Performance Enhancing Interview Drugs

[Arbor Vitae]

Edit: I erased this because it almost sounds like I'm asking for medical advice. You can read it quoted below if you want.

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[ericksonj15]

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[PreMedOrDead]

Just take a couple doses of muscle relaxant.

 

[red doctober]

Just take a few shots before. That seems to give people more confidence while speaking.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Has anybody ever heard of the drug propanolol? It is a beta-blocker that is sometimes used for off-label effects by musicians for stage fright. I was wondering if anybody ever has tried it out? There was actually an episode of House where an undercover cop uses it to keep from appearing nervous or having huge adrenaline rushes. It actually seems like it may be useful for keeping a clear head and communication in a tense situation.

And before you flame me, I thoroughly understand the signal transduction involved with chronic use of propanolol. I'm just asking about a one time, low dose use for a situation like an interview or presentation.

Propanolol's effect is most useful for people with physical manifestations of anxiety in a very specific situation (public speaking). If interviewing doesn't make you sweat profusely, shake uncontrollably, stutter vigorously, and make your heartbeat audible across the room then it probably isn't the best drug for you. Mental anxiety is better relieved by anxiolytic medication, but many tend to be addictive and have its own set of problems. Both types of drugs run the risk of being dulled mentally during an interview. Not worth the risk IMHO unless a psychiatrist has evaluated you.

 

[mimelim]

Or you could practice, prepare and then practice some more. Or just develop you know... social skills... It might help you as a doctor.

I interview probably 10-15 new (to me) patients a day, probably call/talk to a dozen attendings that I've never met every day. Being fluid in conversation is not something that you should be taking meds to help you do.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Or you could practice, prepare and then practice some more. Or just develop you know... social skills... It might help you as a doctor.

I interview probably 10-15 new (to me) patients a day, probably call/talk to a dozen attendings that I've never met every day. Being fluid in conversation is not something that you should be taking meds to help you do.

I was just curious about it. I present my research all the time in front of huge crowds and I'm fine. I was just wondering if people actually use this for these situations when my musician friend told me about it. It is exactly for the physical manifestations I'm talking about. I'm fine with speaking in public, but have you experienced getting sweaty or kind of shaky voice just from the sheer adrenaline? I do have social skills and give presentations and teach my PIs class all the time. It's only during big presentations that I'll get a huge adrenaline rush. I'm not really nervous because I'm confident in my research and presentations, but it's more like an adrenaline rush that sounds like the public speaking anxiety symptoms.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Propanolol's effect is most useful for people with physical manifestations of anxiety in a very specific situation (public speaking). If interviewing doesn't make you sweat profusely, shake uncontrollably, stutter vigorously, and make your heartbeat audible across the room then it probably isn't the best drug for you. Mental anxiety is better relieved by anxiolytic medication, but many tend to be addictive and have its own set of problems. Both types of drugs run the risk of being dulled mentally during an interview. Not worth the risk IMHO unless a psychiatrist has evaluated you.

These physical things are exactly what I'm talking about. I do alot of public speaking, and I look forward to the stage, but I also get these huge adrenaline rushes sometimes that causes the sweating and shaky voice. Even though I'm not really nervous, it's more like excitement that only happens when it's a big crowd or I could possibly see it happening at an important interview.

Edit: There is a reason why anxiolytics would not be as useful here. There is a difference between mental anxiety and an adrenaline rush.

 

[mmmcdowe]

These physical things are exactly what I'm talking about. I do alot of public speaking, and I look forward to the stage, but I also get these huge adrenaline rushes sometimes that causes the sweating and shaky voice. Even though I'm not really nervous, it's more like excitement that only happens when it's a big crowd or I could possibly see it happening at an important interview.

The exact level of excitedness that requires a beta blocker are best left to your local medical professional.

But yes, I have gotten shaky/sweat from the pure rush of things.

 

[MedPR]

I'll be using a little brown beauty called bourbon.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

The exact level of excitedness that requires a beta blocker are best left to your local medical professional.

But yes, I have gotten shaky/sweat from the pure rush of things.

Yea, I edited the OP because I don;t want it to sound like I'm asking for medical advice here.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I'll be using a little brown beauty called bourbon.

Scotch for me. Side effects include: headache, dry mouth, and a elevated level of classiness.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Scotch for me. Side effects include: headache, dry mouth, and a elevated level of classiness.

Did you really drink scotch before your interview?

 

[red doctober]

I can't imagine what the response of the interviewer would be if he/she smelled booze on the applicant's breath.

 

[MedPR]

Scotch for me. Side effects include: headache, dry mouth, and a elevated level of classiness.

+1

I can't imagine what the response of the interviewer would be if he/she smelled booze on the applicant's breath.

Listerine breath spray. No problem.

 

[ur2l8]

Did you really drink scotch before your interview?

Hahahaha.

I have taken a pre workout supp like jack3d before lifting weights, gone straight to a class where I had a presentation, and performed extremely well. Never stuttered. Complete focus and confidence. Almost too masculine though...

 

[flodhi1]

I highly doubt anything can cure social awkwardness.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Hahahaha.

I have taken a pre workout supp like jack3d before lifting weights, gone straight to a class where I had a presentation, and performed extremely well. Never stuttered. Complete focus and confidence. Almost too masculine though...

That stuff would make me way too jittery. I don't even drink coffee. I need to tone down my energy not amp it up, but it's not like ADHD energy. It's performance energy. Definitely on the fight side of the fight-or-flight response.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Did you really drink scotch before your interview?

No, but I did drink two beers the night before every exam to help me sleep. Showered extra long in the AM.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

I highly doubt anything can cure social awkwardness.

It's definitely not social awkwardness. It's adrenaline rush if you read the posts.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

Let me preface this post with "talk about this with your doctor."

Of course you know people can respond differently to drugs. Try to find something that can replicate the situation, like a toastmasters meeting where you have to give a public presentation. Might not be ideal, but it might approximate the anxiety you'll feel at an interview.

If you don't feel anxious at the toastmasters meeting then don't bother.

If you do, test it out see how you do. If it doesn't do the trick, talk with your doctor about adding xanax and/or increasing the propanolol. Rinse, recycle, and repeat.

If you can't replicate the anxiety at your toastmasters meeting, schedule the first interview you get with a school you don't care as much about. Try the medicine during that interview, if it goes good, try it out for subsequent interviews.

Even though I wrote these statements as directions, I want to say that I am actually phrasing all this as just hypothetical suggestions and this does not constitute medical advice at all. I'm no professional, I'm a dumb premed who just writes ideas. Talk with your doctor always so they can take into consideration all your relevant health information before making a suggestion.

Thank you.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Let me preface this post with "talk about this with your doctor."

Of course you know people can respond differently to drugs. Try to find something that can replicate the situation, like a toastmasters meeting where you have to give a public presentation. Might not be ideal, but it might approximate the anxiety you'll feel at an interview.

If you don't feel anxious at the toastmasters meeting then don't bother.

If you do, test it out see how you do. If it doesn't do the trick, talk with your doctor about adding xanax and/or increasing the propanolol. Rinse, recycle, and repeat.

If you can't replicate the anxiety at your toastmasters meeting, schedule the first interview you get with a school you don't care as much about. Try the medicine during that interview, if it goes good, try it out for subsequent interviews.

Even though I wrote these statements as directions, I want to say that I am actually phrasing all this as just hypothetical suggestions and this does not constitute medical advice at all. I'm no professional, I'm a dumb premed who just writes ideas. Talk with your doctor always so they can take into consideration all your relevant health information before making a suggestion.

Thank you.

Yea, I understand, I'm not trying to get medical advice here. Xanax makes me waaaay too drowsy. I feel like a beta-blocker is better suited for the adrenaline rush. There is a reason why undercover cops and musicians use it.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

I highly doubt anything can cure social awkwardness.

It depends on what's making a person awkward. If it's anxiety, then it can be cured. If it's their personality, then there's always alcohol.