To @summertime4 and @annedodrill44: I would like to share my experience with you, in the hope it would be of some help. I have suffered from severe anxiety and depression for more than 25 years. During this period I have been prescribed several drugs including Elavil, Lexapro, Pregabalin, Effexor, and several different Benzodiazepines. I have suffered several relapses, as my illness has become more severe with increasing age. It is a bit of a miracle I am still alive, and doing well on a cocktail of drugs. For the last three years, my condition has been stable and the quality of my life has been good.

Switching gears, I can tell you how the various drugs have affected me and my illness. First, Elavil has been of great help, though it has several unpleasant side effects at the dose I am taking. It is very effective for severe depression and anxiety. So if it suits you, it may be a good idea to continue it, if it's OK with your doctor. Second, Lexapro, which, too, I am taking. It is one of the best drugs for anxiety and depression. It has almost zero side effects, which is a great help. Third, Effexor. My doctor prescribed it to me about four years ago. I was on it for only three weeks, at the dosage of 75mg for 2 weeks, and 150 mg for 1 week. Those three weeks were probably the most horrible weeks of my life. I suffered unbearable anxiety and restlessness, to the extent that I became suicidal. I stopped it against the advice of my doctor, who still wanted me to continue with it. It was the right decision, which saved my life.

But even the withdrawal from Effexor was extremely severe and continued for about 2-3 weeks, during which the doctor tried various anti-anxiety drugs to control my suffering, including Seroquel and Klonopin. Seroquel had a negative reaction and severe side effects of its own. In the end, only 2 mg Klonopin worked, and my condition came under control. I still remember that day, four years ago, which I see as the day when I was born again, or as the day God gave me another life.

After that, my condition started improving steadily, and by the end of 2015, I was in a good shape. Since then the quality of my life has been improving steadily. About a year ago, I added 150 mg of Pregabalin [ Gabapentin is an older and less effective version of this drug ] to the cocktail of my drugs. It has had an extremely beneficial effect, and the quality of my life has improved further. Now I travel around the world, play sports with my children, enjoy food, movies etc. My mood, appetite, exercise, and sleep are very good.

I don't know how long this will continue, and whether I might suffer another relapse in the future. But, then, who can say what will happen tomorrow? I am trying to live life one day at a time, and not think too much about what might happen tomorrow [which is one of my bad habits!]. Hope my experience will be of help to you. I will pray for you and may God bless you.