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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 8:56:41
I was on 14mg of Xanax XR, which didnt do a thing. I was so socially anxious I could not make friends at work, I'm sure I was perceived as quite the weirdo. I switched over to Klonopin, and finally 14mg of that daily seemed to do the trick, however I obviously had bad side effects. Horrible decision making, spending problems, etc. I have since gone on Lithium (1200mg) and am weaning off the Klonopin. I'm down to 3mg daily from 14mg only about 4-5 months ago! The best part is, my anxiety has remained the same as it was on Klonopin (almost nonexistent).
Has lithium ever been documented to help Social Anxiety or was I just going after the wrong problem? Confused....
Thanks
Posted by Phillipa on April 18, 2007, at 11:17:10
In reply to Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxiety?, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 8:56:41
I've seen people respond well to lithium for anxiety. Especially if alchohol was a problem. l4 mg of klonopin is very high. 3-4mg is normally the highest. Correct if wrong. Love Phillipa
Posted by metalblade on April 18, 2007, at 11:37:20
In reply to Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxiety?, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 8:56:41
I think I might have the solution to the question you guys are looking for. My social phobia is directly tied to my bipolar depression. The lithium keeps me from getting depressed, so at the same time it also alleviates my social phobia to a certain extent. Its just like how a person who goes hypomanic or full blown manic has no or only little fear.
I often wonder if it isn't Bipolar disorder and social phobia I have, but rather Schizo affective disorder.
Posted by polarbear206 on April 18, 2007, at 14:12:53
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxi, posted by metalblade on April 18, 2007, at 11:37:20
> I think I might have the solution to the question you guys are looking for. My social phobia is directly tied to my bipolar depression. The lithium keeps me from getting depressed, so at the same time it also alleviates my social phobia to a certain extent. Its just like how a person who goes hypomanic or full blown manic has no or only little fear.
>
> I often wonder if it isn't Bipolar disorder and social phobia I have, but rather Schizo affective disorder.
How did your p-doc come to the conclusion that you are Schizo affective? Many other dx fit in the bipolar spectrum.Polarbear
Posted by polarbear206 on April 18, 2007, at 14:24:11
In reply to Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxiety?, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 8:56:41
> I was on 14mg of Xanax XR, which didnt do a thing. I was so socially anxious I could not make friends at work, I'm sure I was perceived as quite the weirdo. I switched over to Klonopin, and finally 14mg of that daily seemed to do the trick, however I obviously had bad side effects. Horrible decision making, spending problems, etc. I have since gone on Lithium (1200mg) and am weaning off the Klonopin. I'm down to 3mg daily from 14mg only about 4-5 months ago! The best part is, my anxiety has remained the same as it was on Klonopin (almost nonexistent).
>
> Has lithium ever been documented to help Social Anxiety or was I just going after the wrong problem? Confused....
>
> ThanksSpending problems? HUM... Did your p-doc ever suspect and underlying bipolar disorder? You don't have to have full blown mania or hypomania to have a diagnosis of this. It can present as depression accompanied with anxiety, anger, psychomotor agitation, OCD, etc..
You did a good thing by getting off all of that Klonopin!! YIKES!!! Lithium is not only used for bipolar, it is prescribed for PMDD, unipolar depression, treatment resistant depression and son on.Polarbear
Posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 15:40:52
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxiety? » becksA, posted by polarbear206 on April 18, 2007, at 14:24:11
Interesting to know this has worked for other people's anxiety as well, for whatever reason it make be caused from. Thanks a lot.
Philippa - yeah, 14mg daily was outrageous. I'm very happy to be coming down off of it, I have noticed my lifestyle has changed and done a complete 180. Before I was going out at night about 5 days a week, spending 20-30 bucks at the bar, waking up with hangovers, arguing with people, just wanting to get out and have fun. I haven't been out in over 2 months, I have spent like a "normal" spender, been very conscientious about everything I have been doing...
Posted by metalblade on April 18, 2007, at 19:02:17
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxi » metalblade, posted by polarbear206 on April 18, 2007, at 14:12:53
> > I think I might have the solution to the question you guys are looking for. My social phobia is directly tied to my bipolar depression. The lithium keeps me from getting depressed, so at the same time it also alleviates my social phobia to a certain extent. Its just like how a person who goes hypomanic or full blown manic has no or only little fear.
> >
> > I often wonder if it isn't Bipolar disorder and social phobia I have, but rather Schizo affective disorder.
>
>
> How did your p-doc come to the conclusion that you are Schizo affective? Many other dx fit in the bipolar spectrum.
>
> Polarbear
>Hi Polarbear
Um, if you re-read what I typed you will see that I said that I suspect it could be Schizoaffective and not the doctor. Doctors unfortunately don't use the DSM like they aught to and thats why people are often mis-diagnosed.
I mostly believe that I'm Schizoaffective because my symptoms fit the description, not audio or video hallucinations but the fear of people I have could be a form of delusion. Anyway, I also can fall into a stupor if unmedicated where I'm like Catatonic and can't say much.
Posted by James_glasgow on April 20, 2007, at 3:18:53
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxi, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 15:40:52
Hi BecksA, that reaction from clonazepam, the going out almost every night, spending too much, starting arguments is in my opinion not that uncommon. I have never been higher than 4mg's a day but mixed with paroxetine you could not keep me down. I have social phobia as well as something bipolar like, and think this may have something to do with it. Good luck with reducing the dose and lithium (it brought me down in 4 days and it was quite a relief) I hope it all works out well. James
Posted by crenshaw387 on April 21, 2007, at 2:46:40
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxi, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 15:40:52
i took 20mg of xanax once... that was one of my poorer dosing decisions... i cant imagine taking that high of klonopin dosage regularly wow... glad the lithium is working i was on it for a short time but it depressed me more... wellbutrin and dexedrine work great form me now tho =]
Posted by nutjob on April 25, 2007, at 14:27:02
In reply to Re: Confused....Lihtium over Klon. for Social Anxi, posted by becksA on April 18, 2007, at 15:40:52
> Interesting to know this has worked for other people's anxiety as well, for whatever reason it make be caused from. Thanks a lot.
>
> Philippa - yeah, 14mg daily was outrageous. I'm very happy to be coming down off of it, I have noticed my lifestyle has changed and done a complete 180. Before I was going out at night about 5 days a week, spending 20-30 bucks at the bar, waking up with hangovers, arguing with people, just wanting to get out and have fun. I haven't been out in over 2 months, I have spent like a "normal" spender, been very conscientious about everything I have been doing...I had a similar reaction to Klonopin at only 2 mgs/day. I found myself drinking with it all the time and then making poor decisions such as excessive spending, driving around while extremely intoxicated, getting into fights, experimenting with hard drugs, etc.
I don't believe this is necessarily due to some kind of underlying "bipolar" disorder. I believe it due more to the cognitive impairments and anhedonia that benzodiazepines often cause. The benzodiazepines, in my experience, impair judgment much in the way alcohol would. But unlike alcohol they also seem to reduce the degree of pleasure one gets out of everyday activities, thus compelling one to seek out stimulating activities that deliver a higher degree of immediate reward.
Further, benzodiazepines unilaterally reduce anxiety. And so, for example, if social anxiety is your problem not only will you experience a reduction in social anxiety but you will also find that anxiety in all other forms is reduced. The problem is that anxiety is necessary for survival. Anxiety is the reason for why I don't drive 150 miles an hour down the highway, or run around the house with scissors, etc. If I have no anxiety whatsoever I'm more likely to put myself in danger.
I can see how this kind of behavior might be viewed as some manifestation of dysphoric mania, though. I guess it's often just a matter of interpretation.
--job
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