Treating anxiety with nootropics

Galaxyshock

Lately my general anxiety has gotten worse and I don't really know why. Only couple weeks ago I was feeling good but somehow my old anxious self (that I've gotten used to) has returned. Basically when I wake up in the morning I feel anxiety and it can take several hours to lessen (but doesn't fully go away). I'm already on Duloxetine and Lorazepam as medications for anxiety but they aren't really effective enough.

What nootropics are there with evidence base for anxiety disorders?

Currently I take Ashwagandha and Magnesium which help a bit I think, but looking for something else.

Galaxyshock

I ordered a couple bottles of Gotu Kola extract, it should help. I'll report back.

Neuro

I'm really sorry to hear that. Chronic anxiety can be debilitating. No idea why it would return. Maybe some tolerance to Lorazepam has developed? I don't know what would help reverse or reduce the tolerance.

Have you ever tried Passion Flower? I bought it a few months back when it was on sale on iHerb. It's been quite effective for my anxiety and works on the first day. Though, as with other substances that decrease my anxiety, I get apathetic after a few days on it. So I typically take it once a week or so.

A study found it safe to use with Sertraline for Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

This study noted that passion flower might be suitable as an add-on in the treatment of generalized ‎anxiety disorder with low side effects. Further studies with longer duration are recommended to ‎confirm the results of this study.‎

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5139955/

Galaxyshock

Yeah there's definitely tolerance to Lorazepam, I've been trying to reduce its use.

Gotu Kola extract does seem to help and things are going towards a better direction. I still have anxiety when I wake up but most of it seems to go away within 1-2 hours. With Gotu Kola I find less need for Lorazepam.

Yeah I've tried Passion Flower, it is effective similar to a low dose of a benzo, but tolerance tends to form quite quickly. I might buy some and take it every now and then when my anxiety gets worse. Maybe that way I can avoid tolerance.

Galaxyshock

Bought some Passion Flower liquid extract. I find it has pleasant anxiolytic effect, definitely feels GABAergic similar to a low dose of benzo. Taken before bed it seems to cause vivid dreams though?

Neuro

Never tried liquid myself, just capsules. What dose do you usually take? I find 250 mg to be enough, but then again I am a bit sensitive to GABAergics.

Galaxyshock

I take a 1 ml dropper of Passion Flower liquid extract, I would guess it equals to about 500 mg of extract? Not sure though.

A finnish online store sells powdered Passion Flower 4:1 extract, I might buy some as I find the anxiolytic effects beneficial both for general anxiety and to promote better sleep.

Neuro

Does the 4:1 extract have higher contents of the active ingredient? Paradise Herbs often says their extracts are 10:1 or even 20:1 but they don't feel like they're more potent, not even 2x as potent as a regular extract, for other herbs I mean. So I'm skeptical that 4:1 actually means something.

Yeah, I also find it beneficial for general anxiety. Not sure about sleep though.

Have you noticed any apathy from chronic use? It also seems to make me a bit hazy, like distant from the current experience.

Galaxyshock

Well I assume 4:1 extract should mean that 500 mg of the extract equals to 2000 mg of full herb? You're right, these can be meaningless claims. Anyways, the product I'm thinking of buying costs €12,90 for 80 grams of powdered Passion Flower extract. So even if it's not very strong I can just take more and it should still last a while.

Actually yeah, I've experienced some hazy feeling and mild lightheadedness lately, could be the Passion Flower causing this.

Neuro

Any update on this? How's Passion Flower working for you now? Still experiencing that hazy feeling?

Galaxyshock

I ran out of that Passion Flower liquid extract quite quickly. It did work, and I didn't manage to build complete tolerance despite taking several doses per day. That hazy feeling dissipated within two days after I ran out of Passion Flower.

I'm probably going to buy that powdered extract at some point, it should last longer.

Neuro

How long were you taking it before stopping? Did the hazy feeling decrease during that time? I was hoping it would go away completely.

Yeah, it should be more potent. Maybe you'll need to take a lower dose?

Galaxyshock

Neuro

Hmm can't remember, I should give Passion Flower extract a new trial, but my supplement budget is lower now so have to narrow things down a bit.

Currently taking some dual-extracted Reishi for anxiolysis and it's working very well. Feels bit of a game changer as a deeply calming nootropic. Some stay away from Reishi because it can have some anti-androgenic qualities, but personally I've never felt that being an issue.

Galaxyshock

Bought some herbal tea that contains chamomile, lemon balm and rooibos. Seems to have mild calming effect. Haven't used alcohol for over three weeks now so that definitely helps with keeping anxiety levels at bay. I sometimes drink alcohol-free beer which actually has mild anxiolytic effect due to containing hops - or maybe it's placebo hehe.