Question:

Hi!    I have felt both ways meaning when the doctors have increased/decreased the Prednisone I still have numberous attacks. I have come to the conclusion that I am very sensitive to alot of allergens. Sometimes I am just not sure what to do anymore.  I hope you feel better.   Sandy

Response:

I just tapered off a five day prednizone treatment, now I am off of it and on flovent and albuterol, has anyone felt  more asthma after coming off of pred?

Response:

James Yes. I had to extend the pred treatment to 10 days and taper off more slowly. Norman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just tapered off a five day prednizone treatment, now I am off of it and on flovent and albuterol, has anyone felt  more asthma after coming off of pred?

Response:

Question:

Does Flovent cause mouth thrush or yeast infections? I am just starting using it. Is there any way to avoid it past washing your mouth out? Should I gargle lysterine or something to slear all the meds out?

Response:

Someone recommended eating 1/2 cup yogurt daily.  I also rinse with perioxide which seems to help.  niasha – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does Flovent cause mouth thrush or yeast infections? I am just starting using it. Is there any way to avoid it past washing your mouth out? Should I gargle lysterine or something to slear all the meds out?

Response:

I just brush my teeth and rinse really well after I take my meds, including flovent.  I haven’t had any problems yet.

Response:

Hi James, Does Flovent cause mouth thrush or yeast infections? I am just starting using it. Is there any way to avoid it past washing your mouth out? Should I gargle lysterine or something to slear all the meds out?

The best thing you can do to avoid thrush from steroid inhalers is to  use a spacer device like the Aerochamber.  It breaks the medication down a bit and stops the medication from hitting the back of your mouth. You might notice that when you use a steroid inhaler, you get a nasty taste in your mouth – this usually means that most of the medication has hit the back of your mouth and that you did not inhale deeply enough to get it into your lungs. I would strongly recommend: Getting a spacer Asking your doctor, pharmacist or a Respiratory Therapist to demonstrate the correct use of a spacer Rinsing your mouth out everytime you use the medication (even with the spacer). You do not really need listerine….just rinsing with water has always done the trick for me.  Of course, after you have thrush, you probably do need to use Listerine or Scope.

Response:

People get thrush when they don’t rinse because the medicine is intended for the lungs not the mouth.  In the mouth it breaks down the immune system and throws off the natural balance allowing an opportunity for the yeast (which is normal to be there) to take over and become over abundant. If you rinse with listerine you further break down the natural defenses and allow the yeast an even greater opportunity. Joann RT – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi James, Does Flovent cause mouth thrush or yeast infections? I am just starting using it. Is there any way to avoid it past washing your mouth out? Should I gargle lysterine or something to slear all the meds out? The best thing you can do to avoid thrush from steroid inhalers is to  use a spacer device like the Aerochamber.  It breaks the medication down a bit and stops the medication from hitting the back of your mouth. You might notice that when you use a steroid inhaler, you get a nasty taste in your mouth – this usually means that most of the medication has hit the back of your mouth and that you did not inhale deeply enough to get it into your lungs. I would strongly recommend: Getting a spacer Asking your doctor, pharmacist or a Respiratory Therapist to demonstrate the correct use of a spacer Rinsing your mouth out everytime you use the medication (even with the spacer). You do not really need listerine….just rinsing with water has always done the trick for me.  Of course, after you have thrush, you probably do need to use Listerine or Scope.

Response:

Question:

Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

Response:

I take wellbutrin, twice a day, for the last three months, it works for me

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

Response:

I take the same dose, I just upped it to this since last saturday and I feel much better, no insecutities, no depression. I was on 150 mg in the morning for the past 3 years for ADHD, but figured out I also have depression……upped the dose and I am good to go now…. I take wellbutrin, twice a day, for the last three months, it works for me Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

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Response:

Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

Hi, For me, Wellbutrin works best as a means to reduce fatigue. I’ve been taking Wellbutrin for almost two years.  I started with celexa, but it caused increased fatigue.  I then tried Wellbutrin and liked it.  I tried them together but celexa still knocked me out.  I stopped celexa and just used Wellbutrin twice a day.  One or both of these made me way too happy, and even enhanced colors to the point of being noticable.  While that was fun, I was more interested in being normal. I take Wellbutrin 150mg 3 times a day now.  Twice a day was fine at first, but I got tolerant to it and so upped to three.  No manic or colors.. It took three to keep my brain numbness (tense mucsles) and fatigue away, so I assume that means it’s helping with my depression.  It seems to miss the mark for my anxiety, but maybe helps a little.  My anxiety is always present, and doesn’t really come and go. Upping to three and maybe in combo with depakote gave me an occasional very slight tremor.  The Wellbutrin is like three cups of coffee, or chewing a piece of nicotine gum, so I added the depakote to negate that a bit. Either Depakote seriously trashed my short term memory, or it allowed the reality induced stress to do it, but my memory (ability to concentrate?) went bye-bye when I started it.  That’s much better now (a year and a half after starting depakote).  Memory still causes me problems, and it will probably show up in the composition of this message. When I firt started taking Wellbutrin, I felt good and actually had an interest in doing projects and visiting people.  Let me tell you that is a great feeling and if that is the absence of depression, I want it.  While I don’t have that fatigued feeling anymore,  I’m back to my old self  now of being lazy and not wanting to vist anyone, and my surroundings quite often are not are in focus from an awareness standpoint. Hope this rambling helps a little.  Feel free to e-mail or just post if anything I said sparks a question. Take it easy, Robert

Response:

"BUSPAR" for anxiety.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !! Hi, For me, Wellbutrin works best as a means to reduce fatigue. I’ve been taking Wellbutrin for almost two years.  I started with celexa, but it caused increased fatigue.  I then tried Wellbutrin and liked it.  I tried them together but celexa still knocked me out.  I stopped celexa and just used Wellbutrin twice a day.  One or both of these made me way too happy, and even enhanced colors to the point of being noticable.  While that was fun, I was more interested in being normal. I take Wellbutrin 150mg 3 times a day now.  Twice a day was fine at first, but I got tolerant to it and so upped to three.  No manic or colors.. It took three to keep my brain numbness (tense mucsles) and fatigue away, so I assume that means it’s helping with my depression.  It seems to miss the mark for my anxiety, but maybe helps a little.  My anxiety is always present, and doesn’t really come and go. Upping to three and maybe in combo with depakote gave me an occasional very slight tremor.  The Wellbutrin is like three cups of coffee, or chewing a piece of nicotine gum, so I added the depakote to negate that a bit. Either Depakote seriously trashed my short term memory, or it allowed the reality induced stress to do it, but my memory (ability to concentrate?) went bye-bye when I started it.  That’s much better now (a year and a half after starting depakote).  Memory still causes me problems, and it will probably show up in the composition of this message. When I firt started taking Wellbutrin, I felt good and actually had an interest in doing projects and visiting people.  Let me tell you that is a great feeling and if that is the absence of depression, I want it.  While I don’t have that fatigued feeling anymore,  I’m back to my old self  now of being lazy and not wanting to vist anyone, and my surroundings quite often are not are in focus from an awareness standpoint. Hope this rambling helps a little.  Feel free to e-mail or just post if anything I said sparks a question. Take it easy, Robert

Response:

I take 150/mg of Wellbutrin 2x/day, and Remeron 30mg, and doxepin 50mg at night, i dont think anything is working yet

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

Response:

100 mg twice a day been taking it 13 years not a *cure*, but the only AD that ever helped me usually takes 4-6 weeks to begin working currently taking it with Ritalin and Risperdal Schuyler "Bliss is ignorance"

Response:

Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

I was on it, recently.  Sort of a first-run to see the results, if any.  Same amount, same dosage.  The reaction times I’ve seen vary.  I started feeling results in a couple of weeks (though I’ve seen claims that it started working in as little as 2-3 days!) I was better able to focus, my routines weren’t disrupted by an inability to concentrate, which was one of the symptoms of my own depression.  I will add that counseling also helped to some degree.

Response:

I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years now. Until recently it was working quite well. The past few weeks I have been really struggling with my depression; feelings of worthelssness, guilt, suicidal idealogy. And my insomnia is coming back. For me the insominia is almost worse than the other symptoms. I hate not being able to sleep. Is it possible the efficacy of the medication is diminishing because I’ve been on it so long?

Response:

I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years now. Until recently it was working quite well. The past few weeks I have been really struggling with my depression; feelings of worthelssness, guilt, suicidal idealogy. And my insomnia is coming back. For me the insominia is almost worse than the other symptoms. I hate not being able to sleep. Is it possible the efficacy of the medication is diminishing because I’ve been on it so long?

Yes it is possible; when I was having a particularly hard time a while back my dr gave me some celexa as well, then tried remeron. Adding celexa helped for a while, took the edge off. Remeron will knock you right out.

Response:

Well some doctor dignosed me wdith depression and anxiety. Got some wellbutrin for the depression and atavan for the anxiety. the atavan works good! I take 1mg. when I get to start going into an attack. But I don’t know about the wellbutrin. Sometimes I feel like it’s working but at times I just feel so down and the stuff doesn’t seem to work. I tke 300mgs. 150 in the morning and 150 at night. Does anyone take this stuff? If so how are you doing with it and how much do you take? Please reply in the group !!

I swallowed my pride back in May, went to a psy went my symptoms of sadness, not sleeping, eating, ect… she told me what I had already suspected, depression (and ADHD) and promptly put me on Wellbutrin SR 100mg at first.  I didn’t feel anything for the first couple weeks, but when it kicked in I knew it.  Currently on 200mg, taken twice a day for 400mg daily, along with 50 or 100mg of trazodone at bedtime to help my sleep. Both drugs have worked wonders, I sleep well, and am doing much better when I’m awake.  I’ve come off the initial rush of good feeling, but I still feel it has a strong effect.  I’m under more stress now, but feel better most of the time, in addition to drinking much less and sleeping a lot more, regularly.

Response:

I take the 150mg Wellbutrin 2x a day. When I started it was after a major suicide attempt. They took me of the second (bedtime) dose as it was keeping me awake at night (and put me on Remoron for the nightime dose)but, because I became seriously suicidal again in the past 2 weeks, the put me back on the second dose AND Xanex. I feel normal now for the first time in months. You couldn’t get me to stop taking it now. You know, I know a lot of people that are taking Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin and others and for some reason they keep wanting to quit taking the stuff. I know that there are side effects (particularly sexual side effects) that we don’e like but, for crying out loud, the side effects are a whole lot less that the suicidal feelings that I get when severly depressed. I’m willing to take em forever if need be. I remember tho look on my 25 year old son’s face w  I’d taken about a zillion pills (almost made it). ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE (MEDS) OR DO (THERAPY) IS BETTER THAN THAT. This is all only my opinion but the second dose of Wellbutrin and the Xanex is working so well that I actually feel that I have a future again. I’m disabled physically, suffer from a lot of chronic pain, as broke as I could possibly be to the point I’ve lost 26 pounds in the past 6 weeks, seperated from my wife for 2 years and just filed for divorce. My roommate pointed out toe that I was singing in the shower this morning. Good luck to you and let me know how things turn out for you. I care. Michael McCammon Portland, oregon

Response:

Dan I was on Wellbutrin for 8 years and it stopped working. I was off it one week and started feeling even worse. I am back on it in combination with Effexor XR. No dramatic change . After the week off on Wellbutrin , I just started back on today 8-1-02. We will have to see.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years now. Until recently it was working quite well. The past few weeks I have been really struggling with my depression; feelings of worthelssness, guilt, suicidal idealogy. And my insomnia is coming back. For me the insominia is almost worse than the other symptoms. I hate not being able to sleep. Is it possible the efficacy of the medication is diminishing because I’ve been on it so long?

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you.

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug?

All physicians can prescribe antidepressants.  It’s not restricted to psychicatrists.  In fact, the amount of depression seen in a typical family practice is amazing.  I work in ob/gyn and we use antidepressants fairly frequently. I haven’t seen any adverse reactions to wellbutrin.  However, we use that one more for smoking cessation than depression. Good luck Susan

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you.

I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking?? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you. I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

The primary precaution with Wellbutrin is for those who have had previous seizures.  Otherwise, normal dosage for depression is 150 mg. bid (twice daily).  Often one is started on 150 mg. qd, then increased to bid after a few days.  It is, in fact, the same drug sold as Zyban which is known to wanting to cut back.  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking?? my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you. I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

to Roxanne; I have trouble to concentrate, to force myself to study for my professional test, which is really easy, great deal of procrastination, so I talked to psychiatrist. He said I have mild to moderate depression. I was advised to take wellbutrin for 2-4 month. It makes me sleepy, however and I think reduces my libido. On the other hand some times i think it helps, and sometimes i don’t.

Response:

What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking??

Every year in October I get extreme sadness.  A lot of people think it’s seasonal affected disorder.  I think that’s a possibility, or that it might be an anniversary of something I don’t remember.  I take the L- Tyrosine year round just to be on the safe side. I’ve also had depression marked by extreme apathy and accompanied by mild diarheaa.  I did some research into it (after coming out of a month-long episode!) and learned that this is probably a kidney problem, that my kidneys weren’t properly cleansing themselves. Another article I read stated that watermelon has something it that triggers the kidneys to cleanse themselves.  I’ve been eating watermelon daily since then, and haven’t had a replay of that scary episode. Peg Before you buy.

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you.

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug?

All physicians can prescribe antidepressants.  It’s not restricted to psychicatrists.  In fact, the amount of depression seen in a typical family practice is amazing.  I work in ob/gyn and we use antidepressants fairly frequently. I haven’t seen any adverse reactions to wellbutrin.  However, we use that one more for smoking cessation than depression. Good luck Susan

Response:

my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you.

I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking?? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you. I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

The primary precaution with Wellbutrin is for those who have had previous seizures.  Otherwise, normal dosage for depression is 150 mg. bid (twice daily).  Often one is started on 150 mg. qd, then increased to bid after a few days.  It is, in fact, the same drug sold as Zyban which is known to wanting to cut back.  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking?? my phisician who is not a psyciatrist recomended wellbutrin 150mg, considering I have moderate depression.  Does anyone have experience using this grug? Thak you. I don’t use Wellbutrin, so this might not answer your question.  For depression, I take L-Tyrosine, and amino acid.  I take it with some Vitamin C & B6.  It’s worked wonders, and I’m very happy with it. L-Tyrosine is used by your adrenal gland to make L-Dopamine, a mood elevator.  With lowered L-Dopamine levels, you suffer from depression. You might want to try it. After all, you are not suffereing from a drug deficiency, but you might be suffering from an amino acid deficiency. Best of Luck, Peg Before you buy.

Response:

to Roxanne; I have trouble to concentrate, to force myself to study for my professional test, which is really easy, great deal of procrastination, so I talked to psychiatrist. He said I have mild to moderate depression. I was advised to take wellbutrin for 2-4 month. It makes me sleepy, however and I think reduces my libido. On the other hand some times i think it helps, and sometimes i don’t.

Response:

What kind of depression do you have???  If you don’t mind me asking??

Every year in October I get extreme sadness.  A lot of people think it’s seasonal affected disorder.  I think that’s a possibility, or that it might be an anniversary of something I don’t remember.  I take the L- Tyrosine year round just to be on the safe side. I’ve also had depression marked by extreme apathy and accompanied by mild diarheaa.  I did some research into it (after coming out of a month-long episode!) and learned that this is probably a kidney problem, that my kidneys weren’t properly cleansing themselves. Another article I read stated that watermelon has something it that triggers the kidneys to cleanse themselves.  I’ve been eating watermelon daily since then, and haven’t had a replay of that scary episode. Peg Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

I have been taking effexor for two weeks after being on parnate for ten years and have been having terrible dreams and a very hard time coming out of a dream sleep in the morning- kind of like dreaming while awake- it’s really unpleasant.                                                                  Has anyone out there had  a similiar experience with effexor or any other anti- depressent? Thanks. Lara

Response:

I have been taking effexor for two weeks after being on parnate for ten years and have been having terrible dreams and a very hard time coming out of a dream sleep in the morning- kind of like dreaming while awake- it’s really unpleasant.                                Has anyone out there had  a similiar experience with effexor or any other anti- depressent? Thanks. Lara

Hi lara, I did take Effexor but did not experience any side effects. Here is some info on side effects. No mention of bad dreams. http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-e02.html#Head_6 Adverse Effects Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions: The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of venlafaxine (incidence of 5% or greater) and not seen at an equivalent incidence among placebo-treated patients (i.e., incidence for venlafaxine at least twice that for placebo), derived from the 1% incidence Table III, were asthenia, sweating, nausea, constipation, anorexia, vomiting, somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness nervousness, anxiety, tremor, blurred vision, and abnormal ejaculation/orgasm and impotence in men. Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment: Nineteen percent (537/2897) of venlafaxine-treated patients in Phase II and III depression studies discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction (see Table II). The more common events (=1%) associated with discontinuation of treatment and considered to be drug-related (i.e., those events associated with dropout at a rate approximately twice or greater for venlafaxine compared to placebo) included Table II. Table II Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment                       Venlafaxine   Placebo CNS   Somnolence              3%           1%   Insomnia                3%           1%   Dizziness               3%           —   Nervousness             2%           —   Dry Mouth               2%           —   Anxiety                 2%           1% Gastrointestinal   Nausea                  6%           1% Urogenital   Abnormal Ejaculation*   3%           — Other   Headache                3%           1%   Asthenia                2%           —  Sweating                 2%           —  *  percentages based on the number of males.  – Less than 1% Incidence in Controlled Trials: Table III that follows enumerates adverse events that occurred at an incidence of 1% or more, and were more frequent than in the placebo group, among venlafaxine-treated patients who participated in 4- to 8-week placebo-controlled trials in which patients were administered doses in the range of 75 to 375 mg/day. Reported adverse events were classified using a standard COSTART-based Dictionary terminology. Dose Dependency of Adverse Events: A comparison of adverse event rates in a fixed-dose study comparing Effexor 75, 225, and 375 mg/day with placebo revealed a dose dependency for some of the more common adverse events associated with Effexor use, as shown in Table IV. The rule for including events was to enumerate those that occurred at an incidence of 5% or more for at least one of the venlafaxine groups and for which the incidence was at least twice the placebo incidence for at least one Effexor group. Tests for potential dose relationships for these events (Cochran-Armitage Test, with a criterion of exact 2-sided p-value <= 0.05) suggested a dose-dependency for several adverse events in this list, including chills, hypertension, anorexia, nausea, agitation, dizziness, somnolence, tremor, yawning, sweating, and abnormal ejaculation . – Table III Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence in 4-to 8-Week Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials (Percentage) –                                              Effexor   Placebo Body System          Preferred Term          (n=1033)  (n=609) – Body as a whole      Headache                    25        24                      Asthenia                    12         6                      Infection                    6         5                      Chills                       3        –                      Chest Pain                   2         1                      Trauma                       2         1 Cardiovascular       Vasodilatation               4         3                      Increased blood/pressure                        hypertension               2        –                      Tachycardia                  2        –                      Postural hypotension         1        – Dermatological       Sweating                    12         3                      Rash                         3         2                      Pruritus                     1        – Gastrointestinal     Nausea                      37        11                      Constipation                15         7                      Anorexia                    11         2                      Diarrhoea                    8         7                      Vomiting                     6         2                      Dyspepsia                    5         4                      Flatulence                   3         2 Metabolic            Weight loss                  1        – Nervous              Somnolence                  23         9                      Dry mouth                   22        11                      Dizziness                   19         7                      Insomnia                    18        10                      Nervousness                 13         6                      Anxiety                      6         3                      Tremor                       5         1                      Abnormal Dreams              4         3                      Hypertonia                   3         2                      Paraesthesia                 3         2                      Libido decreased             2        –                      Agitation                    2        –                      Confusion                    2         1                      Thinking abnormal            2         1                      Depersonalization            1        –                      Depression                   1        –                      Urinary retention            1        –                      Twitching                    1        – Respiration          Yawn                         3        – Special Senses       Blurred vision               6         2                      Taste perversion             2        –                      Tinnitus                     2        –                      Mydriasis                    2        – Urogenital           Abnormal ejaculation/                        orgasm                    12 [2]     2                      Impotence                    6 [2]     2                      Urinary frequency            3         2                      Urination impaired           2        –                      Orgasm disturbance           2 [3]    – [3]                      Menstrual disorder           1 [3]    – [3] – [1] Events reported by at least 1% of patients treated with Effexor are     included, and are rounded to the nearest %. Events for which the     Effexor incidence was equal to or less than placebo are not listed     in the table, but included the following: abdominal pain, pain, back     pain, flu syndrome, fever, palpitation, increased appetite, myalgia,     arthralgia, amnesia, hypaesthesia, rhinitis pharyngitis, sinusitis     cough increased urinary tract infection and dysmenorrhoea [3] —  Incidence less than 1% [2] Incidence based on number of male patients. [3] Incidence based on number of female patients. – Adaptation to Certain Adverse Events: Over a 6-week period, there was evidence of adaptation to some adverse events with continued therapy (e.g., dizziness and nausea), but less to other effects (e.g., abnormal ejaculation and dry mouth). Vital Sign Changes: Venlafaxine treatment (averaged over all dose groups) in clinical trials was associated with a mean increase in pulse rate of approximately 3 beats per minute, compared to no change for placebo. It was associated with mean increases in diastolic blood pressure ranging from 0.7 to 2.5 mm Hg averaged over all dose groups, compared to mean decreases ranging from O.9 to 3.8 mm Hg for placebo. However, there is a dose dependency for blood pressure increase (see Warnings). Laboratory Changes: Of the serum chemistry and hematology parameters monitored during clinical trials with venlafaxine, a statistically significant difference with placebo was seen only for serum cholesterol, i.e., patients treated with venlafaxine had mean increases from baseline of 3 mg/dL, a change of unknown clinical significance. Table IV Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience Incidence    in a Dose Comparison Trial                                      Effexor (mg/day) Body System/              Placebo     75        225       375 Preferred Term            (n=92)    (n=89)    (n=89)    (n=88) Body as Whole   Abdominal pain            3.3%      3.4%      2.2%      8.0%   Asthenia                  3.3%     16.9%     14.6%    

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Response:

Hi Lara, Yes the odd dreaming is definatly a side effect of effexor. Some people also have a terrible time getting to sleep. I found that when I put the dose up, my anxiety got worse and I used to get very frustrated trying to get to sleep! I also had really WEIRD dreams. Aswell as yelling out in my sleep (I’ve always talked in my sleep though), I sometimes punched and kicked my poor fiance! This is my advice to you: 1. If you find yourself getting anxious and irritable, and your doctor tells you to up the dose, be VERY wary of doing that, because it is possible that the effexor could be causing the anxiety. 2. When/if you decide to come off the effexor, please do it VERY slowly. Some people go fine going off it over a week or two, but others have very serious yucky withdrawls. (I did it over 2 weeks and got really dizzy and nauseous and very, very moody!). To help you sleep better, perhaps try some simple relaxation techniques before bed (like stretching, then when you’re in bed concentrate on your breathing or something. I you’ll find that you’re dreams will be worse if you’re particularily stressed when you go to bed. Um… I hope this helped a little. Kara.

Response:

Question:

Drop 50mg per week – it’ll take a few weeks, but you’ll probably avoid any wd symptoms. On an optimistic note, I stopped taking Zoloft without tapering – had mild headaches for a few days and that was as bad as it got

Response:

I had no trouble at all going off zoloft.  I went off pretty quickly with no witdrawal symptoms at all.  Effexor, otoh… — Power concedes nothing without a demand.                                  Frederick Douglass

Response:

hi… i might be going off zoloft (sertraline) soon b/c it seems to be pooping out… not sure yet.  if i do quit it, how should i?  i’ve heard about withdrawl & that we should taper down by half a mg?  i’ve been on it since august `98, and i’m on 200mg now & have been for at least a few months & also risperdal & wellbutrin what happened to you if you stopped taking z, particularly at this high a dose?  i’ve heard about some fantastic dreams during withdrawl… what should i expect???   thanx,    lorraine

My experience with going off zoloft, nothing.  I went to 150 then 100 then 50 three days each.  The only problem was the delay, waiting to start prozac again.  zoloft had no beneficial effect for me.  For what it’s worth, I quit Effexor cold, definitely not recommended, but I had no bad experience there either. Charles

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi… i might be going off zoloft (sertraline) soon b/c it seems to be pooping out… not sure yet.  if i do quit it, how should i?  i’ve heard about withdrawl & that we should taper down by half a mg?  i’ve been on it since august `98, and i’m on 200mg now & have been for at least a few months & also risperdal & wellbutrin what happened to you if you stopped taking z, particularly at this high a dose?  i’ve heard about some fantastic dreams during withdrawl…  what should i expect???   thanx,    lorraine — .

– maybe it pooped out because the Risperdal is interfering(blocking) it? Eric Steroids caused my depression…prednisone should be illegal. Before you buy.

Response:

hi… i might be going off zoloft (sertraline) soon b/c it seems to be pooping out… not sure yet.  if i do quit it, how should i?  i’ve heard about withdrawl & that we should taper down by half a mg?  i’ve been on it since august `98, and i’m on 200mg now & have been for at least a few months & also risperdal & wellbutrin what happened to you if you stopped taking z, particularly at this high a dose?  i’ve heard about some fantastic dreams during withdrawl…

I’d strongly rec tapering the dose gradually – over about a month. If you do this it may well be you get no side effects at all. I’d suggest lowering your dose by a few mg & doing this every few days. If you start to feel bad then stick at that dose, or even go back up for a few days. If you’re going onto another SSRI or similar you can switch straight from one to the other – probably with very few side effects. OTOH I know people who’ve come off this stuff cold turkey & had no problems. Others get bad if they’re just a few hours late with their pill – a real YMMV I guess. ali

Response:

hi… i might be going off zoloft (sertraline) soon b/c it seems to be pooping out… not sure yet.  if i do quit it, how should i?  i’ve heard about withdrawl & that we should taper down by half a mg?  i’ve been on it since august `98, and i’m on 200mg now & have been for at least a few months & also risperdal & wellbutrin what happened to you if you stopped taking z, particularly at this high a dose?  i’ve heard about some fantastic dreams during withdrawl…  what should i expect???   thanx,         lorraine — .

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

*Confuse-a-cashier* seems to be the favorite pass time for some of my more inebriated customers. Karen  :D – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

before I had my hourly allowance of caffeine. It actually made sense to me. Karen

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen

But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie

Really? Oh well, have it your way. You have more *left* but I’m always *right*. Philip (hehe) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip

Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.

Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?   Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually. Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?  Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

Dan, I am into my 6th week on Zoloft and can take up to 3 .25mg Xanax a day.  If the Zoloft works for anxiety/depression I want to get off of the Xanax even though I know I am on a very low dosage, if not I will stay on them.  The less pills I take the better I feel about it. Gene in New Jersey if not I will stay on it.  

Response:

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other )

Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie "The male brain is like a railroad freight car…. guaranteed to have a certain capacity but often running empty."

Response:

I am new to xanax I do forget things alot and tend to forget what I was talking about right in the middle of a discussion but, I can handle that part just not the dizziness! I am alot better on the medicine then off      Melissa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

I’ve got a benzo brain.  It can be a bother sometime, but it beats an anxiety attack any day; besides, I’m a bit absent minded anyway. God bless,   Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

Response:

I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

Response:

I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

 I bought a pill cutter once, and the blade was bent.  Cmat

Response:

Hi all, Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Cmat, Where did this come from?  Just go get the damn xanax.  :o) You know I’m just kidding, I go through the same thought processes over and over again.  I find it funny to see it in others as well.  As I said before, I don’t think the withdrawl has to be so painful if you let your doctor know the trouble that you had before.  Plus, you said he didn’t really taper you… (but, I’ll let you know firsthand if I ever have to taper off of this klonopin) <G. I know… I talk like this now, but in a few days I’ll be sending question after question to the group about the new AD I start on Thursday. Maria

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Absolutely. And there also is such a thing as *psychological dependence*. Many moons ago I weaned off of Valium without a problem until I took only 1 mg which is virtually *nothing* and surely wouldn’t work for PA’s with anyone. It took me a lot of time to stop taking that last half pill! And later I always still carried a bottle of Valium with me without taking any, but just in case, as a security blanket. I also remember that, whatever my medication was, when I realized I had missed a dose (or had forgotten to take the pill bottle along) that would send me into an immediate PA while in *reality* nothing had changed. Now that I’m at it, to reply to your other post: if you can get the Xanax in every possible dose IMO it would indeed be easier to stop as you can do it more gradually and take more time for it. Philip

Response:

Oh Mark, You sound like I feel.  I did all that you said…once when the only narcotic I was taking was xanax, and once when I was also taking heavy pain meds together with the xanax.  It is a vicious circle.  My memory is all but gone.  Cause a lot of arguments around here, "you did NOT tell me that"…."I most certainly did TOO!" etc.  I am weary. My anxiety creeps back in sometimes and sometimes dives in.  You see, I have tried several times to not be dependant on this med and as much as I hate to admit it, I function better with it than without it.  My one great hope is that one day, the underlying need for it will disapear and I will return to normalcy.  I to was able to wean back without discomfort, but like you said, the anxiety returns. I wish I knew if the new effects you describe are derived from long term usage or were in line to come on anyway due to this disorder. good luck little bear – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Question:

Recently, I overheard some pdocs discussing some research findings that Paxil, and to a lesser degree Zoloft, inhibits fat burning.  Anybody have any info on this?  Philip? – Valerie

Response:

Recently, I overheard some pdocs discussing some research findings that Paxil, and to a lesser degree Zoloft, inhibits fat burning.  Anybody have any info on this?  Philip? – Valerie

It is true that weight gain is associated with these meds but it doesn’t always occur with everybody. Philip

Response:

I am on Zoloft. It makes me kinda tired and also seem to have gained some weight. My problem is that I am overweight already and have high blood pressure. My blood pressure Dr wants me to loose weight and I cannot. I have to go see her in 1 week and she will give me "THE LECTURE". Of course she is thin and does not understand that loosing weight is sooo hard. Especially when I am on so many meds…Zoloft, xanax, risperdal, norvasc(for bp) and 2 other bp meds. It is so hard.

Response:

Question:

Hi, From how I understand it, it is the degree of the movement and the length they last.  Like with myoclonus, is fast quick jerky movememts.  I know there is a site that describes each movement much better, but do not have that address. I know someone will add that info. (Thanks). Hope that helps alittle. Cathy

Response:

Thanks. Just trying to figure out just what it is exactly that I have, besides Essential Tremor. Trevor – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, From how I understand it, it is the degree of the movement and the length they last.  Like with myoclonus, is fast quick jerky movememts.  I know there is a site that describes each movement much better, but do not have that address. I know someone will add that info. (Thanks). Hope that helps alittle. Cathy

Response:

Hi all. I’m new here. I’ve had Essential Tremor for 23 years (since I was 13) and now my doc has told me I have Myoclonus too. I’ve looked into that, and it seems to me that Myoclonus and dystonia are very similar. I don’t understand much medical terminology, so if anyone would be kind enough to explain the difference in plain English, I’d appreciate it. T

Response:

Question:

The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) is similar in its pharmacology to Meridia, yet it isn’t scheduled.  The antidepressant bupropion Wellbutrin) is arguably more of a "stimulant" than sibutramine, yet isn’t scheduled.  (I’m not arguing that either *should* be, of course.) Both butorphanol (Stadol) and tramadol (Ultram) are so-called "non-narcotic" analgesics which can cause dependence and abuse, yet they aren’t scheduled.  It’s clear that an indication of obesity is enough of a bogeyman to the DEA that they’ll schedule first and worry about it later.

It was clear to Knoll that obesity was enough of a bogeyman. I spoke to some of their folks just before the press conference announcing the market date. They knew they couldn’t fight the Schedule 4 classification. If they could have, it would have been much easier to market. For one thing, they could have given physicians samples. This is a no-no in scheduled drugs. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher Obesity Meds and Research News OMR Web Site: http://www.obesity-news.com

Response:

Perhaps once enough experience is gained with it, it will be removed from the DEA Schedules.

Has anything ever been unscheduled?  I recall a bunch of unscheduled going scheduled (clonipin, soma, etc), but none going the other way. — dc potts biologist at large (pull the nospam out of my email address to respond)

Response:

Do you have any idea why Meridia is scheduled?  It isn’t addictive, is it?

There’s no evidence that sibutramine has any abuse potential, but the fact that it is psychoactive and that it has (in some individuals) somewhat of a stimulating action AND that it is prescribed for obesity, was enough for the DEA to classify it as C-IV.  Their thinking is obviously to be as careful and restrictive as possible at the drug’s introduction, rather than risk the possibility of releasing a drug unscheduled, only to find that it has a degree of abuse potential. Perhaps once enough experience is gained with it, it will be removed from the DEA Schedules. The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) is similar in its pharmacology to Meridia, yet it isn’t scheduled.  The antidepressant bupropion Wellbutrin) is arguably more of a "stimulant" than sibutramine, yet isn’t scheduled.  (I’m not arguing that either *should* be, of course.) Both butorphanol (Stadol) and tramadol (Ultram) are so-called "non-narcotic" analgesics which can cause dependence and abuse, yet they aren’t scheduled.  It’s clear that an indication of obesity is enough of a bogeyman to the DEA that they’ll schedule first and worry about it later. — Steve Dyer

Response:

Now the DEA isn’t going to know whether a doctor sees the patient or not by the prescription, but if a doctor is prescribing huge amounts of a drug, that could trigger an investigation. Then if the DEA investigates and finds irregularities in records, the doctor has a problem.

Wow. I wish we could get rid of this whole stupid prescription system. Vigara is not scheduled, but Meridia is (not that it should be, but that’s another post).

Stupid inconsistencies like this are one reason. What’s the big deal about going to a doctor a couple of times a year and getting a prescription? That’s what I do.

Why should we have to? Why should I have to ask someone else, and pay them, for permission to put something into my own body? And the people who make the laws that dictate what I can and cannot take often have no more medical knowledge than what I scoop out of the cat box. J — Tonight we’re going to party like it’s 1899. Remove the X to email me.

Response:

Vigara is not scheduled, but Meridia is (not that it should be, but that’s another post). I wondered why I see Viagra offered everywhere, and not Meridia.  That explains it. Do you have any idea why Meridia is scheduled?  It isn’t addictive, is it?

Another reason you don’t see Meridia everywhere is that it’s expensive, and not a very effective drug. It’s scheduled, because there is no anorectic drug with any CNS stimulating qualities at all which the FDA will approve without scheduling it. Meridia isn’t that different than Effexor and Wellbutrin which aren’t scheduled. Per Glen Rickards’ post, Meridia isn’t all that similar to fenflruamine. Fen both releases and inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, Meridia is just a serotonin uptake inhibitor. It also works on norepinephrine. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher Obesity Meds and Research News OMR Web Site: http://www.obesity-news.com

Response:

I have heard, but have not independently verified, that Meridia is chemically similar to fenfluramine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vigara is not scheduled, but Meridia is (not that it should be, but that’s another post). I wondered why I see Viagra offered everywhere, and not Meridia.  That explains it. Do you have any idea why Meridia is scheduled?  It isn’t addictive, is it? AB

Response:

Vigara is not scheduled, but Meridia is (not that it should be, but that’s another post).

I wondered why I see Viagra offered everywhere, and not Meridia.  That explains it. Do you have any idea why Meridia is scheduled?  It isn’t addictive, is it? AB

Response:

Yes, that is exactly what I am looking for. Meridia totally online. Viagra is available through www.Focus-Medical.com

It is not wise to get medications without an exam (especially the first time), and it is questionable whether it is legal. Very few doctors would be willing to prescribe schedule 4 drugs without seeing patients first, since the physician must submit his DEA identification number with each prescription. If the DEA sees irregularities it can rip the license. Now the DEA isn’t going to know whether a doctor sees the patient or not by the prescription, but if a doctor is prescribing huge amounts of a drug, that could trigger an investigation. Then if the DEA investigates and finds irregularities in records, the doctor has a problem. Vigara is not scheduled, but Meridia is (not that it should be, but that’s another post). The only doctor I’m aware of who ever prescribed drugs on-line is now undergoing a DEA investigation after a raid on his office last year. And he doesn’t prescribe Meridia anyway. Most states have regulations allowing doctors to prescribe without seeing a patient, but the intent of the law is so that a physician can prescribe something to an existing patient who for one reason or another cannot come into the office. The intent of the law is not for doctors to become "drug stores", for writing a prescription for a fee. My guess is that states will begin clarifying their laws, and the DEA case mentioned above will probably bring some direction as well. What’s the big deal about going to a doctor a couple of times a year and getting a prescription? That’s what I do. I’ve been taking phentermine for over two years, so there probably wouldn’t be any danger if my doctor didn’t see me. But I still think it’s worth it to get checked out once in a while. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher Obesity Meds and Research News OMR Web Site: http://www.obesity-news.com

Response:

Yes, that is exactly what I am looking for. Meridia totally online. Viagra is available through www.Focus-Medical.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think what they are looking for is a doctor that will give them a script after a phone consulation. I saw a news story on people getting viagra this way, they find these places on the net, they call and talk to a doc, or maybe they call you, ask you a few questions and then give you a ’script. without ever seeing a doc in person. and it’s all perfectly legal. Tricia C. 322/276/159   (new scale –adjusted numbers) 46 lbs lost on Atkins since May 26, 1998 <<I am looking for an online source for a prescription and fill for Meridia. I have been told that Viagra is available online with a Doctors consultation and a prescription. I am looking for the same service for Meridia. Thanks **Well..if you had a doctors consultation..wouldnt you have a doctors perscription..??** Just Me,  Lisa. "I’m not fat..I’m big boned!" -Eric Cartman- *SouthPark* PCOS the silent Disease << http://www.pcosupport.org

Response:

I think what they are looking for is a doctor that will give them a script after a phone consulation. I saw a news story on people getting viagra this way, they find these places on the net, they call and talk to a doc, or maybe they call you, ask you a few questions and then give you a ’script. without ever seeing a doc in person. and it’s all perfectly legal. Tricia C. 322/276/159   (new scale –adjusted numbers) 46 lbs lost on Atkins since May 26, 1998 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <<I am looking for an online source for a prescription and fill for Meridia. I have been told that Viagra is available online with a Doctors consultation and a prescription. I am looking for the same service for Meridia. Thanks **Well..if you had a doctors consultation..wouldnt you have a doctors perscription..??** Just Me,  Lisa. "I’m not fat..I’m big boned!" -Eric Cartman- *SouthPark* PCOS the silent Disease << http://www.pcosupport.org

Response:

<<I am looking for an online source for a prescription and fill for Meridia. I have been told that Viagra is available online with a Doctors consultation and a prescription. I am looking for the same service for Meridia. Thanks **Well..if you had a doctors consultation..wouldnt you have a doctors perscription..??** Just Me,  Lisa. "I’m not fat..I’m big boned!" -Eric Cartman- *SouthPark* PCOS the silent Disease << http://www.pcosupport.org

Response:

I am looking for an online source for a prescription and fill for Meridia. I have been told that Viagra is available online with a Doctors consultation and a prescription. I am looking for the same service for Meridia. Thanks

Response:

The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) is similar in its pharmacology to Meridia, yet it isn’t scheduled.  The antidepressant bupropion Wellbutrin) is arguably more of a "stimulant" than sibutramine, yet isn’t scheduled.  (I’m not arguing that either *should* be, of course.) Both butorphanol (Stadol) and tramadol (Ultram) are so-called "non-narcotic" analgesics which can cause dependence and abuse, yet they aren’t scheduled.  It’s clear that an indication of obesity is enough of a bogeyman to the DEA that they’ll schedule first and worry about it later.

A couple of corrections, here.  In two states, Wellbutrin (bupropion), in its regular release form (not SR or the Zyban formulation), IS scheduled, the equiavlent of Schedule IV (Utah & Washington states).  The reason Ultram & Stadol aren’t scheduled because the formulations have such strong narcotic antagonist properties (give either to an opiate/opioid addict and watch them go into withdrawal). Basically, Meridia is schedule IV for the same reason Redux was — because somewhere someone mentioned that these drugs are essentially amphetamine deriviatives, and the FDA/DEA has it’s standard reaction – over-regulation. Of course, if you look at the federal schedules, you’ll see a much stronger trend toward controlling stimulants that depressants (Morphine notwithstanding).  I mean we’ve got drugs like Valium at Schedule IV, but a useful stimulant like phentermine at schedule III.  Typical. I think most of this will become academic in the next five years as the newer anti-obsesity drugs come out that have absolutely no relationship to stimulants or any stimulant activity.  Zenical, and it’s close relatives merely change the way fat is processed in the body, so hopefully access to these drugs won’t be limited by unnecessary regulation. — Rob Bowling, PharmD      (and Meridia patient)

Response:

I had written that I had seen a report indicating CHEMICAL similarity between fen and Meridia.  You appear to be talking about differences in the pharmacological effect.  Chemical similarity doesn’t always imply identical pharmacology, but rather, relates to the structure and composition of the molecule.

Well, sibutramine is not particularly chemically similar to fenfluramine. — Steve Dyer

Response:

I had written that I had seen a report indicating CHEMICAL similarity between fen and Meridia.  You appear to be talking about differences in the pharmacological effect.  Chemical similarity doesn’t always imply identical pharmacology, but rather, relates to the structure and composition of the molecule. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Per Glen Rickards’ post, Meridia isn’t all that similar to fenflruamine. Fen both releases and inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, Meridia is just a serotonin uptake inhibitor. It also works on norepinephrine. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher Obesity Meds and Research News OMR Web Site: http://www.obesity-news.com

Response:

There’s no evidence that sibutramine has any abuse potential, but the fact that it is psychoactive and that it has (in some individuals) somewhat of a stimulating action AND that it is prescribed for obesity, was enough for the DEA to classify it as C-IV.

What does psychoactive mean, exactly?  When I hear the word I think of LSD, or similar drugs, but it must have a broader definition. AB

Response:

        Just a couple of corrections to your corrections                 Stadol IS scheduled (C-IV). That’s correct.  But this is relatively recent, so I can be excused for having old information. In fact, my original comments which this guy tried to correct were made a while ago; I didn’t see his article in the newsgroup.     Speaking of Stadol, the mixed agonist/antagonist dezocine (Dalgan) is not     scheduled at all, and it is the most morphine-like (highest mu-opioid     activity) of any of the mixed agonist-antagonists.  Dezocine makes Stadol     look like Tylenol. Stadol would never have been scheduled if it hadn’t been made available in a non-injected dosage form (nasal spray) which caused it to be prescribed more widely than it had been been in the previous 15 years.  Mixed agonist/antagonists which must be injected are almost by definition rarely misused, because they’re infrequently found outside hospitals, and the population of outpatients prescribed them is very small. There’s nothing like lack of use to promote lack of abuse.  I’m sure that dezocine follows this same pattern. In fact, the whole idea of a mixed agonist/antagonist being less abusable than, say, codeine, a C-II drug, is a thoroughly discredited 1960’s-era notion.  But it lives on in the current DEA schedules (only recently has this caught up to Stadol, but only after hoardes of formerly respectable people prescribed the drug started to like it a bit too much.)     The scheduling of Meridia, which has absolutely no abuse potential (or IMO     any effect at all, for that matter) is really hysterical, especially in     light of the fact that it’s pharmacodynamically identical to venlafaxine. Which shows you just how much the DEA cares about pharmacology.     What amazes me is how little is understood about     bupropion’s mechanism even after years of research. Yup.  And I’m astonished that any state would think of placing it under any controls at all.  It really doesn’t have any abuse potential.   Since this is a weight loss med newsgroup, it’s probably worth pointing out   that bupropion causes anorexia and weight loss in a pretty high percentage   of subjects.  It’s actually vastly superior to sibutramine or venlafaxine in   this regard. I’ve tried it, and really didn’t notice any anorectic effect worth getting excited over.  The ones who lose their appetite on bupropion are usually 95 lb. grandmothers, not those of us who would benefit from such an effect!    BTW, Ultram is not an antagonist.  Both tramadol and its primary metabolite    are pure, albeit weak, agonists. Correct.  This guy is a Pharm. D.? — Steve Dyer

Response:

Since this is a weight loss med newsgroup, it’s probably worth pointing out that bupropion causes anorexia and weight loss in a pretty high percentage of subjects.  It’s actually vastly superior to sibutramine or venlafaxine in this regard.

Hmmm, that would explain why I didn’t have the urge to stuff my face when I was using Zyban to quit smoking.  In fact, some folks I know even lost weight while quitting smoking on Zyban. Of course, once I went off of it, my weight started going up rapidly … — KC 196/189 (again)/135 Eating smarter since 8/8/98 — exercising since 9/15/98 (reduced calorie/reduced fat/increased protein/low-glycemic/high-fiber/vegetarian WOE)

Response:

The scheduling of Meridia, which has absolutely no abuse potential (or IMO any effect at all, for that matter) is really hysterical, especially in light of the fact that it’s pharmacodynamically identical to venlafaxine.

A few people have commented on their weight loss success using Effexor. Does the above statement indicate that someone who’s tried Meridia and not seen any effect would not benefit from Effexor either?

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Just a couple of corrections to your corrections Stadol IS scheduled (C-IV).  Phentermine is C-IV, not C-III.  C-III anorexiants include phendimetrazine and benzphetamine, which are rarely prescribed.  Both are more effective than phentermine. Speaking of Stadol, the mixed agonist/antagonist dezocine (Dalgan) is not scheduled at all, and it is the most morphine-like (highest mu-opioid activity) of any of the mixed agonist-antagonists.  Dezocine makes Stadol look like Tylenol. The scheduling of Meridia, which has absolutely no abuse potential (or IMO any effect at all, for that matter) is really hysterical, especially in light of the fact that it’s pharmacodynamically identical to venlafaxine. With respect to bupropion (Wellbutrin), even though animal models intended to screen for "abusability" (self-administration, drug discrimination, etc.) show that it has this property, in humans, it doesn’t seem to have that effect.  In blind studies comparing 30 mg d-amphetamine, 200 mg bupropion (immediate release), and placebo, experienced stimulant abusers could not distinguish bupropion from placebo, while they reliably picked d-amphetamine every time.  The structural similarity to diethylpropion is well known, but bupropion apparently does not provoke transmitter release as amphetamine analogs generally do.  What amazes me is how little is understood about bupropion’s mechanism even after years of research. Since this is a weight loss med newsgroup, it’s probably worth pointing out that bupropion causes anorexia and weight loss in a pretty high percentage of subjects.  It’s actually vastly superior to sibutramine or venlafaxine in this regard. BTW, Ultram is not an antagonist.  Both tramadol and its primary metabolite are pure, albeit weak, agonists.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The antidepressant venlafaxine (Effexor) is similar in its pharmacology to Meridia, yet it isn’t scheduled.  The antidepressant bupropion Wellbutrin) is arguably more of a "stimulant" than sibutramine, yet isn’t scheduled.  (I’m not arguing that either *should* be, of course.) Both butorphanol (Stadol) and tramadol (Ultram) are so-called "non-narcotic" analgesics which can cause dependence and abuse, yet they aren’t scheduled.  It’s clear that an indication of obesity is enough of a bogeyman to the DEA that they’ll schedule first and worry about it later. A couple of corrections, here. In two states, Wellbutrin (bupropion), in its regular release form (not SR or the Zyban formulation), IS scheduled, the equiavlent of Schedule IV (Utah & Washington states).  The reason Ultram & Stadol aren’t scheduled because the formulations have such strong narcotic antagonist properties (give either to an opiate/opioid addict and watch them go into withdrawal). Basically, Meridia is schedule IV for the same reason Redux was — because somewhere someone mentioned that these drugs are essentially amphetamine deriviatives, and the FDA/DEA has it’s standard reaction – over-regulation. Of course, if you look at the federal schedules, you’ll see a much stronger trend toward controlling stimulants that depressants (Morphine notwithstanding).  I mean we’ve got drugs like Valium at Schedule IV, but a useful stimulant like phentermine at schedule III.  Typical. I think most of this will become academic in the next five years as the newer anti-obsesity drugs come out that have absolutely no relationship to stimulants or any stimulant activity.  Zenical, and it’s close relatives merely change the way fat is processed in the body, so hopefully access to these drugs won’t be limited by unnecessary regulation. — Rob Bowling, PharmD     (and Meridia patient)

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ok, i’m back on zoloft and waiting for the effects to kick in. the last time around, i think it actually precipitated something close to a panic attack. i’m not so sure i’m looking forward to the other side of the pendulum either. anyone else get this? Dawn. International student Second year Media Studies RMIT University, Australia (Melbourne) "Maybe I -will- become a writer, and maybe I won’t. I don’t know. I haven’t read the last page yet."      - Julia Salinger, Party of Five

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Dawn,    Several SSRIs cause a feeling of panic, jumpiness, and impending doom until they "kick" in. Paxil nearly wiped me out when I went on it. Luckily (?) I was in the hospital when I was put on Zoloft a few years ago. Anyhow, after about 3 weeks of feeling like shit, the drug kicked in and I did feel a bit better. My Best,  ~Robbi~  "oo" http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7160 for all of your bipolar needs. Serving bipolars since 1996!              The sex organ is a terrible thing to waste! P.S. The last remark on my sig line is dedicated to the sexual dysfunction that occurs in 25% of people taking antidepressants. The 25% figure is based on medical information which is suspect.

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What are the side effects of Zoloft?  Guess I should be prepared for them Kimber

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