Posted by KarenB on September 13, 2000, at 21:16:28
In reply to Re: Squirrely? Donna Lynn, posted by Rick on September 12, 2000, at 2:03:31
Donna Lynn,
Rick's right about Klonopin - it is effective. I only take 1mg per day now and it is working well for me. You may experience a little sleepiness at first but that has slowly gone away for me after the first week or so.
Another one to try, if you are adventurous about ordering overseas meds, is the neuroleptic/antidepressant, Amisulpride. It is highly effective in low doses (50-150mg per day)for social anxiety and has mild antidepressant action. I have found nothing else like it in the States. Or...any other neuroleptics (antipsychotics) taken in low doses will work BUT most, like Zyprexa, can cause some pretty hefty weight gain, unless you are thin enough not to care. Even Amisulpride can cause weight gain, to a lesser extent and even complete cessation of menses. Sanity has it's price. Not that I mind not having periods but if you ever stop the med - it can be some kind of nightmare PMS for several months.
Ziprasidone is in the process of acceptance by the FDA and is supposed to have all the benefits of Zyprexa without the weight gain. As soon as that is released, I will try to replace the Amisulpride with this newly released med, if it is effective for me. I don't actually LIKE having to order from overseas but when a med is superior to what we've got here, that's what I'm going to take. I've lost too much time to my illness already.
Funny, what you call social anxiety, I would describe similarly in myself as neurosis. For instance, I also have wondered WHY I was concerned about what the grocery store cashier was thinking about me. It is as if I am entirely vulnerable to the judgments of strangers - whether real or imagined. Well, with the right medication, I just don't give a rip. Not in a numb, uncaring kind of way but in what I believe may be as close to "normal" as I have ever been. I have not had any emotional "flattening," I can still cry at movies, I can still get my feelings hurt but I just don't take EVERYTHING so personally anymore. If someone is watching me with my children, I don't imagine they are judging, just observing. Maybe they're even thinking, "Hey, she's having a great time with her kids." And I've got to tell you - that feels good.
I wish the best for you, Donna Lynn. Keep us posted.
Karen
poster:KarenB
thread:44488
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/44765.html