Anxiety medications--love 'em or hate 'em?

My doctor prescribed me Buspirone for anxiety, which is supposed to be fairly mild compared to other medications and actually takes about 2 weeks to start working, but it's not as addictive.  Has anyone used this type before and how did it effect you?  I'm always hesitant to take medications (other than Advil & Tylenol, of course) due to the side effects and the withdrawal effects.  I asked my doctor how long people are usually on it and she said any where from 6 months to a year.  So what is the point of getting on it if you're just going to wean yourself off it in that short amount of time?  And then you have to go through those god-awful withdrawal symptoms?  (well, I imagine they would be god-awful--I've never experienced anything like that before). 

I do want to eliminate my anxiety though, but I don't know if medication is the best route at this point since I'm worried about the side effects.  What do you think of anxiety medications, such as Buspirone?  How long do the side effects last before your body adjusted to the drug and did you have awful side effects during the first week?  Just curious to hear about your experiences.

I am interested in this too. I had been taking lexapro and it really helped at first. I had crazy anxiety and was binge eating chocolate, peanut butter and ice cream.  But it seemed to go from calming me down to making me sleep all the time after about 3 months. I am off it now and no where near as anxious as before I started taking it, but still not quite "normal."  I sometimes send myself home to work remotely for fear that if I stay at my desk at the office I will be fired for telling someone to "get off my case and go do some work of your own."  Sorry if it's TMI, but I'd like to know. What's the net positive for emotional eaters?  Meds or no?

I am on zoloft daily and have aprazolam to take if I have severe anxiety. It makes me feel like a real person. When I was in high school I had awful, gut-wrenching anxiety. I never regret being on the medication. I feel that you shouldn't have to strugle to feel okay mentally. If you have a problem, then treat it and move forward. I have no shame or anything about it :)

I'm on Lexapro and think it's great.  No side effects when I first started but if i forget to take it for a day I can tell.  I get very irritated by the smallest stuff.

i was on Zoloft for about a year and after about 7-8 months i couldn't function. it made me so lazy and tired.  That's when i got on the Lexapro and now I have great energy. I guess everyone is different and these drugs have different effects on everyone. 

I have tried a bunch of different anxiety meds, and for me I am more nervous while on them then off.  I'm overly paranoid about taking meds in the first place for some of the same reasons you listed.  Also while I'm on them I get a little panicky if I do experience any side effects.  My latest run in with anxiety meds when I had my back surgery gave me horrible vertigo if I was an hour late in taking it which would make me more nervous thinking something was going wrong.  Anyways I choose to not stay medicated but to see a cognitive behavioral therapist and try to work through my anxiety.  This of course isn't for everyone, some people probably should be on meds but they seem to make me more nervous then help me so I avoid them.

Original Post by luleelu:

I'm on Lexapro and think it's great.  No side effects when I first started but if i forget to take it for a day I can tell.  I get very irritated by the smallest stuff.

i was on Zoloft for about a year and after about 7-8 months i couldn't function. it made me so lazy and tired.  That's when i got on the Lexapro and now I have great energy. I guess everyone is different and these drugs have different effects on everyone. 

Your post illustrates this perfectly. Everyone's brain chemistry is so different. You really need to find the medication and dose that is right just for you.

I've tried more than 25 (!!!!) different medications for my severe depression, anxiety and possibly bipolar disorder.  The meds specifically for anxiety (xanax, klonopin, etc) didn't really affect me.  Right now I'm on 400 g Seroquel which knocks me out, so I guess that "relieves" anxiety.  The problem I have with all these anti-anxiety meds is that so many of them have the side effect of sedation.  On higher doses, this makes it very hard to function and get up in the morning.  But, at the same time, if one's anxiety is so bad that doesn't matter, I'd say go for the drugs.  I also think drugs are way over-prescribed, but thats another story.  Everyone's bodies and brain chemistry are different, so if one drug works for me, it might not work for you.  I STILL haven't found a medication to help me, and I started seeking help in 4th grade.  Now I'm going into 11th.