# Is there anything OTC that I can take for anxiety? Oh yeah, that WORKS? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346 "2008-12-22T18:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/41 "2008-12-25T00:07:45Z")
I have generalized anxiety, also expericence panic attacks and I have found absolutely nothing OTC to be even remotely effective on a regular basis. Drinking a lot can help, but it’s clearly not a good idea as a daily remedy. I’m currently on Paxil and Ativan…I’m feeling a lot better and am not suffering from any noticeable side effects. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/42 "2008-12-25T05:45:27Z")
> **[Homeopathic dilutions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathic_dilutions)** > > In homeopathy, homeopathic dilution (known by practitioners as "dynamisation" or "potentisation") is a process in which a substance is diluted with alcohol or distilled water and then vigorously shaken in a process called "succussion". Insoluble solids, such as quartz and oyster shell, are diluted by grinding them with lactose (trituration). The founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann (1755–1843), asserted that the process of succussion activated the "vital energy" of the diluted substance, an Th... "[edit] _Swimming pool One illustration of dilutions used in common homeopathic remedies involves comparing a homeopathic dilution to dissolving the therapeutic substance in a swimming pool.[1] One example, inspired by a problem found in a set of popular algebra textbooks, states that there are on the order of 1032 molecules of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool[2] and if such a pool were filled with a 15C homeopathic remedy, to have a 63% chance of consuming at least one molecule of the original substance, one would need to swallow 1% of the volume of such a pool, or roughly 25 metric tons of water.[3][4][5] [edit] Equivalent physical scale of dilution For further perspective, 1 ml of a solution which has gone through a 30C dilution is mathematically equivalent to 1 ml diluted into a cube of water measuring 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 metres per side, which is about 106 light years. Thus, homeopathic remedies of standard potencies contain, almost certainly, only water (or alcohol, as well as sugar and other nontherapeutic ingredients). Homeopaths maintain that this water retains some “essential property” of the original material, because the preparation has been shaken after each dilution.[6] Hahnemann believed that the dynamisation or shaking of the solution caused a “spirit-like” healing force to be released from within the substance. Even though the homeopathic remedies are often extremely diluted, homeopaths maintain that a healing force is retained by these homeopathic preparations.[5]"_ ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/43 "2008-12-29T15:00:49Z")
I was REALLY desperate the other day. I bought the Bach Rescue Remedy - sadly, I think any benefit is psychological. I’ve been ripped off again. I also bought Green Tea / Theanine capsules in the health food section, said to “promote relaxation”. I took a couple last night at bedtime and kind of zoned out, off and on, felt similar to melatonin. Heavy-eyed. (But I had been for a loooong walk that day and may have been naturally tired to start with.) Not sure how relaxed I feel, still anxious underneath. So have you tried L-Theanine or green tea extract? Did it work? ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/44 "2008-12-29T15:23:20Z")
I have to say I am astounded that this thread has not been closed. I am happy to see many posters have prescribed the drinking, I adhere to that myself. I am dismayed to see that these same posters vilify others for partaking in the spirits. Boo. You should be ashamed. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/45 "2009-08-07T07:46:05Z")
Sometimes I find that BRAAAAAAINS calms me down. (sorry, I’ve never done that before and I couldn’t resist) ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/46 "2009-08-07T14:27:15Z")
Not that I am trying to add to add to your anxiety, **Freejooky** , but why are you **BANNED**? And how do I get that added to my username? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346/47 "2009-08-07T16:20:49Z")
\ Closed zombie before the BRAIIIIIIIINS get loose. \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-otc-that-i-can-take-for-anxiety-oh-yeah-that-works/478346.md?page=2)