Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 17454

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Marc on December 24, 1999, at 19:48:19

I've been diagnosed with mild performance anxiety and just general anxiety. I also have social phobia and mild OCD. The Social Phobia causes me the most stress and is what prompted me to take Paxil.
I tried Paxil 10mg for a while, and it did improve my anxiety to some degree. However, I felt sedated and experienced marijuana-like effects: paranoia, dullening of emotions and feelings (that's what decreases my anxiety), cloudy thinking and inability to concentrate, decrease in motivation, oversleeping and fatigue. What medications beside SSRI's might help my condition?

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Bob on December 24, 1999, at 21:19:28

In reply to Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Marc on December 24, 1999, at 19:48:19

I'm no fan of SSRIs, but I have to admit that when zoloft worked for me, it managed my OCD-like tendencies beautifully (well, even when it didn't do a damn thing else, it ALWAYS did this). Whe it worked, it also tended to leave me more assertive, more confident, and more at ease in social situations.

Clonazepam (generic Klonopin) has worked wonders for me in terms of anxiety.

My two cents--your mileage may vary.
bob

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Canadian Michele on December 26, 1999, at 16:04:00

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Bob on December 24, 1999, at 21:19:28

> I'm no fan of SSRIs, but I have to admit that when zoloft worked for me, it managed my OCD-like tendencies beautifully (well, even when it didn't do a damn thing else, it ALWAYS did this). Whe it worked, it also tended to leave me more assertive, more confident, and more at ease in social situations.
>
> Clonazepam (generic Klonopin) has worked wonders for me in terms of anxiety.
>
> My two cents--your mileage may vary.
> bob

Dear Bob,

I have been on every SSRI and also have to admit that the OCD stuff went away, but all the bloody side effects: anorgasmic, memory loss, I was very hyper on Zoloft - they are a roller coaster - the SSRI's promise so much and then "hey, I forgot to tell you there is this little side effect thing", ya know!! I spent 2 years working through the whole gamit of SSRI's but my GP was doing the guidance and I think, (bless him, he is a sweetie) was over his head. I have since moved on to a female psych who is considered the best in our area and she is a special medical professional - I do the research on drugs or whatever treatment - we discuss - she offers advice and support and I chose. I am just not too sure how much experience she has had with combining medications for GAD/Depression/Social Phobia, which is my corner. She is open and I have given her this web site address and I hope she checks in. At any rate I just received a printout from her in the mail (my work sched makes it real difficult to set up appointment on a regular basis so we often fax or in this case she mailed to me an outline from the University of Saskatchewan, Can. on treatment of anxiety disorders with an obvious bias on CBT. This paper is a real 'party line' type document. I know there are progressive people around but how to make physical contact is another thing. Living in a smallish community is frustrating sometimes. (thank god for the net) Anyway the paper really left me feeling pissed off. I have suffered with panic disorder, agoraphobia, GAD etc. since I was born. My first recollections are of anxiety though my family remembers me as a very happy outgoing child. I wanted to be on the stage. I am not a wallflower - never have been. I have worked with every therapy that has been available to me as the science/therapy re the disorders grew. I have had periods that were symtom free - brilliant times of joy and fullfillment. The idea that 'changing the way one thinks' - 'changing one's interior language' is what is required to cope/cure a condition that I really think is chemically underwritten is patently cruel. It smacks of blaming the victim - if I would just practice more positive thoughts about myself, blah blah blah. Don't they know that we do everything possible to get and keep ourselves on track? My god the careers that are maintained, the families that are organized and loved, the successes that are achieved by people like us. I think we all deserve medals of achievement. In fact if you recall the Psychoanalyst, R.D. Laing, brilliant; he said (paraphrased by me) that the tortured souls who have embarked on internal journeys of mental illness and anguish must perforce be honoured with Gold Medals upon their return'.

Having this disorder is NOT MY FAULT. I now reject all feelings of blame and shame. I also want to see the biological/chemical aspect recognized as the major component and at the risk of sounding radical - how great it would be if drugs such as MDMA and others would figure into the research and be legalized and made available to us. I don't seek bliss, at least not constantly, I just want to live untormented.

Michele

PS I am just starting a titrate of Klonopin. I am at .125 per day. I must go very slow as I drive a city bus and must stay together.

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Rick on December 26, 1999, at 20:13:28

In reply to Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Marc on December 24, 1999, at 19:48:19

I've been singing the praises of Klonopin for Social Phobia on this board for months. (Some regulars probably suspect I work for Roche.) So I'll spare the regular readers, and send you an e-mail...in fact, I already have. But I forgot to mention that as great as Klonopin is for generalized Social Phobia, it is unbelievable for Performance Anxiety. Six months ago I stood up in front of a room of fifty people to give a presentation and struggled just to get one word out. I was on the verge of excusing myself from the room. Two months after starting Klonopin, I stared out at the same crowd, and couldn't believe I was the same person. I expected a big *reduction* in nervousness, but not 99.5%! And my mind didn't draw blanks; I could think so much more clearly. (It was sure a different story when I had tried Xanax in the same setting. That gave me about 33% relief, and I felt drugged.) I should also point out that the tiny (2.5 mg/day) dose of the serotonin-friendly beta blocker Pindolol that I was originally prescribed for mild high blood pressure probably helped a little (beta blockers alone are often used for mild performance anxiety).

Secondly, I should point out that I, too, have mild OCD. (The fact that I feel so compelled to spend time defending and/or extolling the virtues of Klonopin at every opportunity should be a good hint that it's NOT doing anything on that count.)

Finally, like every benzo, Klonopin helps with generalized anxiety. Maybe that's why I never have insomnia any more, even though I take my last Klonopin dose in the late afternoon.

Rick

-----
> I've been diagnosed with mild performance anxiety and just general anxiety. I also have social phobia and mild OCD. The Social Phobia causes me the most stress and is what prompted me to take Paxil.
> I tried Paxil 10mg for a while, and it did improve my anxiety to some degree. However, I felt sedated and experienced marijuana-like effects: paranoia, dullening of emotions and feelings (that's what decreases my anxiety), cloudy thinking and inability to concentrate, decrease in motivation, oversleeping and fatigue. What medications beside SSRI's might help my condition?

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Cindy W on December 27, 1999, at 9:03:25

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Rick on December 26, 1999, at 20:13:28

> I've been singing the praises of Klonopin for Social Phobia on this board for months. (Some regulars probably suspect I work for Roche.) So I'll spare the regular readers, and send you an e-mail...in fact, I already have. But I forgot to mention that as great as Klonopin is for generalized Social Phobia, it is unbelievable for Performance Anxiety. Six months ago I stood up in front of a room of fifty people to give a presentation and struggled just to get one word out. I was on the verge of excusing myself from the room. Two months after starting Klonopin, I stared out at the same crowd, and couldn't believe I was the same person. I expected a big *reduction* in nervousness, but not 99.5%! And my mind didn't draw blanks; I could think so much more clearly. (It was sure a different story when I had tried Xanax in the same setting. That gave me about 33% relief, and I felt drugged.) I should also point out that the tiny (2.5 mg/day) dose of the serotonin-friendly beta blocker Pindolol that I was originally prescribed for mild high blood pressure probably helped a little (beta blockers alone are often used for mild performance anxiety).
>
> Secondly, I should point out that I, too, have mild OCD. (The fact that I feel so compelled to spend time defending and/or extolling the virtues of Klonopin at every opportunity should be a good hint that it's NOT doing anything on that count.)
>
> Finally, like every benzo, Klonopin helps with generalized anxiety. Maybe that's why I never have insomnia any more, even though I take my last Klonopin dose in the late afternoon.
>
> Rick

> > I've been diagnosed with mild performance anxiety and just general anxiety. I also have social phobia and mild OCD. The Social Phobia causes me the most stress and is what prompted me to take Paxil.
> > I tried Paxil 10mg for a while, and it did improve my anxiety to some degree. However, I felt sedated and experienced marijuana-like effects: paranoia, dullening of emotions and feelings (that's what decreases my anxiety), cloudy thinking and inability to concentrate, decrease in motivation, oversleeping and fatigue. What medications beside SSRI's might help my condition?

For OCD, I've tried Prozac, Serzone, Luvox, and Zoloft...am now trying Effexor. The Luvox was very effective, and Zoloft and Prozac were somewhat effective, but all produced sexual side effects. The Serzone produced no sexual side effects, but didn't help with the OCD (although it did help with social anxiety and depression). Effexor seems to help with OCD and depression, without the sexual side effects (so far!)--Cindy W

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines

Posted by bones on December 28, 1999, at 8:22:42

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Cindy W on December 27, 1999, at 9:03:25

The postings above sound so familiar. I too have tried a number of SSRI's - with no success; the side effects always made me discontinue. Right now I'm trying neurontin (gabapentin) which is "usually" prescribed as an anti-epileptic medication. I have hardly any side effects. (I'm on a dose of 200 mg/day.) (Actually, I have put on five pounds, and did outeat the near term pregnant woman sitting an a party next to me a couple of days ago, but that may just be seasonal overeating?? I'll have to wait and see) My social anxiety symptoms have been GREATLY diminished. (Not working on my OCD.) I'm sleeping well; I look forward to social situations. I feel I'm a little more serious; suspect my demeanour has changed - my face feels very relaxed, perhaps lacks the "extreme" expression that constant anxiety produces. So far I'm sticking with this med. (which is commendable for med); the therapeutic effect outweighs the side-effects.

A side note: My social anxiety symptoms are mainly tremors and blushing, and conversational mind blank. ("I've forgotten what I was saying.") I find that Neurontin doesn't really disinhibit like the SSRI's do. I don't laugh as much - my mood is stabalized. It works exceedingly well with my tremors - the blushing is reduced but is still present (Drats!!)

I'll keep you posted - see if I continue with this one.

Good luck fellow anxiety sufferers!!

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?

Posted by Annie S. on December 28, 1999, at 10:14:14

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines: Which One?, posted by Canadian Michele on December 26, 1999, at 16:04:00

> > I'm no fan of SSRIs, but I have to admit that when zoloft worked for me, it managed my OCD-like tendencies beautifully (well, even when it didn't do a damn thing else, it ALWAYS did this). Whe it worked, it also tended to leave me more assertive, more confident, and more at ease in social situations.
> >
> > Clonazepam (generic Klonopin) has worked wonders for me in terms of anxiety.
> >
> > My two cents--your mileage may vary.
> > bob
>
> Dear Bob,
>
> I have been on every SSRI and also have to admit that the OCD stuff went away, but all the bloody side effects: anorgasmic, memory loss, I was very hyper on Zoloft - they are a roller coaster - the SSRI's promise so much and then "hey, I forgot to tell you there is this little side effect thing", ya know!! I spent 2 years working through the whole gamit of SSRI's but my GP was doing the guidance and I think, (bless him, he is a sweetie) was over his head. I have since moved on to a female psych who is considered the best in our area and she is a special medical professional - I do the research on drugs or whatever treatment - we discuss - she offers advice and support and I chose. I am just not too sure how much experience she has had with combining medications for GAD/Depression/Social Phobia, which is my corner. She is open and I have given her this web site address and I hope she checks in. At any rate I just received a printout from her in the mail (my work sched makes it real difficult to set up appointment on a regular basis so we often fax or in this case she mailed to me an outline from the University of Saskatchewan, Can. on treatment of anxiety disorders with an obvious bias on CBT. This paper is a real 'party line' type document. I know there are progressive people around but how to make physical contact is another thing. Living in a smallish community is frustrating sometimes. (thank god for the net) Anyway the paper really left me feeling pissed off. I have suffered with panic disorder, agoraphobia, GAD etc. since I was born. My first recollections are of anxiety though my family remembers me as a very happy outgoing child. I wanted to be on the stage. I am not a wallflower - never have been. I have worked with every therapy that has been available to me as the science/therapy re the disorders grew. I have had periods that were symtom free - brilliant times of joy and fullfillment. The idea that 'changing the way one thinks' - 'changing one's interior language' is what is required to cope/cure a condition that I really think is chemically underwritten is patently cruel. It smacks of blaming the victim - if I would just practice more positive thoughts about myself, blah blah blah. Don't they know that we do everything possible to get and keep ourselves on track? My god the careers that are maintained, the families that are organized and loved, the successes that are achieved by people like us. I think we all deserve medals of achievement. In fact if you recall the Psychoanalyst, R.D. Laing, brilliant; he said (paraphrased by me) that the tortured souls who have embarked on internal journeys of mental illness and anguish must perforce be honoured with Gold Medals upon their return'.
>
> Having this disorder is NOT MY FAULT. I now reject all feelings of blame and shame. I also want to see the biological/chemical aspect recognized as the major component and at the risk of sounding radical - how great it would be if drugs such as MDMA and others would figure into the research and be legalized and made available to us. I don't seek bliss, at least not constantly, I just want to live untormented.
>
> Michele
>
> PS I am just starting a titrate of Klonopin. I am at .125 per day. I must go very slow as I drive a city bus and must stay together.


Dear Canadian Michele,
Right on!! Very well stated. I know exactly how you feel. I am suffering and have suffered with the same problems you have for as long as I can remember and no longer blame myself for the way I am. It took me years before I had the guts to go to a doctor and say, "I need help!!!" I agree very strongly that cognitive behavior therapy is not the complete answer. I'm done blaming myself for not being able to "think" differently. The drug I am on has helped me to challenge some of my thoughts and I feel 100 times better about my ability to handle pressure, socialize, give and accept love, less self-consciousness, etc. than I did pre drug. Everything about my life has improved since starting the med 6 months ago. My family relationships are better, my relationship with myself is better, my ability to interact with people in general and my relationship with God is better. I feel at peace for the first time in my life. For me it is definitely a chemical problem--no amount of talk or a self-help book could pull me out of the anxious, unhappy hell I lived in before.

USA Annie

p.s. The drug I'm taking is Effexor XR.

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines - To Bones

Posted by David Mirtzer on December 28, 1999, at 13:41:14

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines, posted by bones on December 28, 1999, at 8:22:42

> The postings above sound so familiar. I too have tried a number of SSRI's - with no success; the side effects always made me discontinue. Right now I'm trying neurontin (gabapentin) which is "usually" prescribed as an anti-epileptic medication. I have hardly any side effects. (I'm on a dose of 200 mg/day.) (Actually, I have put on five pounds, and did outeat the near term pregnant woman sitting an a party next to me a couple of days ago, but that may just be seasonal overeating?? I'll have to wait and see) My social anxiety symptoms have been GREATLY diminished. (Not working on my OCD.) I'm sleeping well; I look forward to social situations. I feel I'm a little more serious; suspect my demeanour has changed - my face feels very relaxed, perhaps lacks the "extreme" expression that constant anxiety produces. So far I'm sticking with this med. (which is commendable for med); the therapeutic effect outweighs the side-effects.
>
> A side note: My social anxiety symptoms are mainly tremors and blushing, and conversational mind blank. ("I've forgotten what I was saying.") I find that Neurontin doesn't really disinhibit like the SSRI's do. I don't laugh as much - my mood is stabalized. It works exceedingly well with my tremors - the blushing is reduced but is still present (Drats!!)
>
> I'll keep you posted - see if I continue with this one.
>
> Good luck fellow anxiety sufferers!!

Bones -

Very interesting post on Neurontin. Glad it seems to be working for you. I’d really appreciate it if you could answer a few (okay, five) questions. I'm REALLY interested in the answer to all of them

1. How long did it take until benefits kicked in, especially for Social Anxiety?

2. What side effects do you have besides possible weight gain? How about fatigue, a “buzz”, cognitive
or memory impairment? Are there any side effects that appeared but went away? Which ones, and how
long did it take until they went away?

3. Are you taking any other psychotropic meds?

4. When do you take your Neurontin?

5. Were your Social Anxiety tremors in the face, hands, voice, or ???

Thanks so much!

DM

 

Re: Anxiety Medicines - To Bones

Posted by bones on December 29, 1999, at 15:37:51

In reply to Re: Anxiety Medicines - To Bones, posted by David Mirtzer on December 28, 1999, at 13:41:14

Hi David:

1. How long did it take until benefits kicked in, especially for Social Anxiety?

I'm very medication sensitive and attentive to side-effects. I noticed a decrease in symptoms within a couple of days.

2. What side effects do you have besides possible weight gain? How about fatigue, a “buzz”, cognitive
or memory impairment? Are there any side effects that appeared but went away? Which ones, and how
long did it take until they went away?

Actually I feel less tired (during the day) on neurontin than I did on any of the anti-depressants (SSRI's), although it greatly increases my quality of sleep. Yes, I do have cognitive impairment, but I find most of the SSRI's do that to you as well. Slight memory problems. I'm only on a small dose of this med. in comparison with many others.

3. Are you taking any other psychotropic meds?

No.

4. When do you take your Neurontin?

I take 100 mg. in the morning and 100 mg. at around 2 - 3:00 p.m. (Actually now I remember ... I stopped taking the night time dose because I was having trouble sleeping.) 200 mg. seems to work fine for me. If/when I up the dose I feel "flatter" in emotion/physical expression.

It's funny, when I took SSRI's my demeanour was happy, bright - I laughed a lot. (But inside I couldn't connect with who I was, I felt deadened.) With neurontin, I look flatter but feel more like myself.

5. Were your Social Anxiety tremors in the face, hands, voice, or ???

I blush badly and have tremors in my head/neck.

Thanks so much!

DM

Good luck David. I still haven't found a miracle drug (Paxil also worked quite well; but as I mentioned earlier neurontin seems to provide some relief with side-effects I can tolerate.

There was earlier discussion in "babble" about the possibility of these anti-epileptic drugs actually over long-term use CAUSING epilepsy. That kind of alarmed me. But there was no proof to back up the accusation.

Tonight I'm off to a party with a new colleague, and I must say I'm a little nervous. (I've decreased my meds while I'm on holidays this week - only taking 100 mg./day.)


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