How to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder With Effexor

Effexor is an antidepressant in a class of drugs known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). The drug was originally created to treat clinical depression. It was the first of its kind to be approved to treat social anxiety disorder. Effexor works to replace both serotonin and norepinephrine, chemicals in the brain believed to regulate mood.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Prescription for Effexor
• Medical supervision

Take Effexor to Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

1. Visit a licensed psychiatrist or therapist for proper diagnosis. Social anxiety has a high co-morbidity with other mental conditions, including depression and general anxiety. It's important to know whether social anxiety disorder is your primary diagnosis or secondary diagnosis.
2. Discuss your treatment options once you are diagnosed. Social anxiety disorder is treated with drug therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and natural remedies. Your doctor can point you in the right direction for your condition.
3. Consider taking Zoloft or Paxil first if you decide to use drug therapy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually the first lines of defense when treating social anxiety disorder.
4. Inform you doctor of other drugs you are taking and your medical history to determine whether Effexor is safe for you to take.
5. Take Effexor at the same time every day. Effexor should always be taken with food, but it can be taken in the morning or the evening, depending on whether it makes you feel alert or drowsy.
6. Start with a low dose. Your doctor will likely prescribe a lower dosage of the drug in order to determine whether it's going to work for you. The lower dosage may make it easier to discontinue if there is no effect and may expose you to less side effects up front.
7. Give the drug at least a month before deciding if it is working for you. Like all antidepressants, the true effect of Effexor cannot be immediately determined.

Tips & Warnings

• Effexor is most effective in patients with a primary diagnosis other than social anxiety disorder, such as depression or general anxiety disorder.
• Nearly half of social anxiety sufferers are diagnosed with depression during their lifetimes.
• Effexor has the potential to increase anxiety in people who have social anxiety disorder as a primary diagnosis.
• Don't suddenly stop or drastically lower your dose of Effexor. This can lead to unwanted discontinuation symptoms.
• Side effects of Effexor include headache, nausea, dry mouth, diarrhea or constipation, sweating, sleepiness or insomnia, sexual dysfunction and weight gain.
• Increase in suicidal thoughts is a potential side effect when taking Effexor and other antidepressants.