Posted by Rick on November 4, 2001, at 21:11:43
In reply to Re: Inhibition of MAO-B Increases GABA » JGalt, posted by pat c. on November 4, 2001, at 13:01:57
Some personal experience relating to the discussions here...
My treatment has been soley for non-depressive social anxiety (although I also have mild OCD tendencies, which my very-effective social anxiety "cocktail" doesn't help at all).
The first psychotropic med I ever tried was Nardil, with as-needed Xanax. The Nardil pooped out quickly. Ironically, it didn't cause weight gain at all. In fact, I began my first real dieting attempt concurrently, and it was very successful.
After going through several other meds, I found that Klonopin was a godsend for my social anxiety. But even though I had cut the dose back fom 3 mg. to 2 mg. (it actually worked better for me at the lower dose), I still had some midday lethargy much of the time. So my pdoc agreed to let me add back some of the selegiline (which we had earlier tried very unsuccessfully as a Nardil replacement) for added wakefulness and alertness (selegiline had done nothing but make me MORE anxious when taken solo). It was a good combo, even though the seligiline detracted a bit from Klonopin's anxiety benefits even as it added the desired concentration and alertness. I've since found that 10 mg Provigil provides a similar alertness benefits, plus anxiety *reduction* and increased confidence and sociability. (Current cocktail: mainstay Klonopin 1 mg; Serzone 300 mg; Provigil 100 mg -- all first thing in a.m. at this point.)
A few more points:
-- Wellbutrin (in tandem with Klonopin) added back as much anxiety as the selegiline did, but with less in the way of cognitive benefits and alertess.
-- In the selegiline+Klonopin combo, the selegiline was really asserting itself despite that fact that I was taking only 2.5 mg/day (trying to split those pills is "loads" of fun, even with a splitter!). In retrospect, I read that people can get plenty of activation from 2.5 mg of seligiline just two or three days a week, and I believe it! Selegiline efects *really* stay with you (even the sexual enhancement, although I didn't need help in that area post-Nardil)! So if you DO take a Klonopin-selegiline combo (as I *believe* JGalt suggested -- sorry if I'm misquoting), and also experience added anxiety, keep in mind that after you've reached steady state you may be able to retain the seligiline benefits without possible anxiety side effects through minimal every-other-day dosing.
-- Since I'm always redundant, let me again point out that solo seligiline was a disaster for anxiety. I sure wouldn't recommend it as a primary AD for anyone with prominent anxiety.
-- Again, someone may have mentioned this already, but selegiline shouldn't cause weight gain.
> Thanks.
>
> Does Seligine cause weight gain like the other MAOIs? I gained 50 pounds on Nardil. I looked like crap.
>
> I heard the diet restrictions (i.e cheese causing high blood pressure) are not a factor with Seligine. Is this true?
>
> Thank you for all your feeback.
>
> Pat
poster:Rick
thread:83124
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83211.html