Has anyone with anxiety/panic disorder been able to come off meds for good?

I had a doozy of a panic attack 26 years ago that triggered a severe panic disorder. It's was the memory of that intense fear just stuck with me and I was in a constant state of fear and panic. No attacks, just constant adrenaline coursing through me. I thought my life was doomed. Nothing I did would stop the fear. I tried cognitive therapy but that was useless. My doctor put me on meds and I found a good support group which helped me to go on functioning thank God. But over the years, the meds I were on would seem to fizzle out or I would try coming off of them just to see if I could do without. After a couple of weeks, I would fall right back into my panicky state which is just about the scariest place to be in. I have tried so many antidepressants over the years that now I fear my brain is forever altered which of course makes me panic! I often wonder if the next med I try will even work!

My question is, for those of you with panic disorder, have you ever tried to stop medication and not have the fear come back? I do not have out of the blue panic attacks, just constant anticipatory anxiety. My doctor years ago said it fell into an OCD disorder. Probably so because my brain can't stop obsessing about the fear. It's the fear of fear that I seem to have. I recently stopped Lexapro, the sixth antidepressant I've been on over the years and it's back again. My tolerance to benzo's is pretty high and they don't even work anymore. I'm not afraid to move on to another med but how many changes can the brain handle? I would like to give my brain a break for awhile!

Are any of you lifer's on your meds? Have you made changes over the years and found the changes to be effective? I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday (if I can make it until then) and not even sure what to try next that I can tolerate and will work. Right now I am experiencing bad withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro which is making my panic worse! My worst fear is "what if" meds stop working. It's awful.

i take high dose vitamins with my 'atypical' for what may or may not be bipolar i. one of the vitamins commonly used in orthomolecular is B3 (i take the niacinamide form), which activates GABA receptors (over time) kinda like a benzodiazepine, but is does a lot of other stuff, too...which sometimes helps ocd-type stuff.

i take mine w/ the 'miracle meds'. here's a free link: DoctorYourself.com: Andrew Saul's Natural Health Website

I have been on medication now for about 15 years. My GAD, Panic, PTSD, Bipolar and ADHD is relatively under control. I have zero issues with staying on meds for the rest of my life because i am walking chaos unmedicated. Many people take issue with having to take meds and especially if they are a controlled substance they feel like they are addicted. I am 100% dependent on my meds. I am not jonesing on the street corner for my lamictal but I would be nothing without it.

I’m trying not to take my Xanax everyday because I feel like I am starting to have a problem. I’ve been taking at least one everyday since the end of September. But sometimes as many as 3 a day. So far I’ve gone 24 hours without one and I’ve had a bout of diarrhea, and I feel anxious, and sick. I’m holding on though. I can take my night meds in half an hour. I think if I get through these first couple days it will be ok.

I know the feeling.

I ended up caving in at 2:30 this afternoon, and then around 3:30 for the second one. My anxiety was next level. I couldn’t think straight. Half an hour after the second one I completely calmed down and now I’m pretty much fine.

In other words, Xanax is bad news. At least for me. So no, I haven’t been able to come off them successfully, let alone for good.

How many mg are you on a day?

.5 twice a day. So 1 milligram. Most of the time one works fine.

Yes for over a year now

I have tried and failed to come off of mine. The depression and anxiety are real and not going anywhere.