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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
I am currently taking 40 mg/day of Celexa for social phobia & I have noticed that by itself it isn't working very well for me for social phobia or depression for that matter. With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some improvement but now that i'm not taking the Klonopin, I think that improvement in social phobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
I know Paxil is the only FDA approved drug for social anxiety but that does not necessarily mean it is the best SSRI for this condition.
Which of these medicines seem to make you the most outgoing?
Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil?Also, has Paxil CR (Controlled Release) been released yet in the U.S.? (I checked on the Glaxo Smithkline Beecham US website & the Walgreens website & it wasn't listed.)
Posted by JGirl on December 11, 2001, at 0:22:35
In reply to Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
I've tried all kinds of meds for depression/anxiety. My shrink tells me that I have performance anxiety (not necessarily social phobia). SERZONE has eliminated this problem. I've had job performance issues due to my fear of presenting (public speaking). I have no probs with this now! I can stand-up and speak to a large crowd with comfort. However, it worsened my OCD (eating, shopping, ruminating). So, if you don't have a problem with the latter, try Serzone. It also helped with depression.
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin did not help ME with the social anxiety. Effexor seemed to help with OCD and the anxiety but not much with my depression. I'm tapering off Serzone due to the OCD affliction. I just started Cerzone.
Good luck!
PS- I lost weight with Wellbutrin and Effexor, for those interested.
> I am currently taking 40 mg/day of Celexa for social phobia & I have noticed that by itself it isn't working very well for me for social phobia or depression for that matter. With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some improvement but now that i'm not taking the Klonopin, I think that improvement in social phobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
>
> I know Paxil is the only FDA approved drug for social anxiety but that does not necessarily mean it is the best SSRI for this condition.
>
> Which of these medicines seem to make you the most outgoing?
> Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil?
>
> Also, has Paxil CR (Controlled Release) been released yet in the U.S.? (I checked on the Glaxo Smithkline Beecham US website & the Walgreens website & it wasn't listed.)
Posted by tensor on December 11, 2001, at 6:51:52
In reply to Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
Have you tried higher dose of klonopin? I'm taking klonopin against social phobia and it works very well without any additional AD. But I'm taking 3-4mg each day, so maybe you should try higher dose...
/tensor
>With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some >improvement but now that i'm not taking the >Klonopin, I think that improvement in social >hobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 11, 2001, at 8:52:47
In reply to Re: Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best? » 3 Beer Effect, posted by tensor on December 11, 2001, at 6:51:52
> Have you tried higher dose of klonopin? I'm taking klonopin against social phobia and it works very well without any additional AD. But I'm taking 3-4mg each day, so maybe you should try higher dose...
>
> /tensorMost psychiatrists including my own, seem to think that Benzodiazepines are the spawn of satan- I had to pull teeth just to get 1 mg per day of Klonopin- I don't even know if I need an antidepressant- I would probably do well & be more clear headed with a higher dose (2-3 mg) of Klonopin by itself. Anti-depressants often seem to make things worse for me b/c of side effects like nervousness & especially insomnia & sleep disturbance, but since they are "non-addictive" it is much easier to get Prozac etc. than Klonopin
>
> >With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some >improvement but now that i'm not taking the >Klonopin, I think that improvement in social >hobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
Posted by Mitch on December 11, 2001, at 9:38:00
In reply to Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
> I am currently taking 40 mg/day of Celexa for social phobia & I have noticed that by itself it isn't working very well for me for social phobia or depression for that matter. With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some improvement but now that i'm not taking the Klonopin, I think that improvement in social phobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
>
> I know Paxil is the only FDA approved drug for social anxiety but that does not necessarily mean it is the best SSRI for this condition.
>
> Which of these medicines seem to make you the most outgoing?
> Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil?
>
> Also, has Paxil CR (Controlled Release) been released yet in the U.S.? (I checked on the Glaxo Smithkline Beecham US website & the Walgreens website & it wasn't listed.)3Beers,
There are two issues(IMO) when it comes to SP-social interest and social avoidance. I think the more *activating* SSri's like Prozac and Zoloft work better for improving "approach" (more 'outgoing'). While the more sedative ones such as Celexa and Paxil seem to work better on avoidance and panic. Personally, I think the Paxil was the best for the most intense performance situations (like a speech/presentation, etc.), while I thought Prozac was best for sociability-improving your "outgoing-ness" (away from work or school).
Mitch
Posted by Elizabeth on December 11, 2001, at 15:02:35
In reply to Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
There's no reason to believe that any of the SSRIs is better or worse than the others in general; go with what works best for you. Remember that even if one SSRI doesn't work, a different one might (the reasons for this are unknown, and we can't predict which SSRI will work best for any given person).
Keep in mind the possibility of trying things other than SSRIs, too. Effexor can work, and it may be superior to SSRIs when taken in high doses. Neurontin is one alternative to benzos that pdocs who are benzophobic might be willing to try. Irreversible MAOIs were the first drugs shown to be effective in social phobia and often work when other things have failed. RIMAs are also effective.
I'd be interested in any other meds that people have used successfully to treat social phobia. There don't seem to be a whole lot of choices currently. Opioids help me a lot and I've heard of and read about other people responding to them too, but if you can't even get benzos, I wouldn't count on being able to get a prescription for opioids.
-elizabeth
Posted by geno on December 11, 2001, at 17:18:43
In reply to Re: Social phobia meds, posted by Elizabeth on December 11, 2001, at 15:02:35
> There's no reason to believe that any of the SSRIs is better or worse than the others in general; go with what works best for you. Remember that even if one SSRI doesn't work, a different one might (the reasons for this are unknown, and we can't predict which SSRI will work best for any given person).
>
> Keep in mind the possibility of trying things other than SSRIs, too. Effexor can work, and it may be superior to SSRIs when taken in high doses. Neurontin is one alternative to benzos that pdocs who are benzophobic might be willing to try. Irreversible MAOIs were the first drugs shown to be effective in social phobia and often work when other things have failed. RIMAs are also effective.
>
> I'd be interested in any other meds that people have used successfully to treat social phobia. There don't seem to be a whole lot of choices currently. Opioids help me a lot and I've heard of and read about other people responding to them too, but if you can't even get benzos, I wouldn't count on being able to get a prescription for opioids.
>
> -elizabethOn the subject of social phobia, besides antidepressants, i see one mentioned opiates. Well it seems most additictve substance such as benzos, opiates, alcohol and the best GHB are well suitable for social phobia. For me, GHB is far supirior to than all prior 3 combined. I could give a speech like hitler while on ghb. I find if im in a large croud of a social gathering, i take a dose of ghb, and i become the life of the party
geno
Posted by Elizabeth on December 11, 2001, at 21:29:48
In reply to Re: Social phobia meds, posted by geno on December 11, 2001, at 17:18:43
> On the subject of social phobia, besides antidepressants, i see one mentioned opiates. Well it seems most additictve substance such as benzos, opiates, alcohol and the best GHB are well suitable for social phobia.Actually, I take an opioid which doesn't seem to be addictive in the slightest (buprenorphine) and it works great for social anxiety. Regular full-agonist opioids would probably work too, but the anxiolytic effect obviously isn't the result of any sort of "high."
-elizabeth
Posted by PaulB on December 12, 2001, at 14:33:35
In reply to Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on December 10, 2001, at 23:05:50
> I am currently taking 40 mg/day of Celexa for social phobia & I have noticed that by itself it isn't working very well for me for social phobia or depression for that matter. With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some improvement but now that i'm not taking the Klonopin, I think that improvement in social phobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
>
> I know Paxil is the only FDA approved drug for social anxiety but that does not necessarily mean it is the best SSRI for this condition.
>
> Which of these medicines seem to make you the most outgoing?
> Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil?
>
I took pazil in 1998 and I am currently taking Zoloft. Of the two I would say there is little difference in effectiveness for social phobia. I prefer Zoloft because it doesnt seem to cause the 'high' I was on when I took Paxil that made it awkward for me being around people, although not as awkward as sp. I really wish you the best of luck with whatever medicine you try. It is a trial and error process. I would add, and others may disagree with me is that Fluoxetine(Prozac) can sometimes be addictive[requiring higher and higher doses to retain effectiveness]. Often I have read or heard that if 50mg Zoloft works it will keep on working and if 20mg Paxil is works it will keep on working however 20mg Prozac may well not. I know that sometimes people have needed up to 200mg of Prozac and in RARE cases 400mg?
PaulB
Posted by geno on December 12, 2001, at 17:33:45
In reply to Re: Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by PaulB on December 12, 2001, at 14:33:35
> > I am currently taking 40 mg/day of Celexa for social phobia & I have noticed that by itself it isn't working very well for me for social phobia or depression for that matter. With 1 mg/day of Klonopin I noticed some improvement but now that i'm not taking the Klonopin, I think that improvement in social phobia symptoms was from the Klonopin by itself.
> >
> > I know Paxil is the only FDA approved drug for social anxiety but that does not necessarily mean it is the best SSRI for this condition.
> >
> > Which of these medicines seem to make you the most outgoing?
> > Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil?
> >
> I took pazil in 1998 and I am currently taking Zoloft. Of the two I would say there is little difference in effectiveness for social phobia. I prefer Zoloft because it doesnt seem to cause the 'high' I was on when I took Paxil that made it awkward for me being around people, although not as awkward as sp. I really wish you the best of luck with whatever medicine you try. It is a trial and error process. I would add, and others may disagree with me is that Fluoxetine(Prozac) can sometimes be addictive[requiring higher and higher doses to retain effectiveness]. Often I have read or heard that if 50mg Zoloft works it will keep on working and if 20mg Paxil is works it will keep on working however 20mg Prozac may well not. I know that sometimes people have needed up to 200mg of Prozac and in RARE cases 400mg?
> PaulBElizabeth,
What do you mean by full agonist opiate. Is that the same as say vicodin. Well when i take vicdin, i do get in a better mood, talk a bit more, but nothing like ghb. Do you mean "getting high" on something, is a bad thing? Well my outlook is wheather its call high or low, it makes me function alot better. And im happy. Alcohol used to get me high, but in a shitty way.
geno. Benzos make me too calm. Stimulants make me panicy. Antidepressants, just level off my anger.
ghb, well (smile)
Posted by Elizabeth on December 12, 2001, at 23:12:37
In reply to Re: Social phobia- Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil best?, posted by geno on December 12, 2001, at 17:33:45
> What do you mean by full agonist opiate. Is that the same as say vicodin.
Hydrocodone, the opioid ingredient in Vicodin, is an example of a full agonist, yes.
> Do you mean "getting high" on something, is a bad thing?
I don't believe I said that. But most things that are addictive are things that get you high. Buprenorphine helps with social anxiety but doesn't cause a high and isn't addictive. All I was saying was that drugs don't have to be addictive in order to work well for social anxiety.
-elizabeth
This is the end of the thread.
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