Posted by not exactly on March 4, 2003, at 2:42:07
In reply to Dopamine agonists, posted by Michael Bell on March 1, 2003, at 18:57:36
> I'm trying to get an idea of the effectiveness of dopamine-related medication in people with Social Anxiety. If you have SA and have taken these types of meds, please name the drug and what the effects were. Thanks!
Well, there's been lots of interesting and informative posts in this thread, but so far NOBODY that actually has SA AND has really benefitted from a true dopamine-boosting med has posted their experience. So I'll try to fill that void.
I have SA plus atypical depression. While I've found some things that have helped with just the SA - benzo's, Neurontin, even alcohol - the ONLY meds that have EVER helped with BOTH my SA and depression were dopamine meds. And unless my depression is helped, socializing is still unpleasant even if it isn't anxiety-provoking. Mirapex (a dopamine agonist), Ritalin (a dopamine reuptake inhibitor), Selegiline patch (MAO inhibitor that increases dopamine), and Dexedrine (a dopamine releaser) all worked wonders for me. I became a happy extrovert instead of a bummed-out recluse. In contrast, anything which acted on serotonin (such as an SSRI) was a disaster. Norepinephrine meds (such as the TCA Desipramine) weren't much better, until I added Buspar (which boosts - you guessed it - dopamine!).
I can't say whether these dopamine meds would help someone who had SA WITHOUT atypical depression. In fact, I'm reluctant to claim my experience is generalizable to ANYONE else. My reaction to meds - which ones work and which ones don't - seems to be pretty unique. But anyway, you now have one datapoint, FWIW.
- Bob
poster:not exactly
thread:205134
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/205750.html