Posted by ramsea on May 12, 2004, at 13:53:47
In reply to Re: Social phobia meds - advice needed » Joe Schmoe, posted by Kon on May 11, 2004, at 23:51:03
Congrats on the weight loss, I know just how hard and discouraging med weight gain can be. I don't feel qualified to address your problem even from experience as I have bipolar to deal with, plus social phobia (very severe unfortunately). The lithium and Seroquel I take help even out moods and help me sleep, but do nothing for my social anxiety difficulty.
In the past I have taken Prozac--it can cause massive weight gain and mania in the form of increased agitation/irritability/etc. as well as euphoria. I think the fact it made me go hypomanic and eventually manic and in hospital is why I had the following happen. At first I was only on Prozac and lowdose valium to deal with Prozac's agitating/stimulating effects in the first few weeks. This was after a period of virtually no meds at all of some 8 years. The first two months or so were great--I had a happy euphoric reaction (hypomania) which caused me to be very socially at ease, in fact it swung too much that way. So yeah, Prozac over-rode my social anxiety. But I am bipolar, so this may have no insight to offer you.
I was on Prozac for about a year when I ended up in terrible shape. I'd gained weight on the stuff too. Also, Prozac often kills libido. But some people manage with Prozac very well and I can see how it would be worth a try for a pretty much definite non-bipolar, who has no bipolar genetic heritage. Good luck.
poster:ramsea
thread:345896
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346187.html