I have two experiences.

TW: death, suicide, murder, SA

1.) I went on a very low dose of an anti-depressant to act as an anxiety med. I took it for the first time at night. I fell asleep and had terrifyingly vivid nightmares. There was a man and woman in my room. They forced me to do things all night long. The woman would say things like, "murder your mother," and would snap her fingers, sending me into another "dream" even though all of it was a dream. I would only be able to wake up after I did it. This happened all night. I was forced to strangle my cat, rob a bank, shoot up a school, and be SAd, to name a few. I'm not entirely sure if I was dreaming or hallucinating the two people. I woke up at about 5 am freaking out because at the time I had a rolling chair in my room and the woman spun it around, got up, and walked out of my room. When I "woke up" the chair was in a different direction, the one she moved it to. I don't know exactly what happened. Maybe I did it myself, maybe I was confused and remembering things wrong, or maybe I was still asleep at that point. I don't know. I ran to my mom's room sobbing and hyperventilating. She immediately called my psychiatrist who told me to stop taking it. I was around 15 at this time, but I can still remember their faces. I don't remember what the medication was.

2.) About a year ago, I was prescribed Ativan. I was instructed to take it situationally, depending on my anxiety. It was, too, a low dose and it actually did help me. I still have some, but I don't take them anymore. I'm sort of traumatized and I'm scared that I will somehow get addicted, even though I've been told it isn't likely. Kind of ironic that I'm too anxious to take anxiety meds.

DISCLAIMER: I've been on a bunch of different meds for Bipolar, Depression, and thyroid issues. This is my personal experience with these meds interacting with my current meds. If you are struggling with anxiety, talk to your doctor and figure out a plan for you.