Posted by drbill on February 21, 2005, at 16:24:21
In reply to Re: What's working well for social anxiety these days?, posted by med_empowered on February 10, 2005, at 19:14:01
Well, aside from benzos, I think that Effexor is probably the best of the FDA approved SAD meds, but Lexapro is probably the best overall (fewer side effects). I, however, have had increasingly delayed orgasm with the Lexapro at 20mg, so I've just been switched over to Cymbalta. To early to comment.
Here's the last 6 years of meds for social anxiety in a nutshell:
Lexapro at 15-20 mg worked pretty well, little or no sleepiness after 12 week adjustment, but increasingly harder to have an orgasm at 20 mg.
Effexor 225 mg worked well, but anorgasmia (delayed) and some sleepiness as well.
Zoloft 100 mg was fair, but *very* sleepy and anorgasmia.
Prozac 40 mg was only moderately helpful, but somewhat sleepy and mild anorgasmia.
Serzone did nothing for me.
Gabatril did nothing for me, except make me need less of the benzos when I did take them.
Wellbutrin gave me EXTREMELY PAINFUL (horrible burning sensation) and very dangerous hives and swelling (had to go to the ER), though I've since heard its the extended release coating on the tablet that people are allergic to.
Clonazepem seems to work the best of the benzos, but the only other one I've tried is Lorazepem. Dose of Klonopin is 1/2 to 2 .5mg tabs.
The beta blocker propranolol works well for racing heart, sweating, dry mouth, etc., effects of public speaking. I take 40 mg, but as few as 10-20 can help.
All in all, I'd recommend Lexapro at higher doses with benzos and beta blockers PRN, but I hope Cymbalta does the trick without the sexual side effects.
poster:drbill
thread:456012
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050217/msgs/461420.html