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Suggest Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder Along With Palpitation Nausea
Question: i suffer from Social Anxiety disorder. Never knew it myself i didnt know what i was going through.
In 2004 to 2005 - at work i used to feel anxious when i have to go to work , make presentation or go out with collegues to eat. I felt nausea , panic attacks during that period. I infact had once severe panic attack during 2005 that i rushed back home and slept . After i get up from sleep , i used to feel absolutely normal.
Then came 2006 - Which was a nightmare and this is were it all started. My family decided to move away from my house , so that this house can be a demolished and constructed into apartment. After i moved to the new house , i after few days got a panic attack and even after i tried to sleep and get up i used to feel sever palpitation nausea. I couldnt come out of it. I never shared this to anyone. After 3 months of this pain and loss of weight ( As i didnt want to get addicted to medication). I all alone went to the doctor and got my self Szetalo Plus ( SSRI) while i was on it i felt good and didnt know what i had got onto. Since i never discussed my Anxiety to any one i never went back to the doctor. I self medicated buying the Szetalo Plus on my own for 4 years, finally i decided to stop as i felt i am addicted to this drug.I went cold turkey on it and after 4 months i had a panic attack ( Year 2013)
So I went to another doctor who and told him what i did. He told me drug addiction is dangerous and it can be life threatening. I was put on Benzo for 4 weeks + Szetalo plus for continuity. i felt ok after 3 days . I cut off Bezo after 1 month and continued with Szetalo plus. 2 mistake i never went back to the doctor again and never wanted to tapper my drug.Again i went cold turkey on the Szetalo S and i managed to be off for 6 months till date. my anxiety has increased after my parents got girls proposals to get me married , i am not getting sleep, not able to concentrate at work, havent eaten due to nausea for past 4 days. I dont want to get back on SSRI but i fell that i will get panic attack very soon.Also the whole side effect of starting all over again and the danger of me not going back to the doctor to taper the drug off.
I need your help
In 2004 to 2005 - at work i used to feel anxious when i have to go to work , make presentation or go out with collegues to eat. I felt nausea , panic attacks during that period. I infact had once severe panic attack during 2005 that i rushed back home and slept . After i get up from sleep , i used to feel absolutely normal.
Then came 2006 - Which was a nightmare and this is were it all started. My family decided to move away from my house , so that this house can be a demolished and constructed into apartment. After i moved to the new house , i after few days got a panic attack and even after i tried to sleep and get up i used to feel sever palpitation nausea. I couldnt come out of it. I never shared this to anyone. After 3 months of this pain and loss of weight ( As i didnt want to get addicted to medication). I all alone went to the doctor and got my self Szetalo Plus ( SSRI) while i was on it i felt good and didnt know what i had got onto. Since i never discussed my Anxiety to any one i never went back to the doctor. I self medicated buying the Szetalo Plus on my own for 4 years, finally i decided to stop as i felt i am addicted to this drug.I went cold turkey on it and after 4 months i had a panic attack ( Year 2013)
So I went to another doctor who and told him what i did. He told me drug addiction is dangerous and it can be life threatening. I was put on Benzo for 4 weeks + Szetalo plus for continuity. i felt ok after 3 days . I cut off Bezo after 1 month and continued with Szetalo plus. 2 mistake i never went back to the doctor again and never wanted to tapper my drug.Again i went cold turkey on the Szetalo S and i managed to be off for 6 months till date. my anxiety has increased after my parents got girls proposals to get me married , i am not getting sleep, not able to concentrate at work, havent eaten due to nausea for past 4 days. I dont want to get back on SSRI but i fell that i will get panic attack very soon.Also the whole side effect of starting all over again and the danger of me not going back to the doctor to taper the drug off.
I need your help
Brief Answer:
Psychological treatment is advised.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
You have been suffering from panic attacks since 2004-2005. You took medications for the same, was relieved and then addicted to medicines. As you stopped medications, you again developed anxiety symptoms, inability to sleep and concentrate, decreased appetite due to nausea.
You also suffer from social anxiety disorder.
I can understand your concerns.
I have some suggestions for you:
1.If you do not wish to start with SSRIs again, I think the best modality of treatment for you would be psychological treatments. These work equally well when undertaken faithfully. Psychological treatment of choice for panic disorders is behavior therapy. This include systematic desensitization and cognitive therapies as well.
2. You must practice deep breathing exercises and meditation regularly to keep your mind stress-free. This will help you to improve your concentration as well.
3. There are other drugs than SSRIs which can help to relieve you anxiety and help you sleep as well. In my opinion, the best drug for you would be Lyrica (Pregabalin) (Prescription drug). This will control you anxiety as well as help you sleep.
Tablet Propranolol (Inderal) (Prescription drug) taken just before an expected anxiety provoking situation helps to control anxiety.
4. Along with that, sleep hygiene habits like avoiding daytime naps, using bed only while you sleep, drinking a glass of warm milk and taking warm water bath at bedtime, avoid tea, coffee and alcohol after evening are also advised.
5. Take small but frequent meals. Drink plenty of fluids. Include green vegetables in you diet.
Here, i would like to mention that the drugs which I listed above are to be taken only under your doctor's supervision. Consult your psychiatrist for drugs and psychological treatments, detail him your history, discuss these aspects and keep a regular follow-up.
Hope this helps.
feel free to ask further.
If you wish, you can also ask a direct query at your convenience.
I wish you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
Psychological treatment is advised.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
You have been suffering from panic attacks since 2004-2005. You took medications for the same, was relieved and then addicted to medicines. As you stopped medications, you again developed anxiety symptoms, inability to sleep and concentrate, decreased appetite due to nausea.
You also suffer from social anxiety disorder.
I can understand your concerns.
I have some suggestions for you:
1.If you do not wish to start with SSRIs again, I think the best modality of treatment for you would be psychological treatments. These work equally well when undertaken faithfully. Psychological treatment of choice for panic disorders is behavior therapy. This include systematic desensitization and cognitive therapies as well.
2. You must practice deep breathing exercises and meditation regularly to keep your mind stress-free. This will help you to improve your concentration as well.
3. There are other drugs than SSRIs which can help to relieve you anxiety and help you sleep as well. In my opinion, the best drug for you would be Lyrica (Pregabalin) (Prescription drug). This will control you anxiety as well as help you sleep.
Tablet Propranolol (Inderal) (Prescription drug) taken just before an expected anxiety provoking situation helps to control anxiety.
4. Along with that, sleep hygiene habits like avoiding daytime naps, using bed only while you sleep, drinking a glass of warm milk and taking warm water bath at bedtime, avoid tea, coffee and alcohol after evening are also advised.
5. Take small but frequent meals. Drink plenty of fluids. Include green vegetables in you diet.
Here, i would like to mention that the drugs which I listed above are to be taken only under your doctor's supervision. Consult your psychiatrist for drugs and psychological treatments, detail him your history, discuss these aspects and keep a regular follow-up.
Hope this helps.
feel free to ask further.
If you wish, you can also ask a direct query at your convenience.
I wish you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD (Psychiatry).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Lyrica (Pregabalin) (Prescription drug) does this have any side effects like SSRI. As SSRI when taken for first couple of days , you feel nausea / sweating and more sleep ?
Will Lyrica taken for couple of days have any side effects ?
From your experience , has it helped SAD affected ppl coming out of SSRI ?
How are the supplements like Magnesium , omega3 ,HTP5 (Which help generate Serotonin ) helped Anxiety ?
I would be happy if you can answer my follow up questions
Will Lyrica taken for couple of days have any side effects ?
From your experience , has it helped SAD affected ppl coming out of SSRI ?
How are the supplements like Magnesium , omega3 ,HTP5 (Which help generate Serotonin ) helped Anxiety ?
I would be happy if you can answer my follow up questions
Brief Answer:
lyrica is safe; doubtful use of supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up.
Dear,
I have used pregabalin in many of my similar patients and they have shown very good tolerability and improvement in their symptoms.
It has no side effects like SSRIs at dose initiation. In only few cases, sedation was a problem for initial 2-3 days. But the drug is well tolerated when started at low doses and gradually increased.
The supplements which you have mentioned have no concrete evidence of clinical efficacy. I do not recommend their use. They just increase the cost of treatment.
Hope this answers your query satisfactorily.
Feel free to discuss further. Always happy to help.
Thanks.
lyrica is safe; doubtful use of supplements.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up.
Dear,
I have used pregabalin in many of my similar patients and they have shown very good tolerability and improvement in their symptoms.
It has no side effects like SSRIs at dose initiation. In only few cases, sedation was a problem for initial 2-3 days. But the drug is well tolerated when started at low doses and gradually increased.
The supplements which you have mentioned have no concrete evidence of clinical efficacy. I do not recommend their use. They just increase the cost of treatment.
Hope this answers your query satisfactorily.
Feel free to discuss further. Always happy to help.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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