Question:
I am
bipolar. I take Neurontin for a mood stabalizer, Stelazine to slow
down my thoughts, Wellbutrin for depression, and Xanax for anxiety.
I've been on the Xanax for quite some time now and ever since I
started it I am having trouble with drowsiness and actually get spaced
out or fall asleep sitting up when in a movie, in church, at a dance
recitle, driving in a car (when someone else is driving!) a stop
smoking seminar, etc. It does stop my anxiety, but this NOT ALERT
feeling is not good. Instead of trying something else and decreasing
the Xanax slowly as it is addicting, he prescribed Provigil (which I
did not fill yet)which is for excessive daytime sleepiness! AND it is
addicting. Another pill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel I already take enough
pills and don't need another addicting pill to keep me awake during
the daytime! What if it keeps me awake at night? The Wellbutrin I
take causes sleep disturbance and vivid dreams as it is. Most of the
antidepession medications I've tried make me anxious. Wellbutrin at
150 mg. seems to be ok on the anxiety end of it.
My questions really is.....is there another successful anxiety
medication out there that does not cause sleepiness?
Answer:
Well from my experience Xanax is prescribed as a PRN med, not something you
take regularly although I know it can be used this way. There are many
anti-anxiety meds out there that are not addictive and that will not make
you drowsy. There are different types of medications also... see below: BENZODIAZEPINES (which is what you are taking)
a.. alprazolam (Xanax) panic, generalized anxiety, phobias, social phobias
b.. clonazepam (Klonopin) panic, phobias, social phobia
c.. diazepam (Valium) generalized anxiety, panic, phobias
d.. lorazepam (Ativan) generalized anxiety, panic, phobias
e.. oxazepam (Serax) generalized anxiety, phobias
f.. chlordiazepoxide (Librium) generalized anxiety, phobias
BETA BLOCKERS
a.. propranolol (Inderal) social phobia
b.. atenolol (Tenormin) social phobia
TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS
a.. imipramine (Tofranil) panic, depression, generalized anxiety
b.. desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane and others) panic, depression
c.. nortriptyline (Aventyl or Pamelor) panic, depression
d.. amitriptyline (Elavil) panic, depression
e.. doxepin (Sinequan or Adapin) panic, depression
f.. clomipramine (Anafranil) panic, OCD, depression
g.. venlafaxine (Effexor) OCD, depression
MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIs)
a.. phenelzine (Nardil) panic, social phobia, depression
b.. tranylcypromine (Parnate) panic, depression
SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs)
a.. fluoxetine (Prozac) OCD, depression, panic, social phobia
b.. fluvoxamine (Luvox) OCD, depression, panic, social phobia
c.. sertraline (Zoloft) OCD, depression, panic, social phobia
d.. paroxetine (Paxil) OCD, depression, panic, social phobia
MILD TRANQUILIZER
a.. buspirone (BuSpar) generalized anxiety, OCD
Hope this helps you out some...
