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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
I have social anxiety disorder. It comes on mostly at work, usually when I'm in a meeting or sometimes when I'm just having a discussion with a co-worker. I begin to blush and sweat. My doctor prescibed Effexor. I'm late in my 2nd week of Effexor and haven't noticed any results yet. Has anyone had success treating this disorder and what other methods or medications did you use?
Posted by sdb on January 9, 2006, at 16:11:40
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
Hi Walker!
Good to read from you again. What happened with the chest pain problems? -babblemail me if you want.
Here's a website from a social fear sufferer. It can give you some additional information.
www.socialfear.com
~sdb
Posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 18:47:44
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by sdb on January 9, 2006, at 16:11:40
Thanks a lot sdb. The chest pain turned out to just be gas. A couple doses of Gas-X and the pain was gone. Now I can concentrate on the problem at hand. Thanks for the help.
Walker
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2006, at 19:49:11
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 18:47:44
Have you tried a benzo? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by valene on January 9, 2006, at 21:49:40
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
I was just looking at a comparison of social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder and I am thinking I might have avoidant personality disorder.
The recommended meds I read about for SAD are either SSRI's or benzos, and for AVPD are the MAOI's/benzos.
Posted by RobertDavid on January 9, 2006, at 22:35:14
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by valene on January 9, 2006, at 21:49:40
I had similar social anxiety. After trying many anti depressants I took klonopin which by far worked the best. Once you've found a drug that seems to be helping the key is to find the right dose. As far as klonopin goes, it seems the normal range for treating SAD is somewhere between 1 and 4 mgs. I take 2mgs once a day at bedtime. There are a lot of benzo's out there, but from what I've read klonopin is a frontline medicine if your primary issue is social anxiety. Good luck
Posted by yxibow on January 10, 2006, at 1:54:23
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
> I have social anxiety disorder. It comes on mostly at work, usually when I'm in a meeting or sometimes when I'm just having a discussion with a co-worker. I begin to blush and sweat. My doctor prescibed Effexor. I'm late in my 2nd week of Effexor and haven't noticed any results yet. Has anyone had success treating this disorder and what other methods or medications did you use?
Klonopin is usually the classic medication I think of when social anxiety disorder is mentioned.
Wyeth claims improvement for both SAD and GAD with Effexor but it somehow seems counterproductive for anxiety considering the caffeine like effect it had on me. On the other hand, everybody's chemistry is different so it may help for you -- 2 weeks is probably too soon considering these studies for FDA proof are 12 weeks (I know thats a long time to wait for a medication to take effect, but SSRI/SNRI/SSNRIs generally take at least a month or two to really kick in).
Posted by blueberry on January 10, 2006, at 6:06:22
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
Doctors seem to prefer the ssri antidepressant route to treat social anxiety issues, but I have not found that to be good, in my own trials. I mean, sure, it does help, but it does so by merely numbing all emotions. It numbs bad emotions, but also good ones. A very blah apathetic effect. You become more comfortable socially simply because your emotions are numbed. Plus you get lots of side effects and you have to wait 2 to 4 weeks to see if they are going to help or not.
I found the low dose antipsychotics like zyprexa or seroquel work better than antidepressants, but they too really don't do a complete job for me.
The best for me, by far, I mean by a long shot, is xanax. Relaxed, comfortable, confident, and no numbing of emotions. I don't think you can beat the benzos for social anxiety/avoidant issues. Finding the right one though is tricky, since we all react differently. Klonopin might make you depressed. Another might not. One might work better than another. Don't let a doctor tell you they are all basically the same, because they are not.
The best thing about benzos is not only how well they work, but how fast they work...like within minutes, hours, or days, instead of weeks or months. You can even just take them when you really feel you need them the most, instead of taking them all the time.
Posted by Jakeman on January 10, 2006, at 22:33:02
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
> I have social anxiety disorder. It comes on mostly at work, usually when I'm in a meeting or sometimes when I'm just having a discussion with a co-worker. I begin to blush and sweat. My doctor prescibed Effexor. I'm late in my 2nd week of Effexor and haven't noticed any results yet. Has anyone had success treating this disorder and what other methods or medications did you use?
>
Walker,I have what your describe. Hell I walk around at work with wet armpits half the time. I probably should change jobs but but at the same time I'm bored with jobs where I don't deal with people.
I find beta-blockers like Inderal to work the best. Sometimes combined with a benzo. I use Inderal as needed. Usually half a 25 mg (or 20?) tablet. It cuts out the fight/flight reaction such as racing heart and sweating. I used it prior to a public meeting tonight.
warm regards ~Jake
Posted by ShellyM on January 11, 2006, at 9:07:06
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder? » Walker, posted by Jakeman on January 10, 2006, at 22:33:02
Hi Jake
I have the same thing and can not take Benzos unless absolutely necessary (I took them for years and ended up very dependent on them for everyday living. They also caused me great depression after a while). I am on Cymbalta now which helps a lot with the everyday anxiety. My Doctor just prescribed a beta blocker for the situations where I know I am going to have a panic attack (presentations, meetings where I feel "trapped", driving on the freeway).
Have you found that beta blockers actually do work to block a panic attack?
Thanks!
Shelly
> Walker,
>
> I have what your describe. Hell I walk around at work with wet armpits half the time. I probably should change jobs but but at the same time I'm bored with jobs where I don't deal with people.
>
> I find beta-blockers like Inderal to work the best. Sometimes combined with a benzo. I use Inderal as needed. Usually half a 25 mg (or 20?) tablet. It cuts out the fight/flight reaction such as racing heart and sweating. I used it prior to a public meeting tonight.
>
> warm regards ~Jake
>
>
Posted by Jakeman on January 11, 2006, at 21:02:41
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?- Jake, posted by ShellyM on January 11, 2006, at 9:07:06
> Hi Jake
>
> I have the same thing and can not take Benzos unless absolutely necessary (I took them for years and ended up very dependent on them for everyday living. They also caused me great depression after a while). I am on Cymbalta now which helps a lot with the everyday anxiety. My Doctor just prescribed a beta blocker for the situations where I know I am going to have a panic attack (presentations, meetings where I feel "trapped", driving on the freeway).
>
> Have you found that beta blockers actually do work to block a panic attack?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Shelly
>
> > Walker,
> >
> > I have what your describe. Hell I walk around at work with wet armpits half the time. I probably should change jobs but but at the same time I'm bored with jobs where I don't deal with people.
> >
> > I find beta-blockers like Inderal to work the best. Sometimes combined with a benzo. I use Inderal as needed. Usually half a 25 mg (or 20?) tablet. It cuts out the fight/flight reaction such as racing heart and sweating. I used it prior to a public meeting tonight.
> >
> > warm regards ~Jake
> >Hi Shelly,
I don't know much about panic attacks per se. The doctors I've seen never give me a precise diagnosis about my issues. I first learned about beta blockers from the book "Smart Drugs II" by Ward Dean and others. Beta blockers have definitely helped me with performance anxiety.
I keep a supply in my desk drawer.warm regards ~Jake
Posted by Jedi on January 12, 2006, at 2:52:45
In reply to Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:33:13
> I have social anxiety disorder. It comes on mostly at work, usually when I'm in a meeting or sometimes when I'm just having a discussion with a co-worker. I begin to blush and sweat. My doctor prescibed Effexor. I'm late in my 2nd week of Effexor and haven't noticed any results yet. Has anyone had success treating this disorder and what other methods or medications did you use?
>Hi Walker,
For treatment resistant and debilitating Social Anxiety Disorder, Nardil + clonazepam works for me and is the standard to which the other meds are compared. Some people don't realize the impact that severe social anxiety can have on a person's life. Most doctor's will start with the SSRIs or SNRIs because of the safety issue. If one or two of these don't work, bring in the big guns. If a person is uncomfortable around people, it can affect their entire life; socially, financially, everything.
Good Luck,
Jedi
>
Posted by Muad' Dib on January 26, 2006, at 14:44:30
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder? » Walker, posted by Jedi on January 12, 2006, at 2:52:45
For my very severe social anxiety those are the things which worked:
1. amphetamines combined with Xyrem (GHB)
2. Nardil
3. Klonopin
Posted by Jakeman on January 26, 2006, at 18:46:34
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Muad' Dib on January 26, 2006, at 14:44:30
> For my very severe social anxiety those are the things which worked:
>
> 1. amphetamines combined with Xyrem (GHB)
> 2. Nardil
> 3. KlonopinMuad' Dib
Thanks for the input. Did you get a prescription for Xyrem for social anxiety?
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Karla on January 26, 2006, at 22:56:46
In reply to Re: Anyone treating Social Anxiety Disorder?, posted by Jakeman on January 26, 2006, at 18:46:34
I have taken xanax for a year for my social anxiety and panic attacks that I get in my sleep. I have been seeing a councelor and working through my anxiety issues. I have been doing a workbook called "Panic Anxiety & Phobias"
Structured exercises in Healing by Sirley Babior, LCSW, MFCC and Carol Goldman, LICSW
It is an excellent book and has really helped me get ahold of my anxiety attacks and beable to stop having them altogether.
This is the end of the thread.
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