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I Have Moderate-Severe GAD & No Health Insurance & I Need Help With OTC Meds

Posted , 6 users are following.

Koinu
Koinu

So awhile back I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. Since then I've mostly overcome my depression but I still struggle a lot with my anxiety. My main (though not all inclusive) anxiety/panic "triggers" are phone calls, driving, meeting/interacting with new people in person (online I'm fine), depressive moods, and anyone knocking on the door. My symptoms include shoulder, neck, and back spasms (don't happen right away but usually within a day or so... it builds up), sore/tense muscles, hot/cold flashes, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and in rare cases passing out.

I lost a job due to my anxiety because I kept getting muscle spasms, and I just got laid off of another job so I have no health insurance, at least not where I live currently. I do have insurance in another state so I don't know if that would let me get a prescription or not without actually being there.

I've taken flexeril for the muscle spasms in the past when I had insurance, but I've never taken anything specifically for anxiety. I've done therapy, meditation, and a few non-conventional treatments but at this point I've got to do something else. (Meditation/relaxation techniques help me but I'm not always in a situation where I can use them... especially the techniques that help me the most.) It would be difficult for me to go to a free/sliding scale clinic but if I really need to get a prescription strength remedy I might be able to get to one. 

I'm hoping there's something I can try that's over the counter and inexpensive. I've looked into valerian, passion flower, and kava as herbal remedies and I've heard some good things specifically about the passion flower so I'm considering that, but from what I hear herbal remedies aren't necessarily helpful if your anxiety is above a mild classification. I should also mention weed is legal where I live but I haven't looked into using that at all since I could be denied employment if I use it (even though it's legal) so I figure it's just best to avoid it. 

So basically, if anyone could reccomend some over the counter anxiety remedies or any other advice I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • thomas96833
    thomas96833 Koinu

    Posted

    Hello,

    I am sorry you are going through this. I have dealt with anxiety and depression for around two years now and I can honestly say I have experimented a lot with both OTC meds and prescription.  Prescription never lasted long, I couldn't take to any SSRI due to the side effects. especially enhanced anxiety and depression. Fluoxetine was hell on earth, Sertraline was a little better but still side effects become worse than the initial anxiety problem.

    Passionflower has helped me greatly. I take one in the morning and one at night. It works to calm you're nervous system and mind. I find I get 5-6 hours of just quietness when I take it, clear thoughts and calm. I have taken this for about a year on and off with no side effects and I can notice when I don't take it. It's also very cheap.

    Sometimes I take Valerian root to help with sleep however I get use to it fast and built up resistance so I only take it occasionally when bad but it does significantly improve my sleep quality for a week or two at a time. I do feel a bit groggy the next morning but it wears off within an hour. 

    I have also used rhodiola to help with the stress - (not at the same time as passionflower) and you can only use this for 2 months. Didn't notice much difference to be honest. Again no side effects, not even placebo. 

    I used St Johns Wort as well. This helped amazingly with the depression, after about three weeks I can honestly say I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders and I was a lot happier / didn't feel like breaking down constantly. It didn't do much for my anxiety physically but as my mood improved, it made my anxiety easier to manage if that makes sense? - I did become very sensitive to sunlight though, just things seemed brighter.

    Also drink a lot of camomile tea and stay away from caffeine. You'll be amazed at the calming effect of camomile

    Hope any of this helps

    Best wishes

    Tom

     

    • Koinu
      Koinu thomas96833

      Posted

      Thank you for the reply! I've heard elsewhere as well that passion flower in particular is rather good and I'm glad to hear it's been helping you. I think I'll definitely give it a try, and then if it doesn't help enough I'll see about adding other herbs or trying to get an actual prescription. 

      If you don't mind me asking what dosage are you using? I've read that you're supposed to take like a 90 mg tablet but everything I've seen online has been like 300-1000mg dosages so I'm not exactly sure what to go for. 

    • racheld1975
      racheld1975 Koinu

      Posted

      This is from the Web MD page...

      The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

      BY MOUTH:

      For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD):

      45 drops of passionflower liquid extract daily.

      A specific tablet formulation 90 mg/day has also been used.

      For reducing symptoms associated with narcotic drug withdrawal: 60 drops of passionflower liquid extract in combination with 0.8 mg of clonidine.

  • jan34534
    jan34534 Koinu

    Posted

     There are hundreds of excellent audio meditations found on YouTube for anxiety, depression,sleep, many more.  They completely calm down my mind and body!

     I do them a couple times a day, especially when laying down to sleep.

     I use earbuds for a better effect. 

    They also have ocean, rain, forest sounds and more.

    And it's all Free! 😁🌸🌸🌸

    • Koinu
      Koinu jan34534

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply! Relaxation/meditation tapes help me some, but I find once the tape is over I fairly quickly become tense/anxious again. I still use the relaxation tapes, it's just I can't really rely on them in my case.

  • racheld1975
    racheld1975 Koinu

    Posted

    I have extreme anxiety and am in a similar situation, I was on medication and under a doctors care but lost my insurance. I have been without meds for quite some time now.  There is an OTC called calms forte, it is supposed to help with sleep and anxiety depending on the dosing.  I have used it before and it takes the edge off but I have severe anxiety and panic attacks with tons of physical symptoms everyday.  I would try a hot epsom salts bath to relieve tension in your muscles, it could help with the spasms, anxiety causes our bodies to tense up and that feeds our anxiety.  If you relax the muscles it can help ease the anxiety a bit.  I have looked into all of the herbal remedies but I honestly haven't used any of them because of other health issues or possible side effects.  I am considering trying Charlotte's Web CBD oil, I am not a pot smoker, and have only tried it once which caused me to have a horrible panic attack so I never touched it again.  But CBD oil doesn't have all that pesky THC in it so I am willing to give it a shot if it can help give me some relief, luckily I have an employer that is pro medical marijuana, so if it works I have no issues with it affecting my employment.  Good luck and let me know if you find anything else that works for you.

  • addie1617
    addie1617 Koinu

    Posted

    If you were to try weed, make sure you are getting the LOW thc kind as high thc can cause paranoia. 

    There is an herbal mouth spray I used years back  called "bachs rescue remedy" if they don't sell it where you live you could order it online. It's natural and definitely worth a shot. Prayers for you

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