Posted by SalArmy4me on July 6, 2001, at 4:51:47
In reply to Imipramine for social anxiety???, posted by tina on July 5, 2001, at 9:36:33
Simpson, H. Blair MD, PhD, et al. Imipramine in the Treatment of Social Phobia. J. of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 18(2):132-135, Apr 98:
"The findings from this 8-week open trial of imipramine do not support the efficacy of imipramine in social phobia. Although social anxiety and avoidance (as measured by the LSAS) decreased over the course of the study; this decrease was considered clinically significant in only three subjects. The mean reduction in the LSAS score was 15% and 18% for the intent-to-treat and completer groups, respectively; the overall response rate (based on the Clinical Global Impression Scale of 1 or 2, very much or much improved) was 20% and 22%, respectively. In comparison, in an 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial, phenelzine achieved a 45% reduction in the LSAS score and a response rate of 64% whereas placebo achieved a 12% reduction in the LSAS score and a response rate of 23%. In summary, the response to imipramine was comparable with that of placebo in this controlled trial. [4]
Side effects to imipramine were a significant problem. Ten of the 15 subjects had side effects that significantly interfered with their functioning. Six subjects dropped out of the study because of adverse effects. Although it is possible that a slower initial dosing of imipramine might have led to less dropout, two of the six subjects who dropped out suffered a rash, an idiosyncratic adverse effect thought to be independent of dosage, and nine subjects completed the trial despite the high initial dosing. The high rate of adverse effects in those who completed the trial may have been due to the fact that the medication was raised as high as was tolerable to achieve-in most cases unsuccessfully-a good therapeutic response. Most significantly, the only two subjects who remained on imipramine at the end of the trial stopped the medication within 2 months because of side effects. Despite the high rate of adverse effects, activation or jitteriness as a result of imipramine was not a significant problem in the sample, in contrast to what is commonly seen in panic disorder [19] and to what was reported by Jackson and Lydiard [13] in two cases of social phobia..."
poster:SalArmy4me
thread:69035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/69157.html