Posted by chad_3 on September 22, 2002, at 2:16:05
In reply to Re: Klonopin - Social Anxiety pure form » chad_3, posted by Rick on September 21, 2002, at 20:18:27
Rick -
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Interesting you say that, because one of my first somatic social phobia symptoms started in high school. When I'd be walking toward someone, esp. down a long hallway, my face would tighten and my head would shake.
Ironically, the head shaking disappered a few years later, but was replaced by vocal tremor when anxious. That's still my biggest outward symptom, although Klonopin has eliminated most of it (probably mostly through the treatment of the anxiety, but maybe also through direct anti-tremor efects).
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The reacionts I got intially to da blocker in jan and may 2002 were significant in facial and neck areas ... and with a tremulousness component. Although Klonopin resolves things as they stood recently, I have had diurnal variations and later on nocturnal awakening and sleep-wake transion stuff including neck movements. The facial and neck area seems to be the main trouble area in most tardive dystonias and many other hyperkinetics - and interesitngly people with autism and parkinson's are among the most likely people to develop dystonias - the latter from l-dopa 'rebound' effects.Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, lack of diagnosis - seems to be the norm in drug induced movement disorders. If you didn't see the webpage of the young woman I posted a couple weeks ago on reglan induced tardive dystonia / chorea - it is very informative and she tells it like it is. I wrote to her a couple times she is very sweet and strong both - she is married and has what looks like a positive future for herself but her experience with the neuro's - my case was not so severe but I could definitely relate. (sorry I digressed a bit there from your post ...)
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> Even today, my face will sometimes tense up a little, but I no longer freak out about having to walk towards someone or look them straight in the face.
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I have found Klonopin great for increasing greatly ease and desire of eye contact. Terms I read in both the movements and anxiety area like "startle response" and "fear" - the klonopin seems to correct these traits of mine extremely well. With good treatment I will actually often tend to be seeking out eye contact as opposed to avoiding it. I had a "blood phobia" - difficulty urinating when others watching - all disappear totally with Klonopin. Worrying overly ... et al..
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> Funny you should mention that, too. About six years ago, before I had ever heard of social phobia, I read about Pregnenolone's supposed "fountain of youth" properties. I started taking it daily, without doing any safety or effectiveness research as I would today. I stopped after about a year when I saw no benefits. And in retrospect I realize my "Pregnenolone days" were about the time my social phobia became its worse (e.g., doing presentations, which used to make me merely a little nervous, started inducing near-panic). So, I'm definitely not going to be one of the first to jump on the Pregnenolone-for-SP bandwagon!
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You don't like caffeine much either do you? I noticed that caffeine enhances progesterone levels quite a bit - and in my Dr notes I hand out I point out I have a 200-1000 mg / day habit going back 8 years! I love caffeine! I have absolutely no tendency towards panic attacks - and have done well with even tiny doses of stimulants. I like smoking too but gave it up - I found that high caffiene - and provigil - both reduce my desire to smoke - I actually finally quit my few Carlton's a day habit when on Provigil for 1 year until the amisulpride fiasco pulled me off everything awhile....An aside, my brother probably has G.A.D. with seconadary SP - he does really good with Effexor - I can't handle Effexor but it does seem so far for males to be good for primary GAD +/- dysthymia/depression.
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> Before that, I took DHEA for at least a year, again with no research and no beneficial effects I could detect. Isn't Pregnenolone a precursor to DHEA and other hormones? I sometimes wonder if the DHEA and or Pregnenolone contributed to my impaired glucose tolerance (DHEA can decrease insulin sensitivity). The carcinogenity potential of DHEA also concerns me, especially given my family history. Hormone supplementation in general is something I would tread lightly with for these reasons and others.
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I tried DHEA in past. It knocked out my finasteride effect. I later quit finasteride and got similar effect. More in last year have concerns on finasteride, and reduced from 1.25 to 0.8. I read last week it reduces pregnenolone signifificantly. I know in my case quitting from 1.25 to 0 finasteride was boost to my mood and yes sex drive noticed effect. The provigil tended to counteract the finasteride much like DHEA - but I definitely preferred provigil. DHEA actually made me get a bit too aggressive sometimes with people - and a bit axiogenic but disinhibiting. And the hair loss returning.I don't know at 0.8 if finasteride causes me side effects - I may discontinue a week and find out for sure.
On side bar - I am resuming work part time - taking classes part time one semester only - and am considering part time teaching and part time profesionnal working. I am for 2 weeks now back to 60 nardil + 4.5 klonopin, an older regimen I used 2 years before lowering klonopin to 2.5-3.0 and adding 65-75 provigil. ; )Goodnight all!
Chad
http://www.socialfear.com/
poster:chad_3
thread:120479
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120699.html