Posted by Waterlily on July 5, 2001, at 16:16:30
In reply to Imipramine for social anxiety???, posted by tina on July 5, 2001, at 9:36:33
I take imipramine for general anxiety - 75 mg. at bedtime. It's really difficult for me to say whether or not it has helped - let me give you the lowdown on how I got here: Major depression about 6 years ago after the birth of my youngest - took Zoloft and then later changed to Wellbutrin, which I still take. Last year around this time I had my first panic attacks and took Paxil (didn't like this and stopped after a month) and Ativan. Things settled down for a couple of months and then I had generalized anxiety almost to the point of agorophobia until November, when my psychiatrist started me on imipramine. I started with 25 mg and went slowly up from there. Within about a week of being on 75 mg, I felt much better - until my doctor told me that this dose is not generally considered therapeutic. I had my blood level drawn at this appointment and armed with the knowledge that I had experienced a placebo effect, I got anxious and depressed all over again. My doctor then called with the results of the test, which showed that the level was getting close to 'toxic', a big surprise for us both. After this I didn't know what to think. I started therapy for the first time in February and don't need to take Ativan anymore. Whether it's the therapy or the imipramine or both that is the cause of my success with beating anxiety I don't know. What I can say is that it wouldn't hurt to try. I don't have nightmares. The only bothersome side effect is dry mouth, which is tolerable and much preferred to constant anxiety.
Hope it works out for you!
poster:Waterlily
thread:69035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/69075.html