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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 5:59:52
Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
Posted by Ritch on May 20, 2003, at 13:13:35
In reply to Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 5:59:52
> Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
TCA's have the longest track record-in particular amitriptyline (from what I understand anyhow). SSRI's can work well if you can tolerate them. Benzos will help too.
Posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 16:14:42
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia » daizy, posted by Ritch on May 20, 2003, at 13:13:35
> > Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
>
>
> TCA's have the longest track record-in particular amitriptyline (from what I understand anyhow). SSRI's can work well if you can tolerate them. Benzos will help too.Im on Amitriptyline now, I find it has helped, but it also numbs emotions, and Im not sure I can tolerate it much longer, I want to feel happy again!! That being said I dont want my anxiety to come back either! Thanx
Posted by Ritch on May 20, 2003, at 22:48:46
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 16:14:42
> > > Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
> >
> >
> > TCA's have the longest track record-in particular amitriptyline (from what I understand anyhow). SSRI's can work well if you can tolerate them. Benzos will help too.
>
> Im on Amitriptyline now, I find it has helped, but it also numbs emotions, and Im not sure I can tolerate it much longer, I want to feel happy again!! That being said I dont want my anxiety to come back either! ThanxYou might ask your doctor about a cross-taper or switch to nortiptyline instead. The sedation is much less. It's the only TCA I could ever stand to take during the daytime.
Posted by Jackster on May 21, 2003, at 1:37:16
In reply to Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 5:59:52
> Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
This is a really good website that explains different meds used for agoraphobia:
http://www.anxieties.com/8Meds/panic_medication_intro1.htm
Personally Paxil helped me brilliantly for about 3 years before pooping out.
Jackie
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 21, 2003, at 3:04:47
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by Jackster on May 21, 2003, at 1:37:16
SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants are the standard treatemnt with occasional benzodiazepine use.A natural treatment that may be worth trying is omega-3 fish oil (about 8% of our brain is fish oil) and you can read the details on www.omega3.20megsfree.com
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 8:10:35
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 21, 2003, at 3:04:47
I hate to state the obvious, but I will always feel benzodiazepine therapy (particularly with Klonopin, Xanax, or Ativan) is the way to go so that you can always be assured relief. Beyond that, Lexapro has been great for my agoraphobia, as has my favorite little miracle drug, Mirapex. So in my case, it's a question mainly of taking something for the anxiety, and something to motivate my butt out the front door, lol.
Posted by daizy on May 24, 2003, at 11:07:53
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 8:10:35
Yeah its lack of motivation for me really, I just dont have anything to be motivated for, as when I do go out, its just not any fun, nothing is fun, so whats the point in trying?! What drug is Mirapex? Is it an SSRI? Has it worked for your motivation? Thanx
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on May 24, 2003, at 13:35:04
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 24, 2003, at 11:07:53
> Yeah its lack of motivation for me really, I just dont have anything to be motivated for, as when I do go out, its just not any fun, nothing is fun, so whats the point in trying?! What drug is Mirapex? Is it an SSRI? Has it worked for your motivation? Thanx
Mirapex is DEFINITELY not an SSRI, just want to get that straight, lol. In fact, it sometimes is prescribed with SSRIs to reverse sexual side effects and apathy. It's a dopamine agonist (Parkinson's drug), and it's special because it is the strongest dopamine agonist at the D3 receptor, which seems to give you a sense of purpose, creativity, motivation, and love of life.
For me, Mirapex (along with a few other drugs for the anxiety part of the agoraphobia) has been my best friend. I'd never give it up.
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 25, 2003, at 22:19:29
In reply to Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 5:59:52
> Hey! Has anyone had any experience of this? know what meds would be best to try for a mild form of agoraphobia?
Two books I would recommend for self-help methods on agoraphobia, though they were written before the age of TCA's and SSRI's:
"Agoraphobia"" by Dr.Claire Weeks
and
"Peace from Nervous Suffering"
When I was struggling with enormously severe anxiety, the second book helped me see that I could get better. I heard a similarly positive story from a formerly agoraphobic woman.
Just a thought, maybe an ajunct to meds. :D
Posted by bookgurl99 on May 25, 2003, at 22:22:04
In reply to Re: Agoraphobia, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 21, 2003, at 3:04:47
> (about 8% of our brain is fish oil)
are you saying i'm made out of fish? how can it be 'fish oil' if it's in _my_ head?
Posted by missliz on May 26, 2003, at 0:16:09
In reply to Agoraphobia, posted by daizy on May 20, 2003, at 5:59:52
I have nasty agoriphobia, and the MAOIs were great for it but they are pretty heavy duty. I think treating the anxiety and depression will cover the agor, it's always been a package deal for me. I beleive in benzos, and I'm using Trileptal for mood stabilization (great stuff!) and recently added Stratterra, which is doing a lot of the same things for me as MAOIs did- including getting my butt out the door. I was afraid of certain places, too, only would go to certain "safe" places. On the Stratterra I've been running all over, taking one day road trips, definate improvement. It's not a perfect drug, but at least I can go to more than one mall!
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors weren't the fix all everybody thought they would be. Most of us need it all boosted, but the drugs like MAOIs and tricyclics that do that can be rough. Stratterra is a norepinephrin reuptake inhibitor, and it can be added to the serotonin boosters for a more custom fix. Reuptake inhibitors for everything else are on their way- better cocktails for all of us ;-) !missliz
Oh- My time on Nardil (an MAOI) did leave permanent improvement, it gave me a learning experience on how not to be freaked by everything. I turned allergic to it, but was still much better when I came off of it because of the cognitive experience. Totally worth skipping pizza for four years. Consider it if it's offered.
Posted by fanni on May 27, 2003, at 17:17:37
In reply to Re: fish oil, posted by bookgurl99 on May 25, 2003, at 22:22:04
it probably means the omega 3 or vitamin a or d or amino acids or something
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 27, 2003, at 18:18:52
In reply to Re: fish oil, posted by bookgurl99 on May 25, 2003, at 22:22:04
> > (about 8% of our brain is fish oil)
>
> are you saying i'm made out of fish? how can it be 'fish oil' if it's in _my_ head?8% of your brain, by weight, is the same fatty acids you'll find in high concentration in fish oil.
This is the end of the thread.
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