Posted by Philidor on August 24, 2004, at 14:58:56
In reply to HELP PLEASE: Ideal Lexapro dose for anxiety???, posted by qbsbrown on August 22, 2004, at 19:11:33
Hi qbs!
So! Not much luck with the SSRI's for your anxiety, eh? Well, join the club. The truth is they are much overrated and overprescribed for anxiety, mainly because they are hyped like crazy by the drug mnfactrers.
I tried Lexapro myself, first 10mg a day, then soon upped it to 20. After about 6 more weeks, my social anxiety was as bad as ever. I asked my p-doc if raising the dose might help. She shook her head. (I for one have never heard of anybody taking more than 20).
Then I asked her about Klonopin, but she nixed that.
The reason? Even though Klonopin was recently approved officially for GAD (i think), and I KNOW it is for panic attacks there are a lot of docs who will not prescribe benzodiazepines for fear of addiction.
Well, I found another doctor who was less "benzophobic" He put me on the Klonopin, which I still take, 3 mg a day. I experienced immediate relief of my symptoms (maybe not complete, but much better).
MY advice: go with your doctor's suggestion and give the Klonopin a trial. You have nothing to lose but your miserable anxieties.
Klonopin has been around a long time, is very safe, has few side effects, and will not make you high or spaced-out. But it is not promoted anymore because it is available in generic form, and thus no longer a cash cow for the drug makers.
Best of luck,
Phil
poster:Philidor
thread:380984
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040821/msgs/381777.html