Question:

Hi:   I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.   Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

Gargle with a teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of very warm water after taking your meds.  Also, increase your fluid intake. Chris Owens

Response:

Hi:  I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.  Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

I use a Volumatic for my Becotide to keep my voice from getting hoarse. I found that I had to use it for the Serevent too, because that was begining to have the same effect. I also find eating (bio) youghurt sooths my throat when it does get hoarse, perhaps it keeps any sub-clinical oral thrush at bay. Pete

Response:

This may sound like a stupid answer, but….are you rinsing your mouth out after every puff of Flovent?  You should still gargle with water etc., even if you are using a spacer. My apologies if you are already aware. Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi:  I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.  Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

Response:

Hi:   I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.   Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

Response:

Do you rinse your mouth out after using the flovent? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi:   I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.   Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

Response:

I had this problem when I first started on Flovent. It went away after a couple of weeks. I also use an aerochamber and always rinse my mouth with mouthwash and drink some water after use. I also recently stopped Flovent by using Accolate which works great for excercise induced asthma.

Response:

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit doug, try using a spacer unit, it will help, and also wash your mouth out with water, and gargle with water or a mouth wash if needed.  this will definitely help with the hoarse voice.  The spacer unit is expensive, but it works.  good luck. Allen Hi:   I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control my exercise induced asthma.  However, I am experiencing a major drawback:  my voice is continuously hoarce.  The doctor told me just to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.  I do use one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent.   Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find some way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk.

Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <HTML <FONT COLOR="#CC33CC"<FONT SIZE=+1doug,</FONT</FONT <BR<FONT COLOR="#CC33CC"<FONT SIZE=+1try using a spacer unit, it will help, and also wash your mouth out with water, and gargle with water or a mouth wash if needed.&nbsp; this will definitely help with the hoarse voice.&nbsp; The spacer unit is expensive, but it works.&nbsp; good luck.</FONT</FONT <BR<FONT COLOR="#CC33CC"<FONT SIZE=+1Allen</FONT</FONT

<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITEHi: <P&nbsp; I use 2 puffs of flovent and 2 puffs of servent daily to control <BRmy exercise induced asthma.&nbsp; However, I am experiencing a major <BRdrawback:&nbsp; my voice is continuously hoarce.&nbsp; The doctor told me <BRjust to lower my medication to the amounts shown above.&nbsp; I do <BRuse one of those extended tubes when taking in the flovent. <P&nbsp; Anyone else had this side effect — and were you able to find <BRsome way to be able to take the meds and be able to talk. Search, Read, Post to Usenet</BLOCKQUOTE &nbsp;</HTML

Response:

Question:

WHAT IS ANYONES EXPERIENCE WITH FLOVENT # OF PUFFS/# OF TIMES PER DAY? ARE YOU MILD/MODERATE ASHTMATIC?  USE OF PROVENTIL HFA AND ACCOLATE.  Have been trying to cut back on flovent 110 mg 4 puffs/2x’s per day.  Have great success with accolate but upsets stomach.  Nee Proventil for exercise and in addition to flovent on bad days/ times. Thank you

Response:

WHAT IS ANYONES EXPERIENCE WITH FLOVENT # OF PUFFS/# OF TIMES PER DAY? ARE YOU MILD/MODERATE ASHTMATIC?  USE OF PROVENTIL HFA AND ACCOLATE.  Have been trying to cut back on flovent 110 mg 4 puffs/2x’s per day.  Have great success with accolate but upsets stomach.  Nee Proventil for exercise and in addition to flovent on bad days/ times. Thank you

I checked your meds against the 1997 Asthma Guidelines/Expert Panel Report. Your dose of Flovent, 880 ug/day, puts you in the Moderate-to-High category with Moderate to Severe asthma. The Guidelines recommend you also use a long-acting bronchodilator (either Serevent, or sustained-release theophylline, or long-acting beta2-agonist tablets). Proventil as needed. I’m suprised you get an upset stomach from Accolate. The product information sheet doesn’t seem to indicate this is a significant problem. I haven’t tried Accolate yet. My steroid inhaler is Vanceril DS 84. I tried to switch to Flovent 44 but my HMO won’t pay for it. I also use Serevent & Intal inhalers; and low dose Theo-Dur, 200 mg/day. Note that Flovent is twice as strong as Vanceril per ug; 1 puff Flovent 44 = 1 puff Vanceril DS 84 or 2 puffs Vanceril 42. Ellis

Response:

I use Flovent 220 mcg, two puffs 2/day. I am doing well on this dosage. Previously I was taking 500 mcg beclomethasone 2/day. I had to buy the stronger puffer in Mexico as it was never sold here. I began that treatment in France which made a world of difference in my condition. I have been told that Flovent is stronger than what I was taking and I should only need one puff twice a day, but it doesn’t seem to work that way. I need the four puffs/day. Sue

Response:

Bill, regarding your questions on Flovent, I use a combinaaation of Flovent/Serevent.  My M.D. feels the combination is better than just Flovent on its own.  I am now trying Accolate in order to reduce inhalants.  We shall see……. at least the combination above has gotten me off of prednisone for the first time in 4 years!!!  I use 2 puffs of the long-term bronchodilator twice daily and 8 puffs of the steroid inhalant daily in the afternoon (works as well as 4 puffs twice daily). My M.D. believes that Merck will have something even better than Zyflo or Accolate available in Sept.   Keep breathing!!! Jan

Response:

Bill, regarding your questions on Flovent, I use a combinaaation of Flovent/Serevent.  My M.D. feels the combination is better than just Flovent on its own.  I am now trying Accolate in order to reduce inhalants.  We shall see……. at least the combination above has gotten me off of prednisone for the first time in 4 years!!!  I use 2 puffs of the long-term bronchodilator twice daily and 8 puffs of the steroid inhalant daily in the afternoon (works as well as 4 puffs twice daily). Jan

Regarding the 8 puffs of Flovent/day in a single dose, the manufacturer, Glaxo, recommends divided doses, twice a day. See www.industryreport.com/glaxo/glaxo.html There is evidence that this can reduce the total number of puffs/day required, since the medication is designed to work for about 12 hr. If you took the Flovent at the same time as the Serevent, you would only be using inhalers twice a day instead of 3 times/day. Also it is beneficial to use a steroid inhaler in the evening because asthma is usually worst at nite with symptoms peaking around 3 am. Perhaps you could work back to 3 puffs twice a day. Of course you would need to monitor symptoms and peak flows. Congratulations on getting off the prednisone. Just a suggestion, Ellis

Response:

Question:

Ted said in this very newsgroup… it is the SAME stuff you have been taking, and the price is now only TEN times the price people outside the US pay.

We can only hope that competition will bring the benefits to our US cousins that we Europeans have. Generic Metformin, on a three doses a day basis (1500mg total dose) is sold to the British NHS at a basic price of $4 a week or thereabouts. That is the price the NHS pays; anyone not able to supply at that price does not get used. So therefore as many manufacturers are supplying at that price there is no reason why it should not be available at around those prices in the US. I have had Israeli manufactured Metformin in the past; supplied at that price. Absolutely perfect generic Metformin. The manufacturers would not be selling at the UK price if it was unprofitable. This is not gloating BTW. It really sickens me that our good US friends are being taken for a ride. Ratty — Type 2 since 93 Can I get a new pancreas under the warranty? This one’s burnt out…. http://www.asduk.org.uk our shiny new website!

Response:

it is the SAME stuff you have been taking, and the price is now only TEN times the price people outside the US pay. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just got back from the pharmacy where I discovered that my insurance company forced a switch to the new generic metformin. Anyone have any experience with it yet? Any different (or new) side effects that I should be aware of? I still have about 20 days of the old stuff available, so I’d like to be forewarned if possible. Thanks in advance.

Response:

Bill Josephs said in this very newsgroup… I just got back from the pharmacy where I discovered that my insurance company forced a switch to the new generic metformin. Anyone have any experience with it yet? Any different (or new) side effects that I should be aware of? I still have about 20 days of the old stuff available, so I’d like to be forewarned if possible. Thanks in advance.

The only real meaningful difference is the name. Metformin is the lab name of the compound that Glucophage contains. The active ingredients are identical. Ratty — email: flyingrat at totalise.co.uk giggle: http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~royellor/ spam: kiss my ar*e

Response:

I just got back from the pharmacy where I discovered that my insurance company forced a switch to the new generic metformin. Anyone have any experience with it yet? Any different (or new) side effects that I should be aware of? I still have about 20 days of the old stuff available, so I’d like to be forewarned if possible. Thanks in advance.

Response:

Question:

My left lung is the troublesome one, too.  Sometimes I feel like I’m not getting any air into it. –Jane

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I only know what the All Holy Geisinger Medical Center tells me! Which at times doesn’t seem like good advice, eh? Like do they know why every winter my son’s left lung swells to the point that it isn’t functioning? Oh no! Just the left one mind you.  Oh well, what can I do except believe every word they tell me. I will tell my son’s doctor your story, if it is allright with you? Thank You, Brandy

Response:

I first discovered I had exercise induced asthma at 38 yrs going to the doctor with what he thought was the flu and I had accepted over a couple of months as who knows, getting older,  but I believed it to be asthma. He gave me inhalers and after 2 months of not being able to function, I asked for Accolate.  At that time I was so bad that I couldn’t believe I would have a normal life again.  After 6 weeks (much longer than I read it should take)  I finally felt normal.  Accolate had worked for me and I went about 4 years without using inhalers unless I did alot of exercise.  I have gone through a few periods of problems, certain periods of being over weight or stress but otherwise I cannot believe how much Accolate changed my life.  2x a day and it works well for alot of people but be sure to use it for longer than the the directions or what you read because if I gave up after a month I would not have known it had worked for me.  The 2X day makes more sense for control of a problem but some people cannot remember to take 2X day.   For me it is no problem…Good Luck, Linda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

Response:

I only know what the All Holy Geisinger Medical Center tells me! Which at times doesn’t seem like good advice, eh? Like do they know why every winter my son’s left lung swells to the point that it isn’t functioning? Oh no! Just the left one mind you.  Oh well, what can I do except believe every word they tell me. I will tell my son’s doctor your story, if it is allright with you? Thank You, Brandy

Response:

My doctor pescribed a Tilade inhaler for my exercise induced asthma.  You might ask your doctor about it.  As far as needing it for the rest of you life, there is currently no cure for asthma, only management.  Ceresse

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

Response:

I only know what the All Holy Geisinger Medical Center tells me! Which at times doesn’t seem like good advice, eh? Like do they know why every winter my son’s left lung swells to the point that it isn’t functioning? Oh no! Just the left one mind you.  Oh well, what can I do except believe every word they tell me. I will tell my son’s doctor your story, if it is allright with you? Thank You, Brandy

Yes, please feel free to tell the story.  It is important for physicians to realize that medication can be helpful, but it may depend on the patient and situation.  Making broad claims can sometimes be misleading.  Good luck with that and with your son’s problem — that one sounds scary. Is the Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania?  Northeastern part? If so, my parents have used it, too.  It has a big name in that region.

Response:

I take both Flovent and Singulair, and both have helped immensely, especially with exercise.  But I still do have to take at least one puff of my Albuterol before exercise, but I don’t have any problems after that.  It used to be that I had to take 2 puffs before, during, and after.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

Response:

That is where the Geisinger is. It is HUGE.

Response:

I just realized I was having vivid dreams — probably caused by Advair. Thanks for mentioning this, because I hadn’t made the connection before. I was mini-golfing outside in the very cool air today and didn’t cough or feel short of breath even once, so Advair is certainly working for me. –Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S- I tried only the inhaler when exercising, but I had to keep using more and more.  Dangerous and not recommended. I complained to my allergist and he had me try Singulair.  I’m in the 2/3 group for which Singulair is effective.  I am very lucky.  I can now run, often without using an inhaler before.  A miracle for me. I recommend trying Singulair or Accolate.  If they work (and there is no guarantee), they will really make your life better and exercise more fun.  Singulair has no side effects in me.  Some people have reported vivid dreaming and some other symptoms. Talk to your doctor.

Response:

   You won’t know ’til you try it, will you?

Response:

Since then I’ve been mountain biking at much higher speeds and I rarely touch my Albuterol anymore. It for all practical purposes eliminates the exercise induced component of my Asthma. It makes you hyper at first, but that diminishes over time. I also take Claritin. Caritin has been a break-through medication for me and I’d put Serevent in that category too. At least so far. Al

Advair diskus contains both flovent and serevent(in a powdered form which is inhaled.)  Severent inhalors gave me bad headaches. But your right, it doesn’t make you gittery. kurt

Response:

I’ve been on it for a week now and have not noticed any significant results. Like you, I’m an avid exerciser. I’ve had Asthma since age 4 and I’m 62. I managed to get by with Albuterol until recently. The stress of mountain biking had me overdosing on the stuff. No bad affects, but I knew I was taking too much. So I did a WEB search and found Serevent. It’s a slow release medication and it acts like Albuterol does. You take 2 puffs in the morning and two in the evening. Since then I’ve been mountain biking at much higher speeds and I rarely touch my Albuterol anymore. It for all practical purposes eliminates the exercise induced component of my Asthma. It makes you hyper at first, but that diminishes over time. My Dr put me on Singulair and Azmacort too as apparently you need to be on anti inflammatory medication as well as the Albuterol and the Serevent. I also take Claritin. Caritin has been a break-through medication for me and I’d put Serevent in that category too. At least so far. Al

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

Response:

I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

Response:

If you are allergic to dairy products do not take singulair, it contains lactose. sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S- I tried only the inhaler when exercising, but I had to keep using more and more.  Dangerous and not recommended. I complained to my allergist and he had me try Singulair.  I’m in the 2/3 group for which Singulair is effective.  I am very lucky.  I can now run, often without using an inhaler before.  A miracle for me. I recommend trying Singulair or Accolate.  If they work (and there is no guarantee), they will really make your life better and exercise more fun.  Singulair has no side effects in me.  Some people have reported vivid dreaming and some other symptoms. Talk to your doctor.

Response:

From what my doctor has told me Singulair will not work for Exercise-Induced asthma. Hope this helps! Brandy

Tell your doctor it works for me.  For two years now I run 4 miles in the morning (~ 8 1/2 min/mi).  Before Singulair I couldn’t run that far or that fast with an inhaler.  Sometimes I couldn’t finish the first mile.  Never had that happen after I started Singulair.  I rarely use my inhaler, too.  It can help, but everyone is different.

Response:

From what my doctor has told me Singulair will not work for Exercise-Induced asthma. Hope this helps! Brandy

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been reading here about Singulair and Accolate (sp?).  My doctor and I figured out I had asthma only about 18 months ago as turned 45 years old, and it’s been an ongoing process of education for me so far. My asthma is bearable without any medication under most circumstances save exercise, and I’m an avid exerciser.  Since I discovered Claritin (I’m allergic to just about everything environmental – dust, mold, pollen, etc.) and an Alburterol inhaler, the quality of my life has improved immensely.  But I’ve found that I really need to take two puff of my inhaler before any exercise (I do go at it hard) and that means taking two puffs of the inhaler once a day for the rest of my life.  For the last 18 months I’ve saved using the inhaler for only my hard exercise effort or really humid weather but I’ve found, as I become more sensitive to how things work in my body, my breathing is impaired during any exercise, even easy exercise – the tightening in my chest begins after 10-15 minutes if I’m only going at it easily. Should I ask my doctor about a pill instead of an inhaler?  Right now, I use the inhaler before I go out running or cycling and it makes all the difference in the world – I can finish at the pace at which I started and it’s my legs, and not my lungs, that limit what I can do. Many thanks in advance. -S-

I tried only the inhaler when exercising, but I had to keep using more and more.  Dangerous and not recommended.   I complained to my allergist and he had me try Singulair.  I’m in the 2/3 group for which Singulair is effective.  I am very lucky.  I can now run, often without using an inhaler before.  A miracle for me. I recommend trying Singulair or Accolate.  If they work (and there is no guarantee), they will really make your life better and exercise more fun.  Singulair has no side effects in me.  Some people have reported vivid dreaming and some other symptoms. Talk to your doctor.

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think I translated it:- I got to thinking and I don’t recall that my insert says anything about interactions. Aleve is a pain reliever, and has naproxim sodium in it. I was using it before, but now my meds are changing around and I am on three steroids, plus Clarintin and I worry. Thanks for all the help so far!!! -AB- Three steroids?  How does that work?  Surely it would be more effective to introduce another group of medication, rather than increasing the one that is most likely to cause side-effects. Do you take the ‘oxis/serevent’ group? Or ’singulair/accolate’ ‘flixotide’ These are all nonsteroidal drugs which have proved useful in the treatment and control of asthma.  They are particularly useful in the case of moderate asthma (which yours sounds like) Good luck, breathe easy… J

Three steroids: Serevent, Pulmicourt, and Albeurterol — I took a long look at my life… perhaps you heard the scream that followed? Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Three steroids: Serevent, Pulmicourt, and Albeurterol

That’s one long-acting, non-steroidal bronchodilator, one corticosteroid, and one short-acting, non-steroidal bronchodilator. Chris Owens

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I was wondering when someone was going to point that out. Shannon

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Three steroids: Serevent, Pulmicourt, and Albeurterol That’s one long-acting, non-steroidal bronchodilator, one corticosteroid, and one short-acting, non-steroidal bronchodilator. Chris Owens

Response:

Three steroids: Serevent, Pulmicourt, and Albeurterol

Of this list, only Pulmicort is a steroid.  The other two are bronchodilators [serevent = long-acting, albuterol = short-acting]. BIG difference, and used for fundamentally different things. SW.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Three steroids?  How does that work?  Surely it would be more effective to introduce another group of medication, rather than increasing the one that is most likely to cause side-effects. Do you take the ‘oxis/serevent’ group? Or ’singulair/accolate’ ‘flixotide’ These are all nonsteroidal drugs which have proved useful in the treatment and control of asthma.  They are particularly useful in the case of moderate asthma (which yours sounds like) Good luck, breathe easy… J Three steroids: Serevent, Pulmicourt, and Albeurterol —

Serevent and Albuterol are NOT steroids. The inhaled cortical steroids do not affect the body systemically either. — Robert Schuh "There Can be Only One!" Trane, Jaco, Jimi and Bird are GODS! Donate your organs. Save a life.

Response:

I think I translated it:- I got to thinking and I don’t recall that my insert says anything about interactions. Aleve is a pain reliever, and has naproxim sodium in it. I was using it before, but now my meds are changing around and I am on three steroids, plus Clarintin and I worry. Thanks for all the help so far!!! -AB-

Three steroids?  How does that work?  Surely it would be more effective to introduce another group of medication, rather than increasing the one that is most likely to cause side-effects. Do you take the ‘oxis/serevent’ group? Or ’singulair/accolate’ ‘flixotide’ These are all nonsteroidal drugs which have proved useful in the treatment and control of asthma.  They are particularly useful in the case of moderate asthma (which yours sounds like) Good luck, breathe easy… J

Response:

Does anyone know about if there are any problems with people taking Pulmicourt and using Aleve as a pain reliever? Also, is there anyway to find out the level of steroids from prolonged use of them to control the asthma? -AB- —

I’m not aware of any drug interactions between Pulmicort and Aleve. However, Aleve is an NSAID (naproxen); approx. 15 % of asthmatics are allergic/intolerant of aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen and other NSAIDS, and can experience breathing difficulty from using them. Pulmicort comes in one strength in the US, 200 ug/puff. It doesn’t build up in your system; it’s metabolized over a few hours. Ellis

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – n other words there is no specific information on drug interactions in the leaflet, at least no as supplied in the UK. Dont understand your question? Perhaps, because english is not my motherlanguage, what is aleve. 1. Astra gives you a paper with the medicine (must be!) A comment on this — the ‘physician’s insert’ only comes with meds in the US.  Well, it may come in other countries too, but some countries DO NOT GET IT, including Canada.  it is entirely possible that the original poster comes form a country where this info is not included with the med, and therefore they have no easy access to it. Thank you for this information. In my Germany (what an intact world) the paper must be with the medicine. From " Fachinformation " for Pulmicort Turbohaler published by Astra for physicians and pharmaceutics from Nov. 1998 "…7 Wechselwirkungen mit anderen Mitteln Budesonid normalisiert, wie alle Kortikosteroide, die Ansrechbarkeit auf beta-2 Sympathomimetika. Die Metabolisierung von Budesonid zu 16alpha- Hydroxyprednisolon und 6beta-Hydroxybudesonid wird durch Substanzen gehemmt, die

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After this I tried Celexa, Effexor and Zoloft.  Each helped for a week or two and then the irritability and aggression began to steadily increase until it became urgent that I stop the drug. Hi Louise, I had feelings and thoughts of aggression for a few weeks after starting to raise the Zoloft dose to high levels. What I did was take a little bit of Benadryl, about a few grains from a broken store-brand capsule, to settle the agitation.  Eventually after a few days of the Benadryl the agitation stopped and never came back again. I also started raising the dose very gradually. I have a family history of bipolar (called manic depressive back then), and my pdoc concluded that I should NEVER take any more SSRIs because I have the biological tendency to become manic from them. Are you sure you are manic on them permanently? Some of us get manic on them for a while, but only for a while. I was euphorically hypomanic from Zoloft for four months, with some jitters thrown in.  Eventually all that left. How long were you on any of the SSRIs? So, does anyone know whether the Klonopin would prevent the irritable, agitated and aggressive symptoms that I always get after a few weeks on an SSRI?  Would it be worth trying an SSRI now that I am solidly on Klonopin or is it likely that the same thing will happen? Well, I took Benadryl for a few days to calm down the agitation. It wasn’t much–just a few grains once or twice a day–not enough to make one sleepy. It worked for me.  It is used to help those who go through akathisia/ agressiveness when having starting SSRIs.  It may or may not work for you.

I was never on an SSRI for more than a month or two because my I and my pdoc and my therapist became fearful that my anger and irritation were so intense that I would lose control and they felt I should get off of them. I guess I was wondering whether the Klonopin would be like the Benedryl. Louise — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ::Two people I was very close to have passed away in the last ::6 months and another is moving far away in about 6 weeks. ::The moving has thrown me over the line and I am becoming ::more and chronically depressed, hopeless and it’s getting ::real hard to function in the mornings. <gently snipped Dear Louise, Sorry about all the loss in your life. (((((Louise))))) You seem so sensitive to lots of medication. Have you thought about getting some therapy to help deal with your feelings of loss? It could help you a lot. Healing thoughts being sent your way. Jackie ~*~If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude~*~  ~~ Maya Angelou quote

I’m sorry, I should have said that I am in therapy.  In fact, in January, my therapist of 10 years suddenly had a stroke and died – that is one of the "losses". I have started with someone else….but it’s not the same and I don’t know if it ever will be. Louise — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::I’m sorry, I should have said that I am in therapy.  In ::fact, in January, my therapist of 10 years suddenly had a ::stroke and died – that is one of the "losses". I’m so sorry (((((Louise))))) Jackie ~*~Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it    is. The way you deal with it is what makes the difference~*~   ~~ Virginia Satir   — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Over the last 10+ years, I’ve tried several SSRIs to treat a chronic low level, lifelong depression.  I have also suffered from a lot of anxiety and panic attacks and have usually been thought to have an "agitated depression" when I’ve sought psychiatric help. The only ADs that ever helped were the ones that put me to sleep and made me just able to function, but not "live", because I’d rather be sleeping, almost no matter what.  That was Luvox.  But when the dose of Luvox was raised, I didn’t become more sleepy, I became more agitated, argumentative and intolerably irritable.  I was on the verge of destruction – myself and others. After this I tried Celexa, Effexor and Zoloft.  Each helped for a week or two and then the irritability and aggression began to steadily increase until it became urgent that I stop the drug. I have a family history of bipolar (called manic depressive back then), and my pdoc concluded that I should NEVER take any more SSRIs because I have the biological tendency to become manic from them. I used Lamictal for several years with minimal success.  I need to take lots of benzos to counter the panic attacks and eventually began getting them in a variety of ways because the pdoc didn’t want me to take them every day (ativan mostly). Then I stopped the lamictal and felt better, as I suspected I would.  I was off all medication except for ativan prn for about 8 months. Then, last May (06), there were some serious changes in my life and I became extremely anxious.  I went to see a new pdoc who suggested that we focus on the panic attacks and the anxiety and see what happens.  I am now taking 2mg Klonopin daily and it has definitely helped to level me out and yet, to leave me able to feel and think clearly and have good judgment.  It has provided a lot of relief with minimal side effects.  I don’t really care that it might be addictive. Two people I was very close to have passed away in the last 6 months and another is moving far away in about 6 weeks. The moving has thrown me over the line and I am becoming more and chronically depressed, hopeless and it’s getting real hard to function in the mornings. Seroquel was suggested but I refused it because of its potential to cause diabetes.  This is a disease I dread and I will not take a drug that makes it happen to some people and they don’t know why! So, does anyone know whether the Klonopin would prevent the irritable, agitated and aggressive symptoms that I always get after a few weeks on an SSRI?  Would it be worth trying an SSRI now that I am solidly on Klonopin or is it likely that the same thing will happen? Thanks for reading this long post and for any experiences and/or suggestions you have. Louise — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the last 10+ years, I’ve tried several SSRIs to treat a chronic low level, lifelong depression.  I have also suffered from a lot of anxiety and panic attacks and have usually been thought to have an "agitated depression" when I’ve sought psychiatric help. The only ADs that ever helped were the ones that put me to sleep and made me just able to function, but not "live", because I’d rather be sleeping, almost no matter what.  That was Luvox.  But when the dose of Luvox was raised, I didn’t become more sleepy, I became more agitated, argumentative and intolerably irritable.  I was on the verge of destruction – myself and others. After this I tried Celexa, Effexor and Zoloft.  Each helped for a week or two and then the irritability and aggression began to steadily increase until it became urgent that I stop the drug. I have a family history of bipolar (called manic depressive back then), and my pdoc concluded that I should NEVER take any more SSRIs because I have the biological tendency to become manic from them. I used Lamictal for several years with minimal success.  I need to take lots of benzos to counter the panic attacks and eventually began getting them in a variety of ways because the pdoc didn’t want me to take them every day (ativan mostly). Then I stopped the lamictal and felt better, as I suspected I would.  I was off all medication except for ativan prn for about 8 months. Then, last May (06), there were some serious changes in my life and I became extremely anxious.  I went to see a new pdoc who suggested that we focus on the panic attacks and the anxiety and see what happens.  I am now taking 2mg Klonopin daily and it has definitely helped to level me out and yet, to leave me able to feel and think clearly and have good judgment.  It has provided a lot of relief with minimal side effects.  I don’t really care that it might be addictive. Two people I was very close to have passed away in the last 6 months and another is moving far away in about 6 weeks. The moving has thrown me over the line and I am becoming more and chronically depressed, hopeless and it’s getting real hard to function in the mornings. Seroquel was suggested but I refused it because of its potential to cause diabetes.  This is a disease I dread and I will not take a drug that makes it happen to some people and they don’t know why! So, does anyone know whether the Klonopin would prevent the irritable, agitated and aggressive symptoms that I always get after a few weeks on an SSRI?

Klonopin isn’t a mood stabilizer, so my guess is that it wouldn’t prevent a mood swing to hypomania/mania. Our resident psychiatrist Margrove might be able to suggest a good med combo. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is used for depression in bipolars cause it is thought it is less likely than other antidepressants to result in a mood swing . Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

::Two people I was very close to have passed away in the last ::6 months and another is moving far away in about 6 weeks. ::The moving has thrown me over the line and I am becoming ::more and chronically depressed, hopeless and it’s getting ::real hard to function in the mornings. <gently snipped Dear Louise, Sorry about all the loss in your life. (((((Louise))))) You seem so sensitive to lots of medication. Have you thought about getting some therapy to help deal with your feelings of loss? It could help you a lot. Healing thoughts being sent your way. Jackie ~*~If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude~*~  ~~ Maya Angelou quote — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

After this I tried Celexa, Effexor and Zoloft.  Each helped for a week or two and then the irritability and aggression began to steadily increase until it became urgent that I stop the drug.

Hi Louise, I had feelings and thoughts of aggression for a few weeks after starting to raise the Zoloft dose to high levels. What I did was take a little bit of Benadryl, about a few grains from a broken store-brand capsule, to settle the agitation.  Eventually after a few days of the Benadryl the agitation stopped and never came back again. I also started raising the dose very gradually. I have a family history of bipolar (called manic depressive back then), and my pdoc concluded that I should NEVER take any more SSRIs because I have the biological tendency to become manic from them.

Are you sure you are manic on them permanently? Some of us get manic on them for a while, but only for a while. I was euphorically hypomanic from Zoloft for four months, with some jitters thrown in.  Eventually all that left. How long were you on any of the SSRIs? So, does anyone know whether the Klonopin would prevent the irritable, agitated and aggressive symptoms that I always get after a few weeks on an SSRI?  Would it be worth trying an SSRI now that I am solidly on Klonopin or is it likely that the same thing will happen?

Well, I took Benadryl for a few days to calm down the agitation. It wasn’t much–just a few grains once or twice a day–not enough to make one sleepy. It worked for me.  It is used to help those who go through akathisia/ agressiveness when having starting SSRIs.  It may or may not work for you. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Question:

Lamictal

Response:

Worn_Out,  you seem to be feeling a little better, are you?  hopefully  

Response:

I am doing better.  My wife says I am talking more & I have started kidding with my 24 year old daughter, again.  I think the tofranil is helping & I am on my third week on testosterone injections. I have decided that bi-polar disorder is forever.  I woke up this morning in very bad shape, but have gotten over it.  Somehow we must all manage to survive because the bad times come and go and if things are bad now, they WILL get better. Thanks Worn_Out,  you seem to be feeling a little better, are you? hopefully

Before you buy.

Response:

What % of manic depressives commit suicide?

I have heard that one in five commit suicide, but I wouldn’t swear by it. I hope you find a treatment that works for you. The future brings us the hope of new drugs and new treatments. Web Page at: www.robertpo.com For email replies remove the ****

Response:

What % of manic depressives commit suicide? I have heard that one in five commit suicide, but I wouldn’t swear by it. I hope you find a treatment that works for you. The future brings us the hope of new drugs and new treatments. Web Page at: www.robertpo.com For email replies remove the ****

I’ve seen studies that showed that 1 in 5 bipolars who refused treatment committed suicide. But…these were bipolars sick enough that they had been hospitalized, that’s where they were found for the study. Also, it stands to reason that those who refuse treatment are sicker with more personality problems than average. Also, these were people who were hospitalized in public hospitals, which again indicates that they were sicker…someone in a private hospital probably has been able to work until recently, and hasn’t alienated or shoved away family and friends yet. Still, taking your meds and working with your doctor is the best way to keep from getting worse…and worse can be very, very bad.

Response:

Paxil worked for me. Not to high though-Reached an even – level of comfort. It sounds like you have to find a MD (preferably, a psychopharmacologist) who knows how to mix different combinations of drugs. Don’t lose hope, though.  If you do you start asking questions about suicide, and you might have to live it all again in the next life.  At this point, paying for drugs is a bigger problem for the long haul than taking them.  Any advice? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

Response:

At this point, paying for drugs is a bigger problem for the long haul than taking them.  Any advice?

I have been started on Tofranil/Imipramine and my pharmacy dispensed it in its generic form.  Instead of paying a copay of $7.00 for the name brand I pay $2.00 for the generic.  The book, "The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs", shows that the name brand would be $.62/pill and the generic would be $.05/pill (the book was published in 1990). If this is still true, a great deal can be saved by buying generic, if possible. The book, "The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs", by Jack M. Gorman, MD. is the best help in this area that I have found.  If you can find a recent edition, I highly reccomend it. Good luck! Before you buy.

Response:

Drop trou Nihil  You know you get a spanking for saying bad stuff like that. Bend over,  ten whacks with the leather strap. 1   *[SMACK]*      ( oouch) 2   *[WACK]*         (stop) 3   *[CRACK]*        ( I take it back,  please stop) Let those warm yer buns a while,  I’ll fix you a few fresh ones in a bit. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? Personally, I think that Doctor Kevorkian, whom I consider to be a Saint, has the best treatment.

Response:

Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

Response:

I am now on Tofranil and Lithobid. I have had about 35 ECT treatments (unilateral and bilateral). I have been on: Xanax Elavil Dexedrine Anafranil Welbutrin Buspar Tegretol Librium Valium Effexor Prozac Tofranil Librium Eskalith Ritalin Nardil Serzone Pamelor Parnate Paxil Prozac Risperdal Zoloft Xanax Thyroid Hormone Testosterone I appreciate your interest. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat

Before you buy.

Response:

Worn Out- I can see why you are frustrated I’ve forgotten what Tofranil is for.  Antipsychotic?  Antidepressant?  MAOI or Tricyclic? What symptoms do you have the most trouble with?  I seem to be depressed a lot, and have had depression for most of my life, and "only" a few major manic episodes.  I suffer from migraines as well, and hope that the neurontin that I’ve just started will help in preventing the attacks (mania and migraine). I am wondering what you have tried and what you know about diet and how it affects mood.  I would suggest, if you are not already doing so, to severely cut down on all carbohydrates, have lots of protein, and consume 3T of flax seed oil every day.  Always use olive oil when you can, too (like in salad dressings, for dipping bread in, etc.). These new drugs for seizures are supposed to work for many treatment-resistant patients.  check out the Neurontin facts posted earlier today if you haven’t already. Good luck, and I hope you get some good advice and new ideas from others… -bpkittycat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am now on Tofranil and Lithobid. I have had about 35 ECT treatments (unilateral and bilateral). I have been on: Xanax Elavil Dexedrine Anafranil Welbutrin Buspar Tegretol Librium Valium Effexor Prozac Tofranil Librium Eskalith Ritalin Nardil Serzone Pamelor Parnate Paxil Prozac Risperdal Zoloft Xanax Thyroid Hormone Testosterone I appreciate your interest. Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat Before you buy.

Response:

After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

Response:

re: question #1: that’s the question, all right re: question #2: between 15 & 20% (some confusion, apparently, about whether this means *all* people with bipolar or just the untreated ones). What about the undiagnosed ones, then? I interpolate all this to indicate that the figure refers to all bipolars. — Deep – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

Response:

: After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective : treatment for its depression. : : What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression?    There is no most effective treatment, it varies with the    circumstances and individual.  Passage of time usually    brings with it some relief of symptoms. : : What % of manic depressives commit suicide?   It is higher for untreated sufferers……15-20% if I recall   correctly.   nm : : : Before you buy. :

Response:

Question:

I take 5 300mg capsules in the mourning and follow up 4 hours later with 3 more. That’s all for the day. I take 2 or 3 capsules of Kava along with this. After lots of experimenting with dosage, this works fine for me. The only problem with side effects is that St Johns tends to irritate the stomach. Comments on the dosage? How do I eliminate the stomach irritation?

Response:

I take 5 300mg capsules in the mourning and follow up 4 hours later with 3 more. That’s all for the day. I take 2 or 3 capsules of Kava along with this. After lots of experimenting with dosage, this works fine for me. The only problem with side effects is that St Johns tends to irritate the stomach.

I would say that is a lot of St. John’s Wort, and is probably excessive. One side effect that you should look out for is sensitive hands and fingers. Cuts, and scratches can take for ever to heal. Also, beware of the sun.  Be sure to wear sun glasses. John Gohde,  Health Nag http://www.hcrc.org/faqs/claims.html http://www.quackwatch.com/ Anyone genuinely interested in diet, nutrition, and nutritional supplements should take a strong stand against Nutrition Quackery, Food Faddism, and Nutritional Supplements Quackery anywhere they see it.  If you don’t, no one will take your interests seriously.

Response:

Why are you taking it? http://members.spree.com/angeleye St. John’s Wort (also known by its botanical name, Hypericum perforatum) is derived from a yellow flowering plant. It has been used as an herbal remedy for mild to moderate depression (not recommended for the treatment of severe or manic depression), anxiety, and sleep disturbances/disorders for many years, especially in Germany. Research suggests that St. John’s Wort raises levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine — neurotransmitters which help boost mental morale and mood. Unlike prescription anti-depressants (i.e., Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, etc.), which can cause negative side effects ranging from nausea to impaired sex drive and ejaculation, St. John’s Wort has no documented cases of sexual dysfunction. It also appears to increase sleep activity by acting as a mild sedative, and may reduce chronic tension headaches. Several adverse effects have been reported in association with usage of St. John’s Wort, including: gastrointestinal discomfort, such as upset stomach allergic reactions fatigue restlessness increased sensitivity to sunlight (so, use a sunscreen or sunblock while on St. John’s Wort) dry mouth confusion dizziness Components of St. John’s Wort may also cause an increase in blood pressure, which could result in a stroke. Since St. John’s Wort is a nutritional supplement, which is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no guarantee of the quality of the supplement from product to product. Carefully read product labels — look for an extract standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin, the purported active ingredient in St. John’s Wort, and make sure this extract is derived from the whole St. John’s Wort plant (i.e., flowers, leaves, and stem). The dosage of St. John’s Wort that has been used in most studies is a 900 milligram daily dose taken in 300 mg increments three times a day. Results may not be seen for at least four to six weeks, if at all. Discontinue use after six weeks if you’ve noticed no results because it’s probably not effective for you.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I take 5 300mg capsules in the mourning and follow up 4 hours later with 3 more. That’s all for the day. I take 2 or 3 capsules of Kava along with this. After lots of experimenting with dosage, this works fine for me. The only problem with side effects is that St Johns tends to irritate the stomach. Comments on the dosage? How do I eliminate the stomach irritation?

Response:

Why are you taking it?

Do you need to ask?

Response:

Why are you taking it? Do you need to ask?

That’s right, I’m crazy, but I am cured by lots of medications. I normally take voodoo juice, but lots of St Johns keeps me cordial without the need for alchihol. One burbon… one scotch…. one beer… Hope this helps piddy

Response:

Question:

Doda1207 schreef: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head? If I were you I would tell my doc to change your medication, I had a similar reaction on Prozac, and it is frustrating to have the medication CAUSE what it is supposed to help. I am now on Paxil (started it today) and hoping for more success. My doctor says it is very common to have to change meds due to side effects, so talk to your doctor.  Hope this helps, take care,  Dody

  All SSRI’s (and Zoloft belongs to this group as do Paxil and Prozac) will worsen your symptoms during the first 2-8 weeks. To assess if this is really the med for you or not the best thing to do is to wait a few weeks. I know what it’s like, believe me. But it does take a while for these meds to kick in. You might ask your doctor for a benzo on the soide as this softens the side effects of the first weeks. Xanax and Ativan come to mind, which are fast-working meds with a very short half-life. A combo of SSRI and benzo for maintenance is quite common these days as well. Don’t give up too quickly…(I know how hard this can be) Philip Peters

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. (It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head? If I were you I would tell my doc to change your medication, I had a similar reaction on Prozac, and it is frustrating to have the medication CAUSE what it is supposed to help. I am now on Paxil (started it today) and hoping for more success. My doctor says it is very common to have to change meds due to side effects, so talk to your doctor.

It is not uncommon to have exagerrated anxiety while adjusting to an SRI.  I would recommend calling your doc and asking for something to help while you adjust.  It takes weeks before one can assess if Zoloft is right or wrong for you.  When I started Paxil I had attacks too. That ended after a few weeks.  I couldn’t possibly have made a decision after 4 days. Gwen

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. (It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head? If I were you I would tell my doc to change your medication, I had a similar reaction on Prozac, and it is frustrating to have the medication CAUSE what it is supposed to help. I am now on Paxil (started it today) and hoping for more success. My doctor says it is very common to have to change meds due to side effects, so talk to your doctor. It is not uncommon to have exagerrated anxiety while adjusting to an SRI.  I would recommend calling your doc and asking for something to help while you adjust.  It takes weeks before one can assess if Zoloft is right or wrong for you.  When I started Paxil I had attacks too. That ended after a few weeks.  I couldn’t possibly have made a decision after 4 days. Gwen

Nothing snipped so as to cause no annoyance Steve replied: I have tried Prozac, Effexor and Zoloft.  All were a nightmare for me (ME, Steve) I can speak for no one else.  The dreaded ‘benzos’ seem to work for me.  Good luck,  Steve Treloar

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Zoloft did this to me too. I just dealt with it (a little xanex helped) and eventually, it passed. Scary stuff though…                               cathy

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head?

Many people here (including myself) have experienced that starting an SRI such as Zoloft will actually increase panic in the early going. For most, this side effect will wear off in a few weeks.  There are a couple of ways to get around it.  One way is to start on a very low dose of Zoloft, and gradually increase the dose until you reach a therapeutic level (possibly taking several months to do it).  This low start and slow increase eliminates most of the side effects.  Another way to reduce side effects is to take a benzo on a temporary basis, until you are established on the Zoloft.  The benzo can help control the anxiety produced by the medication.  Do talk to your doctor about this, as increased anxiety is a common early side effect of SRIs, and there are ways to get around the problem.   Best wishes, Hirsch address in header has been changed to avoid junk mail. To reach me by email, substitute erols for nospam in my reply-to address.

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I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head?

I’m terribly sorry to read this but, if it’s any consolation, it isn’t at all uncommon – indeed, Zoloft did that to me, too. All the SSRIs seem capable of causing increased anxiety when first started and to counter this some doctors start patients at very low doses, slowly increasing them till the desired effect is achieved. Some also prescribe anxiolytics (typically benzodiazepines) to offset this side effect. If it’s very bad, I’d really recommend you talk to your doctor about it. Hope that’s some help – good luck! — Gary Cooper

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I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head?

If I were you I would tell my doc to change your medication, I had a similar reaction on Prozac, and it is frustrating to have the medication CAUSE what it is supposed to help. I am now on Paxil (started it today) and hoping for more success. My doctor says it is very common to have to change meds due to side effects, so talk to your doctor.  Hope this helps, take care,  Dody

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the two most common benzodiazapines (that I come across in reading posts) used to bridge the adjustment period to a SSRI  are Xanax or Klonopin I was given klonopin to get over the adjustment to paxil.

+AD4- +AD4- +AD4-Doda1207 schreef: +AD4- +AD4APg- +AD4- +AD4APg- +AD4-I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic +AD4APg- +AD4-disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a +AD4APg- +AD4-really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly +AD4APg- +AD4-woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. +AD4APg- +AD4-I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, +AD4APg- +AD4-I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a +AD4APg- +AD4-panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified +AD4APg- +AD4-about +AD4APg- +AD4-going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never +AD4APg- +AD4-two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic +AD4APg- +AD4-(chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems +AD4APg- +AD4-wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more +AD4APg- +AD4-panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? +AD4APg- +AD4-Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head? +AD4APg- +AD4APg- If I were you I would tell my doc to change your medication, I had a similar +AD4APg- reaction on Prozac, and it is frustrating to have the medication CAUSE what it +AD4APg- is supposed to help. I am now on Paxil (started it today) and hoping for more +AD4APg- success. My doctor says it is very common to have to change meds due to side +AD4APg- effects, so talk to your doctor. +AD4APg-  Hope this helps, take care, +AD4APg-  Dody +AD4- +AD4-  All SSRI’s (and Zoloft belongs to this group as do Paxil and Prozac) will worsen +AD4-your symptoms during the first 2-8 weeks. To assess if this is really the med for +AD4-you or not the best thing to do is to wait a few weeks. I know what it’s like, +AD4-believe me. But it does take a while for these meds to kick in. You might ask your +AD4-doctor for a benzo on the soide as this softens the side effects of the first +AD4-weeks. Xanax and Ativan come to mind, which are fast-working meds with a very +AD4-short half-life. A combo of SSRI and benzo for maintenance is quite common these +AD4-days as well. Don’t give up too quickly…(I know how hard this can be) +AD4- +AD4-Philip Peters +AD4-

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I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a

really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly

woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body.

I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a

panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about

going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic

(chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems

wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more

panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me?

Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head?   Hi,   From what I hear (I can’t remember myself) Many times when you start on an antidepressant, your symtoms can become worse at first.  It is always a good idea to give a new med a couple of weeks, for the medication to build up in your system and let the side effects die down.  Unless of course the side effects are really bad, in that case I would immediately talk to your doctor. Hope that helps. Lee "Life is too important to be taken seriously"

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I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks

Very common for SRI’s to increase anxiety (even to the point of panic) in the first few weeks.  You might want to talk to your doc about adding or increasing a benzo til your body adjusts.  I don’t take Zoloft – but had a heck of a time adjusting to Paxil. Gwen

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I just started taking Zoloft four days ago for panic disorder and depression.  For the first two days I had a really bad headache.  For the past two nights I have suddenly woken up from a nap with a sort of intense rush in my body. I feel as if I can’t breath, my entire body chills over, I feel detatched and unreal, my heart beats really fast, and it is almost a panicky state that I’m in, but not quite.  I’m starting to get terrified about going to sleep.  Now, I’ve had panic attacks in the past, but never two in a two days.  My symptoms are generally more chronic (chest pain, headache, on edge feelings).  It just seems wierd that I would start Zoloft and then start getting more panic attacks.  Can anyone offer any advice for me? Medication or just the panic disorder rearing it’s ugly head?

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Question:

Im looking for any information regarding results people have found using Manerix or other antidepressants for treating Panic

Response:

Im looking for any information regarding results people have found using Manerix or other antidepressants for treating Panic

Manerix is one of the so-called "reversible" MAOI antidepressants. The main advantage it seems to have over traditional MAOIs (Nardil and Parnate) is that it doesn’t impose the hefty food restrictions they do. Against that, it seems to have picked up a reputation for not being very wonderful against PD, though *some* have reported successes with it so it might be worth a try. I was on it for a few months. They were the most expensive M&Ms I’ve ever bought — Gary Cooper

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Marks) writes: Org.  : York University Im looking for any information regarding results people have found using Manerix or other antidepressants for treating Panic

Dear Brad (?), Hello, and welcome to ASAP! Depending on what you want the info for, you may have to be a little more specific… I monitor this group fairly regularly, and would hazard a conservative guess that at least 50% of us are on some sort of antidepressant. Some are on the older types (e.g., imiprimine, etc.) while many others are on the newer SSRI’s (Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, etc.) Some take an antidepressant alone, others take a combination of antidepressant plus a benzodiazapine …again, the benzos seem to range from good ol’ Valium to newer things like Xanax (alprazolam) or Rivotril (called Klonopin in the U.S., available here in Canada as generic "clonazapam".) Still others take only the benzo with no antidepressant. In this, as in so many areas of life, the watchword is YMMV (your mileage may vary.) For example, I take .5 mg Rivotril (clonazapam) and 10 mg imiprimine once a day, at bedtime, which seems to keep my panic attacks at bay. My doc has suggested a switch to Zoloft and gradually dropping the Rivotril, but I’m foot-dragging… partly due to fear of change (and possibly having to experience a flood of panic attacks) and partly due to the increased $$ I will have to spend on meds if I decide to switch. Hope this helps, Jane. —

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