Posted by Donna Louise on May 15, 2006, at 8:07:19
In reply to Best social anxiety meds?, posted by erik98225 on May 13, 2006, at 11:45:16
> I'm 25/M and have severe and often crippling social anxiety with a touch of insomnia and ADHD.
>
> I am CURRENTLY prescribed:
>
> Lexapro 15mg morning
> Ritalin 10mg PRN (almost never)
> Rozerem 8mg night
> Atenolol 100mg night (for unrelated hypertension)
>
> The pseudo-benzos (Ambien and Lunesta) don't work for me; they make me drunk but NOT sleepy. Rozerem actually works.
>
> I have been on Xanax PRN in the past. I have been on Paxil 60mg (this is equivalent to Lexapro 30mg IIRC). I have been on Klonopin daily (dose usually 2mg, highest ever was 4mg).
>
> I recently tapered off the Klonopin by reducing it by 0.125mg every week and did not have to "go through hell" as I've often heard of. The (relatively minor) withdrawal symptoms were worst during the drop from 0.5 to 0.375 and I have been completely off it for a month.
>
> I am now having some distressing physical anxiety symptoms -- tension headaches, nervous shaking, difficulty sleeping (Rozerem doesn't help). I have a hard time believing this is benzo withdrawal because it's been a month since I took the last 0.125mg dose. I am thinking that I might have to take benzos forever.
>
> I have a tendency to abuse alcohol in the absense of appropriate medication, but oddly DON'T abuse benzos, nor can I imagine why anyone would want to. I know that benzos increase the effects of alcohol and have never had more than 2 drinks (which will feel like 3) when taking a benzo, and then only rarely.
>
> I think that the MOST effective combination I have been on was:
>
> Paxil 60mg morning
> Ritalin 10mg 2x/day
> Klonopin 2-4mg morning
> Rozerem 8mg night
>
> This virtually eliminated all the problems of anxiety, social phobia, insomnia and limited attention span.
>
> I am thinking of asking my pdoc to put me back on this combination when I next see him. He ought to have no problem prescribing Paxil or Klonopin because I have proven that I can quit them.
>
> Does anyone on here have similar symptoms? If so, what medications do YOU take? Any input (even if it's to call me an idiot) would be appreciated.I feel so silly today that I am having a hard time not saying "Well, Idiot.." but I am afraid you would think I meant it. Now, wasn't that a clever way of doing it..agh. I am so weird. Anyway, I find provigil helpful with the social anxiety. I intially took it for excessive daytime sleepiness thanks to one of the ssri's..and was happy to discover that it really helps me want to be social. It is really horrible, before I got so sick I was very sociable, it is sad really. Now with the patch, I am starting to really feel like myself again (minus the bad stuff)and I don't need the provigil for excessive daytime sleepiness with the patch (I have no trouble sleeping either with the patch, that has gotten normal for me too) and I think in time I will let go of the provigil for the social ease it gives me.
You are no idiot. I am just silly.Donna
poster:Donna Louise
thread:643467
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060515/msgs/644199.html