system
Suggest treatment for social anxiety disorder
human
Hi doctor,I am 32 years (male) old and suffering from social anxiety .I am scared of speaking in public like office meetings etc,going to new places and talking to people even relatives.My mouth dries up,heart beats faster,voice chokes,face twitches.My doctor suggested me censpram 5(for 6 days then censpram 10 to be continued)melzap 0.25(for 20 days).Are these drugs safe to take?Is there any long term side effects?Many thanks for your help in advance.Regards,M.Bardhan
gpt
Hello thanks for asking from HCMSocial anxiety disorder or social phobia is a distressing anxiety disorder. The symptoms you have described like dryness of mouth, palpitations (racing heart), chocking of voice, twitches on face etc are due to anxiety only. Combined approach using medicines and behavioural methods prove most useful in social phobia. Commonly SSRIs are used in treatment. You have been already prescribed Escitalopram for that and this is right drug for social anxiety. Melzap or clonazepam is a benzodiapine drug and the drug should be taken on sos basis only. The drug helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Other drugs like Propranolol are used specifically for special events like before presentation or in group discussions. The drug help to reduce acute anxiety symptoms like palpitations, sweating, tremors and increase confidence of individual. For this drug you can discuss with your psychiatrist.Over all escitalopram and clonazepam are safe to use and are not associated with serious side effect. Escitalopram may cause nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness as side effects. On long term use in high doses it may cause delayed ejaculation or anorgasmia as side effects, but these side effects are reversible on dose discontinuation. Clonazepam at 0.25 mg doses is relatively free of side effects except sedation. The drug has abuse potential so don't take this drug for long time.Thanks, hope this helps you.