![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Alara on December 23, 2002, at 23:47:08
A couple of days ago I posted about finding the right medication for an extreme case of social anxiety (`paranoia')brought on by starting a new job in a noisy, social environment. Prior to posting I had been using 1000 mcg Xanax (250mcg twice a day and 500mcg to sleep at night) without entire success. (It seemed to calm down my CNS to prevent excess physiological response to stress but had little or no effect on the real culprit of my problems: MY THOUGHTS.)
Well, I started on 10mg of Celexa on Saturday and by Monday morning, almost all of the social anxiety was gone! I felt much more objective and rational about things, started to get my confidence back, and was less self-conscious and self-absorbed. I no longer felt `paranoid'.
I increased the dose to the prescribed 20mg this morning but felt like a zombie all day. (My head and eyes felt heavy and I felt overmedicated; it was difficult to concentrate.) I called my doctor this afternoon to tell him all of this and he agreed that I should limit my dose to 10mg for the time being. I can't believe how quickly this drug works! Has anyone else found that they have successfully treated social anxiety on only half the recommended minimum therapeutic SSRI dose?? This drug seems to be very powerful and effective.
I know that everybody has a unique response to different drugs, but I would definitely recommend Celexa to anyone who has a problem with feeling abnormally shy or self-conscious.
I would be interested in hearing about anyone else's experience with Celexa. (Everyone seems to be talking about it's new sister, Lexapro, which hasn't hit the market here in Australia yet.)Thanks,
Alara
Posted by hok on December 24, 2002, at 9:59:40
In reply to Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Alara on December 23, 2002, at 23:47:08
I'd definitely agree. But be wary of Lexapro. It's MUCH stronger than celexa and induces a lot of anxiety (although not really of the social anxiety sort). I've been on it for 2 months now and I constantly contemplate returning to celexa. Yet I must admit it doesn't give me as much cravings and daytime sleepiness. But the tradeoff is more latent anxiety (this seems to be the case with most people). Secondly, it doesn't give me the same mood effect than Celexa (only speaking for myself here). Whereas celexa gave me a slight euphoric effect, Lexapro gives a much more flat affect. Consequently though, I think this helps me stay more focused.
Having to never use benzo's before in conjunction with an AD, I am now using a very low dose of klonopin to counteract the anxiety from the Lexapro.
As you can see from the many threads for Lexapro on this board, you'll find everybody reacts differently, so don't let me discourage you from trying it.
Posted by Bill L on December 24, 2002, at 10:23:42
In reply to Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Alara on December 23, 2002, at 23:47:08
A 10 mg dose of Lexapro might be enough for you. I personally take 20 mg Lexapro, but I used to be on 60 mg Celexa. If your dose of Celexa was 40 mg or less, then 10 mg Lexapro is probably your best dose. I have had less anxiety, less tiredness, and more clear thinking with Lexapro than with Celexa. They both work equally well on my depression.
Posted by linkadge on December 24, 2002, at 14:08:25
In reply to Re: Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Bill L on December 24, 2002, at 10:23:42
mg for mg - celexa is a very potent inhibitor of Serotonin. I started on 20 mg per day, and had many side effects (zombiness definately). I also just take 10 mg per day, and have no symptoms of depression or anxiety. Don't let the small dose fool you, If I stop, I am back at base one in a few days. I noticed, the anxiety was gone after the second dose of Celexa -it is very good.
Note - I also take Folic Acid and Vitamin b12 supplements, which have been shown in studies to increase the effectivness of all SSRI medication.Good Luck - and when you find something that works
stick with it !!
Linkadge
Posted by HIBA on December 24, 2002, at 23:49:32
In reply to Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Alara on December 23, 2002, at 23:47:08
Dear Alara,
<<Well, I started on 10mg of Celexa on Saturday and by Monday morning, almost all of the social anxiety was gone!>>
SSRIs take at least a couple of weeks to kick in, especially in depression and social phobia and in rare cases (absolutely rare) some patients respond after the first week. But in your case it kicked in within a couple of days and that means it did well to augment the effect of xanax which you are already on. SSRIs and other antidepressants usually being added to a benzo to augment their efficacy, and this combination does wonders in most cases. But to be reasonable enough I must say, I will definitely prefer xanax monotherapy for social phobia.
HIBA
Posted by Kari on December 25, 2002, at 12:06:42
In reply to Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Alara on December 23, 2002, at 23:47:08
Glad to hear it's working for you, and so quickly, too.
Posted by utopizen on December 25, 2002, at 13:01:54
In reply to Re: Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax!, posted by Kari on December 25, 2002, at 12:06:42
At the very most, it's potentiating the Xanax, and I still think that's a shot in the dark...
I use to believe in what my head told me was how I responded to meds. Then one day I got Effexor samples in my hand, and I got the same euphoric, child-like inner glow I felt on day 1 of Celexa. Keep in mind this is with the pills still in their blister packaging, not even touching my hand's bare skin =)
So basically, the first SSRI you try, you get this feeling, you think you're cured, then maybe you are, but it's not the med, it's you thinkink you're not you. But in turn, this is still good anyway, so who cares? You're better, so good for you.
As for me, I think my meds have been wonder drugs to my social anxiety, only to "test" it out and find it pitifully failed. Only Klonopin and Neurontin (separately) will work (never tried other benzos) on my social anxiety. But Klonopin makes me not feel like talking, which I suppose is good, except for parties, where I'm convinced taking a drink or two is necessary (which is sort of true, since I get freaked out how calm/contented I feel as a wallflower while girls are upset I'm not hitting on them-- calm is fine, as long as it doesn't interfere with the mating process!!).
Well, anyway, another sidenote- Neurontin makes me talk a lot, but often in a monotonous tone or boring tone. So not worth it. But under-appreciated as a great thing to take when you've felt the most humiliating experience you've ever felt in your life, because it really is soothing, motherly-like.
Posted by Alara on December 27, 2002, at 20:50:21
In reply to Re: Celxa works better for social anxiety than Xanax! » Alara, posted by HIBA on December 24, 2002, at 23:49:32
> Dear Alara,
>
> << But in your case it kicked in within a couple of days and that means it did well to augment the effect of xanax which you are already on. SSRIs and other antidepressants usually being added to a benzo to augment their efficacy, and this combination does wonders in most cases.>>This is interesting, Hiba. In what way can an antidepressant augment the effect of a benzo? (ie; Does it only make a person's CNS less hyperactive - or are there also some antidepressant properties, relating to serotonin, which have already come into play?) I am asking this because I noticed a few things happening within a couple of days of starting the Celexa. The reduction in social anxiety wasn't the only phenomenon. I also had this silly grin on my face, which was one of the reasons why I talked to my doctor about staying on the lower 10mg dose. Then on Christmas Day, only 5 days after starting on the Celexa, my father kept smiling and shaking his head, exclaiming: "Something's changed in you. You're radiant." (And I am not engaged or pregnant!) Even a guy who I know at a local shop remarked jokingly yesterday: "Why are you so happy?" I swear that this stuff makes you smile. :-) I swear that this is not placebo effect.
Posted by HIBA on December 29, 2002, at 1:18:00
In reply to Re: SSRIs augmenting benzos » HIBA, posted by Alara on December 27, 2002, at 20:50:21
Dear Alara,
Sorry for being late to reply. I was far from my computer for the past couple of days and I still can't offer an answer to your basic qustion(How an SSRI aument the effects of benzos) It is something related to liver enzymes and neurotransmitters which only a psychopharmacologic professional can answer. But it is true, and what you get now should not necessarily be a placebo effect. Psychiatrists prescribe low doses of SSRIs to augment the effects of benzos and often patients react to this very positively and even a reduction in benzo intake is seen most such cases. Don't bother to ask which works at this time. If the combination seems to work well for you, stick with it. What we need is relief, relief from our sufferings.
HIBA
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.