Posted by Mitch on July 22, 2001, at 12:54:14
In reply to Dopamine function in Social Phobia, posted by Else on July 20, 2001, at 17:14:22
I have SP and bipolar. From all my drug experiences and their effect on SP I would agree that meds that boost dopamine do help with SP, but they only seem to help "one-side" of the SP. That is, SP can or is a two-fold problem. You fear social situations (avoidance) and possibly you aren't *interested* in them either (no desire to *approach*). I have troubles with both of these (esp. when depressed).
The dopamine boost helps with interest-that is you WANT to do things and be around other people, but *activating* meds that boost DA like Adderall/Wellbutrin i.e., can make you MORE panicky (which can worsen *avoidance*). I found that low-dose Adderall combined with a low-dose atypical antipsychotic (in my case Risperdal and then Seroquel) worked rather well, but then you run the risk of tardive dyskinesia, and I got dystonia from Risperdal.
I wonder if a combination of Adderall (to increase approach) with Klonopin (to reduce avoidance) would be workable?? I have never been on those two simultaneously. Both are controlled substances-I am sure you would get a lot of raised eyebrows from pharmacists with that combo.
> I have been reading some vague observations about poor dopaminergic function in SP and a corelation between introversion and low dopamine levels but I can't find anything to really sink my teeth into. Would this mean stimulants would be helpful for SP (sorry if I'm a hundred years late on this, maybe I am).
poster:Mitch
thread:71110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71360.html