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Suggest Medication For Persistent General Anxiety Disorder

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jan 2016
Question: I have been suffering from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) for over 30 years. I had been on Lexapro and Xanax for quite some time at least 20 years, and it was working fine. Last October 22nd I had a major anxiety attack due to changing jobs and it the Lexapro and Xanax did not work to get me anxiety under control. My doctor thinks that I may have plateaued on those 2 meds and has switched me to Brintellix and Klonozepam. I have been on the new meds for the last 2 weeks and they seem to be working better than the Lexapro and Xanax. I will be seeing my doctor next week to see depending on how I feel if we will need to teak the dosage especially of the Brintellix to get the anxiety completely under control. I am wondering if the Brintellix is better than the Lexapro and will work better. My email is YYYY@YYYY
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Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
both lexapro and brintellix are good

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us.

It is good that your problem responded well to brintellix. Lexapro is approved for depression as well as for GAD, while brintellix is for depression. It is used for GAD off label and effective also. As such no one is better than other from its effectiveness point of view. Advantage of Bintellix is very less sexual side effects than those of lexapro. Maximum dose of brintellix is 20 mg and at higher dose it gives better effects. So you can ask your doctor to increase the dose if you are not 100% improved.

Xanax and klonopin both are benzodiazepine. I always prefer klonopin over xanax as it has low dependence potential and long half life. So that change from xanax to klonopin is also good for you. Your doctor is on absolutely right track.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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Suggest Medication For Persistent General Anxiety Disorder

Brief Answer: both lexapro and brintellix are good Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thanks for writing to us. It is good that your problem responded well to brintellix. Lexapro is approved for depression as well as for GAD, while brintellix is for depression. It is used for GAD off label and effective also. As such no one is better than other from its effectiveness point of view. Advantage of Bintellix is very less sexual side effects than those of lexapro. Maximum dose of brintellix is 20 mg and at higher dose it gives better effects. So you can ask your doctor to increase the dose if you are not 100% improved. Xanax and klonopin both are benzodiazepine. I always prefer klonopin over xanax as it has low dependence potential and long half life. So that change from xanax to klonopin is also good for you. Your doctor is on absolutely right track. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.