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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 64. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ryan_s on March 3, 2000, at 13:28:29
hey guys,
i am taking a little survey. i want to know what your favorite medication that combats anxiety is. i too have gad and want to get a feel for the drugs out on the market. if it is not an inconvenience, please describe your experience while being on the medication that you choose. thanks much.
ryan_s
Posted by JohnL on March 5, 2000, at 9:13:38
In reply to SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by ryan_s on March 3, 2000, at 13:28:29
> hey guys,
>
> i am taking a little survey. i want to know what your favorite medication that combats anxiety is. i too have gad and want to get a feel for the drugs out on the market. if it is not an inconvenience, please describe your experience while being on the medication that you choose. thanks much.
>
> ryan_sCool survey. I hope more people respond though.
My survey response is Zyprexa.
I also responded to conventional treatments with benzos (too sedating, too dumbing), any of the SSRIs, and Serzone. But the best of all I found to be Zyprexa. Elevated dopamine I think is an often overlooked cause of GAD symptoms, and a small dose of an antipsychotic is all that's needed to rebalance things. But as we all know, your mileage may vary. :)
Posted by bob on March 5, 2000, at 9:27:55
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by JohnL on March 5, 2000, at 9:13:38
(I may sound like a broken record on this ... geez, I wonder how long THAT metaphor has before no one remembers what it means...)
klonopin.
It's the only one I've tried and the only one I've needed, so I can't say I'm all that objective or knowledgeable about any other options.
bob
Posted by Fred on March 5, 2000, at 13:09:41
In reply to SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by ryan_s on March 3, 2000, at 13:28:29
Alcohol
I'm constantly amazed how everyone gets relief
from Xanax or Klonopin. I take both and the
blunting of anxiety is very slight. Celexa helps
a bit. I think those benzos actually help panic attacks, but not GADFred
Posted by ChrisK on March 5, 2000, at 14:02:40
In reply to SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by ryan_s on March 3, 2000, at 13:28:29
Klonopin
I do take Zyprexa also but I think it helps more with obsessive thoughts than GAD.
The only drawback for Klonopin is that if you want to take it PRN then you have to predict when you will need it.
Posted by PL on March 6, 2000, at 11:59:02
In reply to SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by ryan_s on March 3, 2000, at 13:28:29
I tried klonopin but become extreamly more depressed on it, and it never did anything to help with anxiety. (I tried it for social phobia.) I have currently felt much more relaxed after taking ritalin. (A stimulant!) Even my TMJ is now under control. Ya just have to try something and see if it works or not.
Good Luck!
Posted by Sarah on March 6, 2000, at 12:09:53
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by PL on March 6, 2000, at 11:59:02
> I tried klonopin but become extreamly more depressed on it, and it never did anything to help with anxiety. (I tried it for social phobia.) I have currently felt much more relaxed after taking ritalin. (A stimulant!) Even my TMJ is now under control. Ya just have to try something and see if it works or not.
>
> Good Luck!Your TMJ feels better on Ritalin? AUGH!! I'm on Adderall, and mine is killing me!! It seems to be the only place that the Adderall causes any tension. (yes, it did get rid of my anxitey) I end up having to pound Motrin every night cause of it! You are lucky!!
Posted by PattyG on March 6, 2000, at 15:15:21
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by Sarah on March 6, 2000, at 12:09:53
Anyone having any luck with Buspar? (I guess I'm surprised that Zyprexa would be prescribed for anxiety!) Seems like a pretty heavy duty drug for that, no? (And what about weight gain? I though Zyprexa was notorious for that.)
Posted by AndrewB on March 6, 2000, at 17:54:32
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by Fred on March 5, 2000, at 13:09:41
What dosage do you take ritilan for anxiety relief, a low dose?
Posted by bob on March 6, 2000, at 20:29:11
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by PL on March 6, 2000, at 11:59:02
Just started ritalin. Did it to augment my AD, but it's helping with anxiety-related behaviors as well. What the klonopin didn't handle, the ritalin is sweeping up. 10mg (non-SR) at breakfast and at lunch for me which, I think, is a low dose, a good place to start.
cheers,
bob
Posted by Cindy W on March 6, 2000, at 21:00:51
In reply to [trying to butt in before PL has a chance...], posted by bob on March 6, 2000, at 20:29:11
Ryan, I've tried several meds (imipramine, Ludiomil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Serzone, and Effexor-XR). Serzone made me feel significantly less anxious. I'm taking Effexor-XR now and it is helping with the OCD and depression, but I miss the anxiety-reducing effects of the Serzone!
Posted by Fred on March 6, 2000, at 21:07:36
In reply to survey on favorite antianxiety medication, posted by Cindy W on March 6, 2000, at 21:00:51
Serzone didn't reduce my anxiety at all.
Posted by Elizabeth on March 6, 2000, at 22:06:29
In reply to [trying to butt in before PL has a chance...], posted by bob on March 6, 2000, at 20:29:11
> Just started ritalin. Did it to augment my AD, but it's helping with anxiety-related behaviors as well. What the klonopin didn't handle, the ritalin is sweeping up. 10mg (non-SR) at breakfast and at lunch for me which, I think, is a low dose, a good place to start.
Hey Bob, can I ask for more specifics about what Ritalin is helping with?
Posted by bob on March 6, 2000, at 22:33:19
In reply to Re: [trying to butt in before PL has a chance...], posted by Elizabeth on March 6, 2000, at 22:06:29
> Hey Bob, can I ask for more specifics about what Ritalin is helping with?
Sure, but first--
I'd been tagged as having panic disorder since my mental state at the time was one of just about daily panic attacks. Kinda makes sense, I guess. Anyway, I've always had some other anxiety-related problems/behaviors. Some pretty severe social anxiety, in certain situations, for example. Klonopin has taken care of all of these for me, all at a fairly low dosage (1mg/d).
When I went off zoloft, however, I got stuck in front of my computer screen playing the same game over and over, not really wanting to but it was a great way of putting the rest of the world on hold.
Well, not really, and I knew that, but I couldn't stop playing all the same. So, just a little touch of OCD to spice things up.
Like I said, zoloft managed that wonderfully ... in fact, it's the only thing zoloft has managed well for me for over two years. My nortriptyline does nothing for it. From what I understand, klonopin can be effective for OCD at higher dosages (2-4mg/d). But my mood and my anxiety are tied so closely together, I wanted to try something (my last visit with my pdoc, last Monday) that would augment the AD first.
So, my pdoc gives me a script for Ritalin, and that day the thought of playing that stupid game all night was absolutely repulsive ... AND I felt little urge to play it anyway. None at all, now.
So, I *could* have just said OCD -- but the ritalin's helping with my mood, my concentration & focus, AND its managing the anxiety I have about tomorrow being "just another day" (for me, that's often the WORST thing it COULD be) and wanting to put it off as long as I could (...by not sleeping, since sleeping means the next thing I know it'll be tomorrow ... ack!).
Hope that helps,
bob
Posted by Alan on March 7, 2000, at 8:25:41
In reply to survey on favorite antianxiety medication, posted by Cindy W on March 6, 2000, at 21:00:51
> Ryan, I've tried several meds (imipramine, Ludiomil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Serzone, and Effexor-XR). Serzone made me feel significantly less anxious. I'm taking Effexor-XR now and it is helping with the OCD and depression, but I miss the anxiety-reducing effects of the Serzone!
*******************************************
Cindy, why aren't you taking an anxiolytic for your anxiety? Seems like a simple solution if you are getting relief from the other symptoms from Effexor. That's what the anxiolytics are designed for after all - xanax, ativan, klonopin, etc.
Any ideas from your doctor about this?
Best wishes to you,
Alan
Posted by Cindy W on March 7, 2000, at 9:20:08
In reply to Re: survey - to Cindy W., posted by Alan on March 7, 2000, at 8:25:41
> > Ryan, I've tried several meds (imipramine, Ludiomil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Serzone, and Effexor-XR). Serzone made me feel significantly less anxious. I'm taking Effexor-XR now and it is helping with the OCD and depression, but I miss the anxiety-reducing effects of the Serzone!
> *******************************************
> Cindy, why aren't you taking an anxiolytic for your anxiety? Seems like a simple solution if you are getting relief from the other symptoms from Effexor. That's what the anxiolytics are designed for after all - xanax, ativan, klonopin, etc.
> Any ideas from your doctor about this?
> Best wishes to you,
> AlanAlan, I hate benzos and actually WANT to experience the anxiety, in a way, so the OCD will diminish (if I feel the anxiety and don't revert to my usual maladaptive coping mechanisms, like eating when I'm not hungry or buying and hoarding things I don't need, the OCD should diminish). In the meantime, though, I'm not crazy about the anxiety and I miss the Serzone.--Cindy W
Posted by Noa on March 7, 2000, at 18:52:10
In reply to What Ritalin appears to be doing for me, posted by bob on March 6, 2000, at 22:33:19
I got stuck in front of my computer screen playing the same game over and over, not really wanting to but it was a great way of putting the rest of the world on hold.
>
> Well, not really, and I knew that, but I couldn't stop playing all the same.I do that all the time. I feel glued, stuck, unable to break away. I don't think it is OCD. I think the game on the screen is mesmerizing. I become hyperfocused and the rest of the world melts away temporarily. It is not pleasant but it makes all the other unpleasantness go away.
Posted by Sherry on March 7, 2000, at 21:30:11
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by Noa on March 7, 2000, at 18:52:10
Ditto, same here. I can sit down and play Solitaire for hours, and it seems to be when I'm really anxious that the game takes hold of me. I don't like it either, and I keep saying to myself that this is the last game. I also come here more often when I anxious.
Posted by juniper on March 7, 2000, at 22:11:13
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by Sherry on March 7, 2000, at 21:30:11
solitaire is positively addicting. i wonder if certain traits or disorders play into and exacerbate addictions such as this. i think that it is somewhat normal to be sucked in by a computer game (i'm remembering bits of old psychology classes when i learned that random interval reinforcement is the most powerful--gambling is a classic example and i think computer solitare is a close second), but is someone more prone to hyperfocus if they have a little ADD, OCD, or addictive qualities about them? i also hyperfocus on a few very unhealthy vices...and crossword puzzles. i spend way too much time on these in lieu of other pursuits.
what else do babblers hyperfocus or become pulled into?
Posted by Seamus on March 8, 2000, at 9:50:18
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by juniper on March 7, 2000, at 22:11:13
>>i also hyperfocus on a few very unhealthy vices...and crossword puzzles. <<
FWIW, many years ago I came to realize I was powerless over crossword puzzles.
I have a tendency to "ruminate" (as the OCDer's put it) with certain thoughts just going 'round and 'round. Songs get stuck in my head as well.
I can hyperfocus with the best of them.
I'm pretty sure there's a loose wire somewhere, but I'm not going to try and alleviate this w/ more medication, though I'd bet clomipramine would help. I just live with it.
Seamus
Posted by bob on March 8, 2000, at 19:00:08
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by Noa on March 7, 2000, at 18:52:10
Well, I might agree with you on the addiction vs. compulsion question for something like solitaire where (1) you do have those lovely, quickly changing patterns on the screen and (2) as someone (sorry, can't remember who) just mentioned, it tends to have the most strongly reinforcing pattern for rewarding your efforts.
But I don't play solitaire.
I tend to play strategy games that take days to finish at low levels of difficulty, so from the very start there is no doubt of the outcome ... world domination for me (bwa-ha-haaaaa). If something goes "wrong", I'll reload a saved game and play the situation over and over until it goes "right". I'll even play to the point of pain, and long past pain, from my RSIs, from slouching, from lack of sleep ... pain until my whole body is buzzing -- one of my personal forms of "cutting".
Even when I do play solitaire, random games like Klondike really don't interest me. My best example is the game Eight Off ... there is no layout of cards in that game that is unsolvable. I left my post in academe with more than 5000 consecutive wins, no losses, on my computer. Even if it took me 15 to 20 minutes to figure out the solution (my average time was close to 90 seconds), I could not begin a new game until I had solved the current one.
I do have a "cycle" of three games that give me that hypnotic buzz, and that usually takes 20 minutes of my time then I can walk away. In the other situations, there just was no walking away from it.
cheers,
bob
Posted by PL on March 9, 2000, at 9:22:35
In reply to Re: To PL, posted by AndrewB on March 6, 2000, at 17:54:32
> What dosage do you take ritilan for anxiety relief, a low dose?
I started with 5mg 2xday, then went 20mg sr 1xday and currently I'm on 20mg sr 2xday. I noticed relief of anxiety at the original dose, but only after a couple weeks. (Very subliminal.) And so I requested the dosage increase. On the 20 1xday, I did find more relief but it did not last all day, ergo the 2xday.
Posted by PL on March 9, 2000, at 9:28:30
In reply to Re: SURVEY: what is your favorite anxiety medication?, posted by PattyG on March 6, 2000, at 15:15:21
> Anyone having any luck with Buspar?
I tried Buspar too. I was on that with an AD for about 4 months with no effect.
Posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 17:22:12
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by bob on March 8, 2000, at 19:00:08
I am impressed. In my current state, the idea of that kind of attention span seems ludicrous.
If these games were a personality test or a vocational aptitude test, my interpretation would be that you are suited to be a research scientist, Bob. You stick with a problem til it's solved, you really want to know how it works.
I get hooked into series of solitaire games, as well as freecell, occasionally hearts or minesweeper, but mostly--scrabble. And a couple of months ago I discovered online crossword puzzles and I did them compulsively. I think I OD'd cuz now I am hardly interested at all.
Your strategy games sound like they keep your brain more active than the numbing repetiveness of solitaire, et al. Still, they do seem to serve as an escape mechanism.
Posted by bob on March 9, 2000, at 19:12:08
In reply to Re: Hypnosis or the art of Solitaire, posted by Noa on March 9, 2000, at 17:22:12
> Your strategy games sound like they keep your brain more active than the numbing repetiveness of solitaire, et al. Still, they do seem to serve as an escape mechanism.
It's still out of the frying pan and into the fire. Not much of an escape, trading one pain for another ... but it's a pain I believe I can control ... or, at the least, I know its cause and its reasons, and so its the sort of pain I prefer.
bob
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