 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2007-03-06 21:56
Last week I attended a presentation on performance anxiety by a psychiatrist
who is also a serious amateur wind player. In addition to beta blockers, which
have been discussed a lot here, he mentioned the use of medications such
as Klonopin and Xanax. I'm wondering if any of you have had experience with
such anti-anxiety drugs for the treatment of performance anxiety. If so, I'd be
interested in hearing your opinions of their pros and cons.
Dan Oberlin
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-03-06 22:48
My initial reaction was, " If you need to take any drugs to preform, you should not be preforming" but I suppose that it depends on how important it is to you to be able to preform. I have never used Klonopin or Xanax
[ Rest of post deleted. please see next message. Mark C. ]
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-03-06 22:53
Dano wrote:
> My initial reaction was, " If you need to take any drugs to
> preform, you should not be preforming"
Please, all, stay on subject. If you don't have experience with the drugs mentioned or are not a health professional, don't post. This will not become yet another rave one way or another.
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Author: CEC
Date: 2007-03-06 23:34
Hi Dan,
I have a great deal of experience with the use of both Klonopin and Xanax (as well as about another dozen pharmaceuticals), but not in relation to performance anxiety (I have a raging case of bipolar disorder). The absolute best thing you can do is to consult a professional in a one-on-one situation if you feel that performance anxiety is limiting you. I highly recommend that if you have no other psychologically-related disturbances in your life that you seek non-chemical solutions (meditation, etc.) first. If you wish to discuss further, please feel free to e-mail me (I won't be able to offer answers per se, but would be glad to discuss the various approaches to relieving the anxieties you may be experiencing).
Absolute best,
Chris
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2007-03-06 23:53
I am presently taking Celexa, which helps with anxiety attacks and other garden variety neuroses. I have noticed that I don't have any pre-performance jitters any more, calm as a clam and it is a wonderful feeling. I used to get very shaky before I played. But it also helps not to drink caffeine, eat lightly, and get a lot of rest the night before. I have never taken Xanax. At first Celexa gave me dry mouth, but that went away, of course I had my trusty water bottle along.
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2007-03-07 02:39
Celexa, and other drugs that fall into thhe class of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs including such drugs as prozac lexipro, zoloft, paxil and the worst of all, effexor) are very powerful drugs, and are definately not indicated solely for the treatment of performance anxiety. Extreme caution should be used before beginning therapy with these drugs in any case.
Drugs such as Xanax and other Benzodiazepines are also potent drugs that can have a very powerful effect.
Although i know plenty of musicians on both type of drugs, i do not believe i know of a single person using these particular types of drugs to help with performance anxiety.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2007-03-07 02:54
I am on Paxil for mild depression, but do not notice any difference with respect to performing. I do not get performance anxiety; rather I get a performance "high" for lack of a better word. This is neither increased nor diminished with the Paxil.
My fiance is on Xanax for insomnia, and while it does not necessarily _help_ him sleep, he does notice that without it, his anxiety-driven insomnia is much more difficult to overcome.
Post Edited (2007-03-07 02:54)
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Author: DaveF
Date: 2007-03-07 03:49
Speaking also as serious player, and a physician, I'm really surprised and a little disturbed that a fellow MD/musician would speak to the use of drugs like Xanax and Klonopin for performance anxiety. These meds of course have a role in very carefully managed complicated anxiety disorders, but considering their sedative and addicting properties, they should never really be considered for performance anxiety.
The antidepressant group of meds, SSRI's revolutionized mental health care some 20 years ago, and some (particularly Paxil) are extremely effective for anxiety disorders as well. However, all should know this works only as maintenance therapy, daily dosing for indefinite periods of time to manage a serious anxiety disorder. It's conceivable that an individual with an anxiety disorder on one of these meds may benefit in this case also in control of performance anxiety.
Again, check the thread in "keepers", as beta blockers remain the safest and appropriate option for significant performance anxiety, that needs control beyond relaxation techniques.
Dave F.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2007-03-07 14:18
i f you take klonipin or xmax before a preformance -you will not be able to preform . its that simple
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-03-07 14:30
super20dan wrote:
> i f you take klonipin or xmax before a preformance -you will
> not be able to preform . its that simple
Is this from your own experience in performance?
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2007-03-07 22:00
no i havnet tried to play after taking the mentioned drugs but have ample experience with them . they are extremly sadating and all i did was want to sleep after taking them. put it this way -you wont be at the top of your game preformance wise after thaking either of them
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Author: ginny
Date: 2007-03-07 23:10
The Keepers section has a good discussion on this.
I was part of a study on stage fright at a major University, and meditation didn't help me much, I didn't get the drug. Placebos didn't do it. The drug tested was not a beta blocker and didn't seem to help those who got it. I don't recall what it was however.
I used a beta blocker and this helped me unlearn my excessive response to performance. I no longer use anything thing (well maybe eating bananas).
You can go to Eureka Alerts or Medline and see if any research is currently going on for these drugs for this purpose.
Your physician or a specialist in performance problems is the best source.
The debate tends to center on whether using drugs is a cheat. I don't believe so, as I used it to overcome a learned response and the beta blockers did deaden my performances.
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Author: mk
Date: 2007-03-08 04:13
i am also quite surprised as a fellow clarinetist/pharmacist to hear of a health care professional suggesting benzodiazepenes for the treatment of performance anxiety. clonazepam and alprazolam have little place in treatment of performance anxiety in my opinion.....
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2007-03-08 11:25
Thanks for the responses. The original query was an attempt to gather some
information in advance of my step-daughter's appointment with her primary care physician yesterday to discuss her perfomance anxiety. (She has already tried
progressive relaxation and some other purely psychological techniques, and her
first college recital is looming on the horizon.) The doc's recommendation is
beta blockers. Here's hoping they do the trick for her.
D.O.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-03-08 16:39
My dad was prescribed Xanax after my mother passed away and it totally changed his personality. Although it was for depression and he probably needed it at the time, he became really crazy on it. Angry, violent and seemed to have "super human" strength. He would give me a goodbye pat on the back that sent me flying against my car and was very frightening to our grandchildren. At dinner he would suddenly pound on the table and rattle the dishes and talk loudly about really nutty things--true and untrue. He had several favorite stories about all the presidents he had met--only 2 of those were true. He even thought he had spoken to President Kennedy in Dallas before he got shot. Of course, my dad was in Abilene, Texas on that day and at work a fact of which I am certain because I remember that day quite well.
So, I'm kinda leary of Xanax. Even a reduced dosage didn't help. He had to get off completely.
Post Edited (2007-03-08 16:40)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-03-08 20:00
Disclaimer....I am a physician (retired now)
The use of beta blockers (Inderal being the prototype) to limit the sympathetic nervous system "shakes" associated with auditions and performance is well documented.
Valerian root seems to be the choice on the "herbal" front.
Anxiety associated with depression is a whole 'nother ball of wax. The conditions are often together, feeding off of eachother if you will. I am not an expert, but I have seen anxiolytics (xanax) and SSIRs or other agents (norepinephrine receptor and "atypicals") together on my surgical patients' list of medications.
The topic is featured on some of the "audition" websites. These may provide some insight and further references.
Additionally, there are many books about overcoming performance jitters (breathing techniques, self-hypnosis, biofeedback training, etc). Check out a local drama department or opera department for some of these, or check the online bookstores (Julliard, Amazon)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2007-03-09 22:34
valerian root does nothing. there was a good herbal drug aval. in the past called kava but it was banned due to suspected liver damage. too bad =it really worked
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Author: doublej
Date: 2007-03-11 03:49
Hello Dan,
If I could just say I would strongly advise you and your step-daughter to look at any and all options before even trying any medications. I can not speak about the beta-blockers. However, I have had a lot of experience with quite a few ssri's and have taken xanax. You have to be aware that all medications have the potential to have side affects. Having been struck with mental illness in the middle of my college years I have had to take many medications and for me all medications required a time period of finding the correct dosages and sometimes never finding a dosage that did not have side affects. There is no guarantee that there is a medicine to relieve the problems.
Sorry to sound like I was on my soup box. What I always found to help me the most with anxiety in performing was to be prepared. Maybe help your step daughter with scheduling. I remember doing my recitals in college and sometimes the nerves come from not the playing but all the prep that goes into the performance other than playing along with managing the other course requirements.
Best of luck,
jeff
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