My psychiatrist is suggesting that prozac is "The treatment" for social anxiety and obsessions. Is this true?

Question

I have social anxiety and obessesion problems.

My psychiatrist saids that just like someone with diabetes needs insulin I need prozac.

Does this mean that prozac (like insulin for diabetes) is all I need and that other forms of therapy are unnecessary?

Answer 1

"the treatment" I disagree. I would say "a treatment."

I've heard some psychiatrists described as 'pill pushers.' A pill pusher would prescribe a pill needlessly and excessively. I talked to a person who was on over ten different meds for mental and emotional issues. I think that would definitely qualify as pill pushing. Do you know this psychiatrist well enough to know what his habits are like? If not, only time will tell. But my idea of a good doctor, any kind of doctor, is one who explains all the options and why he would recommend one over another.

There are other options. Therapy or talk therapy is all-encompassing. Some useful (useful in my non-professional opinion) sub types are cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive or behavioral therapies.

There are other medications. Lots of them, I think. There's a link below to a list of psychotropic medications. There are descriptions next to the names. It's important to note that many medications are effective to treat disorders other than what is commonly noted. For instance, a psychiatrist once gave me a med for seizures because it's been observed to stabilize moods. I looked up anticonvulsants (seizure meds) and read that they regulate a neurotransmitter's release and reabsorbtion (GABA for the one I read about). Just like other psychotropic meds. Well, they effect different neurotransmitters.

I've also heard from two different psychiatrists that the usual way of deciding what they'll prescribe is what they've seen work the most. Not everyone responds in the same ways. They said that if they have ten patients, they'll prescribe, for instance, prozac to all ten. I may work in 5-7 people, and for the 5-3 people it didn't work for, they'd move on to another medication. Maybe your psychiatrist has seen prozac work many times and this is why he worded his opinion the way he did.

There are other factors, too. A psychiatrist gave me remeron. It was horrible. He later said that if he had known that I had social anxiety issues he wouldn't have prescribed it for me. So don't take that one.

It took me about five psychiatrists to find the good one I have now. Oddly, he's even better than the ones I saw when I had health insurance. If you decide to go the med route, you should make sure your doc is competent. Maybe try asking him to explain something you've already researched so you know if he's right or not. Call him on it if you have different info so he can explain if there's been some new development you didn't read. A certain level of trust is necessary. I'm not saying trust him with your life, but if you think he's incompetent or unethical you've got a problem.

(Sorry this is sooo long!!)

Answer 2

Social anxiety can cause these feelings, which can also lead to severe depression,
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ds...

if not you could be suffering from Generalized Anxiety
Disorder..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/general_anx...

There is hope; I've been there, and still am there, it is a long, hard struggle. I recommend
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 3

Prozac is an old SSRI. It has many uses and Obsessiveness (OCD) is one of them. Typically SSRIs takes weeks to help one get 'better' as they need a certain blood level. I saw a pamphlet for Klonipin wafers that address both social anxiety and OCD. However, it is a class IV narcotic (benzodiazipine) much like Valium/Xanax and Doctors don't like to prescribe for fear of possible addiction. BTW, Diabetics have to do more than just taking insulin. They have to monitor blood sugar, watch their diet and exercise, and basically know their body. They may be switched from various diabetic regimes before finding one that really works for them. You still will need the other treatments....

Answer 4

Yes, Prozac is an effective treatment for anxiety and obsessions, but it should not be the only form of treatment.

The best treatment for these problems is a combination of BOTH medication and therapy.

Answer 5

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 6

No, sounds like he's addicted to prescribing this type of medication. There are other medication options, and therapy is certainly an option as well. Another good one for social anxiety is Paxil.

I'd seek a second opinion.

Answer 7

unless you have a clinical illness, i would not be so sure, however, your doctor is the one with the cert on the wall so you are best to follow his advice. Ask him what are the alternative treatments for you instead of taking medicines. If he offers other therapies then you can decide if you want to put in the effort in those rather than begin with chemicals

Answer 8

My mam use to take Prozak as she was depressed. Doctors seem to rest on Prozacs shoulders and think everyone should take it.

A counsellor would be much more of use, as they treat the problem, and not drug you up to your eye balls.

PS. My mam is finally not addicted to them, it took a while as she kept getting it precribed for the same reason.

Answer 9

I can only speak for myself..medication, celexa, is what completely turned my life arround from severe social anxiety..Therapy made things worse, for me it is a real miracle drug..

Answer 10

I took prozak for one week and it made me want to act on what previously would only have been animosity.

I fully understand why every single one of the school shooting incidents involved shooters on prozak.

Don't take it.
.