Question:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Maybe one of these days this info will get incorporated into the FAQ. Singulair and Accolate have a pattern of beneficial response where VERY APPROXIMATELY 1/3 of users expereince a strong, positve response; 1/3 of users get a mild benefit; and 1/3 of users derive NO BENEFIT at all.  IT takes a month or two to distinguish between the second and third groups.

Response:

Hi Kelly, I have felt exactly the same about Singulair.  I have been on it now for about 1 year but have not noticed any improvement with it at all.  I am still on Prednisolone 20mg, Theophylline 300mg x2, Fluticasone 1000mcg x2, Serevent 50mcg and 100mcg, Atrovent 40mg x2 and Ventolin 200mg x4 everyday. Why is it that Sigulair seems to be the saviour for some, and a waste of time for others like us? Maybe some others out there will know the answer to that. Becky – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Response:

Singulair is ususally prescribed for those with mild to moderate asthma. an expert on asthma but I’m surprised that your symptoms are so servere after a year of treatment!  Has your doctor changed your meds during that time or suggested other forms of therapy?

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair??

Not a wonderful success but I would say *some* success.  I was on flixotide, atrovent, ventolin, phyllocontin and needing prednisolone about every 3 months.  After some difficulties and disruption at work I rapidly went downhill until I was at 6 days per month off work and needing prednisolone every few weeks.  The doses I was on of the other things were about the maximum suggested (and about 30+ shots of ventolin per day). In April 1997 my parents went on holiday for a while and I "house sat" for them; playing computer games mainly.  I got so involved in one of them I played for 36 hours straight; the only medication I took in that time was ventolin.  I felt a lot better.  I haven’t touched flixotide or atrovent since; medical advice was that I was looking for a very serious attack anytime soon if I didn’t go back on the medication.  I held out. However the medication I *was* on appears to be the "standard" treatment for "brittle asthma" – i.e. very rapid onset (the stuff that may kill on the first attack with a new subject); I *don’t have* rapid onset asthma. The treatment I had had and had been receiving was a "hold over" from the prescription practices of a previous doctor – it had never been explained to me what it was all for and my current doctor had (as I had) assumed it was all o.k. Since I was still at about *two* days off work per month I saw my *new* doctor again; she suggested Singulair (‘cos we’d tried everything else). I’m now down to about 1 day per month on average from asthma related problems.  So, I wouldn’t say it was *hugely* succesful; I would say it works reasonably well for me as I have a very slow declining sort of asthma problem and it stabilises my base levels. I’ve now been on Singulair over a year; my energy levels are much more than previously and I don’t have to worry about going out (I know I shall be able to physically cope until I can get back).  I have had less ‘flu and bronchitic problems (possibly because I’m not on oral steroids all the time now) and I’m a lot happier with my state generally. It *wasn’t* a quick fix; it’s been very gradual in my case. change demonically challenged to demon in reply; hoping to avoid the spam Rex M F Smith

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

I’ve read Singulair has a sucess of 1/3 show dramatic improvement, 1/3 show significant improvement, 1/3 show no improvement. If you show no improvement, you should stop taking it. New studies show it starts to become effective within the 1st 24 hr, if it doesn’t help in 7 days, it probably won’t help. I started Singulair last spring. Initially I got a 10% improvement with peak flow and was happy with it. In the summer I had some exacerbations that dropped peak flows to 50%, and Singulair didn’t seem to help (tho it isn’t supposed to help in exacerbations) I did notice some side effects of tiredness, and was taking every other day. Lately I just stopped taking, may start up again. I use a peak flow meter to monitor lung function and a Action Plan to increase meds when peak flow drops into Yellow Zone. I’ve been using a new steroid inhaler, Pulmicort, since beginning of year. It’s so effective I don’t seem to need Singulair. If you need inhalers 3-4x/day, your asthma is not well controlled. Most asthmatics can control their asthma with inhaled steroids twice a day; and an occasional puff of albuterol less than once/day. (I also use Serevent twice a day) Ellis

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems.

I tried Accolate and Singulair for two months each.  I could have been taking sugar pills, they had no effects whatsoever (but no side effects either). From the reports in the newsgroup about 1/3 of the people who try it get dramatic results, another 1/3 get mild results and the final 1/3 (us) get no results. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." Einstein

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Response:

Kelly,  I showed almost immediate results from taking singulair!  When you say inhaler, to what medicaiton are you refering.  Is it a preventor medication like servent or a reliever med like proventil?  You might require a preventor med to stop your asthma from getting out of hand.  Are you taking any inhaled steriods such as azmacort or flovent?  These are primary meds in preventing asthma since they help to prevent inflamation of the bronchial tubes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Response:

Question:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with. Sincerely, Sandy

Response:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with.

Yep, pretty sure I’ve got the flu now.  It’s wreaking havoc with my asthma and I almost ended up in the ER yesterday.  Once I took all my meds and doubled my inhaled steroid, I got my peak flows *UP* to 80% of normal. This is still not as bad as the last time I got the flu when I wasn’t taking Singulair.    I’m only on my third day though. Loki

Response:

I started taking Singulaire in Aug./98, also had the flu shot, did not catch the flu this year. I don’t think Singulaire should have any bearing on catching the flu at all.  Singulaire is to stop the process which causes inflamation and the flu is of course a virus that enters the system.

Response:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with. Sincerely, Sandy

Hi,I have been on singular for about 10months and had the flu 2 times on it.I was real sick with the flu but,my asthma thank God was not affected by it.In fact, I did peak flow readings and had the best readings I have ever had.Go figure huh?This last flu I had a cough and it is still there the cough but,I understand it hangs for about 2weeks.I thought Oh,no,I wondered if it was congestion but,each time I coughed it was clear breathing.Then the peak flows were very good. I feel like stronger in my breathing since I have been on singular.I know it is doing something good for me.I guess some people dont feel it did anything for them.I hope you have had success on the singular and stay well.Leona

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey? I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

A.  Reports have found people  who tapered down to that level and still have horrific withdrawal symptoms can avert the withdrawal symptoms by switching to an SSRI with a longer half life, then withdrawing from that. B. Reports indicate people may  avert experiencing withdrawals symptoms upon titration from Effexor  by use of Ondansetron, a drug commonly prescribed for the relief of the side effects (nausea etc.) associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. See http://www.effexorfx.freeuk.com/webdoc8.htm

Response:

When I went off effexor (I had the nasty withdrawl stuff too)…I opened the capsules and dumped some of the granules out and then closed it back up and swallowed it.  It was hardly scientific, but it worked pretty well.  So Just start trying to dump out around half the granules…then down to maybe 1/4…then maybe try to just stop. Hope that helps. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better??  

Response:

That was exactly my experience. Actually, I got down from 300mg to 37.5mg fast (in two weeks), but it was very hard to quit from there. My doctor added 30mg remeron, and I think that was the trick that helped me get down to 37.5 fast. Adding Remeron now, and then tapering it off too when you got rid of effexor completely might be good idea for you too. I used to get terrible vertigo, and a feeling of  not being here when I tried to quit from 37.5 (even though I was still taking remeron) From there, adding some small dose (2 – 4 mg/day) reboxetine helped me. I felt some vertigo from time to time for the next two months, but they all went away in the end. Don’t worry, you will get rid of it in the end, but ask your doctor to augment it with remeron or some other AD. That would help. cem

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey? I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey? I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

Reducing Withdrawal Symptoms —- The following information has been drawn from the medical reports which have been published to date on the withdrawal symptoms associated with dose reduction or discontinuation of venlafaxine and from the feedback which I have received from venlafaxine patients. It is by no means intended to be a recommendation of a particular course of action but is simply given to provide a starting point for discussion between patients and their medical advisors with regard to the options available to reduce the severity of the withdrawal symptoms that are common even on a gradual tapered discontinuance of the drug. It appears plausible that both methods could be used simultaneously. —- 1. The rapid onset and the severity of the withdrawal symptoms on dose reduction or discontinuation of venlafaxine appear to stem from the relatively short half-life of the drug (5 hours). Medical data on the subject (Parker, for example) suggests that the withdrawal symptoms can therefore be reduced by gradually replacing venlafaxine with a longer half-life SSRI antidepressant and to then proceed to discontinue the SSRI. It should be noted that although this method has been reported to have been undertaken successfully, it contradicts the advice given by Wyerth-Ayerst, the manufacturer of venlafaxine, that a "wash-out" period be allowed before starting an SSRI.. However, it should also be noted that Wyerth-Ayerst has only recently acknowledged the potent severity of the withdrawal syndrome on venlafaxine discontinuation or dose reduction (see Medwatch – venlafaxine drug labelling changes) 2. The medical report published by Raby (full text available) reports on the relief of venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms by the use of ondansetron, a drug commonly prescribed for the relief of the side effects (nausea etc.) associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The report also discusses the cause of these withdrawal symptoms and provides an explanation of why their severity appears to be unique to venlafaxine. In the case reported a patient who had been receiving 150 mg daily venlafaxine experienced disabilitating nausea, headaches, diarrhea and anxiety once the dose was reduced below 75 mg daily. Only after ondansetron was given, was the patient able to proceed with the tapering schedule of venlafaxine over several weeks. The only adverse side effect of ondansetron was constipation which was treated with laxatives. There was no reoccurrence of venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms after ondansetron was itself discontinued.

Response:

It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better??  

Response:

It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better??

Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey?

Response:

It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey?

I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey? I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

I’m sorry. I hope my first comment wasn’t taken wrong…..it is nevertheless the obvious thing to do. Can you take half again of this lesser dose? Sometimes, taking a small dose of a different antidepressant can help.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It is only the first day of not taking Effexor and I feel like I’m going to die.  My head is pounding, I feel like I’m going to vomit, my eyes hurt, etc…. What can I do to feel better?? Take some Effexor. Are you tapering, or stopping cold turkey? I have been tapering for the last four months.  I went from taking 150 mg a day to 37.5 a day.  My doctor told me stop when I got down to 37.5.

W.J. Giakas, J.M. Davis, Intractable withdrawal from venlafaxine treated with fluoxetine, Psychiatric Annals, February 1997, 27 (2), 85-86 and 92. Authors report three consecutive cases (26-35 year old women) where patients experienced severe withdrawal after discontinuing venlaxfaxine, following treatment ranging from a week or two to seven months: "Repeated attempts at gradually tapering the dosage were unsuccessful and led to intolerable withdrawal sensations."  In these and other cases, authors noted appearance of withdrawal symptoms within a few hours of patient missing a dose. Although, symptoms they saw "are not identical to a fully-fledged psychedelic experience or a true migraine headache, similarity is evident…"  In all cases, venlafaxine was eventually discontinued under cover of fluoxetine, which itself was later withdrawn uneventfully in one of the three cases.

Response:

Question:

Hey everyone. i was wondering if anyone had any side effects from zoloft?  I’ve been on zoloft for 6 weeks now and after 4 weeks I got terrible diareah and nausea and the wieredest thing is i missed my period.  Any other women have that sort of thing happen to them?  The only reason I’m asking is I’m trying to figure out if i might possibly be pregnant.  So let me know. Joanne

Response:

I take 150 mgs of zoloft daily and had/have absolutely no symptoms at all. It never affected my periods either.  Maybe you’d better get one of those little test kits? td "Joanne Johnson" <za…@worldnet.att.net

wrote in message

news:7K1F7.155058$3d2.5648274@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Hey everyone. i was wondering if anyone had any side effects from zoloft?  I’ve been on zoloft for 6 weeks now and after 4 weeks I got terrible diareah and nausea and the wieredest thing is i missed my period.  Any other women have that sort of thing happen to them?  The only reason I’m asking is I’m trying to figure out if i might possibly be pregnant.  So let me know. Joanne

Response:

Joanne, Common adverse effects of Zoloft are as follows: Nausea Somnolence Diarrhea Insomnia Constipation Ejaculatory Dysfunction Dyspepsia Agitation Anorexia Impotence Weight gain Your missed period could be a coincidence. The other two symptoms are common side effects of Zoloft. Talk to your doctor if the symptoms are more than a minor inconvenience. Risa Whenever I wake up on top of the mattress, I know I’m getting up on the right side of the bed.

Response:

Sure.  Look at the   Fruits and  Nuts  in  here. KCOM missed his  period  too. Joanne Johnson <za…@worldnet.att.net

wrote in message

news:7K1F7.155058$3d2.5648274@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Hey everyone. i was wondering if anyone had any side effects from zoloft?  I’ve been on zoloft for 6 weeks now and after 4 weeks I got terrible diareah and nausea and the wieredest thing is i missed my period.  Any other women have that sort of thing happen to them?  The only reason I’m asking is I’m trying to figure out if i might possibly be pregnant.  So let me know. Joanne

Response:

wired me like a coke freak or something. I couldn’t handle the extra anxiety that it gave me. harumph

Response:

I’ve never missed a period while being on it.  But at first, it made me really hyper.  After about 8-9 weeks, that stopped.  I didn’t have any other side effects from it, luckily. kat "Joanne Johnson" <za…@worldnet.att.net

wrote in message

news:7K1F7.155058$3d2.5648274@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Hey everyone. i was wondering if anyone had any side effects from zoloft?  I’ve been on zoloft for 6 weeks now and after 4 weeks I got terrible diareah and nausea and the wieredest thing is i missed my period.  Any other women have that sort of thing happen to them?  The only reason I’m asking is I’m trying to figure out if i might possibly be pregnant.  So let me know. Joanne

Response:

Had a close friend who experienced hypomania and increased aggressionand "magical speaking dreams" from it .She was unaware of it for some time. She wreaked havoc amongst her work colleagues and pals.She changed meds after the shrink realised (months later) what was up. Helski

Response:

I talk to my Dr and they say that its not from the zoloft.  I’m still testing negative on the home pregnancy tests.  I’ve got to go in and have blood work done to find out for sure.  I’ll let ya all know one way or the other what happens. Joanne

Response:

Hi Joanne, Taking Zoloft (Lustral over here in the UK) was an awful mistake for me. Within hours, I was experiencing a really clamping jaw tension – which my daft doctor stupidly claimed I had always had even though I had never had it before. My eyes went odd and starey, and felt pressured – this settled down after a few days but they were never right while I was on it. I had the awful nausea you mentioned, plus the upset stomach, headaches, and all sorts of other goodies. The nausea stayed after taking it, so did the bad stomach. Oh and I had tremors as well. Boy that stuff loved me. NOT. I suggest you keep an eye on it as it may be that it doesn’t agree with you. I wish I had come off sooner. Maybe have a chat about alternatives if it continues to be a problem. I found these side effects with all SSRI’s I tried (= Prozac and Seroxat). If you get muscle tension that you haven’t had before, like I did in my jaw, then I think that may be a real indication it is wrong for you. That said, you may decide that even this ‘wrong’ is more right for you than being without the benefits of the drug. Everyone is unique, chemically. BFN, Cary Charles ;O) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

"Joanne Johnson" <za…@worldnet.att.net wrote in message news:7K1F7.155058$3d2.5648274@bgtnsc06-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… Hey everyone. i was wondering if anyone had any side effects from zoloft?  I’ve been

on

zoloft for 6 weeks now and after 4 weeks I got terrible diareah and

nausea

and the wieredest thing is i missed my period.  Any other women have

that

sort of thing happen to them?  The only reason I’m asking is I’m trying

to

figure out if i might possibly be pregnant.  So let me know. Joanne

Response:

Cary wrote:

Taking Zoloft (Lustral over here in the UK) was an awful mistake for me. Within hours, I was experiencing a really clamping jaw tension … My eyes went odd and starey, and felt pressured…

I’m surprised by your doctor’s attitude about what were obviously some bad side effects. I was inpatient when the treating psychiatrist ordered clonazepam (Klonopin in the U.S.) to slow me down a little bit. I had that same clamping jaw tension and weirdness in my vision. It was diagnosed as a mild allergic reaction. I was immediately given diphenhydramine (Benadryl) by injection. A couple of hours of sleep and I was good to go. No more of that med for me. I now use a program for my Palm pilot called Epocrates. It’s like a portable PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference), which is the 4" thick, 6-8 lb. (3.63 kg) tome that doctor’s in the U.S. use as a medication reference. I can look up any medication in seconds. I KNOW what to expect before I take the med, and I can search through classes of meds for something with less annoying or fewer side effects. That way, I’m as well informed as my doctor. E-mail me if you have more questions. Risa War doesn’t decide who’s right, only who’s left.

Response:

Unless you wish to be pregnant, I’ll pray that you aren’t I guess the diarehia is from the zoloft then… good to know… I wish everything goes well with you and zoloft… i think i’m going to have my pdoc take me off of it… i’ll try it out till the 11th and see… love ya’s! Tia

Response:

"RisaCaitlin" <risacait…@aol.competition

wrote in message

news:20011128071357.04371.00003384@mb-fc.aol.com…

I’m surprised by your doctor’s attitude about what were obviously some bad

side

effects.

So was I and my whole family, but at that time I had only had PTSD for about 18 years and they hadn’t diagnosed it – I ended up researching the problem on the internet and finding out that I had PTSD, then having to convince them, then having an assessment which ended with the guy telling me he had been told to disprove that I had PTSD, but instead was appalled at how I had been treated and that, yes, I definitely had PTSD! How is that for an easy ride? NOT!

I was inpatient when the treating psychiatrist ordered clonazepam

(Klonopin in

the U.S.) to slow me down a little bit. I had that same clamping jaw

tension

and weirdness in my vision. It was diagnosed as a mild allergic reaction. I was immediately given diphenhydramine (Benadryl) by injection. A couple of hours of sleep and I

was

good to go. No more of that med for me.

Well in hindsight I think I may have experienced something similar. I also wonder if it did long-term damage as my digestive system has never been the same since and I still have the awful clamping jaw that I never had before I took the stuff. I wonder if it altered something for the worse. Anyway, Kava Kava helps relax it if it is too bad. I did hear from an accident and emergency nurse though, and she said that she had encountered this muscular tension with SSRI usage, and that it was a sign that it really wasn’t agreeing with a person. Instead of keeping on taking it, they should come off it. Wish I had known that back then, or better still, that my doctor had! Never mind.

I now use a program for my Palm pilot called Epocrates. It’s like a

portable

PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference), which is the 4" thick, 6-8 lb. (3.63 kg)

tome

that doctor’s in the U.S. use as a medication reference. I can look up any medication in seconds. I KNOW what to expect before I take the med, and I

can

search through classes of meds for something with less annoying or fewer

side

effects. That way, I’m as well informed as my doctor.

I think that is a really sensible and responsible approach. I do loads of research before I take anything significant. I have learned the hard way, but it pays to be in the know.

E-mail me if you have more questions.

Thanks for that, and for your reply! BFN, Cary )

Response:

Finaly got into see my ob/gyn and i’m not pregnant but they think my hormones are messed up.  The side effects from the zoloft have gone away. Now I’ll have to have some blood work done to find out which hormores are messed up.  Maybe i will finally get some good help. Joanne UTend2KillMe <queenweasel…@aol.com

wrote in message

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Unless you wish to be pregnant, I’ll pray that you aren’t I guess the diarehia is from the zoloft then… good to know… I wish everything goes well with you and zoloft… i think i’m going to have my pdoc take me off of it… i’ll try it out till the 11th and see… love ya’s! Tia

Response:

"RisaCaitlin" <risacait…@aol.competition

wrote in message

news:20011128071357.04371.00003384@mb-fc.aol.com…

I was inpatient when the treating psychiatrist ordered clonazepam

(Klonopin in

the U.S.) to slow me down a little bit. I had that same clamping jaw

tension

and weirdness in my vision. <snip

Risa, I am supposed to be taking Klonopin for Restless Leg Syndrome, and it helped a lot for that.  I am having problems with my legs now I’m off of it. I find the muscle problems with Zoloft interesting in that I have fibromyalgia (and I believe Chronic Myofasial Pain Disorder).  Add to that the osteoarthritis (was on Celebrex) and I have muscles and joints hurting literally everywhere.  I am also supposed to be on neurontin.  I’m to the point where I just want my anti-depressant, estrogen, klonopin, celebrex and the ambien.  I am ready to ditch the other four meds I was on, but I think I ended up with them to counteract the side effects of the original meds (swelling in the feet and hands and high blood pressure).  I can never tell which ailment is causing which "feeling!"  No wonder the doctors just throw up their hands.  :-/ *HUGS* Jacque ~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~ Jacque Keller www.tjkeller.net/jkeller/Jacque/ (personal) www.bramblerose.net (business)

Response:

Question:

Hi Bonnie, Good to see you posting again! Zoloft and Prozac have virtually the same profile, as far as side effects, effectiveness, the whole nine yards. But since they are different drugs, it is entirely possible that Prozac will work better than Zoloft for you. 60-80mgs of Prozac will be roughly equivalent to your dose of Zoloft. Actually, 80mgs of Prozac is pretty high. Newer drugs like Celexa have not been shown to be any more or less effective than older ADs like Prozac. The selling point of Celexa is that it is  a more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor than the older ADs, so each should cause less of the wonderful AD side effects. It is a good drug, and I take it, but it is only a marginal improvement over the others, not a quantum leap. Clinical trials on Celexa show absolutely no benefit to taking more than 40mgs a day. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All: I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, hope nobody forgot me. My p/doc switched a/d. I was taking Zoloft, 200mgs a day. and now she has me on Prozac. Does anyone have any input on this? I have been on a real bad rollercoaster ride and I damn near fell out of the car! I have had the nastiest mood swing lately. Man! Hope to hear that everyone is doing well, and I’ll try not to stay away so long. Thanks everyone. Bonnie~aka~bonster~aka~bon in IRC

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hi Bonnie, I was taking Zoloft 150, didn’t work for me and got switched to prozac about 1 month ago, I feel better than I ever have before, hope it works for you to…mary

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Hi All: I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, hope nobody forgot me. My p/doc switched a/d. I was taking Zoloft, 200mgs a day. and now she has me on Prozac. Does anyone have any input on this?

I have been on 60 mgs of prozac for nearly six months now.  Prozac by itself made me very manic.  Mixed with Klonopin and Neurontin my feet are on the floor and the rollercoaster has screeched to a grinding halt. I really like prozac.  The first few weeks I had nasty side effects… but they did subside.  I am very used to it now and I find it is an effective AD. I have been on a real bad rollercoaster ride and I damn near fell out of the car! I have had the nastiest mood swing lately. Man! Hope to hear that everyone is doing well, and I’ll try not to stay away so long. Thanks everyone.

Welcome back Bonnie and lots of luck. Julez — It’s spring fever–you don’t know quite what it is you want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. – - Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

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Have been on prozac and depakote for a year (almost) and the swings have slowed to toleration.  Prozac alone made me manic as all get out (Bulletproof was my term for it). You might try a stabilizer with prozac, if your pdoc allows.  That’s what worked for me. Dio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All: I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, hope nobody forgot me. My p/doc switched a/d. I was taking Zoloft, 200mgs a day. and now she has me on Prozac. Does anyone have any input on this? I have been on 60 mgs of prozac for nearly six months now.  Prozac by itself made me very manic.  Mixed with Klonopin and Neurontin my feet are on the floor and the rollercoaster has screeched to a grinding halt. I really like prozac.  The first few weeks I had nasty side effects… but they did subside.  I am very used to it now and I find it is an effective AD. I have been on a real bad rollercoaster ride and I damn near fell out of the car! I have had the nastiest mood swing lately. Man! Hope to hear that everyone is doing well, and I’ll try not to stay away so long. Thanks everyone. Welcome back Bonnie and lots of luck. Julez — It’s spring fever–you don’t know quite what it is you want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. – - Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

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hi Bonnie, I was taking Zoloft 150, didn’t work for me and got switched to prozac about 1 month ago, I feel better than I ever have before, hope it works for you to…mary

Thanks Mary: me too!

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Hi Dio:

Yes, in fact, I do take a mood stabilizer, she has me on Lithobid. Hopefully this stuff will work. If not, back to the drawing board again. Stuff happens! Thanks, Bonnie

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Hey Bon Bon! Wondering why you Pdoc switched you from Zoloft? Side-effects or not working? Prozac is a "first level" anti-depressant. The stuff they give to "normal" people. I took it for years before I was properly diagnoised.  For me, it was like giving 200mg of Motrin for pain relief to a person with a gun shot wound. Not too effective. How much are you taking? I think I remember reading that 80mg is pretty much the top dose for Prozac, but don’t quote me.  Did you ask him about Celexa? It is a newer SSRI anti-depressant that was approved last summer (but used in Sweden for years). My Pdoc explained that Celexa is "more specific" than the old SSRIs (sorry I can’t explain, ‘cuz I don’t understand all the receptors and such). Ki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Bonnie,I remember you posting and have missed them.Welcome back.I don.t post much.I have taken prozac for four years and helps obsessions greatly but I still need wellbutrin and zyprexa to keep stable.Hope you feel better.Hang in there.  Carolyn Thanks Carolyn: I have been so out of whack lately, I was wondering how good Prozac is. Anyway, take care and don’t be a stranger, and I’ll try not to either. lol

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Hi All: I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, hope nobody forgot me. My p/doc switched a/d. I was taking Zoloft, 200mgs a day. and now she has me on Prozac. Does anyone have any input on this? I have been on a real bad rollercoaster ride and I damn near fell out of the car! I have had the nastiest mood swing lately. Man! Hope to hear that everyone is doing well, and I’ll try not to stay away so long. Thanks everyone. Bonnie~aka~bonster~aka~bon in IRC

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Hi Bonnie,I remember you posting and have missed them.Welcome back.I don.t post much.I have taken prozac for four years and helps obsessions greatly but I still need wellbutrin and zyprexa to keep stable.Hope you feel better.Hang in there.  Carolyn

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Hi Bonnie,I remember you posting and have missed them.Welcome back.I don.t post much.I have taken prozac for four years and helps obsessions greatly but I still need wellbutrin and zyprexa to keep stable.Hope you feel better.Hang in there.  Carolyn

Thanks Carolyn: I have been so out of whack lately, I was wondering how good Prozac is. Anyway, take care and don’t be a stranger, and I’ll try not to either. lol

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Hi All: I know that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, hope nobody forgot me. My p/doc switched a/d. I was taking Zoloft, 200mgs a day. and now she has me on Prozac. Does anyone have any input on this? I have been on a real bad rollercoaster ride and I damn near fell out of the car! I have had the nastiest mood swing lately. Man! Hope to hear that everyone is doing well, and I’ll try not to stay away so long. Thanks everyone.

Dear Bonnie, It is so good to hear from you. We missed you. And no you weren’t forgotten! I did take Prozac and a host of other ADs, Unfortunately they either triggered a mania or else did nothing at all. So now we have forgone all ADs and are attempting combination terapy (Neuontin and Topomax) for better control of my cycling. I take Zyprexa when I am dydsphoric and it has been effective. Please keep on posting~ Yours, Lynda Reach beyond your grasp!

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Is anyone able tell me how the Depakote/Prozac combo work in a M/D patient with an anger disorder? I hae heard good things, but still wary…..Thank you for your help.

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Is anyone able tell me how the Depakote/Prozac combo work in a M/D patient with an anger disorder? I hae heard good things, but still wary…..Thank you for your help.

There’s no easy answer here. We are all Guinea pigs and each has her or his own body chemistry with which to deal. Therapy on top of meds could help with the rage. Good luck. dp

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Hi and Welcome to ASDM, Thanks for posting here. Is anyone able tell me how the Depakote/Prozac combo work in a M/D patient with an anger disorder? I hae heard good things, but still wary…..Thank you for your help.

I took that med combo for awhile although I did not have specific anger issues at the time. For me, the Prozac induced dysphoria and the Depakote did not prevent my cycling. I hope some can share their experiences with this combo and anger. Peace, — Lynda

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Prozac has worked on me when everything else failed. The only side effect I’ve had is weight gain (a small price to pay for sanity). But it is an individual thing. Like lithium. It works for some, but it almost killed me. Good day, Richard

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Hiya … I was interested to see your reference re: weight gain on Prozac … I experienced the same thing however my pdoc insists it’s not the Prozac causing weight gain because it is supposedly a ’stimulant’ … we’ve been having this argument for months now … so I was interested to hear someone else with the same side effect … seems we are in the minority … but the Prozac does/did work for me and the weight gain seems under control now that I also take Neurontin …

Prozac has worked on me when everything else failed. The only side effect I’ve had is weight gain (a small price to pay for sanity). But it is an individual thing. Like lithium. It works for some, but it almost killed me. Good day, Richard

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My name is Caz and I have been on antidepressants for five years for panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalised anxiety disorder.  I was extremely afraid of antidepressants as most anxiety sufferers are.  I was on Aropax for five years after being convinced by my doctor that I have a chemical imbalance and I managed quite well for two of those years, although I still had panic attacks but I learnt to put up with them. However the past year I have had a relapse with my anxiety and the Aropax was no longer working for me. My anxiety was getting so bad that I was thinking of suicide just to relieve the anxiety.  I am agoraphobic at the moment, so a psychiatrist has changed my medication to effexor.  I have read on the internet about Effexor and it seems to be the best medication for anxiety and depression.  I have only started the medication three days ago so I can’t tell you what kind of effect it has had on me yet, but if you would like to keep in touch, I can let you know of my progress.  I am also taking a low dose of Xanax to counteract the side effects of Effexor but my doctor insists that Xanax is easy to come off when done gradually.  I have been so bad lately that I will do anything to relieve the anxiety, since I would rather be alive and overcome it than dead and never know the outcome of my life. If I had it my way, I wouldn’t be on any medication at all but my brain does not function normally enough without the damn tablets. I am going to have ongoing psychological therapy as this is the second most important step in recovery. It will be a very slow process which I have been through before but it is easy to forget that people like us need ongoing help especially when we are beginning to feel better. Effexor is the only antidepressant that affects the serotonin and Norepinephrine chemicals in our brain, which means we have a better chance of recovery.  Have you looked up Effexor on the net?  It may help you to make a clearer decision. Please reply as I am interested in your response. Regards, Caz

In case you are curious, I have pulled some stuff from Doc’s bulliten boards and Medline on even further possibilities of combining a smaller dose of Effexor with an SSRI. It has been done very safely with good results. To me, it acts like a strong shield against depression and anxiety. As far as what you where saying about the dual action of Effexor…it’s really hard to tell. Only tou will know. I have to say this though..from the info I have read, and did myself, is VERY VERY slowly come onto it, as it can also mess up any anciety problems. Best wishes.. James

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My name is Caz and I have been on antidepressants for five years for panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalised anxiety disorder.  I was extremely afraid of antidepressants as most anxiety sufferers are.  I was on Aropax for five years after being convinced by my doctor that I have a chemical imbalance and I managed quite well for two of those years, although I still had panic attacks but I learnt to put up with them.

Hi Caz and welcome to ASAP! You have come to the right place, we *all* suffer from anxiety disorders here. However the past year I have had a relapse with my anxiety and the Aropax was no longer working for me.

That’s the problem with SSRI-type antidepressants, they tend to poop out on you after an indefinite period of time. My anxiety was getting so bad that I was thinking of suicide just to relieve the anxiety.

BTDT… I am agoraphobic at the moment, so a psychiatrist has changed my medication to effexor.  I have read on the internet about Effexor and it seems to be the best medication for anxiety and depression.

Effexor is one of the newer antidepressants. Unfortunately there is *no* cure-all pill on the market (yet?) but Effexor is one of many good possibilities.  I have only started the medication three days ago so I can’t tell you what kind of effect it has had on me yet, but if you would like to keep in touch, I can let you know of my progress.

What dose are you on, Caz? It is advisable to *start low – go slow* in order to avoid or at least minimize initial side effects.  I am also taking a low dose of Xanax to counteract the side effects of Effexor but my doctor insists that Xanax is easy to come off when done gradually.

Xanax certainly is a first choice anxiolytic. When stopped it should be tapered off slowly as your doctor says. For some this is relatviely easy to do, for others it will be much more difficult. Most of our reactions to meds are very personal, there is no telling how you will do. But it is a good thing to have Xanax alongside Effexor. I have been so bad lately that I will do anything to relieve the anxiety, since I would rather be alive and overcome it than dead and never know the outcome of my life.

That’s the spirit! If I had it my way, I wouldn’t be on any medication at all but my brain does not function normally enough without the damn tablets.

Yeah….tell me about it… I am going to have ongoing psychological therapy as this is the second most important step in recovery. It will be a very slow process which I have been through before but it is easy to forget that people like us need ongoing help especially when we are beginning to feel better.

What kind of therapy are you doing? Experience has proven that most *talk therapy*, however helpful in other areas, as a rule doesn’t have much effect on panic symptoms. *Cognitive Behavioural Therapy* (CBT) on the other hand has a good track record with PAD and can relieve you of your worst agoraphobia rather quickly – how agoraphobic are you. are you actually housebound? Effexor is the only antidepressant that affects the serotonin and Norepinephrine chemicals in our brain, which means we have a better chance of recovery.  Have you looked up Effexor on the net?  It may help you to make a clearer decision.

There are several antidepressants (including old TCA’s) which work in different ways on both sertonin and norepinephrine receptors and there is no noted difference as regards success, partly because the etiology of PD isn’t quite understood as yet and neither are the workings of meds. It’s by and large a matter of trial and error. I hope Effexor will work for you. Please reply as I am interested in your response. Regards, Caz

Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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  Hi everyone .  I have been posting here quite a bit lately.  I saw the Psych Dr.  today.  I explained to him that I am terrified of meds but know theres no way around it at this point.  Ive had GAD/Depression for the past 3 years. Ive been getting weekly counseling.  I have a horrible fear of something going wrong wth my heart, health,etc… Very irrational.  So this med decision is really scaty for me .  I hear effexor can effect BLood Pressure.  I also dont want to get on something thats going to make me gain weight.  I know they all have there sides . My Dr wants me to take effexor .  He says its more apt to help me.  I was just getting use to the idea of celexa,luvox or even zoloft.  I obsess over ever symptom any way so I know This is going to be tough . I will start  one of these tomorrow.  Please let me know anything good or bad bout these meds.  Thank you so mu ch.!!!     Lissa

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My name is Caz and I have been on antidepressants for five years for panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalised anxiety disorder.  I was extremely afraid of antidepressants as most anxiety sufferers are.  I was on Aropax for five years after being convinced by my doctor that I have a chemical imbalance and I managed quite well for two of those years, although I still had panic attacks but I learnt to put up with them. However the past year I have had a relapse with my anxiety and the Aropax was no longer working for me. My anxiety was getting so bad that I was thinking of suicide just to relieve the anxiety.  I am agoraphobic at the moment, so a psychiatrist has changed my medication to effexor.  I have read on the internet about Effexor and it seems to be the best medication for anxiety and depression.  I have only started the medication three days ago so I can’t tell you what kind of effect it has had on me yet, but if you would like to keep in touch, I can let you know of my progress.  I am also taking a low dose of Xanax to counteract the side effects of Effexor but my doctor insists that Xanax is easy to come off when done gradually.  I have been so bad lately that I will do anything to relieve the anxiety, since I would rather be alive and overcome it than dead and never know the outcome of my life. If I had it my way, I wouldn’t be on any medication at all but my brain does not function normally enough without the damn tablets. I am going to have ongoing psychological therapy as this is the second most important step in recovery. It will be a very slow process which I have been through before but it is easy to forget that people like us need ongoing help especially when we are beginning to feel better. Effexor is the only antidepressant that affects the serotonin and Norepinephrine chemicals in our brain, which means we have a better chance of recovery.  Have you looked up Effexor on the net?  It may help you to make a clearer decision. Please reply as I am interested in your response. Regards, Caz * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

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Question:

Hi Betsy, Stopping Effexor is definately not something you want to do without the assistance of a doctor.  The withdrawal effects can be pretty bad if things aren’t done slowly.  (ie. bad headaches, vision troubles (because seratonin is also used in the visual system) etc.) Please get her to talk to a Doctor about it. Hugs, Kathryn K. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Email replies requested if it seems more appropriate.  My sister asked if I would check with you guys, since I seem to remember a couple of people have taken Effexor.  Has anyone experienced withdrawals from Effexor, and what was it like? Has anyone experienced visual symptoms from missing 2 or 3 days? I told her I’d ask.  I also told her to go to her doctor if she’s thinking about stopping. Thanks for the little indulgence. Betsy

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Hi Betsy, Just an add to my last post, I have been on Effexor for about two years and it has really helped with my depression.  I have had no negative side effects.  (Of course the same meds can affect different people in entirely different ways. Hugs, Kathryn K. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Email replies requested if it seems more appropriate.  My sister asked if I would check with you guys, since I seem to remember a couple of people have taken Effexor.  Has anyone experienced withdrawals from Effexor, and what was it like? Has anyone experienced visual symptoms from missing 2 or 3 days? I told her I’d ask.  I also told her to go to her doctor if she’s thinking about stopping. Thanks for the little indulgence. Betsy

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Email replies requested if it seems more appropriate.  My sister asked if I would check with you guys, since I seem to remember a couple of people have taken Effexor.  Has anyone experienced withdrawals from Effexor, and what was it like? Has anyone experienced visual symptoms from missing 2 or 3 days? I told her I’d ask.  I also told her to go to her doctor if she’s thinking about stopping.

betsy, i am taking 12.5 mg of effexor (1/2 of a tablet) which is a real small dose. as much as i’d love to wean myself away from it i’m having a real difficult time with the withdrawal symptoms. NAUSEA CITY. that i have to keep taking it. i could kill my doctor for ever prescribing effexor to me. the side effects and withdrawal effects are terrible. i definitely think your sister should get some help from the doctor so he can suggest ways to withdraw from it.

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Email replies requested if it seems more appropriate.  My sister asked if I would check with you guys, since I seem to remember a couple of people have taken Effexor.  Has anyone experienced withdrawals from Effexor, and what was it like? Has anyone experienced visual symptoms from missing 2 or 3 days? I told her I’d ask.  I also told her to go to her doctor if she’s thinking about stopping. Thanks for the little indulgence. Betsy

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withdrawal from effexor was hell on earth for me.  i weaned slowly but it still made me incredibly ill.  nausea, slept 24/7, headaches, electrical shock-like body sensations.  i weaned part in the hospital and then tried to do the rest at home.  ended up in a medical ward b/c i couldn’t keep anything down and got horribly dehydrated.  go very slowly and under a doc’s supervision.  not pleasant.

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Maybe it’s me on effexor withdrawal, but the proliferation of these multiple threads sucks.  Is there a problem with some people’s browsers?  Why can’t people continue the thread instead of splintering it into another category?  It’s really irritating, especially since my browser is slow and so the extra scrolling, guessing if the discussion is a continuation or new takes a lot of time and money. basically, I’m otta here.  Too slow. Best, AD Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Actually, a lot of your problem is your browser. Sure, people should be careful not to splinter threads, but a good browser will put most of that back where it goes. I see that you use Netscape3.01 Gold and Windows 95. Chances are that you have room on your hard drive for Agent, which will solve most of your problems. I used to get irritated at the same thing. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe it’s me on effexor withdrawal, but the proliferation of these multiple threads sucks.  Is there a problem with some people’s browsers? Why can’t people continue the thread instead of splintering it into another category?  It’s really irritating, especially since my browser is slow and so the extra scrolling, guessing if the discussion is a continuation or new takes a lot of time and money. basically, I’m otta here.  Too slow. Best, AD Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Boy did this one thing you asked ring a bell.I am tired of hearing a doctor or professional tell me , I couldn’t have felt the affects of the medication because its too early.What a bunch of bull.Too often the real truth is professionals and psychiaitry is practiced so unevenly its truly a sin!.Each time you ask someone else you get a different answer.I too have taken Buspar for a day and instantly felt more relaxed.But I don’t take it too often cause I believe its just a stronger version of valium.at least and at most too strong.You have to determine whats right for you.However incidentally I had a doctor tell me, to take it as needed , no need to take it for weeks.With prozac I didn’t need to take that stuff longer then a week (2 bloody noses) to know what I felt and didn’t need  anyone to tell me what I felt was real or not real. what hogwash.Still glad buspar is around but still waiting for better science. Tell daughter to try exercise, stop smoking and eat healthy .

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I do realize however that some meds do work after getting in blood stream , and some especially anti depressants and mood meds might take a few weeks.Every person is different but more importantly  listen to your body , and incidentally Buspar is not one of the drugs that HAVE to be in your system for weeks.

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My teenage daughter (17 years old)  is taking Buspar for sever anxiety and panic disorder. I was wondering if anyone can help me here. She has just been on this medication for nearly 3 weeks now. Her inital does was 5mg morn 5mg afternoon and 10mg beditime. That was the first 2 weeks. She did show some signs of improvement but not nearly enough. Her dosage has now been increased to 7.5mg morn 7.5mg afternoon and 15mg bedtime. Question here is i understand that it takes weeks for it to take full effectivness, but seems when she feels anxiety now and takes the medication within mins she feels somewhat better. Is this possible, or does it have to reach its full limits before it works? Hope you can understand this question. Thanks in advance!

Hi Dad! BuSpar will *not* block panic attacks. The meds of choice for panic disorder are those that *do* block panic attacks. And these include the benzos (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, etc) and the SSRIs (e.g. Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, etc.). Sounds like your daughter saw a GP instead of a psychiatrist (who she should see for med advice on panic disorder). Feeling better within minutes of taking a  BuSpar pill is a *placebo* effect (i.e. you have "faith" it will help, and thus it does). Chip Before you buy.

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My teenage daughter (17 years old)  is taking Buspar for sever anxiety and panic disorder. I was wondering if anyone can help me here. She has just been on this medication for nearly 3 weeks now. Her inital does was 5mg morn 5mg afternoon and 10mg beditime. That was the first 2 weeks. She did show some signs of improvement but not nearly enough. Her dosage has now been increased to 7.5mg morn 7.5mg afternoon and 15mg bedtime. Question here is i understand that it takes weeks for it to take full effectivness, but seems when she feels anxiety now and takes the medication within mins she feels somewhat better. Is this possible, or does it have to reach its full limits before it works? Hope you can understand this question. Thanks in advance!

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I sympathize, Neal, and oh, Thank You for answering one of my questions! I took the 3 others, for panic/anxiety… Prozac, zoloft, and paxil, and felt worse within a week. When I was prescribed Buspar, I had no high hopes, but I swear within an hour, I felt a heaviness, rather than extreme panic. An almost calmness, maybe sleepy, and it made me feel better immediately. I was given 7.5 mg, in am and again at pm for a week, then 15 mg am and pm, since then, about 2 months now. It hasnt helped completely, but feel a difference. I’m sorry I can’t answer your question, but sometimes, just having someone share an experience helps, a bit. I have been told by therapist that I may need an increase, but I haven’t felt comfortable about it yet. (also, i had been told before that there are no side effects from paxil, zoloft or prozac, and i KNOW that there are!) so go with what feels right, and what seems to be working- even a little bit at a time.

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Hi, I was recently prescribed Buspar for genreral anxiety disorder and after researching it a bit, I find I’m very confused.  I have both depression and GAD, but it’s the anxiety that’s bothering me most at the moment. (It’s hard sometimes to separate these things into categories, btw).  My question is this (I’m a bit of a newbie poster but I’ve read a lot).  Buspar and and SSRI’s appear to do different things.  Anxiety is apparently caused by too much serotonin. According to the www.buspar.com home page (sponsored by Bristol/Myers/Squibb):          "Your symptoms of persistent anxiety may be due to an imbalance of          a chemical called "serotonin" in the brain. It is believed that          an excess of serotonin may be one of the causes of persistent          anxiety. Other anti-anxiety medications work on different          chemicals in the brain.          BuSpar works differently from other anti-anxiety medications –          BuSpar works on the "serotonin system" in the brain to bring          serotonin levels back to normal." But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin. I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things. A quick history – I’ve had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember and the only medicinal success I’ve had was with Zoloft several years ago.  Zoloft helped tremendously, it seemed to knock out the anxiety and lifted my depression.  There were side effects (drowsiness, sexual dampening, some word finding trouble), but it worked.  I went off it after I decided I was feeling good enough to give it a try.  The depression and anxiety gradually returned. A year later I tried it again but it increased my anxiety so much (like drinking several pots of coffee!) that I was unable to tolerate it even at small doses and I gave up before it gave me any benefit. Right now I’ve been on Buspar for about a week (10mg/day – I’m sensitive to drugs).  I’m not feeling any better, in fact the main effects seem to be dizziness, drowsiness, headache and poor concentration, even worse than before.  And improving concentration is one of the things Buspar is supposed to help!  And as evidenced by this post, my chronic worry doesn’t seem to be getting any better either  :-)  I seem to be getting a bit of the bruxism/jaw clenching that I recall was a side effect of zoloft too. Can anyone out there, either fellow sufferer or pharmacist help me understand the mechanics of these drugs? Anyway, should I should I stick it out with Buspar for a while (it’s been one week) despite the side effects? How long until I know whether it’s doing anything for me? I do recall that I had similar side effects for a couple weeks with zoloft (even worse.. there  was nausea too) before they started to subside and my depression/anxiety started to improve.  This time around, I’m more skeptical (both from the posts here that say Buspar isn’t generally too effective and from my confusion about how this drug is supposed to work.) The doc says that we may try Buspar in combination with a small dose of an antidepressant if it seems to help at all.  Again, this sounds confusing, but I’ve heard people have had some sucess with this. Thanks in advance -Grisha

Response:

(snip) But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin.

This is what I understood, too.  I’m on Zoloft. for GAD. I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things. A quick history – I’ve had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember and the only medicinal success I’ve had was with Zoloft several years ago.  Zoloft helped tremendously, it seemed to knock out the anxiety and lifted my depression.  There were side effects (drowsiness, sexual dampening, some word finding trouble), but it worked.

Ah, I’ve ben wondering if my "word finding trouble" (<—good description!) is related to the Zoloft.  I guess maybe it is.   I went off it after I decided I was feeling good enough to give it a try.  The depression and anxiety gradually returned. A year later I tried it again but it increased my anxiety so much (like drinking several pots of coffee!) that I was unable to tolerate it even at small doses and I gave up before it gave me any benefit. Right now I’ve been on Buspar for about a week (10mg/day – I’m sensitive to drugs).  I’m not feeling any better, in fact the main effects seem to be dizziness, drowsiness, headache and poor concentration, even worse than before.

(snip) This probably won’t help you much, but I’ve been reading some of the posts from people on Buspar and wondering just how effective this drug is.  Four people I know were prescribed Buspar for anxiety/panic by their GP’s or OBGYN’s, and all 4 said it made them so much worse! They felt totally out of control on the Buspar, and did so much better on a different drug (Zoloft and maybe Prozac, IIRC).   Luckily, my psych. put me on Z from the get-go and I haven’t had any problems.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Anyway, should I should I stick it out with Buspar for a while (it’s been one week) despite the side effects? How long until I know whether it’s doing anything for me? I do recall that I had similar side effects for a couple weeks with zoloft (even worse.. there  was nausea too) before they started to subside and my depression/anxiety started to improve.  This time around, I’m more skeptical (both from the posts here that say Buspar isn’t generally too effective and from my confusion about how this drug is supposed to work.) The doc says that we may try Buspar in combination with a small dose of an antidepressant if it seems to help at all.  Again, this sounds confusing, but I’ve heard people have had some sucess with this. Thanks in advance -Grisha

Response:

Hi, I was recently prescribed Buspar for genreral anxiety disorder and after researching it a bit, I find I’m very confused.  I have both depression and GAD, but it’s the anxiety that’s bothering me most at the moment. (It’s hard sometimes to separate these things into categories, btw).  My question is this (I’m a bit of a newbie poster but I’ve read a lot).  Buspar and and SSRI’s appear to do different things.  Anxiety is apparently caused by too much serotonin. According to the www.buspar.com home page (sponsored by Bristol/Myers/Squibb):

Hi, Grisha, good to have you posting <some snipping Bristol/Myers/Squibb were, as one might expect, being a leetle selective with the facts there. As I understand it, no one really knows what causes anxiety disorders. Serotonin is one of the substances impilcated – but just one. It’s important to remember, for example, that a very fair proportion of people on this NG don’t use medications that affect serotonin at all and yet get very effective relief from what they do use – benzodiazepines. Arguably their problem concerns GABA, not serotonin. <more snipping But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin.

Exactly right, as I understand it, so possibly a clue why Buspar isn’t widely regarded as an effective medication by the majority of people who’ve posted here? I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things.

I simply don’t know the answer to this but perhaps one of the wetstuff techies can help us? <yet more snipping Anyway, should I should I stick it out with Buspar for a while (it’s been one week) despite the side effects? How long until I know whether it’s doing anything for me? I do recall that I had similar side effects for a couple weeks with zoloft (even worse.. there  was nausea too) before they started to subside and my depression/anxiety started to improve.  This time around, I’m more skeptical (both from the posts here that say Buspar isn’t generally too effective and from my confusion about how this drug is supposed to work.) The doc says that we may try Buspar in combination with a small dose of an antidepressant if it seems to help at all.  Again, this sounds confusing, but I’ve heard people have had some sucess with this.

Personally, I won’t tolerate side effects lasting more than about ten-14 days, but that’s just me. I worry about Buspar – not because I think it does people harm, but because I sense it is being prescribed as an alternative to benzodiazepines by doctors who have swallowed the myths and propaganda about "addiction" concerning the latter. It’s fair enough to try it, but to persist against the odds seems like bad practice to me. Have you tried the combination of an AD and a benzo? Judging by the posts here, that seems to be the most useful combination for those with coincident depression and I wonder if it might be worth discussing it with your doctor? Just a thought — Gary Cooper

Response:

<snipped some good stuff : I just started takign BuSpar as an enhancer to the Effexor that I’m already taking.   In addition, I take klonopin.  The idea is to get me up to 15 mg/day. I have lots of problems with anxiety, but my main hope for BuSpar is that it will pick up the Effexor…. No longer searching for beauty or love, just some kind of life with the edges taken off. –Jarvis Cocker

Response:

Bristol/Myers/Squibb were, as one might expect, being a leetle selective with the facts there. As I understand it, no one really knows what causes anxiety disorders. Serotonin is one of the substances impilcated – but just one. It’s important to remember, for example, that a very fair proportion of people on this NG don’t use medications that affect serotonin at all and yet get very effective relief from what they do use – benzodiazepines. Arguably their problem concerns GABA, not serotonin.

I’ve heard this theory several times before.  I take it that it is possible that people have a problem with levels of serotonin, and this is causing the anxiety, but the increase in the strength of binding of GABA (which is what the benzos do) has an effect that offsets the effects of the serotonin problem.  This might explain why people get relief from anxiety from both serotoninigic and GABA-related treatments.  (Or, maybe the reverse is the case, for that matter.) People like, e.g. Peter Kramer (and many other people I’ve run across in print) move from the fact that drug x increases y and drug x cures depression that depression is caused by (in part, at least) too little y. I just think that this is a bit quick.  It’s certainly one potential explanation, and perhaps the best one.  But it’s not the only one.  Again, it might be that the depression is caused by some other factor, z, whose effects are overridden by the effects of the increase in y. (Gary–not directed at you personally, and please don’t take me as being pedantic; I don’t mean to be.  Just a question I have about an inference that I see made all over.) <more snipping But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin.

Though BuSpar does work for some (just not many, it seems).  I think that this just shows that we’re a long way from understanding how these drugs cure depression and anxiety. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things. I simply don’t know the answer to this but perhaps one of the wetstuff techies can help us? Anyway, should I should I stick it out with Buspar for a while (it’s been one week) despite the side effects? How long until I know whether it’s doing anything for me? I do recall that I had similar side effects for a couple weeks with zoloft (even worse.. there  was nausea too) before they started to subside and my depression/anxiety started to improve.  This time around, I’m more skeptical (both from the posts here that say Buspar isn’t generally too effective and from my confusion about how this drug is supposed to work.) The doc says that we may try Buspar in combination with a small dose of an antidepressant if it seems to help at all.  Again, this sounds confusing, but I’ve heard people have had some sucess with this.

It depends on how bad the side effects are–BuSpar, like SSRIs, takes 2-4 weeks to really start working (if it does at all). snip  I worry about Buspar – not because I think it does people harm, but because I sense it is being prescribed as an alternative to benzodiazepines by doctors who have swallowed the myths and propaganda about "addiction" concerning the latter. It’s fair enough to try it, but to persist against the odds seems like bad practice to me.

I totally agree. Have you tried the combination of an AD and a benzo? Judging by the posts here, that seems to be the most useful combination for those with coincident depression and I wonder if it might be worth discussing it with your doctor? Just a thought

And, IMHO, the right thought.  I second the motion. Matt

Response:

<some snipping for space People like, e.g. Peter Kramer (and many other people I’ve run across in print) move from the fact that drug x increases y and drug x cures depression that depression is caused by (in part, at least) too little y. I just think that this is a bit quick.  It’s certainly one potential explanation, and perhaps the best one.  But it’s not the only one.  Again, it might be that the depression is caused by some other factor, z, whose effects are overridden by the effects of the increase in y. (Gary–not directed at you personally, and please don’t take me as being pedantic; I don’t mean to be.  Just a question I have about an inference that I see made all over.)

<rest snipped Oh, I certainly don’t Matt. But, personally, I long ago realised that I hadn’t the dedication to go into the minuteae of the neuro-chemistry of this – particularly as it’s such a conjectural field anyway. To do so to any level that might satisfy me intellectually, I’d effectively have to take a DIY med. degree and even then I’d be banging heads with the experts, who seem hopelessly confused themselves – blown around the map of the brain like pre-chronometer navigators I almost hate admitting this to a philosopher but I trust my intuition and that tells me that Clarke’s Law applies here. Too many eminent pshrinks are talking about serotonin for that to possibly be the answer Maybe it is? Maybe it’s CCK? Maybe it’s dopamine? None of us knows so, for now, all we can be is engineers, rather than theoretical physicists. Sometimes I’m not sure that’s a bad thing, either — Gary Cooper

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <some snipping for space People like, e.g. Peter Kramer (and many other people I’ve run across in print) move from the fact that drug x increases y and drug x cures depression that depression is caused by (in part, at least) too little y. I just think that this is a bit quick.  It’s certainly one potential explanation, and perhaps the best one.  But it’s not the only one.  Again, it might be that the depression is caused by some other factor, z, whose effects are overridden by the effects of the increase in y. (Gary–not directed at you personally, and please don’t take me as being pedantic; I don’t mean to be.  Just a question I have about an inference that I see made all over.) <rest snipped

snip I almost hate admitting this to a philosopher but I trust my intuition and that tells me that Clarke’s Law applies here. Too many eminent pshrinks are talking about serotonin for that to possibly be the answer

Maybe it is? Maybe it’s CCK? Maybe it’s dopamine? None of us knows so, for now, all we can be is engineers, rather than theoretical physicists.

Yah, I’m certainly not claiming to know either –just looking at an inference Matt

Response:

[...] But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression?

There’s no conflict there. Psychiatric diagnoses are made on the basis of symptoms not pathophysiology. It’s not like having both diabetes and hypoglycemia. (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin. I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things.

[...] _You’re_ confused? Think of the people doing the research. They’re making careers out of their confusion. If anything, you’re confused because you’re approaching the matter as though the antidepressant mechanism of SSRI’s were a settled question. (Come to think of it, this probably screws up the researchers’ heads too). Yes, SSRI’s increase synaptic serotonin — that’s known. What isn’t fully understood is what happens next and how it improves mood. Is it 5HT-receptor upregulation? How significant are the well-known ‘downstream’ effects on dopamine and norepinephrine? Three neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in the doings of buspirone. It is a high-affinity 5HT1A partial agonist. Already a pain in the ass, since it’s not always clear whether a partial agonist acts primarily as an agonist or an antagonist. It may be one or the other depending on many factors. So already you wonder: is the anxiolytic effect based on agonist or antagonist activity? Those who attribute the anxiolytic effect to 5HT activity seem to think of it as an agonist (shutting off of 5HT release), but if it is the other way ’round, antagonizing 5HT1A and preventing natural 5HT shutdown, is anything any less (or more) clear? Next, it appears to be a a2-adrenergic antagonist. Some researchers attribute the anxiolytic effect to this. But this also seems odd in light of the fact that the a2-adrenergic _agonist_ clonidine is famed for its ability to reduce anxiety, particularly in drug withdrawal. And a2-adrenergic antagonists promote norepinephrine production. A sympathomimetic anxiolytic? And then there’s its D2-antagonist activity. This has been dismissed as clinically insignificant, though it does appear prominently in the early research. It’s at least more consistent with what one would expect from a non-GABAergic anxiolytic. But it’s probably not the answer. There is no reason not to be confused. In fact, if you’re not confused, you are either delusional or a marketing executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Response:

  How does BuSpar work? It doesn’t.  BuSpar has no effect at all.

Response:

… Exactly right, as I understand it, so possibly a clue why Buspar isn’t widely regarded as an effective medication by the majority of people who’ve posted here?

I have what might be a simpler clue…the doses commonly used (15-30mg/day) may not be high enough!  I think that if you can tolerate it (start low, go slow), it might be worthwhile to try going up to 90mg/day – especially if you have GAD and depression and no history of panic attacks (BuSpar really isn’t for panic).  30-90mg/day is the dose range for major depression (including melancholic depression).  (The original trials for schizophrenia used doses up to, get this, 2400mg/day, with an average dose around 1500mg/day.) -elizabeth

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I was recently prescribed Buspar for genreral anxiety disorder and after researching it a bit, I find I’m very confused.  I have both depression and GAD, but it’s the anxiety that’s bothering me most at the moment. (It’s hard sometimes to separate these things into categories, btw).  My question is this (I’m a bit of a newbie poster but I’ve read a lot).  Buspar and and SSRI’s appear to do different things.  Anxiety is apparently caused by too much serotonin. According to the www.buspar.com home page (sponsored by Bristol/Myers/Squibb):          "Your symptoms of persistent anxiety may be due to an imbalance of          a chemical called "serotonin" in the brain. It is believed that          an excess of serotonin may be one of the causes of persistent          anxiety. Other anti-anxiety medications work on different          chemicals in the brain.          BuSpar works differently from other anti-anxiety medications –          BuSpar works on the "serotonin system" in the brain to bring          serotonin levels back to normal." But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? (a common complaint, judging from a.s.d and a.s.p-a).  The SSRI I took several years ago (zoloft) seemed to greatly allieviate both anxiety and depression and I thought the mechanism was by increasing the effectiveness of serotonin (by inhibiting reuptake and leaving it in the synapses longer). Effectively correcting a _deficiency_ of serotonin. I’m confused. Moreover, my pdoc (confirmed by postings here) says that Buspar is sometimes combined with an antidepressant (SSRI or other) to increase the effective relief — either of GAD, depression or both! They seem to be doing opposite things, wouldn’t they cancel each other out? I’m sure I’m confused because I’m oversimplifying things. A quick history – I’ve had depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember and the only medicinal success I’ve had was with Zoloft several years ago.  Zoloft helped tremendously, it seemed to knock out the anxiety and lifted my depression.  There were side effects (drowsiness, sexual dampening, some word finding trouble), but it worked.  I went off it after I decided I was feeling good enough to give it a try.  The depression and anxiety gradually returned. A year later I tried it again but it increased my anxiety so much (like drinking several pots of coffee!) that I was unable to tolerate it even at small doses and I gave up before it gave me any benefit. Right now I’ve been on Buspar for about a week (10mg/day – I’m sensitive to drugs).  I’m not feeling any better, in fact the main effects seem to be dizziness, drowsiness, headache and poor concentration, even worse than before.  And improving concentration is one of the things Buspar is supposed to help!  And as evidenced by this post, my chronic worry doesn’t seem to be getting any better either  :-)  I seem to be getting a bit of the bruxism/jaw clenching that I recall was a side effect of zoloft too. Can anyone out there, either fellow sufferer or pharmacist help me understand the mechanics of these drugs? Anyway, should I should I stick it out with Buspar for a while (it’s been one week) despite the side effects? How long until I know whether it’s doing anything for me? I do recall that I had similar side effects for a couple weeks with zoloft (even worse.. there  was nausea too) before they started to subside and my depression/anxiety started to improve.  This time around, I’m more skeptical (both from the posts here that say Buspar isn’t generally too effective and from my confusion about how this drug is supposed to work.) The doc says that we may try Buspar in combination with a small dose of an antidepressant if it seems to help at all.  Again, this sounds confusing, but I’ve heard people have had some sucess with this. Thanks in advance -Grisha

Grisha — That’s a long message!  I’ve posted on alt.support.anxiety.panic how SSRIs work to the best of my knowledge (someone already corrected me on a mistake I made).  But I’m not sure how Buspar works.  I don’t the the docs really know either.  Someone read it to me in a counseling book, and the authors weren’t too sure either. my advice:  If the shoe fits, wear it.  If it don’t, throw it out. — Geoff

Response:

  How does BuSpar work? It doesn’t.  BuSpar has no effect at all.

Not exactly true.  Current thought is that BuSpar is ineffective for panic, although it may be better for GAD.  My doc refuses to prescribe it for panic.  However, I have recently spoken to a top anxiety specialist who uses it as a second-line med, and has had some positive results with panic disorder patients.  Not all, but some.  He admits he has been too lazy to write this up and get it into the literature So, while there are many meds that are more effective than BuSpar for panic, it is an option for those who have problems with other meds. YMMV hugely. Hirsch

Response:

My pdoc seems to be down on benzos, he called them tranquilizers and seemed to regard them as masking rather than dealing with the problem.  He also said they’re addictive and sedating like alcohol (though this Buspar is having a sedating/groggy inducing effect)  This seems to be a common story. So I doubt I’ll have luck with him giving me the AD/benzo combination that you’ve recommended.  Shopping for another doctor seems just beyond me at this point. Obviously, I should probably be patient and see if the Buspar does anything for me besides side effects.  But if nothing (as seems likely from the consensus here) then what?  Find an AD I can tolerate, perhaps and see if I can suggest he prescribe a benzo?

If the BuSpar doesn’t work, I’d be firm with him.  It’s your body, after all.  Benzos are called "minor tranquilizers," though the connotations of that word probably are such that tehy shouldn’t be called that.  As to their addictiveness–this amounts to the fact that you need to taper off slowly if you’re going to stop taking them if you’ve taken them for a while.  They’re seldom abused by patients, and they almost never are such that you develop a tolerance to their anti-anxiety properties.  Plus, side effect-wise, they’re good drugs.  Most of the side effects go away after a few weeks (the grogginess, sleepiness, etc.) for most people.  Then the anti-anxiety properties remain. You also could go to your gp and talk to her about your situation.  Maybe she’ll be more rational about benzos. Good luck, Matt

Response:

[...] But I thought depression was caused by not enough serotonin.  If this is true, how can a person have both GAD and depression? There’s no conflict there. Psychiatric diagnoses are made on the basis of symptoms not pathophysiology. It’s not like having both diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Thanks everyone for all the information.  You’re all great! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one confused here (I think I’m glad). The mechanism of buspar must be similar in some ways to zoloft, because my side effect profile is similar.  I’m getting jaw clenching and increased tension in my neck and shoulders (where I carry my stress anyway)  (is this norepinephrine?) similar to when I was starting on zoloft.  I’ve got a constant headache (listed as a common side effect) and am sweating like a pig.  Drowsy, dizzy no concentration, still anxious as ever.  No actual _beneficial_ effects yet (after one week) it seems.  It’s very frustrating to say the least because I’m told to be patient and wait for 2-4 weeks to notice anything.  Just my luck I’ll get the sexual side effects too (not that it matters at the moment . Some people have no side effects whatsoever to this drug (or to many of the others), so obviously this neurochemistry thing is extremely complex. I’ve never been on a benzo, so I have no idea what it would feel like to get immediate relief to this chronic worry, tension and anxiety.  I don’t have true Panic Attacks, I don’t think, where I’m paralyzed with panic and have chest pains and everything, but I do hyperventilate and get the tingly face and hands feeling, particularly in traffic, but sometimes for no apparent reason, it just seems like a slightly more intense version of the anxiety I feel all the time. It’s pretty clearly GAD with depression, now, I just need to find something that will take care of it. My pdoc seems to be down on benzos, he called them tranquilizers and seemed to regard them as masking rather than dealing with the problem.  He also said they’re addictive and sedating like alcohol (though this Buspar is having a sedating/groggy inducing effect)  This seems to be a common story. So I doubt I’ll have luck with him giving me the AD/benzo combination that you’ve recommended.  Shopping for another doctor seems just beyond me at this point. Obviously, I should probably be patient and see if the Buspar does anything for me besides side effects.  But if nothing (as seems likely from the consensus here) then what?  Find an AD I can tolerate, perhaps and see if I can suggest he prescribe a benzo? Thanks again everyone for your continued support and explanations (or approximations) of the chemistry behind these drugs. -Grisha

Response:

Yeh Gary, I asked my Doc here in Australia about Buspar long ago – he laughed and said: "I don’t even prescribe that crap for *minor* anxiety, it’s basically useless for panic disorder. Benzodiazapine’s are safer and *much* more effective" He then wrote me a script for Xanax – and asked *me* to tell him how much worked – then asked that I ring his surgery for repeats as needed….

Blimey, Mike – that’s the second good reason I’ve seen for emigration to Oz in the past few weeks! I wish we had a few doctors like that, over here. — Gary Cooper

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<much interesting commentary snipped There is no reason not to be confused. In fact, if you’re not confused, you are either delusional or a marketing executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

And ain’t *that* the truth! — Gary Cooper

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<Good Stuff Snipped Exactly right, as I understand it, so possibly a clue why Buspar isn’t widely regarded as an effective medication by the majority of people who’ve posted here?

<More Good Stuff Snipped Yeh Gary, I asked my Doc here in Australia about Buspar long ago – he laughed and said: "I don’t even prescribe that crap for *minor* anxiety, it’s basically useless for panic disorder. Benzodiazapine’s are safer and *much* more effective" He then wrote me a script for Xanax – and asked *me* to tell him how much worked – then asked that I ring his surgery for repeats as needed…. Cheers, Mike from OZ

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Question:

Anyone have any strange side effects from Zoloft?  I started to have TMJ pain/tension after taking it for under a week.  Teeth hurt too.  My doctor said this was not caused by the drug but when I stopped taking it, the symptoms disappeared (after about 3 months).  Maybe it causes teeth clenching?  I never felt any less depressed after taking it for 10 dayes. Actually felt like a zombie.

Hi Will,         I never had TMJ while taking Zoloft, but I did have other ill effects.  My mother recently did too.  From our experiences, I’d say it’s a pretty good guess that what happened to you may well have been from the drug.  While Zoloft seems to work well for some people, IMO the medical community has a ways to go toward identifying & understanding its range of adverse reactions.  Hope these anecdotes help:         I tried switching from Nardil to Zoloft a few years ago.  Took it for about a month, I think… hard to remember as I was in a complete fog during the entire period.  Anyway, it made me a zombie as well – I felt no trace of humanity in or around me while on it.   It virtually left me unable to *feel* anything at all, or to *think*, for that matter.           It was when I stopped taking it to go back on Nardil, and was waiting the required period for it to clear out of my system, that some really bizarre and frightening symptoms appeared.  I had intense, violent hallucinations that scared the bejeezus out of me   (the *only* hallucinations I’ve ever had, BTW … well, that is if you don’t count the effects of certain substances I ingested in younger days 8- ).  I also was unbelievably anxious during this withdrawal period, which lasted about a week (I think) but felt like an eternity.         My mother, who’s in her 70s, was prescribed Zoloft for depression a month ago by her cardiologist.  She stopped taking it after three weeks because it induced the same zombie effect in her.  She had no withdrawal symptoms at all.  Apparently her depression was transient because it seems to have subsided as well.  Yesterday she felt like getting off the couch and going *out* for the first time since the depression hit.  I took her shopping and she did just fine.         Glad your TMJ and teeth pain stopped.  And I hope you’ve found another med that works better for you.  Take care. Redroad — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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I have heard of this phenomena before, may have been good that you dc’d Zoloft. Randy.

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Anyone have any strange side effects from Zoloft?  I started to have TMJ pain/tension after taking it for under a week.  Teeth hurt too.  My doctor said this was not caused by the drug but when I stopped taking it, the symptoms disappeared (after about 3 months).  Maybe it causes teeth clenching?  I never felt any less depressed after taking it for 10 dayes. Actually felt like a zombie.

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Anyone have any strange side effects from Zoloft?  I started to have TMJ pain/tension after taking it for under a week.  Teeth hurt too.  My doctor said this was not caused by the drug but when I stopped taking it, the symptoms disappeared (after about 3 months).  Maybe it causes teeth clenching?  I never felt any less depressed after taking it for 10 dayes. Actually felt like a zombie.

S’not weird, if Zoloft is anything like paxil. And they are both SSRIs. I have TMJ (from teeth clenching) and it got, oh, (this is a rough estimate) about a BAZILLION times worse when I started the paxil. My dear (well, sometimes dear) pdoc said it was a not common but not rare side effect. So it sounds like yer pdoc is a quack, OR Zoloft and paxil are different. But I do think they are pretty similar. Ten days really isn’t enough time to see if an AD is going to help, though if your jaw pain was unbearable… And when paxil worked for me, I felt like a zombie until I was put on a theraputic (heigh enough) dose. So if you feel like another go at it would help, there are plenty of ADs to try.  I hope you can find one that works, if it’s what you need. Good good luck, Bizzy Heather, if you were happy every day of your life, you wouldn’t be a human being. You’d be a game show host.         Veronica Sawyer, Heathers

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Anyone have any strange side effects from Zoloft?  I started to have TMJ pain/tension after taking it for under a week.  Teeth hurt too.  My doctor said this was not caused by the drug but when I stopped taking it, the symptoms disappeared (after about 3 months).  Maybe it causes teeth clenching?  I never felt any less depressed after taking it for 10 dayes. Actually felt like a zombie.

Usually it takes much longer than 10 days for it to have an effect. I wonder if the teeth-clenching had to do with some sort of sleep disruption from the drug — particularly if you were feeling like a zombie. Mike. — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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