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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michael Bell on April 5, 2004, at 23:41:32
Okay, so it's been a while. Hope everyone is seeing some progress with their situations. Some of you may remember me from my posts about social phobia and various theories/treatments I have tried. Well, here is an update: I've been on quite a few meds since I last posted, and here are the results. Except for Prozac (had to augment with Klonopin), I tried each of these drugs by itself to pinpoint the effects. I've also tried other treatments, but it would take too long to list them here. I'll also tell you what I had the most success with:
MEDICATION I've tried:
Nardil (3-4 weeks): worked very well, but too many side effects. Blood pressure varied too much. Also, I had a couple beers with it and had first manic episode ever in my life.
Klonopin (many months): I use about .5 mg to 1 mg a day, but skip two or three days every couple weeks so as not to build up confidence. Very good for physical symptoms of anxiety, but tends to cause low grade depression. Also, not prosocial.
Prozac (6 weeks): At first activating (used klonopin to balance out anxiety), then caused apathy. Good for OCD, but couldn't stand lack of sexual drive and apathy.
Reboxetine: (3-4 weeks?): Sexual disfunction and painful ejaculations. Nuff said.
Amisulpride: Works well for negative thought patterns and anxiety. Not a miracle drug, but seems like a good add on. Ran out of it a while back and can't remember the site I bought it from. I may consider it again in the future.
Selegeline: Stay away.
Moclobemide: Definitely stay away. Way too much anxiety.
Adderall: I've read the posts re: adderall + klonopin. Well, I can attest that it can be very prosocial, but the effects are fleeting and the comedown sucks. I don't recommend this for anyone without ADHD. Course, I'm not a doctor, so my recommendation is worth about two rupees.
HERBS/NOOTROPICS I've tried:Picamilon: some of you may remember that I highly touted this product. It definitely has calming influences, but is not as strong as klonopin, its effects are not as constant and also is not prosocial.
Kava Kava: Works for a while then poops out. Not recommended for long term treatment.
Blueberry leaf extract: tried this on a whim, after reading a post from a rather strange poster named Ron (sorry, but those posts were strange). It definitely has stimulating qualities without provoking anxiety. It almost seems like Adrafinil to me. I still take it because caffeine intake is believed to be a strong protective agent against parkinson's disease, and blueberry leaf extract has a high percentage of caffeic acid in it. Repeated studies have illustrated that people with Parkison's reported a much higher than average incidence of social phobia when growing up. It is one of the most potent antioxidants and protects against dopamine destruction by peroxynitrate by eletron donation.
And FINALLY: the herb that has helped the most by taking away anxiety and having prosocial effects, and making me more focused - GOTU KOLA. This is not a brand - it is the name of the plant, so no I'm not selling it, for you skeptics out there. Keep in mind, I've only taken it for a few days, but it is the BEST supplement/med I have taken (well, maybe nardil without the s/e would be better). I have NO IDEA why it works. But I can tell you that if you go to "kelly's sjw" forum and do a search, you will see that every poster who has tried this product (about 10 to a dozen) swears by it.
I'll keep you all posted.
Good luck to everyone.
P.S. My combo right now: klonopin (.5mg/day) + blueberry leaf extract + gotu kola. Feeling pretty damned good, man!!
Posted by crazychickuk on April 6, 2004, at 2:19:29
In reply to Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by Michael Bell on April 5, 2004, at 23:41:32
GOTU KOLA-wow good luck to you man keep us all udated, i would love to know where i coud get this from, i have never heared of it..do you think i can get it in the uk?
Thanks
Regards
Donna
Posted by djmmm on April 6, 2004, at 7:13:22
In reply to Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by Michael Bell on April 5, 2004, at 23:41:32
some gotu kola info...
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjects.
Posted by Lofwyr on April 6, 2004, at 8:28:00
In reply to Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by Michael Bell on April 5, 2004, at 23:41:32
Michael - I would like to contact you via email. Could you please email me your email address at lofwyr@mindspring.com Thank you!
Posted by crazychickuk on April 6, 2004, at 8:44:21
In reply to Re: Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola) » Michael Bell, posted by Lofwyr on April 6, 2004, at 8:28:00
I have seen this so many times but still dont understand the difference placebo?
I so want to give this herb a shot... is it available in the uk? does it cause you to sleep?
I take remeron and dont want to stop it cus it somewhat helps...Thanks
Posted by Slinky on April 6, 2004, at 8:57:48
In reply to Re: Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by crazychickuk on April 6, 2004, at 8:44:21
there is loads of herbal sites selling this to uk
eg http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/body-soul/gotu-kola-herbal-liquid.asp( I think it's ok to link cause it's a herb)
I'd like to know if the liquid form is better.
Posted by LastDyingWish on April 6, 2004, at 15:09:17
In reply to Re: update - (gotu kola) liquid or pill?, posted by Slinky on April 6, 2004, at 8:57:48
This is off topic, but what kind of reaction did you have to selegiline ? and how much did you take ?
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 6, 2004, at 19:54:25
In reply to Re: update - (gotu kola) liquid or pill?, posted by Slinky on April 6, 2004, at 8:57:48
> there is loads of herbal sites selling this to uk...
I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding herbal treatments to Psycho-Babble Alternative. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040225/msgs/333486.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by rianny on April 7, 2004, at 1:43:42
In reply to Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by Michael Bell on April 5, 2004, at 23:41:32
Nardil did work but too many side effects?
What kind of side effects did you have?
I was going to try Nardil next, but it sounds pretty disappointing.
Posted by Michael Bell on April 7, 2004, at 22:25:10
In reply to Re: Social Phobia update - please read (gotu kola), posted by rianny on April 7, 2004, at 1:43:42
> Nardil did work but too many side effects?
> What kind of side effects did you have?
> I was going to try Nardil next, but it sounds pretty disappointing.Nardil, like Klonopin, destroyed the physical effects of anxiety for me. Unlike Klonopin, it did not cause low grade depression.
However, it caused sexual disfunction, bouts of daytime sleepiness, hypotension, and spikes in blood pressure. Though many claim the list of banned foods is much larger than it needs to be, hypertensive crisis is not a risk I'm willing to take.
I've done some more research on gotu kola and will submit a post on its proposed anxiolytic method of action.
Posted by Michael Bell on April 7, 2004, at 23:04:40
In reply to Re: update - (gotu kola) liquid or pill?, posted by LastDyingWish on April 6, 2004, at 15:09:17
> This is off topic, but what kind of reaction did you have to selegiline ? and how much did you take ?
If social phobia is your primary (or only) psychiatric condition, I would NOT recommend it as monotherapy.
Doses of 5 - 10mg a day eventually gave me inner tension, made me irritable, and caused the paranoid thoughts associated with social anxiety to become more powerful, almost to the point of having mild delusions.
Posted by btnd on April 8, 2004, at 11:58:18
In reply to Re: Reaction to selegiline » LastDyingWish, posted by Michael Bell on April 7, 2004, at 23:04:40
> If social phobia is your primary (or only) psychiatric condition, I would NOT recommend it as monotherapy.
I agree 100%. Selegiline is not a good option for social phobia - it makes one more anxious,jittery, yet motivated,and energetic - as a result, Selegiline could be a good option while on some anti-anxiety med (Klonopin,Amisulpride,Valium). I'll give it a try in near future. Right now my regime works wonderfully.
This is the end of the thread.
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