![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
I've been dealing with Anxiety-related facial blushing for a few years, now, and although my levels of blushing have gone up and down over the years, it still remains a persistent problem in social situations.
I have helped myself by going to the gym and working out, 4 days a week - puts me around other people at the same time as building confidence. Doing this activity has helped significantly, but my face continues to become red in social situations (even sitting in the university cafe, eating dinner), or when talking to someone, face-to-face.
I've tried a plethora of medications, none of which helped, including (but not limited to): Effexor, prozac, paxil, serequel, Nardil (which at one point I think may have helped, but only for a short interval before the blushing came back), beta-blocker (propranolol), and now my doctor has me on an a2-agonist (Clonidine). I'm not looking into taking a benzo, here - I don't like how they make me feel.
If the Clonidine does not help the physical aspect of my social anxiety (facial blushing / flushing) does anyone else have a recommendation of a med that I could look into trying? Anything worked for anyone else?
This needs to end.
Thanks,
John
Posted by ricker on September 18, 2009, at 17:04:19
In reply to Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
I've read that Remeron is used as an anti-blushing med.
Regards, Rick
Posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 6:20:46
In reply to Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
Hi John.
I was going to recommend propranolol, but I see that you already tried it.
Maybe you can attack the social anxiety with Neurontin (gabapentin). It's a long shot, but the drug has been used in social anxiety and social phobia.
- Scott
Posted by zzzz7 on September 19, 2009, at 7:13:07
In reply to Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
What about atenolol or atenolol+benzo? Atenolol won't cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike propranolol.
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on September 19, 2009, at 9:09:30
In reply to Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
I wouldn't medicate for something as charming as blushing.
Posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 10:27:14
In reply to Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by jwpaine on September 18, 2009, at 16:31:09
> I've been dealing with Anxiety-related facial blushing for a few years, now, and although my levels of blushing have gone up and down over the years, it still remains a persistent problem in social situations.
>
> I have helped myself by going to the gym and working out, 4 days a week - puts me around other people at the same time as building confidence. Doing this activity has helped significantly, but my face continues to become red in social situations (even sitting in the university cafe, eating dinner), or when talking to someone, face-to-face.
>
> I've tried a plethora of medications, none of which helped, including (but not limited to): Effexor, prozac, paxil, serequel, Nardil (which at one point I think may have helped, but only for a short interval before the blushing came back), beta-blocker (propranolol), and now my doctor has me on an a2-agonist (Clonidine). I'm not looking into taking a benzo, here - I don't like how they make me feel.
>
> If the Clonidine does not help the physical aspect of my social anxiety (facial blushing / flushing) does anyone else have a recommendation of a med that I could look into trying? Anything worked for anyone else?
>
> This needs to end.
>
> Thanks,
> John
>
>clonodine is the gold standard for blushing.
Posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 12:14:44
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 10:27:14
> clonodine is the gold standard for blushing.
Interesting. I didn't know that.
You are wealth of knowledge.
:-)
- Scott
Posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 13:06:15
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing » bulldog2, posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 12:14:44
> > clonodine is the gold standard for blushing.
>
> Interesting. I didn't know that.
>
> You are wealth of knowledge.
>
> :-)
>
>
> - ScottThank you. Blushing is genetic in my family and everytime I talked in front of people I looked like a boiled lobster and believe me some commented on it.
Anyhow my p-doc came up with a cocktail of clonodine and klonopin for occassions where I had to speak and worked well.
I've heard that nardil is good for social phobia but I don't know how it would work with blushing.
Scott you still are the king of phamcological knowledge around here.
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 13:13:33
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 10:27:14
I've never blushed clonodine? Interesting. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 13:16:43
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 13:13:33
Yup found this and beta blockers also. Phillipa
http://ezinearticles.com/?Facial-Blushing-Treatments&id=250107
Posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 14:10:11
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 13:16:43
> Yup found this and beta blockers also. Phillipa
>
> http://ezinearticles.com/?Facial-Blushing-Treatments&id=250107Yes that is a very good article. In reality the issue is one of independence from letting others control our emotions. Not just blushing for people prone to blushing but for many other issues in our lives. Many suffer from atypical depression. Some of the symptoms are sensitivity to other people's actions or non actions towards us. I believe the term is rejection sensitivity.
In the end no one controls our emotions but outselves. Some of us may be genetically predisposed to this condition. I believe nardil may be useful for this condition.However from a cbt point of view you have to declare your independence. You make the decision that you don't care what others think of you. One must also draw boundaries as to what is acceptable to you. Others may have the right to not like you and we must learn to deal with that but no one has the right to emotionally abuse you and hurt you. These are you boundaries and you must defend them.
Posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 15:31:06
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing » SLS, posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 13:06:15
> Scott you still are the king of phamcological knowledge around here.
That is not really true, but I appreciate the complement. I can think of others who are more knowledgeable than me. I just try to use all of what little God gives me to work with.
- Scott
Posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 16:12:04
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 15:31:06
> > Scott you still are the king of phamcological knowledge around here.
>
> That is not really true, but I appreciate the complement. I can think of others who are more knowledgeable than me. I just try to use all of what little God gives me to work with.
>
>
> - ScottWhen I first stumbled on babble I loved the interaction between you and andrewb. That kept me coming back. To me that is what this site should be about. It was a learning experience and there was some fascinating experimentation going on. After andrewb disappeared he came back once and seemed to imply all was well.
Anrewb found a combo of adderall and memantine to prevent tolerance that seemed to work for him.
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 20:36:54
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by bulldog2 on September 19, 2009, at 16:12:04
Scott kept me on babble following his struggles with cymbalta when first out. Scott you must have a magnetic pull to others. A gift. Love Phillipa
Posted by number42 on September 22, 2009, at 15:00:05
In reply to Re: Med recommendations for facial blushing, posted by SLS on September 19, 2009, at 15:31:06
> > Scott you still are the king of phamcological knowledge around here.
>
> That is not really true, but I appreciate the complement. I can think of others who are more knowledgeable than me. I just try to use all of what little God gives me to work with.
>
>
> - ScottYour information is superior to most Psychiatrists i've been to during the past 30 years. :)
-42
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.