As a fellow person with an anxiety disorder, I have to say that medications are only a short term answer to a long term problem. I have found that therapy is the best way to rid yourelf of this problem. If you can find out the source of your anxiety and create a proper stategy to dealing with the source, then your symptoms should greatly reduce. I have been on several different anxiety medications, and have found that after a while, your body will get used to the drug and you will have to either up the dose or change the medication. Finding a great psychiatrist will help you find the right medication as well as the right dose. The combination of therapy, coping skills and medications will reduce your symptoms. The therapy and coping skills will reduce the need for medications and strengths. Be patient.This whole process takes a great deal of time. So far I have been anxiety free without the use of medications for 2 years and 4 months now!
I hope you find this helpful as well as hopeful.

Since your issue is likely not acute but rather ongoing I recommend a few things. First Lexapro has been shown to have remarkable results in many areas involved with phobias. It takes about 6 weeks to really start working. In the interim I recommend asking for Xanax to get you through the rough patches until the Lexapro starts working.
I also recommend breathing exercises and therapy. Breathing becomes quicked when we panic. It is the flight or fight instinct that every animal has. The hyperventaltion can makes things worse. Until you are able to read for yourself about breathing, if ypu are in panic mode, put your hand on your chest and breath infor a count of 10 and out fir a count if 10. Do it slowly until you can quiet your mind. This exercise actually improves your blood oxygen levels which has a direct effect on flight or fight.
As for therapy, find someone who can give you tools to cope and then get deeper to find a cause.
Best wishes!

NO, you are not stuck, but taking medications is a never ending loop in the anxiety game. I suggest you get a copy of a great book that I recommend to anyone with anxiety called Hope and Help for your Nerves by Dr. Clare Weeks. This book is simply a miracle for anyone who has suffered as you have. I had terrible panic attacks many years ago before they even knew what they were about and was put on heart medications. I read this book, applied the techniques it explained and was cured. I occasionally get minor issues, but I simply refer back to the book and solve them. Medication works for a while, but when you go off it, your symptoms can return and even intensify because you have not learned how to short circuit the adrenalin loop that has been created in your body.

You can use some homeopathic products in the interim while coming off medication and learning the techniques in the book. I recommend Rescue Remedy from the Bachs Flower Essences company and also Calms Forte by the Hylands company. Both are all natural, non-habit forming and have no side effects.

Best of luck--you will conquor this if you read the book and apply its gentle and simple wisdom. I did and so have the literally hundreds of people I have recommended it to, and all without medication!

Drug therapy, as greatly helpful as it can be, can be even more effective if you add a psychiatric therapy to it. One of the more successful of these is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps you to respond to anxiety differently, so that you start having more positive reactions to it. You in-a-sense learn not to fear anxiety symptoms and learn to channel the energy from anxiety into a positive outcome. I would do a search if I were you, using "CBT" as a search term. I know it works extremely well because I'm a recovered anxiety disorder sufferer and CBT was largely responsible for my recovery.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, I WILL CHECK OUT THIS BOOK, & HOPEFULLY GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TO MY ANXIETY DISORDER!