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Re: Performance Anxiety and Beta-blockers vs. Benzos. » Kon

Posted by chemist on May 1, 2004, at 0:45:02

In reply to Re: Performance Anxiety and Beta-blockers vs. Benzos. » Questionmark, posted by Kon on April 30, 2004, at 23:33:20

> I have severe public-speaking anxiety, so severe that I've avoided doing speeches pretty well all of my adult life. Would probably rather take a bullet to the head than do a formal speech (at least without meds). But recently I had to do 4 small speeches or I would have to find a new career. Beta-blockers did nothing for me. I experimented with 100 mg atenolol to see anti-anxiety effects but I could feel it was useless and just made feel a bit tired. I also used benzos, clonazepam (klonopin) and ativan. While I was still a bit nervous doing speeches, interviews, etc., the benzos helped a lot. The only problem is playing around with the dose so you get enough anxiety relief but not too much cognitive impairment. I can up the dosage so much that anxiety relief is about 100% but then my cognitive abilities take a dive. I did this once for an interview I was nervous about and I still can't remember what I did or say except that I was really slow. But then again, without meds I'd probably be even slower.
>
> Wrt optimum dosage this is likely to be an individual thing and you need to experiment. I've also used a combo of atenolol plus klonopin. The atenolol made no difference whatsoever. Klonopin was far more effective. My advice is to begin using it a few days before speech to help with anticipatory anxiety and sleep and then up the dosage a couple of hours before the event (but be careful so you don't become too impaired). I've never used xanax, although I'm sure it's just as effective as klonopin or ativan. Forgot to mention...klonopin was probably a bit less cognitively impairing for me, so I would recommend it over Ativan.
>
>
chemist here...for what it's worth, i agree comletely with Kon's assertion. don't take more benzo than needed - xanax is quick-acting and, in my opinion, best for purposes such as public talks - and take the beat-blockers as a distant alternative...all the best, chemist


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