Psilopa
Active member
Since many people ask questions about the effects and side-effects of SSRIs I may as well write down my own experience, which started today.
I am a 30-something adult recently diagnosed with social phobia with a side order of generalised anxiety. I've had the phobia as long as I can remember. You know the story: 0-1 friends though life, very little in the way of social life, no intimate relationships, trouble with creating a career in a field where 'peer review' and research groups are the norm. I can handle public speaking (by unavoidable exposure), it's the private, the purely social interaction that causes my SP to flare up. I argued with the psychiatrist about the pros and cons of various medicines, but when he asked whether I'd like to talk about my problems, I froze, even if I knew he meant therapy. Still, somehow, depression is not a big problem for me.
I am starting the medication with a clean slate: no previous medication, no physical diseases, normal weight & height. Never cared for booze or cigs. I have not tried therapy but certainly plan to do so asap.
For the record, english is my 3rd language, so any and all mistakes are my own, not caused by the SA or the meds.
So, I've been given six pills of Cipralex 10mg (escitalopram) and a recipe for a 3-month supply. Total cost, about one euro per per day (1.25$/day). The psychiatrist told me to take 5 mg (half a pill) a day for the first six days. He warned me about the common side effects.
I will not update every day, just when I think a status update is in order.
I am a 30-something adult recently diagnosed with social phobia with a side order of generalised anxiety. I've had the phobia as long as I can remember. You know the story: 0-1 friends though life, very little in the way of social life, no intimate relationships, trouble with creating a career in a field where 'peer review' and research groups are the norm. I can handle public speaking (by unavoidable exposure), it's the private, the purely social interaction that causes my SP to flare up. I argued with the psychiatrist about the pros and cons of various medicines, but when he asked whether I'd like to talk about my problems, I froze, even if I knew he meant therapy. Still, somehow, depression is not a big problem for me.
I am starting the medication with a clean slate: no previous medication, no physical diseases, normal weight & height. Never cared for booze or cigs. I have not tried therapy but certainly plan to do so asap.
For the record, english is my 3rd language, so any and all mistakes are my own, not caused by the SA or the meds.
So, I've been given six pills of Cipralex 10mg (escitalopram) and a recipe for a 3-month supply. Total cost, about one euro per per day (1.25$/day). The psychiatrist told me to take 5 mg (half a pill) a day for the first six days. He warned me about the common side effects.
I will not update every day, just when I think a status update is in order.
. Handling (haha) this particular side effectwould have been excruciating as a teenager.
