nice thing about taking herbs its that these are not prescription or addictive and don't have an effect on the way your brain processes it's just calming. my friend with the ritalin would get palpitations and jittery...very bugged out looking before testing and that's no way to go into a test. i hope this helps you as much as its helped me. keep me posted :)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 6, 2013

Personally, I wouldn't taking recommend anxiolytics before the exam. The last thing you want to do is take something that relaxes you to the point that your brain has become a bunch of wet noodles. I think you'd do far better to get a good night's rest the day before, as well as learn a few relaxation exercises that you can use to get through the test. I'm a big fan of pursed-lips slow breathing.

That being said, if you are suffering from panic attacks, you should see your healthcare provider as we can't give medical advice here.

mali_santizo · Aug 7, 2013

I'm taking a homeopathic medicine... Went to a consultation and bought the anxiety pills. With the first dose. My headache and anxiety go away

ONELUV-RN · Aug 7, 2013

I had the same issue as you NAM123. All throughout nursing school I never had any extreme anxiety with taking tests, but when I took the NCLEX the first time I did. That was the worse feeling in the world. I did end up going to my doctor and explaing the situation to him and he prescribed tranxene (about 20 pills). He told me to start taking them about three weeks before I tested so that I could know how it would make me feel. The night before I took the test the second time I took a half a pill and about 20 minutes before I got to the test site I took a whole one. I was so much more relaxed and the test actually seemed easier to me because I was able to clearly think my way through each question.

I'm not suggesting that you do this. I just wanted you to know that it did help for me. First time taking the NCLEX I had 265 questions and failed. The second time I had 75 and passed.

I truly hope that you can find something that workswell for you so that you can get through taking the test with ease.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 7, 2013

OK guys, we can't offer any sort of advice like this as it comes across as offering medical advice which is a Terms of Service violation. I suggest you talk to your PCP or NP who should be able to guide you on good relaxation methods and if necessary will look at medication. Therefore I am closing this thread