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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

social anxiety drugs

I'll keep this short, because almost everything has been said before, I'd just like to emphasize that in my opinion:
Anti-anxiety drugs are far from a cure. Best effective drugs are (anxiolytic) benzodiazepines, which are highly addictive. Both physically as mentally. The rebound from it creates even larger anxiety problems.
Get psychological help and treat the problem. Don't mask it.
 
I'd definitely suggest trying gabapentin or pregablin before any benzos.

The former two meds work wonders a lot of ailments. Very, very good multipurpose drugs. I was also prescribed them for nerve pain, but quickly discovered their other benefits.

To conclude, I'll add that benzos will certainly do the job, but they're very addictive and stronger than gabapentin/pregablin.
 
If benzodiazepines were really highly addictive, individuals would be increasing their dosages regularly & attempting to augment their supply of the drug (i.e. engaging in "drug seeking behavior"). Neither of these things are common with benzodiazepines, esp. the more common ones like alprazolam. A drug regiment of benzodiazepines carries risks (i.e. dependency) but that's not the same as saying that it's an addictive drug.

Also, the efficiency of the anxiolytic function of benzodiazepines holds up well long-term from some of the studies I've seen. The hypnotic function goes away pretty quick with tolerance but the anxiolytic functioning of the drug holds up remarkably well, even over a time span of years.

And, finally, anxiety isn't even an indication that pregabalin is prescribed for in the United States. Maybe in Russia it's different.
 
I have the same problem as you and I found that all benzos I try are pretty effective, however, I really dislike all of them because they all put me in this zombie like state. Benzos also cause me this weird subtle mind alteration that makes me act dumb.

I've found the best for me would be GHB (but it's very addictive so be cautious) followed by phenibut and alcohol. Meprobamate would probably also be good, but doubt you have access. Others could be gabapentin and baclofen, but haven't tried them.
 
I would have to recommend Phenibut because no other drug has been so anxiolytic in both a general and social sense. I now feel as if I can do anything I want. I just recommend not taking it with anything else and keeping to the lowest effective dose. For me 500mg and 1g had no effect so maybe start at 1 or try 1.5, many people feel it at that point. I started to feel it at 2g.
 
Some say Phenibut is even more or at least more quickly addicting than your usual BZD ... I don't know what's the truth though.

A very interesting med is Tiagabine (Gabitril, unfortunately only available in France to my knowledge). It's a GABA reuptake inhibitor that is marketed for epilepsy, but some studies have good results with it to treat anxiety. And - interestingly, it's not yet clear why - it does seem not to develop tolerance. I've tried it while I've lived in France and while my experience is by no way representative, I'd say it can well be true.

Then there is Tianeptine, also a French med, that has robust anxiolytic qualities for some. The sulfate salt is probably better than the sodium, as it lasts longer.
The Russian nootropic Selank is very effective but unfortunately expensive as well (at least in the west). They have some more interesting things like Mebicar (Adaptol) or Afobazol... and Phenibut comes from Russia as well :)

For me personally (I'm emotionally oversensitive and have serious social anxiety..) dopamine is sometimes more effective than GABAergic inhibition though. The RC isopropylphenidate can be worth a try. It's like a really calm version of methylphenidate without many of the negatives, and there is no reason why it should be more dangerous than Ritalin, given that it's well synthesized.
 
If you're willing to include dopamine reuptake inhibitors in there, then your choices go up considerably.

Although the wisdom of using DRIs as anxiolytics is questionable. :) I'll just say that, FOR ME, d-amphetamine (Adderall) at therapeutic doses was a good anxiolytic drug.
 
It's dependent on your individual brain chemistry. I've been diagnosed with inattentive adult ADD (and have been a bit hyperactive as a children, before depression and anxiety set in) but I'm unsure about how much weight I should attribute to all that ADHD stuff. People who have history of paranoia or delusions certainly should avoid dopaminergic stimulants, but for those with low self esteem, oversensitivity, partially also impulse control disorder, dopamine can be very helpful.

And isopropylphenidate is really gentle compared to d-amph, MPH (Ritalin) now feels to me like a caffeine overdose after knowing the purely dopaminergic IPPD. Just don't overshoot the dosage (with any psychostimulant), often less is more. 2.5mg of dexedrine can already do something.

Another pathway that works for some is glutamate. I find (very) low doses of dissociatives to be uniquely anxiolytic, improving self-esteem, facilitating thoughts and feelings and overall pro-social, with the unfortunately now prohibited MXE being the gold standard for this. 10mg MXE and 5mg of IPPD is the single most effective pro-social thing I know of, that's reasonably safe and sustainable in these dosages.

Alternatively a serotonergic antidepressant (venlafaxine is quite good, but also utterly addictive for some in terms of protracted withdrawal) or even a low dose of DXM (being a SSRI and NMDA antagonist in one), 50mg or so - time released formulae are advantageous here.. combined with a dopaminergic agent like IPPD can do a good work too.

But really, if it's available to you, give Selank a try. It prevents the breakdown of endorphins among other effects and is quite effective, I'd say it's on par with a BZD but not sedating / depressing.

Edit: Cannabidiol (CBD) might be worthy too and it's legal in many places.
 
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pillman1224 said:
i know its not exactly HR and i am not recommending this but 15-20mgs of oxycodone turns me into a social butterfly. if you are an opiate newbie 10mgs will have ya feelin mighty good. but of course i am not recommending you use opiates as a cure for social anxiety. just saying what works for me.
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Yeah I've had the same experience, except with hydrocodone. Actually, i think its the only opiate ive ever done. But i used to take it almost every time i would go hang out with a bunch of people so i wouldnt act awkward from being shy and anxious, because I get that way a lot. I cant even access it anymore though... Maybe thats a good thing?

And baars, i am being a complete hypocrite for saying this, but i dont recommend depending on opiates to help you socialize either. I thank god that i wasnt able to hang out with my friends more than 3 times a week when i had access to hydrocodone. Who knows? If i was socializing every day back then, i maybe id be an addict today. I've never been physically addicted to anything before so i cant tell you much it sucks, but im sure a lot of people on this site can. It's kinda hard to face, but i fear im going to be a addict in the future. Like i said, ive never been addicted to drugs, but sometimes i feel like i might as well be. I cant go a day being sober. I smoke weed about 2 hours after i wake up everyday and i keep smoking all day until i go to bed. I know thats not bad cuz its just weed, but I can only get weed like once every 2 weeks and never afford more than a dub or a 30. So once I run dry, I start going to more extreme measures such as searching the house for other people's meds (well, only if theyre any good). If theres no drugs to do, ill drink and smoke cigs all day. If im just completely dry, I will find a way to get something, or end every day trying to until i can get more weed. Im around the age of 18 and ever since i started doing drugs, i have never had an actual steady connect for more than 3 weeks (for like 20 different reasons). My drug "addiction" isnt very bad right now but i already know that whether i like it or not, it will get much worse. Especially when i find a dealer that sells stronger opiates and other bad shit that will get me hooked on the first try.

The reason i tell you all this, is because i started with weed which was ok, and it helped me when i felt anti-social. But without it, i feel i just cant be near people when im sober. So i will do whatever it takes to get high and relieve my social anxiety. And before i know it, i will be completely dry, and some dude offers me heroin. And now all of the sudden heroin is the only thing that can help me. If even things like weed and adderall are this psychologically addictive to me, what will a REAL drug addiction be like? Definitely not good! So if you are gonna use drugs to relieve social anxiety, all i can say is that i recommend not doing anything addictive unless you have more self control than i do. Because if youre like me, youll probably be fucked. Hopefully neither of us end up like that. Also, try getting a prescription for that instead. That's what im working on, and will hopefully find the right meds soon... Good luck
 
Really, do not take opioids for anything besides otherwise treatment-resistant, severe physical pain. I know of no other drug class that has a worse ratio of effects to the price one has to pay after very short time. I'm past them, and it was pure luck of pharmaceutical knowledge and possibly genetics. After a short time, they will depress you even more than you were before, more than you can imagine as an opioid-naive person (and I'm not talking about the withdrawal!)

Opioids tend to have worse side effects and exacerbated mental pain in people with pre-existing anxiety.
 
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