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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Radish on January 27, 2019, at 18:52:30
Ive read Nardil (plus maybe clonazepam) is the gold standard for social phobia. I have never had Nardil and am going to ask my pdoc for it at my next appointment. So far the only drug that has provided any sweet release from social anxiety/phobia (albeit a very subtle effect) for me is benzodiazepines.
I was prescribed Xanax/alprazolam and Klonopin/clonazepam many years ago and more recently I have Ativan/lorazepam for use as needed (except I need it *every* workday just to function on a perfunctory level socially and not start crying in frustration and self-loathing by 11 am). Ativan .5 mg somewhat makes me less deeply self conscious, less negatively ruminative (I dont know if thats a word but Ill go with it) and it improves my mood, all of which help me be more normal and lessens SP and depression. But it slows me down cognitively and reduces my ability to converse in several ways and makes me feel generally sluggish and semi-drugged (but doesnt make me feel euphoric or high).
To be fair I cant tell whether the cognitive sluggishness is from the benzos or the SP itself, since SP gives me the same effect of being slow and rather stupid in auditory processing, cognition speed, and conversational skills. Plus depression is notorious for cognitive toxicity as well. I cant remember if these side effects happened when I used to take Xanax and KP as that was a decade ago. Alcohol is actually better than Ativan for me as it doesnt make me as sedated, I think.
Anyhow, my question is does Nardil reduce SP in a similar sedated way? Could I expect similar cognitive reduction? If so I am not sure Id want to take it. I am curious how it works.
Posted by Lamdage22 on January 27, 2019, at 22:16:07
In reply to How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP, posted by Radish on January 27, 2019, at 18:52:30
i would say less sedation. It made me much more outgoing which benzos do not. They just tone down anxiety.
Posted by Lamdage22 on January 27, 2019, at 22:18:04
In reply to Re: How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP, posted by Lamdage22 on January 27, 2019, at 22:16:07
also made me psychotic so watch out for that. Know the symptoms. I didnt and thats why i didnt get help.
Posted by bleauberry on January 29, 2019, at 9:31:11
In reply to How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP, posted by Radish on January 27, 2019, at 18:52:30
I was on Parnate for a little while. It was really good for social phobia, even before any antidepressant effect kicked in.
MAOIs produce more of a natural organic social comfort. Hard to put into words. It does not feel drug-induced.
Benzos definitely relax you, but they also depress things and can come with brain fog. It's not a natural social comfort. It feels drugged.
Posted by Radish on January 29, 2019, at 17:51:22
In reply to Re: How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP, posted by Lamdage22 on January 27, 2019, at 22:18:04
> also made me psychotic so watch out for that. Know the symptoms. I didnt and thats why i didnt get help.
Oh thats awful. Hopefully youre not dealing with it anymore now thats youre off it?
Posted by Radish on January 29, 2019, at 18:03:58
In reply to Re: How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP, posted by bleauberry on January 29, 2019, at 9:31:11
> I was on Parnate for a little while. It was really good for social phobia, even before any antidepressant effect kicked in.
>
> MAOIs produce more of a natural organic social comfort. Hard to put into words. It does not feel drug-induced.
>
> Benzos definitely relax you, but they also depress things and can come with brain fog. It's not a natural social comfort. It feels drugged.Thats good to hear. Brain fog is the bane of my life. Also interesting that Parnate is good in that department as well.
Posted by Lamdage22 on January 30, 2019, at 9:48:49
In reply to Re: How MAOIs / Nardil feel compared to benzos for SP » Lamdage22, posted by Radish on January 29, 2019, at 17:51:22
> > also made me psychotic so watch out for that. Know the symptoms. I didnt and thats why i didnt get help.
>
> Oh thats awful. Hopefully youre not dealing with it anymore now thats youre off it?I was on it so many times! I didnt recover fully.
This is the end of the thread.
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