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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SammyJar on May 4, 2010, at 22:11:00
I was trying to find comparison studies of these two drugs, but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know which medication, Paxil or Zoloft, preformed better in the trials for SAD?
Posted by morganator on May 4, 2010, at 23:25:54
In reply to Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by SammyJar on May 4, 2010, at 22:11:00
Flat out, Paxil sucks.
If you haven't been on an SSRI or any other antidepressant, I would try a good brand of SJW before you try anything else.
I would also suggest-fish oil, therapy, exercise, and maybe some magnesium glycinate for when you really need it. I take magnesium glycinate every night for sleep, but it may help you relax enough to deal with social situations better.
If you do take an SSRI, I think Zoloft is the best, JMHO.
Posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2010, at 0:31:54
In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by morganator on May 4, 2010, at 23:25:54
My first ad was paxil l0mg. Was given lopressor 25mg for three weeks first and was already taking xanax .25 three times a day. I was tired when started the paxil but think from lopressor and it was six months til back at work at the time but felt good at three months worked well for two years and I weaned off it. Zoloft I didn't like down the road
Posted by bleauberry on May 5, 2010, at 18:06:44
In reply to Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by SammyJar on May 4, 2010, at 22:11:00
It doesn't matter what happened in the trials, in my opinion. For one, there is always bias determined by who did the trial, why, and who paid for it. Second, the important details are left out. The generalization or summary usually leave out crucial details that actually paint a different picture than the author's summary. And when you get right down to it, while the numbers are better than placebo, they are not better by a huge margin.
Obviously though, of course, you have to do something. Either med stands an equal chance.
Many people complain of the apathy syndrome created by ssris when treating depression. I believe it is that aspect of the ssris that works on your symptoms. More apathetic, less symptoms.
It is impossible to predict anything that will happen to you based on a clinical trial. It might perhaps give you an edge by a couple percentage points, but nothing to place any bets on.
Both meds have decent potential but for your symptoms they take medium to high doses and time. While depression needs 4 to 8 weeks, your symptoms will need 12 to 24 weeks.
All that said, I personally don't like the whole ssri thing. It might sound like a weird overkill suggestion, but I would be more inclined to suggest nardil first, parnate second. I have reasons for those suggestions but don't want to get into a long explanation getting side tracked.
Posted by SammyJar on May 5, 2010, at 18:21:26
In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by morganator on May 4, 2010, at 23:25:54
Why don't you like Paxil? Is it because you don't think it works or because the side effects are too severe?> Flat out, Paxil sucks.
>
> If you haven't been on an SSRI or any other antidepressant, I would try a good brand of SJW before you try anything else.
>
> I would also suggest-fish oil, therapy, exercise, and maybe some magnesium glycinate for when you really need it. I take magnesium glycinate every night for sleep, but it may help you relax enough to deal with social situations better.
>
> If you do take an SSRI, I think Zoloft is the best, JMHO.
Posted by SammyJar on May 5, 2010, at 18:55:09
In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by bleauberry on May 5, 2010, at 18:06:44
It does seem that you don't hear many actual stories where any SSRI significantly helps someone with SAD. I have ask my doctor about Nardil and he just kind of laughed and acted like my SAD isn't severe enough for Nardil, although I disagree. It's obviously had a negative effect on my life.
I am just using a regular family doctor who seems pretty knowledgeable about these meds. He has told me that he himself is on Prozac and Xanax for depression\Anxiety that started after having to briefly retire because of a psychical illness. I don't think he has any malpractice insurance either because he makes every new patient sign a bunch of papers in regard to their treatment(which are revised and must be signed again all the time). That's one of the reasons I think he may have a problem with prescribing me something that has a very small chance of being fatal, like Nardil(although I would probably follow the diet and drug interaction restrictions even closer than needed).
I have been on several antidepressants and have never had any great results(Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Remeron, Strattera and Wellbutrin). Some didn't seem to do anything, while others only mildly helped or made things worse. Right now I'm just taking Xanax and Inderal as needed. And apathy is a problem for me on most of them(especially the SSRI's). Does Nardil cause apathy as well?
> It doesn't matter what happened in the trials, in my opinion. For one, there is always bias determined by who did the trial, why, and who paid for it. Second, the important details are left out. The generalization or summary usually leave out crucial details that actually paint a different picture than the author's summary. And when you get right down to it, while the numbers are better than placebo, they are not better by a huge margin.
>
> Obviously though, of course, you have to do something. Either med stands an equal chance.
>
> Many people complain of the apathy syndrome created by ssris when treating depression. I believe it is that aspect of the ssris that works on your symptoms. More apathetic, less symptoms.
>
> It is impossible to predict anything that will happen to you based on a clinical trial. It might perhaps give you an edge by a couple percentage points, but nothing to place any bets on.
>
> Both meds have decent potential but for your symptoms they take medium to high doses and time. While depression needs 4 to 8 weeks, your symptoms will need 12 to 24 weeks.
>
> All that said, I personally don't like the whole ssri thing. It might sound like a weird overkill suggestion, but I would be more inclined to suggest nardil first, parnate second. I have reasons for those suggestions but don't want to get into a long explanation getting side tracked.
Posted by manic666 on May 6, 2010, at 7:05:33
In reply to Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by SammyJar on May 4, 2010, at 22:11:00
ok sertraline an citalopram work on your probs, but you are never %100 well on anything//so what are you expecting from these meds,// if you can get away with low dose.s later on down the med zoloft is cool, with not many side effects, plus you can tapper back an forth at will on ssri,s
Posted by stevie3 on May 17, 2010, at 10:58:23
In reply to Re: Paxil vs. Zoloft for Social Anxiety Disorder., posted by manic666 on May 6, 2010, at 7:05:33
I have also heard about good results with Zoloft from some people.
This is the end of the thread.
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