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Suggest Medication For Social Phobia

Posted on Fri, 3 Jun 2016

Question: I am 55 now and I am suffering from heavy anxiety that started when I was in high school.When I was studying for the final exams of my Bsc degree,I had panic attack and dizzines in one night due to my heavy anxiety,that increased mainly the result of my lack of sleep I think.Met a doctor that night he gave some medicines and went for the exams next day.But the same thing happened when I was in my house and a well known doctor gave me ativan1(1-0-1) and valium 5(0-.5-1).I got good relief from that problem after that and I slowly reduced the valium dose and stopped it. I could reduce the dose of ativan also to 1mg/day(.5-0-.5) but I couldn't stop it due to the withdrawal symptoms like dizziness,light headed feeling etc.5 years before I had panic attack feeling and I inceased the dose to 1.5 mg/day(.5-.5(4pm)-.5) but actually my anxiety problems inceased or my social phobia slowly slowly increasing because of these medicine at the same time I can't stop it due to its withdrawal problems.My main problem is my heavy social phobia now and the dizzines feeling.Please help me to cure this problems.XXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
SSRI will be better choice

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.

I understand the day of prescription in 1980 when only benzodiazepines were available for treatment of social phobia but currently there are multiple option available for treatment of soial phobia with much less side effects.

Considering your current age, dosing and side effect profile I think SSRI or SNRI group of medications will be better choice in your case. I need to make it clear that these new classes of drugs take time to act but have better long term efficacy and safety in compare to your current medications.

I request you to see your doctor and discuss the best choice among these group of medications.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (4 hours later)

Doctor,Thank you for your valuable reply.As I mentioned before I am taking ativan1.5mg daily and valium5(2.5mg)+the same dose of ativan when I want to attend a function or an important event at an hour interval time(takes 1mg ativan in the morning then after one hour 2.5mg valium and ativan.5mg or .75mg about an hour before the function also.Even after this dose,I won't get full courage to face the crowd.I also have hyper tension150 or 160/90 or 100 and usually taking amlodac 5 for this.Can you prescribe any other suitable medicines for hyper tension when I have this kind of phobias?I also wish to stop the use of the terrific medicine ativan since I have some difficult withdrawal problems mainly dizziness if I won't get the dose in time.Actually ativan has reduced my courage to face the public after the long use of it.But I want to stop this medicine anyway...doctor.Can I?Please help me.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Online prescription is not allowed

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me.

The medicine available for hypertension as well as anxiety are prescription only medicines and can be prescribed after physical examination of patient.

In addition it is illegal as well as unethical to prescribe medication without examining the patient specially for conditions which need prescription only drugs.

You need to visit a doctor in person for getting prescription.

I hope this clarifies.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (15 hours later)

Dear doctor,As I written before,I have been using ativan since 1982.Is there any way to stop this medicine by proper treatment if there is serious withdrawal symptoms exist?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes they can be stoped

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

You can follow a principal of 20% reduction per week. With this it is possible that you may not get any serious withdrawal symptoms.

In addition it will be appropriate to get prescription for suitable SSRI from nearby doctor as without SSRI you may relapse back to previous dose or may develop original symptoms again.

I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar