Posted by bluedog on November 21, 2002, at 10:25:49
In reply to Depression and/or moderate SP?, posted by SteelRat on November 21, 2002, at 0:02:02
You seem to have done plenty of research already.
I can only offer you my personal experience.
I have a primary diagnosis of social anxiety with secondary major depression. Like yourself my social anxiety is moderate with only certain situations triggering the anxiety with depression guaranteed to follow soon after. Pubs(bars) and clubs and parties where members of the opposite sex are present provides the most challenging environment for my condition. Family gatherings and gatherings of close friends and even the work environment are generally OK unless I am put on the spot and made the centre of attention. Dealing with clients at work also is not too bad unless a member of the opposite sex who I find attractive is involved. I generally feel preety ashamed at my inadequacy in these situations and I get extremely depressed and lonely about the whole situation. I can really relate to the feelings of disassociation you get. I can be in a crowded bar and feel like I'm a third party spectator watching the whole scene through a video camera.
Following is my experience with medications.
1. My first and absolute favourite medication was actually ALCOHOL (you didn't say whether self medication was a factor in your post). It is such a shame that ALCOHOL has such terrible side effects. If it wasn't for the brain damage, the hangovers and the crippling depression that ALCOHOL precipitates I would highly recommend it. Unfortunately for me ALCOHOL was a one way ticket to skid row and I had to stop using it to save my life.
2. Next came AROPAX (PAXIL in the US). I never got over the vicious anxiety that this drug gave me and I had a constant feeling that I had just drunk 8 strong black coffees in short succession. I also couldn't stop clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth and even though I've never had a seizure I had a feeling like I was always on the verge of having a seizure. Also had awful sexual side effects
3. AURORIX (MOCLOBEMIDE) - This MAOI actually helped me and had absolutely zero side effects. This drug probably saved my life at the time (about 7-8 years ago) and I'd say for a few years my symptoms went into a sort of remission. This drug was prescribed by a GP at the time and I was never told to restrict my diet in any way and I didn't have any problems. In fact I didn't even now you had to restrict your diet with MAOI's until I came to this message board. I woke up one morning and was no longer depressed and I simply stopped taking the drug.
3. However over the coming years circumstances in my life started to overtake me again and my illness slowly but surely came back to terrorise me. It was really sneaky and I was not even aware that it was happening. I continued to self medicate big time. Anyway one night I woke up with MAJOR panic attacks (I'd beem having minor panic attacks for 6-12 months) My GP put me straight onto ZOLOFT and referred me to my psychiatrist. ZOLOFT had the same effect on me as PAXIL.
4. Next came EFFEXOR. I believe this drug was responsible for pushing me from self medication on social occasions into full blown alcoholism. I was like some sort of demon and just one alcoholic drink would cause me to lose total control. EFFEXOR apparently competes for the same enzyme pathways in the liver as alcohol. The effexor wins this battle hands down and your blood alcohol content spikes out of control. If you self medicate I would recommend you stay away from EFFEXOR. Also causes sexual side effects and I won't even get into the withdrawal symptoms.
5. When I finally stopped self medicating 6 months ago my Pdoc prescribed DIAZEPAM (VALIUM). I LOVED DIAZEPAM. To me it filled the gaping hole that alcohol had left. Unfortunately my tolerance built up rapidly and I found myself taking more and more each night to try and get the same effect. Instead of alcohol binges I went on DIAZEPAM binges. I don't know if the other BENZO"S have the same effect but if you have a tendency to self medicate I would be very wary of these drugs. It's almost 3 months since I last took DIAZEPAM but I still crave this drug even more than I ever craved alcohol. I was too ashamed to admit to my Pdoc about what had happened and I am still considering asking him for another prescription.
6. Generic CELEXA (CITALOPRAM) together with the EFFEXOR- made me way too drowsy and the sexual side effects were even worse than PAXIL
7. This finally leads to my current drug...generic PROZAC. I initially took PROZAC at a 10mg dose to help me get over the EFFEXOR withdrawal, stayed at 10mg a without it really helping but then went up to 20mg. Although it created some initial anxiety (the 8 coffe effect)At this stage I can say that PROZAC is absolutely fantastic for both my depression and my social anxiety. I am feeling hope again for the first time in years and was able to go to a bar with friends and NOT drift off into my own world or fall into feelings of depression. I was also able to have only one beer and stop at that one beer (something I havn't managed to do in years). At 20mg, sexual side effects are present but are tolerable with the worst thing being slight ejaculatory delay.
The above are my personal experiences. Hope it helps a little
poster:bluedog
thread:128567
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128607.html