Posted by RobertDavid on May 13, 2006, at 12:53:25
In reply to Best social anxiety meds?, posted by erik98225 on May 13, 2006, at 11:45:16
Well, I can releate to the social anxiety. I've had it all my life. I'm 49 now and looking back remember it first affecting my life when I was in little league.
It took me until I was about 28 to figure out that I was suffering from a real disorter and that I wasn't crazy. Until then I medicated with alcohol as when I was drinking, I was quite social, otherwise not.
Anyway, seems everyone is different and what works for one, doesn't always work for another. So after mowing through every SSRI and SNRI there is plus trying some mood stabilizers and other psycho tropic meds/blends Klonopin did the trick for my anxiety. I didn't need to go as high as you but once was up to 3mgs.
But klonopin wasn't the total answer as it tackled the anxiety, but I was still somewhat depressed and lacked energy. Konopoin has continued to work for 12 year and though I too have had issues with abusing alcohol at times, I never have abused klonopin. I think the times I drink/drank in excess is when I feel my worst, tired, depressed and though alcohol is a great temporary mood elivator, but I have always paid with increased depression the next day.
For about 5 weeks I've added EMSAM the MAOI patch. It's worked wonder for elivating my mood, I feel great. I'm not sure if the combo of it with klonopin is the ticket or if perhaps ulitimately EMSAM will work well as mono therapy. So I'm slowly going down on the klonopin to see how it goes. But if need be, I'll be happy just feeling the way I do now on both meds.
I didn't notice if you've ever tried an MAOI before. EMSAM is still a bit of an unknown as far as social anxiety goes and it was approved as an anti depressant, but time will tell. Nardil is proven to work great for many with social anxiety as well as Parnate. I'm guessing EMSAM will turn out to help not only with depression, but will help many with SP too.
You may consider giving one of them a try. The only MAOI I have ever tried is EMSAM as it is the only one without food interactions at the 20mg dose. I think there's other advantages as well including a lower side effect profile.
So, my vote would be to try an MAOI and blend it with klonopin, particularly since you've had some relieve from klonopin in the past and you know you can get off it if you want. So far the combo has got me the most "normal" I've been in 49 years.
Good luck! Rob
poster:RobertDavid
thread:643467
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060510/msgs/643495.html