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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 thinkfast on January 15, 2005, at 6:49:24
Everyone here says that Klonopin is the "gold standard" for social anxiety. Can u guys give me some comparisons between Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium and which has worked best? I've tried all three, although not from the doctor :-) Valium and Klonopin seem to work better, and Klonopin made me less tired. I like the mood stabilizing profile of Klonopin also, cuz I've been in almost a manic state for as long as I can remember...especially the last month or so.. I'll probably be starting a different SSRI also, so any info you have on combining the two would be great..thanx.
Posted by johnnystats on January 15, 2005, at 11:27:11
In reply to benzo questions, posted by thinkfast on January 15, 2005, at 6:49:24
> Everyone here says that Klonopin is the "gold standard" for social anxiety. Can u guys give me some comparisons between Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium and which has worked best? I've tried all three, although not from the doctor :-) Valium and Klonopin seem to work better, and Klonopin made me less tired. I like the mood stabilizing profile of Klonopin also, cuz I've been in almost a manic state for as long as I can remember...especially the last month or so.. I'll probably be starting a different SSRI also, so any info you have on combining the two would be great..thanx.
I've tried all three benzos, and found them to be equally effective. The only difference between them is their potency and half-life. You say you've tried Xanax...have you tried Xanax XR? It stays in your system all day and you don't have the rollercoaster ride of regular xanax. But if klonopin is effective and causing less sedation than definitely stick with it, because tiredness is a huge side effect when dealing with these meds. As far as combining benzos with an ssri I've read effexor and zoloft are best, although if you're experiencing depression also you may want to try prozac or symbyax.
Posted by Maxime on January 15, 2005, at 22:56:39
In reply to benzo questions, posted by thinkfast on January 15, 2005, at 6:49:24
Hi there. I don't know if you are bipolar but your comment about being in a manic got my attention because you said you were going to try another SSRI. If you are bipolar an SSRI will bring on mania.
You might want to bring this up with your doctor if you haven't been diagnosed with bipolar.Somtimes people are originally diagnosed for anxiety and it turns out they are bipolar (usually Type 2).
I hope you start feeling better soon.
Maxime
> Everyone here says that Klonopin is the "gold standard" for social anxiety. Can u guys give me some comparisons between Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium and which has worked best? I've tried all three, although not from the doctor :-) Valium and Klonopin seem to work better, and Klonopin made me less tired. I like the mood stabilizing profile of Klonopin also, cuz I've been in almost a manic state for as long as I can remember...especially the last month or so.. I'll probably be starting a different SSRI also, so any info you have on combining the two would be great..thanx.
Posted by woolav on January 15, 2005, at 23:05:08
In reply to Re: benzo questions, posted by Maxime on January 15, 2005, at 22:56:39
Hey, Maxime may be right. I sometimes think i am bp2 but not dx by my pdoc as that. But, I was on xanax many years and switched to klonopin and am feeling alot better now. Its a miracle for social anxiety (for me at least) and I also take a mood stabelizer and prozac for depression. This combo has worked the best for me in years...
S
Posted by thinkfast on January 16, 2005, at 7:22:58
In reply to Re: benzo questions, posted by Maxime on January 15, 2005, at 22:56:39
This BP thing is interesting! SSRI's have been a part of my life 4 three years and I havn't felt quite "right" ever since. They just keep switching me to another when one doesn't work. It seems like they make me think even faster...hence my name. I've always thought they made me feel worse, but they always think that's a good reason to up the dose???? What the hell? A friend of mine was just recently Dx's BP and we think almost exactly the same. We both have OCD traits too. He got the OC-personality disorder label, and I'm supposed to be mostly OCD. If I'm OCD, then why do none of the med's for it work? Just makes it worse. The last month it's been worse, so I re-scheduled my pdoc appt for this tuesday. How should I bring this up?
Posted by thinkfast on January 16, 2005, at 7:24:10
In reply to Re: benzo questions, posted by woolav on January 15, 2005, at 23:05:08
OCD, BP, and ADD all make sense to me...but I don't fit any of them perfectly....
Posted by Ritch on January 16, 2005, at 12:00:58
In reply to Re: benzo questions, posted by thinkfast on January 16, 2005, at 7:24:10
> OCD, BP, and ADD all make sense to me...but I don't fit any of them perfectly....
My fundamental problems are a mixture of anxiety, bipolar and attention issues. I don't fit all of my labels perfectly either. I've never had a full-blown manic spinout where people were trying to get *me* to get some help. But the manic energy and depressive lows can FUEL the other issues. If I get too high my distractability gets pretty bad.. I can get stuff done and feel happy about the progress, but it is rather haphazard, and projects that get started when I'm high rarely get finished after my mood cycles. I often wonder what got me so interested in this or that in the first place (weeks later). When I'm depressed I can't stay focused on one thing long enough to get ANYTHING done. When I'm high the social anxiety nearly evaporates and I get this mood catalyst thing going where whole groups of people's moods become somewhat elated and excitable as well. When I'm depressed I don't want to leave the house and that's the times of the year that I have panic attacks. I can't recall having panic during a time of year where I was generally euphoric and driven. When things get sideways with a mixed temper spell, panic has been associated with that.
Posted by Maxime on January 16, 2005, at 20:14:09
In reply to Re: benzo questions, posted by thinkfast on January 16, 2005, at 7:24:10
Hi Thinkfast
Here is a good article about how anxiety and bipolar fit together.
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/Anxiety.htm
I think you should point out to your doctor that you would like to try an antidepressant like Wellbutrin if you haven't already. Tell him you don't want an SSRI. DX's do not always fit into nice tidy boxes which is why somestimes it is better to focus on the symptoms and see which meds might help. You should also keep a diary of all the meds you have tried and your reaction to them.
You might be better off on monotherapy of an antiphychotic like Seroquel which is used for anxiety and as a mood stabiliser. I have a friend who is bipolar Type 2 and has anxiety and OCD and she take anafranil and it works well for her. But you will have to find what is right for you.
Anyhow, I hope your doctor listens to you and is open to thinking outside the box.
Good luck.
Maxime
Posted by thinkfast on January 18, 2005, at 11:58:28
In reply to Re: benzo questions - Thinkfast, posted by Maxime on January 16, 2005, at 20:14:09
Thanx 4 the site..interesting..that friend of mine will see this too...
This is the end of the thread.
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