Posted by 16# on August 8, 2001, at 2:02:54
In reply to social anxiety/Cam or anyone, posted by DN on August 7, 2001, at 9:37:12
> Alcohol helps my social anxiety, but not in the way you would think. After a night drinking my social anxiety is decreased significantly for the entire next day. I'm not still drunk. Why does alcohol affect my body in this way and what possible medication can mimic this affect. I've asked this question before with little response. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Thanks in advance for the response.
I am 35 years old and since I was 14 I drank to relieve social anxiety. As I grew older, my anxiety grew worse. Frequently, I would drink alone to relieve the constant anxiety that I constantly felt. When I was diagnosed as BPII I thought that the greatest challenge for me would be to quit drinking (which is really essential if you have such a persistent mood disorder).
All of that has changed in the past three months since I have been on Neurontin. It relaxes me to the point that I don't even think about drinking. My anxiety level is way down overall. I have not noticed any untoward side effects. Not everyone is as fortunate as I have been with this drug. I probably should have been on an anxiolytic many moons ago but doctors look upon those as "party" drugs, it seems. And instead push the SSRIs, all of which I've tried, and none of which have had the efficacy of Neurontin w/o the side effects.
So I think that Neurontin might mimic the effect that you are trying to capture. Worth a try. Best of luck to you.
Michelle
poster:16#
thread:73930
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010804/msgs/74091.html