Posted by SandyWeb on October 12, 2003, at 12:42:36
In reply to Best Med for Agoraphobia, posted by AndyD on August 26, 2003, at 21:04:27
> In regards to all of your experiences, what is the best Med for agoraphobia...but with more anticipatory type anxiety of going, rather than being there. Once I force myself to go..like far away from home say 20 miles, I will experience a Panic attack and than I am OK. But I dont want to go through the attack or the anticipatory anxiety every time I go somewhere. Whats best?
I became agoraphobic earlier this year. My coping skills just went ka-put, and I couldn't even leave the apartment to walk down the hall to the garbage chute. It took MASSIVE amounts of strength to walk to the doctor's office for multiple appointments, and I nearly went through the ceiling with anxiety each time I had to sit in the waiting room. I was so bad that I couldn't even answer the phone or the door.
What did wonders for me was Neurontin. Some people have tremendous success with this med, and some people don't find that it does anything. For me, I call it a "wonder drug". I take 1600mg, splitting it with 800mg in the morning and 800mg at supper. When I return to University in January, I will probably need to add another 800mg around noon.
I am not "cured"....but I am sooo much better now. I don't really get anticipatory anxiety now, and I can do everything I used to do before I developed agoraphobia. I'm not completely comfortable around people yet, but maybe I never will be. The Neurontin helps me to at least interact with the world again! <smile>
I also began a beta-blocker (Inderal LA 80mg). It helps to block the adrenaline surges that could make me anxious. I would HIGHLY recommend a beta blocker to anyone that can tolerate one.
Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.
Sandra
poster:SandyWeb
thread:254507
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031010/msgs/268675.html