Posted by sabre on September 24, 2004, at 6:33:13
Hello, I'm new to this forum. I have just stopped taking Lexapro because it was steadily making the SA worse.
I started with only 2.5mg daily and this made me very energetic but increased my anxiety level and made it become generalised rather than just being evoked by social encounters. The nausea and dizziness settled after a couple of weeks but the headaches and gut problems just got worse.
I increased the dosage to 5mg at 4 weeks but this made me sedated and sleepy (all day). I kept this going for a week but became progressively depressed (hadn't been at all) and more anxious. I had to take propanolol to go to work, to make eye contact etc. My gut and headaches also became worse. I decided to stop taking it when I started experiencing depersonalisation for the first time in 10 years.
I have tried paxil. I also found I was more socially anxious and I developed slurred speech and the staggers on the lowest therapeutic dose. I found it frightening.
I took Serzone for six months after suffering a bout of reactive depression (one and only). It stopped the depression and also motivation, energy and just about any emotion except of course, social anxiety. I also had memory problems on this drug. Serzone was withdrawn in Australia a few months ago.
Valium etc turns me into a zombie.
Social anxiety is such a cruel, hidden, lousy disorder.Propanolol is the only drug that has helped. I have used it on and off for over 20 yrs. It helps me get by by controlling physical symptoms however it does nothing for anticipatory anxiety and I am unable to speak up in groups, talk to a group, go to the dentist or hairdresser etc. Lately it has been making me very tired and dizzy. I suspect it is lowering my BP too far even though I only use about 15mg on work days. My vision also becomes blurred.
I was thinking of asking my gp if I could trial Reboxetine or Moclobemide. I read somewhere that if you are unsuccessful with SSRIs for SA, than Reboxetine is often useful. What do you think?
Thanks for all the terrific posts and this excellent forum!
Sabre
poster:sabre
thread:394425
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040923/msgs/394425.html