Hello. My wife has been taking a prescription medication called petril beta 20 to treat her anxiety. She is better and would like to stop this medication. Can this medication be stopped by lowering the dosage and eventually stopping completely? We are planning to consult our doctor about this but looking for some clarification here too.

Mr. Saul PereiraPsychologist50yrs exp

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Yes, you must consult your doctor who is the best judge to assess her condition and decide when she should come off of the medication, or how to reduce it gradually. Please do not attempt to reduce it on your own. Anxiety has all to do with fear and your inability (or so you would tend to think) to handle the same. Fear is based on looking too much into the future and imagining things that usually do not tend to happen (usually 90% of your fears will not happen). She needs to change her perception of the fearful stimulus then she can change her response to the fear. The first one is the best and will preempt the need for the second. If she has already far gone into the reaction mode, then she needs both responses to counter the attack. The way we see things in life (like half empty or half full glass) is very dependent on our attitude. Attitude may have developed over many years but fortunately can change in a matter of sustained choices made and acted up on now. Accordingly, she chooses to see things as either threatening or as an opportunity. The opportunist will be positive and work with the situation to make good out of it. The individual who sees it as threatening, will, out of fear, try to avoid/run away from the situation or react with anxiety. Yes, self-belief does impact it too, but you can see that prior to that, perception will tarnish the belief system too. Here, you can see that all the resolution lies in just changing her perception/attitude, even if it is against odds. Changing her response, despite the perception, is building up of her reserves and resources to handle any contingency that life throws up at her. And life throws up situations quite regularly and heavily. For this she needs to develop a fit mind and body: the former, by meditation and mind exercises; and the later, by exercises and proper diet. She needs good sleep too. Included in the development of the mind is the handling of emotions, in her case, fear. These changes will give her a handle on life and her perceptions and responses. Prayer is really powerful, if she is a spiritual person. Repeat some personally framed affirmations that are geared to calming you down and building confidence. Do a personality development course too. Anything that develops you personally will be of great assistance in building resilience. I know she has improved but you can never say if she is just adapting well. A counselor will help her identify the fear problem and help her deal with it appropriately. The counselor may be able to advise about consulting a doctor about stopping medication.  

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Dr. Saranya DevanathanPsychiatrist50yrs exp

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Dear Lybrateuser, Sabah's anxiety would have been diagnosed and treatment plan must have been made by the doctor. She/he must have prescribed petril beta for certain number of weeks. Definitely petril beta can be stopped completely if Sabah learns to manage her anxiety in any relaxation and therapy method. 

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