I have read that one of the risk factors of anti-anxiety medication is a possibility of seizures?

Question

Is that risk factor a very common one. I have been dealing with anxiety issues for quite some time but am afraid to go on medication due to the possible side affects. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

the side effects are very possible but if they bother you your dr. will change them for you. Trust me its worth taking the risk to get the treatment you need

Answer 2

I was on Seroquel back in 1999 and I developed a seizure disorder. However I tend to get the very rare side effects and I am extremely medication sensitive. I was also on many other things for depression and anxiety. At one point that year I was on seven meds all at once.



I think if you are suffering from anxiety you should look into Xanax or Ativan. I never hear anything bad about Ativan and I take Xanax. The main problem with Xanax is that you eventually build up a tolerance to the drug and need more of it to get the same effect.



Try to request an anti-anxiety medication that is not a multi-purpose drug, meaning that it's not used for depression and/or manic depression etc. I think people tend to have more problems with antidepressants meds. Everyone has a different body chemistry and tolerates medications differently. My suggestion is that if you are concerned you ask your doctor to start you on the lowest possible dosage and increase your dosage slowly over weeks.



If the medication doesn't work out and you have side effects from it the worst thing you can do is to wean yourself off too fast or quit cold turkey. That is when you are most likely to develop seizures. The brain is not something you want to mess with too much. You need to be careful anytime you take these medications. Most meds cause side effects like fatigue, weight gain or weight loss, increase in anxiety or depressive symptoms including feelings of suicide.



Seizures are a RARE risk factor of medications. I do suggest that if you feel you are at risk that you stay away from Seroquel and Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin is used for depression. I myself like Xanax because it hasn't caused me any negative side effects and I have tried just about everything else.



Good luck!

Answer 3

The side effects listed with medications show all symptoms that developed in the group studied in the safety tests for the medication. If one person got an infection, infection is listed. If two people hasd seizures, that will be listed.



It's not known that all side effects were actually caused by the medication, only that they occurred during the testing.



I'm currently on Seroquel, which has a proved side effect of causing diabetes in some people. I'm also on Trazodone, which can have some nastier ones. What I decided is that I need to control my mental illness. If the risk of the side effects is low, it's worth it. It's also worth noting that many side effects disappear when the medication is no longer taken. If a side effect shows up, I'll change meds.



--Dee

Answer 4

I currently suffer from panic disorder and take Klonopin once a day and Xanax as needed. I noticed that both of these medications had seizures listed as both a side effect AND a withdrawal symptom, so I asked my doctor about it. He says the risk of seizure from either taking or withdrawing from the drugs is extremely low. He explained that I'd have to be on an insanely high dosage before he'd consider me at risk for seizures.



For most people, the side effects are tolerable, not severe, and disappear after a short while. Still, if you are very concerned, talk it over with your doctor. He or she may recommend something else for you.



Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

Answer 5

It you read the inserts in most drug packages it will tell you the same thing. Just like they have to warn you that antidepressents can cause suicide or suicidal thoughts. A friend of mine who does suffer from seizures was put on a antidepression/anxiety drug to help control them. I think that risk factors play a big role. It this is a real concern talk to your doc about it and make sure you tell them about any other medications you are taking or medical history.

Answer 6

No it's not a common side effect. If anxiety is a major problem give the medication a try, your Dr will monitor you to make sure all is ok.

Answer 7

Hi,

let me give you an example, Zyban the antidepressant for quitting smoking... if a person has a "history" of seizures they cannot take this, the best person to talk to about this is a Pharmacist, they have so much knowledge.



talk to your pharmacist.

Answer 8

ANXIETY MEDS -MANY TYPES AND DOSES SIDE EFFECTS ARE DIFFERENT IN EVERYONE --HAVE YOU TAKEN ANXIETY MEDS BEFORE --ANY SIDE EFFECTS --OTHER MEDS --FOR MENTAL ISSUES --ARE THERE ANY PREVIOUS SIGNS OF SEIZURES OR BLACKOUTS .TALK TO A DOC FOR A CLEAR ANSWER