Posted by zeugma on August 27, 2003, at 7:43:59
In reply to Re: extremely disturbed » zeugma, posted by Viridis on August 26, 2003, at 23:29:15
> Some doctors simply refuse to prescribe benzodiazepines, on the grounds that they're "addictive". This is simply not true for most anxiety patients, and benzos remain the "gold standard" for anxiety disorders. I would try other pdocs ASAP.
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> You do have to be a little careful about asking for benzos outright -- my pdoc says that asking for Xanax, especially, can trigger suspicion of "drug-seeking behavior". Klonopin (clonazepam) seems much less controversial, and has very little potential for abuse. It's also very effective for many anxiety sufferers.
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> If you can, I'd see another pdoc (it may take more than one), describe your symptoms, and if they suggest SSRIs, mention that you've heard that a drug called clonazepam works well and would prefer to try that. It may take a few tries, but chances are you will find a pdoc with common sense who isn't taken in by the pharmaceutical companies' push for their more expensive meds.
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> It's just a hunch, but I suspect (based on my experiences) that an older pdoc who's been around and knows the ins and outs of older and newer meds would be more likely to prescribe it.
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> Good luck!Thanks for the support. The severe anxiety and feeling of incipient panic is starting to settle down. I'm very afraid of spoiling my chances of receiving appropriate medication by exhibiting "drug-seeking behavior." It is hard when a condition is so unpleasant that when you are sitting alone thinking of a certain set of symptoms, they seem so painful that you would literally do ANYTHING to be rid of them... Last year when I first learned of the social phobia diagnosis I begged my pdoc for Paxil because I' had heard that it was approved for this disorder. This in spite of the fact that I had sworn I would never go near another SSRI. He turned this one down on the valid grounds that it could mess with the blood levels of my TCA. I was not pleased but got him to agree to a trial of the Buspar instead. So you see I was definitely seeking a drug to relieve my anxiety.
The thing is that now I am in a very different place. My depression is virtually in remission and I am able to do things I couldn't dream of this time last year: work 40 hours a week, focus on my work, sleep at night and eat three meals a day. This is really the first tome in my life thst I have been able to do this things on a regular basis for any length of time. I think my pdoc has done a GREAT job treating my depression and ADHD. I think he feels that since I'm not depressed or attentionally challenged I can solve the social anxiety through CBT. I had thought so too, until I started to break down last week. I would like nothing more than to 'stabilize' my medication and not take any more pills. But I'm also sick of suffering debilitating anxiety in the presence of others. I am going to discuss these issues with my neuropsychologist next week. She has been concerned about my anxiety for months and has heard countless stories about my social anxieties. In fact she is the one who recommended CBT. She has heard me complain many times about my pdoc's seeming disinterest in my anxiety. I will see how that goes with her and then go to my appt. with pdoc on the 15th. I feel like I can last until that point since I have put the CBT on hold. If he has nothing rational to say I will ask my CB therapist for a referral to a pdoc who specializes in anxiety issues. I can put up with this social phobia for a little while longer in the interest of maintaining my sanity, but I have no intention of putting up with it indefintely.
poster:zeugma
thread:133272
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/254641.html