Brief Answer:
Information on available and helpful treatments and their effects given below

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Xanax is tranquilizer and improves symptoms of anxiety very effectively. The downside of using it is the fact that it causes dependence. This means you will get used to it and require it daily and higher doses with time because your body develops tolerance to it. Many people that do this they end up drugged and in a much bigger problem than just anxiety. So it does not cure anxiety it just improves symptoms and makes you dependent on it.

There are other treatments available that help with anxiety that help cure it and do not cause dependence. They are called SSRI and there are several in this group, paroxetine is one of them, citalopram as well. You can talk with your doctor to prescribe you one of them. They take 1-2 weeks to help with the symptoms so you will not notice the full effect in the first 2 weeks (and some patients may get even more irritable the first week) but after 2 weeks you will start to feel much better. The first week that you are taking one of these drugs you can take Xanax when you have problems so to help you tolerate them better but you should not use Xanax after the first week you are on SSRI so that you avoid dependence.

There are other medications as well that the doctor can add if one drug is not helping like mirtazapine. It can be combined well with paroxetine or citalopram and does not cause dependence.
All these drugs are started in lower doses and than gradually increased till you find the dose you need and if you decide to stop them (which is not recommended to be done earlier than a year), you should first gradually decrease their dose for 1-2 months before you stop them otherwise anxiety comes back even worse than when you started them. So you should not abruptly stop them other than in cases of allergy to the medication.

Generally medications are well tolerated and if used as recommended are very helpful in controlling symptoms of anxiety. It just needs patience and a good cooperation with your doctor and follow up for dose adjustments.

Other than medications you may benefit a lot from counseling. It is proved that combining medications with counseling helps anxiety improve faster. You will need to also talk with a counselor and have 1-2 sessions a week, as the counselor thinks is a need for you.

Meanwhile it is recommended that you have an active life, be involved in activities that you enjoy and that are healthy, sports are recommended, going for walks. Meeting people you love and spending time with them, resting in weekends or recreational activities in weekends, etc. Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs worsen anxiety and in some cases may even cause anxiety.

If you have suicidal thoughts you will need to see your doctor soon, as this is due to anxiety and there are treatments available to effectively treat it.

If you have never had a TSH test to rule out thyroid problems please do so because thyroid may cause anxiety that is difficult to treat.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD

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