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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RT on December 9, 2003, at 21:55:59
Has anyone had success with parnate for social anxiety and depression that didnt respond to nardil ? What are the differences in side effects ?
Posted by btnd on December 10, 2003, at 4:54:35
In reply to Parnate for social anxiety ??, posted by RT on December 9, 2003, at 21:55:59
With parnate there is no weight-gain and anorgasmia. You might get insomnia or increased sex drive on it though ;-)
Posted by Notalis on December 10, 2003, at 5:19:09
In reply to Parnate for social anxiety ??, posted by RT on December 9, 2003, at 21:55:59
Can you explain what social anxiety is, please?
Posted by RT on December 10, 2003, at 19:02:43
In reply to Re: Parnate for social anxiety ??, posted by Notalis on December 10, 2003, at 5:19:09
In public places, such as work, meetings, or shopping, people with social phobia feel that everyone is watching and staring at them (even though rationally they know this isn’t true). The socially anxious person can’t relax, "take it easy", and enjoy themselves in public. In fact, they can never relax when other people are around. It always feels like others are evaluating them, being critical of them, or "judging" them in some way. The person with social phobia knows that people don’t do this openly, of course, but they still feel the self-consciousness and the judgment while they are in the other person’s presence. It’s sometimes impossible to let go, relax, and focus on anything else except the anxiety. Because the anxiety is so very painful, it’s much easier just to stay away from social situations and avoid other people.
Posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:24:19
In reply to Re: Parnate for social anxiety ??, posted by RT on December 10, 2003, at 19:02:43
When I started college at 17 I really went through periods like this.
I always sat in the back of the class, I never spoke up, when I had to do any type of presentation before the class I just didn't show up--hence I failed my first year of school.
At the same time, I couldn't go anywhere with my friends in the evenings without drinking beforehand. The first time we went to our local hangout when I hadn't had a drink I went into a complete panic and couldn't enter.
That was 15 years ago.
I'm now married with 3 kids, still working on that damn degree, and still have problems in social situations.
Just this morning I was invited to a little going-away coffee thingy for the wife of one of my husband's collegues and I stayed up last night making muffins, knowing in the back of my head I'd never go.
In fact, I'm sitting here right now in front of the computer (BTW, I'm in Italy, so it's my AM).
I've never really talked to my doc about these feelings because I thought it was just me. I'm really learning alot about myself on this site!
When a social event looms, I also get "sick", and come down with "real" symptoms.
My husband says I'm always sick when we're invited to go out with his friends.
If I go out with mine, I always have a drink or two, but I go out about twice a year.
Tomorrow we have a Xmas dinner to attend and I feel like barfing.
Posted by RT on December 11, 2003, at 20:44:16
In reply to Re: Parnate for social anxiety ?? » RT, posted by Notalis on December 11, 2003, at 4:24:19
Sounds like you also have social anxiety disorder. You have had some panic attacks as well?
This sounds alot like myself. Along with the difficulty in social situaltions, I developed panic attacks that would happen when I went very far from home. They call this agoraphobia. Its easy to develop these phobias related to the high levels of anxiety you feel in certain situations and the fear that they may go into a panic attack and cause even more embarrassment.
Are you on any medications ?
I am currently taking nardil and its doing pretty good , but I have some side effects Iam really having a hard time with.
Posted by Notalis on December 13, 2003, at 4:48:09
In reply to Re: Parnate for social anxiety ??, posted by RT on December 11, 2003, at 20:44:16
You know, I've been on prozac and other SSRIs for the last 9 years except during one pregnancy.
To be honest, I didn't know there was a labeled "social anxiety".
My doc doesn't speack English so I'm really confused about a lot of the terminology I see on the board, actually.
For example, I never spoke to him about how I feel in social situations because I just felt like a "retard" and that it was just me.
He suggested depakote because he thinks I'm cyclic? whatever that is.
Will it help?
I don't want to take prozac anymore because everytime I take it I feel really down and angry and aggressive.
Not too cool.
Last night I went to a dinner for my husband's job and I drank 2 glasses of wine to relax, but I felt everyone was looking at me, that I was laughing too loud, I could feel my face burning, I was sure I was making a fool out of myself.
So, you know what I did?
I made a fool out of myself.
I actually told my husband's boss I was going to kick him in the butt. He laughed, my husband's still pissed off.
And I feel like a retard.
Posted by SteveB on December 13, 2003, at 19:41:58
In reply to Re: Parnate for social anxiety ?? » RT, posted by Notalis on December 13, 2003, at 4:48:09
You display the typical symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder, which I have also suffered from all my life.
Like you I've tried several types of anti-depressants - Serzone, Prozac, Stablon, etc - without success. Essentially my problem is anxiety, not depression, and after several years of trying all types of medication, I stumbled over Klonopin and never looked back.
Klonopin, in my experience, is a very effective treatment for Social Phobia. I am literally a new person since starting the drug 18 months ago. I am so much more relaxed and outgoing and my life is no longer plagued by irrational fears and constant suspicion of the people around me. And I'm on a relatively small dose of .5mg/day.
You may want to give the drug a try yourself.
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