[arhmt9]

Hi,

I have social anxiety and depression. What anti depressants work best for social anxiety? I would like to avoid anything that is potentially addcitive like xanax, etc...

I used to take Paxil and that helped with the social anxiety but made me so tired. So then I tried Prozac and Zoloft and neither helped with the SA. So now I am thinking that maybe I should just go back to Paxil and deal with the fatigue.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[arhmt9]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Sometimes I stutter when I am in social situations. And I noticed that it just started when I got off of the Paxil. My blood pressure also went up. I had been on Paxil for 6 years and am not sure if I had it before I started on Paxil because at that time I wasn't very social. But the Paxil was making me so tired I decided to get off of it. But then I started stuttering(not all the time and not with everyone). And the depression also came back. So I decided to try Prozac. That didn't help. Now I am on Zoloft. I have only been on Zoloft for a week but it hasn't helped yet. I don't know if I should just go back on Paxil and deal with the fatigue or if I should give Zoloft a try or go on something else.

Did that answer the question?

 

[arhmt9]

I am motivated to be social. But now I am starting to feel scared to be social because of the stuttering that just started.

 

[arhmt9]

Thanks for the advice. That does make sense to stop trying the SSRI's. That is a huge relief. I thought I was going to have to go through all of them:blank

I go the PD this week and I will ask about the Lyrica and Effexor.

 

[arhmt9]

What is a long enough time?

What is a long enough time? I tried Prozac for a few months. LOVED it because it gave me so much energy and motivation to get things done. Like clean my apartment, search for a new job, etc... I found it very stimulating yet it didn't disrupt my sleep at all. I slept better than i ever have. I didn't have a hard time falling asleep and I didn't have a hard time waking up.

Since it didn't help my SA I decided to try Zoloft. I have only been on Zoloft for 1 week. It is slightly helping my SA and depression but not enough. And I don't have the motivation to get out of bed and do things like I did on the Prozac. So my question is should I stay on Zoloft for a bit longer to see if it starts to work better or is 1 week long enough?

 

[arhmt9]

I guess I am just a little bit confused. I started taking Paxil 6 years ago. At the same time I also started seeing a fabulous therapist. I pretty much instantly became a lot more social. I went from having 0 friends and no social life to having 20 people at my birthday party last year. wow! Amazing. And I felt comfortable around people and didn't stutter, etc. I kind of assumed that the change in me was due to therapy and not the Paxil.
Not sure why I assumed that.

But the Paxil always had the side effect of making me drowsy and sleep too much. So for some reason about 6 months ago I decided to get off the Paxil and try a different AD. But out of nowhere I start stuttering when I am in some social situations. Very uncomfortable. I used to be able to go to bars, parties no problem.

And I don't really know if I had this stuttering problem before I started taking Paxil because before I started taking Paxil I was never in very many social situations. So I don't know if this is something new that is coming up in my life OR if I have always had it and the Paxil was just helping it.

I found Prozac to very stimulating. It gave me lots of energy, etc. I was feverishly cleaning my apartment and working on my "to do" lists. Which was fantastic! But it didn't help the stuttering AT ALL.

So I'm going to go to the PD this week. But in all likely hood I will probably end up going back on the Paxil because I would rather be tired than stutter.

MissMay1977, are you on anything besides Paxil or just Paxil?

By the way I also take Welbutrin and have for the past 6 years. I am still taking it now. I find it helps with the sexual side effects of the other meds.

 

[arhmt9]

Thanks!

By the way - Thanks to everyone who has replied. Your kindness and willingness to help is deeply appreciated.

Lots of Love to all of you!

 

[arhmt9]

I wonder what would happen if I took prozac in conjunction with Paxil. Is 3 AD's too much? I am also taking welbutrin.