Get Informed: Anxiety
Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety disorders are psychological conditions that occur when anxiety, a normal reaction to fear or stress, occurs in excessive amounts or abnormal ways. Anxiety disorders commonly occur together with other conditions such as depression, may run in families, and can occasionally linked to a specific triggering event or situation. Examples of anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Complusive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and specific phobias - such as fear of social situations, confined spaces or items such as snakes or spiders.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-19 1:59 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Oct-02 9:51 PM
1 in 10 Americans have Anxiety
iGuard is currently monitoring more than 164,800 patients with Anxiety from around the United States as shown on the heat map below. These figures suggest that roughly 28.0 million Americans have Anxiety with women being 3 times more likely to be affected than men.
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
Medications used for Anxiety
Drugs commonly taken by iGuard.org users for Anxiety are listed below, together with the percentage of patients that take each drug.
|
Commonly Used Medication Name* (Hover mouse over name to see medication class) |
% of Patients | Average Risk Rating | Has Generic Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexapro | 8% |
|
No |
| Toprol | 8% |
|
Yes |
| Cymbalta | 8% |
|
No |
| Prozac | 7% |
|
Yes |
| Effexor | 7% |
|
Yes |
| Zoloft | 6% |
|
Yes |
| Abilify | 6% |
|
No |
| Xanax | 6% |
|
Yes |
| Wellbutrin | 6% |
|
Yes |
Less than 5%: Amitriptyline, Ativan, Celexa, Depakote, Desyrel, Flovent, Klonopin, Lamictal, Lyrica, Paxil, Seroquel, Valium
*This list is NOT EXHAUSTIVE - Only drugs used by a sufficiently large number of iGuard.org users are listed.
**Medications are sometimes known by different brand/generic names, depending upon how they are packaged or used.
Global Patient Feedback for Anxiety ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I started taking 10mg Lexapro about 2 1/2 years ago after a severe onslaught of shingles that left scarring on my head and forehead.
This was supposedly brought on by severe stress and anxiety.
Lexapro at 10 mg worked well for awhen I returned to a war zone and the confines of a crowded office working 84 hours per week I had to increase to 20mg.
Recently because of poor delivery I found myself out of Lexapro, anger, short temper followed.
I will resume at 10 mg and increase as required.
65 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-06 09:08:34
Question/Comment:
i have been on Alprazolam for about 3 yrs i do get panic attack
im on 2 mil 4 times a day but i do cut them in 1/2 ...i went with this problem for over a yr befor i said anything ....i would like to know is there any harm taking it like that ...i really dont want to but i know ill get a
panic attack .if i dont...on top of that i had 2 surgerys on my left shoulder
and im out of work .also im on oxycodone with asprin..and 30 mil of morphine ..i did try the fetenal patch and i was afraid of it so i did stop it
i really dont want to be on all this meds ..
im worryed about every thing im taking it does work well .please let me know if im doing the right thing
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-18 21:45:08
Question/Comment:
I have been feeling ill daily for approximately 8months now. It's hard to describe the symptoms and
my doc has run me through all blood tests etc. and all seems well. I feel depressed , but I guess who
wouldn't ,feeling ill daily. It's what's called malaise . It's just a feeling of being unwell and not feeling like
yourself.I have been prescribed Lexapro ,30 mgs daily but can't feel any difference. Has anyone ever had
anything like this? If so please reply cause I really need some help here. I've been taking off from work and
can't seem to get motivated to do anything , just feeling like hell. My wife thinks I'm depressed and I have
to agree but I don't seem to have the common symptoms. I feel like giving up but I don't want to let my family
down and it's a coward's way out I suppose.
Could this be a form of depression that is not your ordinary type? Any help or experiences similar to
this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and looking forward to your replies.
63 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-04 02:31:02
Answer/Reply:
I have suffered for many yrs with anxiety and depression and have taken alot of the meds available after being diagnosed with a chronic pancreatic disease and several other digestives problems i was put on lexapro and it really has helped. The one thing i have learned is u know your body and dont stop until find someone that will listen to you. There are so many medications out there keep on try in them until you feel it is working for you. good luck
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-18 19:57:45
Question/Comment:
I have been told by my mental health provider that I have agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, and Bi polar. I am depressed for long periods. I have been put on anti-depressants many times and they do not seem to work. I cannot function and feel awful and even had suicidal thoughts so I stopped taking them and was scolded by the doc for that and told in time they would help. So I just stopped taking all meds. I have asked for valiums repeatedly because I took 5's years ago after my hysterectomy and felt normal, not drugged. I don't understand why my doctor refuses to give me something that I know works for me and insists on all these drugs that make me feel miserable and crazy like I'm in another world, have disturbing dreams, don't know what day it is, and can't take care of myself on these drugs. I live alone and I'm afraid to take the meds they insist will make me all better. I don't like taking any meds but I really need something for my anxiety. I'm really miserable!
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-29 05:20:11
Answer/Reply:
FIND ANOTHER DR! i WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING FEELING DRUGGED AND NO ONE WOULD LISTEN. ONCE I FOUND THE RIGHT DR THAT LISTEN TO ME I WENT OFF THE MEDICINES AND STARTED OVER IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. GOOD LUCK
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-18 20:02:13
Question/Comment:
I am a 36 year old female who has been taking Lexapro 5mg every day for anxiety, and it works really well to control my anger and nervousness. I can't take more than the 5mg, because it makes me dizzy. It works well.
36 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-10 16:36:30
Answer/Reply:
Hi i am a 45 year old female who was given compazine and now im suffering from panic attack and now afraid to take any medication to help with the panic attack please give me your advice. are you able to work while taking this medication
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-24 10:00:35
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
81% of iGuard patients report that the benefits outweigh the negative effects of Lexapro. Only 5% of iGuard patients report significant side effects with Lexapro. Once you start Lexapro, it takes up to six weeks for you to feel the benefits. Side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness start first. These usually decrease as you continue taking the medication, and as the medication reaches therapeutic levels in your body, you will begin to feel the benefits. Most people are still able to work while taking Lexapro. Compazine and Lexapro do interact with each other. If you are taking the Compazine regularly, doses need to be adjusted. Please discuss your concerns and symptoms with your physician.
Posted: 2009-08-02 23:04:17
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9
Patient Comments about
Anxiety