Question:

I know that steroids can wreak havoc on BG.  What I haven’t been able to learn is how long this effect normally lasts.  For example, if one gets a depo medrol injection, does it affect BG levels for hours/days/weeks?  Thanks to anyone who can answer this.

Response:

        If I’m not mistaken it will stay in the system for several weeks or months.  Any steroids I’ve ever taken caused more trouble then it was worth IMHO                                         Pam

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know that steroids can wreak havoc on BG.  What I haven’t been able to learn is how long this effect normally lasts.  For example, if one gets a depo medrol injection, does it affect BG levels for hours/days/weeks?  Thanks to anyone who can answer this.

Response:

I know that steroids can wreak havoc on BG.  What I haven’t been able to learn is how long this effect normally lasts.  For example, if one gets a depo medrol injection, does it affect BG levels for hours/days/weeks?  Thanks to anyone who can answer this.

I’ve noticed problems with mere inhaled steroids for asthmatic bronchitis. For me the effect is 20-50 mg/dl unexplainable rise in BG that can last up to five hours. That with 2 puffs of 110mcg FloVent and 2 puffs of 0.2mg MaxAir. (See my question – "another medication question" if it ever shows up! The Fates have conspired against me in all my attempts to post that message to this ng.)

Response:

Question:

i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

It sure sounds like yeast infection [candida]. You will need a prescription antifungal like Nystatin. Here are pictures: http://www.gastrolab.net/pa-047.htm Candia Oesophagitis due to Treatment with Inhalated Steroids Candidiasis (Cutaneous) To minimize future occurances, be sure to use an AeroChamber spacer with your Flovent MDI; rinse and gargle after inhaling and drink a glass of water to wash residue down. Ellis

Response:

Since you’re on inhaled steroids and have these symptoms, it’s a pretty good bet that you have thrush.  This is a fungal infection that can be fought with Nystatin mouthwash.  But why guess?  It’s worth a visit to your doctor.  Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

Sounds like it to me… It is very painful I hear… I’ve seen it only on my son so I couldn’t attest to that.  I would check it out with your doctor…there are some very good medications to get rid of it… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i wake up every morning and my whole mouth is covered with a sticky grayish-white stuff, i dont have it when i go to bed at night but its there when i wake up in the morning.  it covers the inside of my cheeks, my tongue and now my tonsils. also i woke up this week with a horrendous sore thoat (tonsil) and was wondering if yeast can cause this.  also my tongue  whole mouth is pretty sore all the time. i’m on proventil, serevent, flovent and singulair. how do you know if its yeast? and any good links out there with pictures? thanks for any advice, will

Response:

Question:

Has anyone noticed irritability as being a side effect of the flovent???? predisone?? Smile…and have a nice day!!

Yes and yes. Irritability can be a side effect of steroids, and High Dose inhaled steroids, like Flovent 220  4 pf/day, is roughly equivalent to around 5 mg pred (per my allergist) So the idea is to use steroid sparing drugs; like Serevent, Intal, TheoDur, Singulair. I use all of them. Cuts the inhaled steroids required by a factor of 2 or more. Its not as complicated as it may look; I take my drugs twice a day; the only thing I carry with me is a Ventolin inhaler for rescue or exercise, which I rarely use. Also to use a Peak Flow Meter and adjust inhaled steroids up and down as necessary, to stay in Green Zone, per Action Plan. Not just take a big dose of steroids all the time. At least this works for me and keeps me out of ER. Ellis

Response:

Has anyone noticed irritability as being a side effect of the flovent???? predisone?? Smile…and have a nice day!!

Response:

Could someone please comment on Lynda’s schedule to the ng? I was told to take Flovent 220, 3-5 min. after the Serevent. Thanks very much.           April – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m still learning about how to take all the inhalers. I got Flovent added to my Serevent yesterday. Doc said "don’t take them together," but didn’t say how far apart. I called the pharmacist who looked it up and decided that 2 hours apart was appropriate. So I’ve got this weird schedule that looks like this: 9 a.m.        1 puff Serevent 11 a.m.       2 puffs Flovent 4 p.m.        1 puff Serevent 6 p.m.         1 puff Albuterol (15 mins before treadmill) 8 p.m.         1 puff Serevent 10 p.m.       2 puffs Flovent Lynda

Response:

t… I’m still learning about how to take all the inhalers. I got Flovent added to my Serevent yesterday. Doc said "don’t take them together," but didn’t say how far apart. I called the pharmacist who looked it up and decided that 2 hours apart was appropriate. So I’ve got this weird schedule that looks like this:

Yes, and Serevent has to be taken first. It is better to take 2 puffs x2 times a day rather than a combination of 1 puff of Serevent plus Albuterol. if you take 1 puff of Serevent, the drug concentration doesn’t reach the necessary level with one puff. 2 puffs is the best proven alternative. The best is to take steroids 2-3 hours after Serevent. At that time, Serevent is in its full action, the bronchodilation is maximal and it will allow more steroids pass to the farthest parts of your bronchi (which is very important). Regards, — Andrey Zenovich University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 9 a.m.        1 puff Serevent 11 a.m.       2 puffs Flovent 4 p.m.        1 puff Serevent 6 p.m.         1 puff Albuterol (15 mins before treadmill) 8 p.m.         1 puff Serevent 10 p.m.       2 puffs Flovent Doc isn’t sure if my asthma is from allergies or from years of taking an NSAID. I haven’t taken my NSAID in 3 days; we’re trying to rule out causes. If it’s NOT the NSAID, and it turns out to be allergies, I’m heading back for shots. Trying  to keep the above schedule is mind-boggling. I hope, in my case, this is temporary, but I sure have developed a great deal of sympathy for you folks who have always lived with this. Lynda

Response:

I was told 20 minutes.  I know that if my peak flow is in the yellow, I retake it after the about 20 later, and if the Servent is going to work my peak flow is up.

Response:

As I read the chart in the serevent prescription insert, it achieves a level equal to albuterol in one hour, and proceeds to increase in effectiveness up through 4 hours, gradually declining thereafter. With albuterol, the onset of action is quicker, and usually it was recommended to do the steroid inhaler 5-15 minutes later, as the bronchials would be beginning to dilate and there would be no irritation factor from the number of inhalations.  Thus, I would think at least one hour would be suitable for serevent, perhaps two even better,  but there is a judgment call here and some room to spare either way..  I am not a doctor, just someone who has lived with asthma for nearly 30 years.

Response:

April, I also use my inhaled steroid 3-5 min. after using Serevent; which means I can leave my steroid and Serevent inhalers at home since they are only used first thing in the morning and 12 hours later in the evening; which is the recommendation for most inhaled steroids and Serevent. It takes Serevent 15 minutes to take effect so the sequence with the steroid isn’t all that important; of course if one has the time it would be more effective to first use the Serevent, wait 15 minutes, then take the inhaled steroid. Serevent may not take full effect for up to 3 hours so an even longer wait than 15 minutes would be even better. But this kind of thinking gets us to Lynda’s schedule. Lynda’s schedule seems to be set up to optimize the drugs effects without thought of patient compliance with such a complex sequence. It also means Lynda has to carry a bag of drugs around with her, instead of just the albuterol inhaler. Usually Serevent is taken 2 puffs twice a day at 12 hr intervals. Linda is using 3 puffs/day; there is some rational in scheduling the 3rd puff 2 hr before her treadmill workout, since Serevent can help exercise-induced asthma; but 1 or 2 puffs of albuterol should do the same thing, and she’s already using 1 puff albuterol. So Linda should probably check with her doctor what he meant; I think the pharmacist is only using the prescribing information to give an answer; which doesn’t take into account the latest asthma protocols like the 1997 Expert Panel Report 2. An example of this conflict is the prescribing information for albuterol which recommends 2 puffs 4 times/day; this used to be the protocol for asthmatics; but the new asthma guidelines (EPR2) recommend albuterol no longer be used for maintenence, only as needed for rescue or exercise. The doctor prescribes per the asthma guideline protocol, not necessarily per the prescribing info that comes with the drug. Also its not clear why Lynda, with her Severe asthma, is only using 3 puffs/day of Serevent instead of 4; perhaps she has an adverse reaction to the Serevent when used 2 puffs at a time. If this is the case, the 3rd puff in the middle of the day makes sense. Ellis (not a doctor, but I read the PIs and EPR2) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone please comment on Lynda’s schedule to the ng? I was told to take Flovent 220, 3-5 min. after the Serevent. Thanks very much.           April I’m still learning about how to take all the inhalers. I got Flovent added to my Serevent yesterday. Doc said "don’t take them together," but didn’t say how far apart. I called the pharmacist who looked it up and decided that 2 hours apart was appropriate. So I’ve got this weird schedule that looks like this: 9 a.m.        1 puff Serevent 11 a.m.       2 puffs Flovent 4 p.m.        1 puff Serevent 6 p.m.         1 puff Albuterol (15 mins before treadmill) 8 p.m.         1 puff Serevent 10 p.m.       2 puffs Flovent Lynda

Response:

The thought behind taking the bronchodilators  first is that they open the airways and let more of the anti-inflammatories deeper into the respiratory tree. This is a theoretical and very fine point that has never really been even looked at much less investigated. In the case of albuterol the onset of action is fast enough that it makes some sense. In the case of Serevent you would have to wait 1-2 hours to have the Serevent open the airways any appreciable amount. The important thing is to use some common sense. If you are breathing comfortably and not in the midst of an attack you will get the inhaled steroid deep into the lungs. Any benefit from waiting the 2 hours would be marginal at best. If you are having an attack sufficient that the movement of air is impaired then you should not be sitting at home taking Serevent. You should be using a quick acting agent, like albuterol, and contacting your doctor or implementing your action plan. One other point; the usual dosage of Serevent is 2 puffs twice per day. The three times per day dosing doesn’t make sense to me. — Good Luck, CBI, M.D.

t… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -So the idea is to use steroid sparing drugs; like Serevent, Intal, TheoDur, Singulair. I use all of them. Cuts the inhaled steroids required by a factor of 2 or more. Its not as complicated as it may look; I take my drugs twice a day; the only thing I carry with me is a Ventolin inhaler for rescue or exercise, which I rarely use. I’m still learning about how to take all the inhalers. I got Flovent added to my Serevent yesterday. Doc said "don’t take them together," but didn’t say how far apart. I called the pharmacist who looked it up and decided that 2 hours apart was appropriate. So I’ve got this weird schedule that looks like this: 9 a.m.        1 puff Serevent 11 a.m.       2 puffs Flovent 4 p.m.        1 puff Serevent 6 p.m.         1 puff Albuterol (15 mins before treadmill) 8 p.m.         1 puff Serevent 10 p.m.       2 puffs Flovent Doc isn’t sure if my asthma is from allergies or from years of taking an NSAID. I haven’t taken my NSAID in 3 days; we’re trying to rule out causes. If it’s NOT the NSAID, and it turns out to be allergies, I’m heading back for shots. Trying  to keep the above schedule is mind-boggling. I hope, in my case, this is temporary, but I sure have developed a great deal of sympathy for you folks who have always lived with this. Lynda

Response:

Question:

This past week, my doctor changed my Pulmicort and Oxeze to a trial of Symbicort 200 (200/6 ug 2 puffs, 2X daily, no change in previous dosing), a combined turbuhalor.

What country are you in?  As far as I can tell, Symbicort is not available in the US. — (650) 236-2231 [daytime]        http://www.wsrcc.com/alison/ CA voters, send a message: write-in "Richard Riordan" in November 2002.

Response:

I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma a few years ago.  After much trial and error, I seemed to be doing fairly good on Pulmicort 400 mcg (2X daily), Oxeze 12 mcg (2X daily), Singulair, Nasonex (2X daily), Bricanyl as required, and Reactin Extra Strength (1X daily).  The first of the year I started HRT because at just over 40 I’m menopausal having three natural periods in the past two years.  Aside of the asthma and hormone problem, I have developed sinus flare ups and/or infections and am currently on antibiotics once again for a sinus infection.  Along with this problem there has been a definite change in my asthma status.  I am attributing the worsening status to: 1) sinus infection and post nasal drip, 2) horrible ragweed season and 3) extreme external stressors.  Needless to say, I will be seeing a bit more of my doctor the next few weeks  I’ve had little flare ups on and off for the past year but I almost forgot how tired and irritable more severe asthma flare ups can make you!  I am so exhausted! This past week, my doctor changed my Pulmicort and Oxeze to a trial of Symbicort  200 (200/6 ug 2 puffs, 2X daily, no change in previous dosing), a combined turbuhalor.  I must say that the Symbicort turbuhaler is even nicer to use than the Pulmicort and Oxeze turbuhalers.  In terms of inhalations, it hasn’t changed anything for me because I have to take two puffs to get the proper dosing but it still is one less inhaler to cart around.  The mouth piece is more stream lined and there is a numberical counter instead of just a window that eventually shows red when the medication is out.

Response:

Question:

I haven’t logged on in long time and I’m trying to catch up. I would like to know if people have had difficulty weaning themselves from Pulmicort Turbohaler, especially at the 800 mcg/day or higher dosage. I would also appreciate hearing from folks who have received significant therapeutic benefits from switching from the old Serevent to the new propellant-free Serevent. Thanks

Response:

Don’t know about effects, but it is supposed to work better..get more meds in. My daughter switched and loves it because she gets no residue, no need for aerochamber.

Response:

Question:

I used to have the same side effects. It lasted long, at least a month. I wasn’t working at that time. About an hour after taking 10mg I got pale and sweaty on the face, extremely sleepy and had a terrible headache. Cofee helped me a lot, that I normally don’t drink cause it boosts my anxiety when in stressful situations. I felt better taking Paxil early in the morning or in the night; the worst in the afternoon (It’ still like that). Nowadays (after a year) I get a bit drowsy with a headache after taking Paxil, but not more often than once a week, especially when I take it irregulary. boasss

Response:

Well, I guess that I am certainly living proof that side affects don’t "affect" everyone.   I’ve been on Paxil for over a year now, and have nothing but positive things about it.   It does work, and it does help.  If the side effects are too much, that’s one thing, but just because a few people get them doesn’t mean you will! "sssboa" <sss…@goto.hell.pl

wrote in message

news:9hdu8m$slm$1@news.tpi.pl… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

I used to have the same side effects. It lasted long, at least a month. I wasn’t working at that time. About an hour after taking 10mg I got pale

and

sweaty on the face, extremely sleepy and had a terrible headache. Cofee helped me a lot, that I normally don’t drink cause it boosts my anxiety

when

in stressful situations. I felt better taking Paxil early in the morning

or

in the night; the worst in the afternoon (It’ still like that). Nowadays (after a year) I get a bit drowsy with a headache after taking Paxil, but not more often than once a week, especially when I take it irregulary. boasss

Response:

I don’t consider my side-effects serious after all. boasss

Response:

           Man,  I just started paxil yesterday and all I have been doing is sleeping.  Good thing I had yesterday and today off from work.  I am sleeping more now than I did from depression.  And when I am sleeping I am OUT.  Laid down for a nap tonight at 7:30pm cause I couldn’t keep my eyes open and the next thing I knew it was 11pm. Damn.  Anyone else have this side effect?  I hope it goes away.  I also have a slight headache right at my forehead but I don’t know if that is from too much sleep or the meds.

Response:

meow wrote:

           Man,  I just started paxil yesterday and all I have been doing is sleeping.  Good thing I had yesterday and today off from work.  I am sleeping more now than I did from depression.  And when I am sleeping I am OUT.  Laid down for a nap tonight at 7:30pm cause I couldn’t keep my eyes open and the next thing I knew it was 11pm. Damn.  Anyone else have this side effect?  I hope it goes away.  I also have a slight headache right at my forehead but I don’t know if that is from too much sleep or the meds.

The head ache can be a side effect of paxil as well as the sleeping. At what time of the day are you taking the drug? Try to take all your dose before you go to bed. If it doesn’t matter when you take it, i.e. you are sleepy all day then I would try another drug. I used to get sleepy from taking paxil and a headache sometimes. Richard

Response:

In article <ncqijtsfejqfv4jp0f616an32tnjpfg…@4ax.com

, meow <nospammeo…@rochester.com writes:            Man,  I just started paxil yesterday and all I have been doing is sleeping.  Good thing I had yesterday and today off from work.  I am sleeping more now than I did from depression.  And when I am sleeping I am OUT.  Laid down for a nap tonight at 7:30pm cause I couldn’t keep my eyes open and the next thing I knew it was 11pm. Damn.  Anyone else have this side effect?  I hope it goes away.  I also have a slight headache right at my forehead but I don’t know if that is from too much sleep or the meds.

Paxil had me so out of it that if I wasn’t sleeping, I had to be flat on my back to avoid getting queezy.  Take a good look at the side effects list for paxil.  I found that I suffered practically all of them.  Worse still was coming off of it.  I had become so dependant that standing up became a challenge – I’d suddenly have my equilibrium jolt off one way or another and practically fall over.  This happened for MONTHS after getting off of it. If you can at all avoid it, stay away from the stuff and go with something less volatile.  I’m on effexir now, and while missing a day leaves me cranky as all get-out, it is night-and-day better than paxil ever was.         rOn

Response:

Paxil had me so out of it that if I wasn’t sleeping, I had to be flat on my back to avoid getting queezy.  Take a good look at the side effects list for paxil.  I found that I suffered practically all of them.  Worse still was coming off of it.  I had become so dependant that standing up became a challenge – I’d suddenly have my equilibrium jolt off one way or another and practically fall over.  This happened for MONTHS after getting off of it.

rOn:

If you can at all avoid it, stay away from the stuff and go with something less volatile.  I’m on effexir now, and while missing a day leaves me cranky as all get-out, it is night-and-day better than paxil ever was.

I went from Paxil to Effexor, too. I agree, it’s ten times better. Thing is, though (according to my doc), you should never miss an Effexor dose AT ALL.Yah, it will make you cranky. For my kids’ sake, I make sure I refill early. JLeon

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The philosopher Voltaire was known to have consumed over 50 cups of coffee a day which came as a surprise to readers of Voltaire such as Nikola Tesla, the electrical engineer and inventor.  The French mathematician, Poincare, said one his mathematical advances came as the direct result of drinking a single cup of black coffee.  Caffeine is a known weak central nervous system stimulant – alerting agent – and it has been extensively studied at different medical schools and universities around the world.  Caffeine is known to increase alertness, energy, and the ability to concentrate in some people (not all). Source:  http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/chemtech/99/jul/negli.html In the midst of my recent efforts to have my daughter and myself assessed for ADD, my new partner and I attended a CHADD meeting. There was a presentation given on diagnosing adults by the woman who had recently assessed me. My partner suddenly began to wonder if he might have it and said he should get assessed.  As the meeting was breaking up and right in front of the presenter I asked him, "So you really think you may have ADD?" "Well, not as bad as you do." he said. "Perhaps if you didn’t drink so much coffee, you might think differently." The presenter pointed out, as I already knew, that some people self-medicate with caffeine. Then a couple of days later I asked my partner just how much coffee he consumes in a average day, because I knew he drank a lot, but I had no idea how much. He told me that he drinks an average of 20-22 mugs of coffee each day! I was shocked!  I have scoured the net for info on long-term health effects of consuming that much caffeine and there is none.  I don’t think anyone else drinks that much coffee…certainly no one that has been part of any study,  Excessive intake is said to be about 10 cups and he drinks twice that!  There are only long-term studies on people consuming up to 650 mg of caffeine per day (about 6 cups) and there are potential serious effects on that.  The so-called toxic dose is 10,000 mg (about 100 cups of coffee).  Even so, my partner is consuming what would be considered an "overdose"…and then some! His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.  I worry about ulcers and heart irregularities.  He has only been drinking this much for about the last year, since he quit drinking alcohol. I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

I used to drink a lot of coffee. I worked good with my ADD my irritated my aniexty something fierce. I was edgy and parinoid and my my hair trigger temper would go off without warning. I was such a joy to be around . But I love coffee so I switched to decaf. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Dami

Response:

For years I’ve happily consumed large quantities of coffee — 32oz on the way to work, several 20oz during the day, then more at night, never kept me up. Never occured to me it might be "self-medicating", I just thought it was a relatively harmless addiction that seemed to help me get down to business. Is this true of depression, anxiety disorders, or BPD, or is it mainly ADD? – Jeff Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently? I used to drink a lot of coffee. I worked good with my ADD my irritated my aniexty something fierce. I was edgy and parinoid and my my hair trigger temper would go off without warning. I was such a joy to be around . But I love coffee so I switched to decaf. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

– ‘98 Rans V-Rex    ==–%   Waltham, MA    ()    O http://www.BlueSNAFU.com – v2.35

Response:

For years I’ve happily consumed large quantities of coffee — 32oz on the way to work, several 20oz during the day, then more at night, never kept me up. Never occured to me it might be "self-medicating", I just thought it was a relatively harmless addiction that seemed to help me get down to business. Is this true of depression, anxiety disorders, or BPD, or is it mainly ADD?

Although, I don’t know for sure, it think it’s mainly ADD. Since caffine is a stimulant and gives you that extra kick in the butt that helps. I remember during some of my caffinated days, I would drink a large iced coffee and clean the whole house. Housecleaning is very difficult for me. My mom was, and is, the same way. She was never diagnosed with ADD but she has all the symptoms, but shes worse than me but that’s another story. I’m not sure if caffine helps depression I have that too but it never seemd to make a difference with me. Anxiety I’m sure it dosen’t help since caffine is a form of amphetmine and as I’ve found personally after long usage it was very bad for my anxiety so I had to stop. Dami – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently? I used to drink a lot of coffee. I worked good with my ADD my irritated my aniexty something fierce. I was edgy and parinoid and my my hair trigger temper would go off without warning. I was such a joy to be around . But I love coffee so I switched to decaf. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Response:

The philosopher Voltaire was known to have consumed over 50 cups of coffee a day which came as a surprise to readers of Voltaire such as Nikola Tesla, the electrical engineer and inventor.  The French mathematician, Poincare, said one his mathematical advances came as the direct result of drinking a single cup of black coffee.  Caffeine is a known weak central nervous system stimulant – alerting agent – and it has been extensively studied at different medical schools and universities around the world.  Caffeine is known to increase alertness, energy, and the ability to concentrate in some people (not all). Source:  http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/chemtech/99/jul/negli.html – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the midst of my recent efforts to have my daughter and myself assessed for ADD, my new partner and I attended a CHADD meeting. There was a presentation given on diagnosing adults by the woman who had recently assessed me. My partner suddenly began to wonder if he might have it and said he should get assessed.  As the meeting was breaking up and right in front of the presenter I asked him, "So you really think you may have ADD?" "Well, not as bad as you do." he said. "Perhaps if you didn’t drink so much coffee, you might think differently." The presenter pointed out, as I already knew, that some people self-medicate with caffeine. Then a couple of days later I asked my partner just how much coffee he consumes in a average day, because I knew he drank a lot, but I had no idea how much. He told me that he drinks an average of 20-22 mugs of coffee each day! I was shocked!  I have scoured the net for info on long-term health effects of consuming that much caffeine and there is none.  I don’t think anyone else drinks that much coffee…certainly no one that has been part of any study,  Excessive intake is said to be about 10 cups and he drinks twice that!  There are only long-term studies on people consuming up to 650 mg of caffeine per day (about 6 cups) and there are potential serious effects on that.  The so-called toxic dose is 10,000 mg (about 100 cups of coffee).  Even so, my partner is consuming what would be considered an "overdose"…and then some! His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.  I worry about ulcers and heart irregularities.  He has only been drinking this much for about the last year, since he quit drinking alcohol. I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

Before you buy.

Response:

I’ve got you all beat.. at work we make a POT of coffee using THREE scoops of CAFE BUSTELLO (expresso coffee) at home I make      A CUP of coffee using TWO SCOOPS (yes two scoops per cup) of the same coffee. (a scoop is 1/8 of a cup)

Ugh…I am literally shuddering at the thought of this.  For the record, as much as my partner loves his coffee, I hate the taste of it and your recipe sounds disgustingly bitter to me.   My reaction to the caffeine contained in colas and coffee:  I get horribly nauseous & shaky.  I haven’t let cola pass my lips in over 10 years because of this.   I prefer weak tea…with a packet of equal & lots of coffeemate. Briana

Response:

Expresso has less caffine than a lighter roast.  Also I don’t find it bitter at all if it is fresh which is why I make one cup at a time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got you all beat.. at work we make a POT of coffee using THREE scoops of CAFE BUSTELLO (expresso coffee) at home I make         A CUP of coffee using TWO SCOOPS (yes two scoops per cup) of the same coffee. (a scoop is 1/8 of a cup) Ugh…I am literally shuddering at the thought of this.  For the record, as much as my partner loves his coffee, I hate the taste of it and your recipe sounds disgustingly bitter to me.   My reaction to the caffeine contained in colas and coffee:  I get horribly nauseous & shaky.  I haven’t let cola pass my lips in over 10 years because of this.   I prefer weak tea…with a packet of equal & lots of coffeemate. Briana

– Nessa — If trains stop at trains stations, what happens at work stations?

Response:

Expresso has less caffine than a lighter roast.  Also I don’t find it bitter at all if it is fresh which is why I make one cup at a time.

i saw my gp today and tried to tell him some of my ‘difficulties’. so i mentioned that i drank loads and loads of coffee and he asked why and i said because it helps me function so he said ‘ah, you’re caffeine addicted.’. i mean , god, how the hell am i going to explaing to a shrink what my life is like when they have such answers parat ? they can only dx within their learned boundaries. i have appt. with shrink in two weeks. is it a good idea to phone with them first or write, or what ? sammi. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got you all beat.. at work we make a POT of coffee using THREE scoops of CAFE BUSTELLO (expresso coffee) at home I make A CUP of coffee using TWO SCOOPS (yes two scoops per cup) of the same coffee. (a scoop is 1/8 of a cup) Ugh…I am literally shuddering at the thought of this.  For the record, as much as my partner loves his coffee, I hate the taste of it and your recipe sounds disgustingly bitter to me. My reaction to the caffeine contained in colas and coffee:  I get horribly nauseous & shaky.  I haven’t let cola pass my lips in over 10 years because of this. I prefer weak tea…with a packet of equal & lots of coffeemate. Briana — Nessa — If trains stop at trains stations, what happens at work stations?

Response:

If you feel that the central nervous system stimulant – alerting agent –  caffeine may be helpful to you, the best place to start is with your family doctor.  That’s what I did.  C. Thomas Wild The most notable behavioral effects of caffeine – increased alertness, energy, and ability to concentrate – occur after consumption of low to moderate doses (50-300 mg). Source:  http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/chemtech/99/jul/negli.html Attention Deficit Disorder: http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section19/chapter262/262d.htm http://www.angelfire.com/biz/addsyndrome/index.html http://homepages.msn.com/RightWay/c_thomas_wild Domeena C. Renshaw, M.D., in The Hyperactive Child, reports a study by Schnackenberg, who substituted caffeine for methylphenidate (Ritalin) in eleven children who were on the latter medication for their hyperkinetic symptoms.  She reports that his results with two cups of coffee (equivalent to 200-300 mg. caffeine) per day were as satisfactory as the amphetamines, at one tenth of the cost. There are a number of FDA approved medicines such as NoDoz which list caffeine as the active ingredient.  Often there are cautions such as too much caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness and, occasionally, rapid heart beat.  The products are generally marketed for occasional use only and they are not intended for use as a substitute for sleep.  If a person wants to find out more about the products, the person should consult their family doctor.  That’s what I did. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the midst of my recent efforts to have my daughter and myself assessed for ADD, my new partner and I attended a CHADD meeting. There was a presentation given on diagnosing adults by the woman who had recently assessed me. My partner suddenly began to wonder if he might have it and said he should get assessed.  As the meeting was breaking up and right in front of the presenter I asked him, "So you really think you may have ADD?" "Well, not as bad as you do." he said. "Perhaps if you didn’t drink so much coffee, you might think differently." The presenter pointed out, as I already knew, that some people self-medicate with caffeine. Then a couple of days later I asked my partner just how much coffee he consumes in a average day, because I knew he drank a lot, but I had no idea how much. He told me that he drinks an average of 20-22 mugs of coffee each day! I was shocked!  I have scoured the net for info on long-term health effects of consuming that much caffeine and there is none.  I don’t think anyone else drinks that much coffee…certainly no one that has been part of any study,  Excessive intake is said to be about 10 cups and he drinks twice that!  There are only long-term studies on people consuming up to 650 mg of caffeine per day (about 6 cups) and there are potential serious effects on that.  The so-called toxic dose is 10,000 mg (about 100 cups of coffee).  Even so, my partner is consuming what would be considered an "overdose"…and then some! His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.  I worry about ulcers and heart irregularities.  He has only been drinking this much for about the last year, since he quit drinking alcohol. I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

Before you buy.

Response:

Years ago, I came back from shore leave and discovered that the the hospital corpsman had hooked up an IV tube at my bunk–substituting a Coke bottle for the plasma. His explanation:  You drink so much of the stuff, you might as well main-line it. Paul

Response:

Years ago, I came back from shore leave and discovered that the the hospital corpsman had hooked up an IV tube at my bunk–substituting a Coke bottle for the plasma. His explanation:  You drink so much of the stuff, you might as well main-line it. Paul

My wife is a nurse, and I keep asking her to give me IV coffee.

Response:

Years ago, I came back from shore leave and discovered that the the hospital corpsman had hooked up an IV tube at my bunk–substituting a Coke bottle for the plasma. His explanation:  You drink so much of the stuff, you might as well main-line it. Paul My wife is a nurse, and I keep asking her to give me IV coffee.

You mean you have  blood in your coffee stream? — Nessa — does fuzzy logic tickle

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Years ago, I came back from shore leave and discovered that the the hospital corpsman had hooked up an IV tube at my bunk–substituting a Coke bottle for the plasma. His explanation:  You drink so much of the stuff, you might as well main-line it. Paul My wife is a nurse, and I keep asking her to give me IV coffee. You mean you have  blood in your coffee stream?

ROLF, or ROFL, or ROFLMAO or MFOSPALROFL err, shanks shor she shjoke, shbut shi shave shoo shlean she shreen shoff. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Nessa — does fuzzy logic tickle

Response:

I’ve got you all beat.. at work we make a POT of coffee using THREE scoops of CAFE BUSTELLO (expresso coffee)

What?  You work at *my* office? That super-strong stuff smells good, but… ICK!!!  But then, I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker, unless it’s mocha.  Chewy, whose coffee you can float a horse shoe in, harasses me for liking a little coffee with my milk and sugar. — Light, Love, & Laughter, Kitten, Goddess of Mischief "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." – Anonymous "Just for today, do not worry;  Just for today, do not anger; Earn your living honestly; Honor your parents, teachers and elders; Show gratitude for every living thing."- Dr. Mikao Usui Before you buy.

Response:

I’ve got you all beat.. at work we make a POT of coffee using THREE scoops of CAFE BUSTELLO (expresso coffee) at home I make  A CUP of coffee using TWO SCOOPS (yes two scoops per cup) of the same coffee. (a scoop is 1/8 of a cup) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When I was finally diagnosed at age 40 I was drinking between ten and fifteen pints of coffee per day … often instant coffee with a TABLESPOON of granules per cup. I find the International Coffees** make a wonderful creamer, especially with espresso…. AmMen **International Coffees are a line of instant coffee mixed with flavorings, sugar, and HeavenKnowsWhat. Before you buy.

– Nessa — does fuzzy logic tickle

Response:

  Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine   to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

I drank coffee from the age of about eight or nine … as a kid I would take a 30 oz flask of black coffee to school. In those days we had free school milk, so I would have half the coffee at morning break with the milk, and keep the rest for lunch. When I was finally diagnosed at age 40 I was drinking between ten and fifteen pints of coffee per day … often instant coffee with a TABLESPOON of granules per cup. What was interesting was that I didn’t get any sort of buzz, and could stop for a few days without any withdrawal symptoms apart from feeling more " unfocussed " Ian Ford

Response:

When I was finally diagnosed at age 40 I was drinking between ten and fifteen pints of coffee per day … often instant coffee with a TABLESPOON of granules per cup.

I find the International Coffees** make a wonderful creamer, especially with espresso…. AmMen **International Coffees are a line of instant coffee mixed with flavorings, sugar, and HeavenKnowsWhat. Before you buy.

Response:

Curious…. I remember hearing about a kind of bottled water with caffeine added to it(don’t remember brand name, tho). Anyone try to make coffee with *that*? Buny

Response:

His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.

It is possible that the tremors in the hands could be the result od something besides the caffeine (*could*).  My famyl has a history of hand tremors, which is a benign condition called "familial tremor" or "essential tremor".  It has to do with overcompensating for fine motor skills. http://www.parkinsonsinstitute.org/tremor.html Even though this says "parkinson’s", ET is *not* parkinson’s syndrome. Some things can make my hands tremor more-caffeine is one of them. Fatigue, stress(physical or emotional) can do it.   So are certain medications, such as my asthma meds.  But even when not on these meds, or when I got "off" of caffeine, my hands still tremor to some degree. Then again, his tremors can be something else entirely.  Like ADHD, it is a matter of finding out what it is *not* before one discovers what it *is*. Buny

Response:

[...] I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

ADDers do not measure coffee consumption in cups; the pot is the standard measure. Cutting back to 5 is good for your health. I might be exaggerating slightly, but perhaps the answer to your question is ‘yes’?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [...] I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently? ADDers do not measure coffee consumption in cups; the pot is the standard measure. Cutting back to 5 is good for your health.

Yup…5 pots George I might be exaggerating slightly, but perhaps the answer to your question is ‘yes’?

Before you buy.

Response:

In the midst of my recent efforts to have my daughter and myself assessed for ADD, my new partner and I attended a CHADD meeting. There was a presentation given on diagnosing adults by the woman who had recently assessed me. My partner suddenly began to wonder if he might have it and said he should get assessed.  As the meeting was breaking up and right in front of the presenter I asked him, "So you really think you may have ADD?" "Well, not as bad as you do." he said. "Perhaps if you didn’t drink so much coffee, you might think differently." The presenter pointed out, as I already knew, that some people self-medicate with caffeine. Then a couple of days later I asked my partner just how much coffee he consumes in a average day, because I knew he drank a lot, but I had no idea how much. He told me that he drinks an average of 20-22 mugs of coffee each day! I was shocked!  I have scoured the net for info on long-term health effects of consuming that much caffeine and there is none.  I don’t think anyone else drinks that much coffee…certainly no one that has been part of any study,  Excessive intake is said to be about 10 cups and he drinks twice that!  There are only long-term studies on people consuming up to 650 mg of caffeine per day (about 6 cups) and there are potential serious effects on that.  The so-called toxic dose is 10,000 mg (about 100 cups of coffee).  Even so, my partner is consuming what would be considered an "overdose"…and then some! His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.  I worry about ulcers and heart irregularities.  He has only been drinking this much for about the last year, since he quit drinking alcohol. I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

Response:

snip His hands tremor, but otherwise, he is suffering no apparent ill effects.  I worry about ulcers and heart irregularities.

I did that once in grad school.  Ulcers are generally caused by bacteria or non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs.  High coffee intake can cause cardiac arrhythmias.  It’s pretty spooky but it goes away. He has only been drinking this much for about the last year, since he quit drinking alcohol. I now have no doubts that he’s self-medicating undiagnosed ADD and I want him to get assessed.  I managed to convince him to cut back to 10 cups a day and gradually to 5 for the sake of his health. So far, so good. Has anyone else here tried to unknowingly self-medicate with caffeine to that extreme?  Does anyone here even know someone who drinks that much coffee consistently?

It’s pretty hard to figure caffeine levels because it’s quite easy to make a cup of coffee four times as strong as the average weak North American coffee.  I could fix 5 cups that would have as much caffeine as 20 restaurant cups. – George Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious. (Xanax aslo perscribed) After taking the 50 mg for a month –I asked him today should I switch to Paxil? He told me don’t believe all the advertizing you read, paxil won’t work any better than zoloft. Just thought you might like mto hear this from what I consider a good  P doctor.

Response:

I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious. (Xanax aslo perscribed) After taking the 50 mg for a month –I asked him today should I switch to Paxil? He told me don’t believe all the advertizing you read, paxil won’t work any better than zoloft. Just thought you might like mto hear this from what I consider a good  P doctor.

  I think that your doctor just means that Paxil and Zoloft are just as effective percentage wise in treating PA…However, this does not mean that you don’t fit into the 30% that don’t find help with Zoloft…Nor does it mean that you won’t be sucessful with Paxil because you weren’t with Zoloft…All the SSRI’s may have different effects on you…All that being said I agree with what’s been said here…I felt a little better with 50 mg…A lot better at 100 mg…You have a long way to go before giving up on Zoloft…And some improvement at 25 mg likely means a lot more later…Therefore switching to Paxil may just cost you time (since it’ll take just as long to be effective most likely)… — Charles Phipps

Response:

Philip,     I just wanted to chime in an opinion.  I’ve been on both paxil and zoloft. Zoloft made me like a zombie.  Paxil did wonders in preventing attacks.  I’m on Effexor XR 75 mg right now and it has actually let me make some improvements in my life.  Plus it doesn’t make me feel drowsy like most of the others do. Craig Mangrum – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious. (Xanax aslo perscribed) After taking the 50 mg for a month –I asked him today should I switch to Paxil? He told me don’t believe all the advertizing you read, paxil won’t work any better than zoloft. Just thought you might like mto hear this from what I consider a good  P doctor. The truth is, though, that our reactions to different SSRI’s are very personal and that some may do well on Zoloft and worse on Paxil or vice versa etc. If all SSRI’s had the same results with everybody there wouldn’t have to be more than one. Regarding the Zoloft I believe that you haven’t given it a fair trial yet. Philip

Response:

I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious. (Xanax aslo perscribed) After taking the 50 mg for a month –I asked him today should I switch to Paxil? He told me don’t believe all the advertizing you read, paxil won’t work any better than zoloft. Just thought you might like mto hear this from what I consider a good  P doctor.

The truth is, though, that our reactions to different SSRI’s are very personal and that some may do well on Zoloft and worse on Paxil or vice versa etc. If all SSRI’s had the same results with everybody there wouldn’t have to be more than one. Regarding the Zoloft I believe that you haven’t given it a fair trial yet. Philip

Response:

I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious. (Xanax aslo perscribed) After taking the 50 mg for a month –I asked him today should I switch to Paxil? He told me don’t believe all the advertizing you read, paxil won’t work any better than zoloft. Just thought you might like mto hear this from what I consider a good  P doctor.

Hi Dan, Get a new doctor, or educate him His statement is false. We have many people here that did awful on Zoloft but did well on Paxil and vice  versa. Even though the two are SSRI anti-depressants, they are still quite different. All the meds in the SSRI family are different from each other. Some are more sedating than others, and some are more stimulating. If you feel that strongly about trying a new med, demand it or find a new doctor. You might want to think of upping the Zoloft dose, your dose might be a bit low, and that is why you are still experiencing anxiety. 50mgs of Zoloft is a low therapeutic dose. Use your Xanax to help you deal with the anxiety.  Take care!! Jackie ~~On earth, an angel’s wings are inside~~

Response:

I agree to educate this MD or get a new one.  Very poor answer.  I have been on paxil about 5 years and it has been a life saver, Zoloft did nothing for me.

Response:

(Dan Littleton) writes: I told my doctor today that the zoloft was not doing anything for me after the initial dosage of 25mg. (I did feel a little better) and after a month he uped the dosage to 50mg– which I felt no different and if anything more anxious.

Hi Dan. I think you might want to give the Z more of a chance. 25mg *really* isn’t much and if it was helping a little bit, that’s a good sign. Some people need 200mg or even more, but your doctor is right to increase it gradually. The increased anxiety as you raise the dose is a common side effect – if you’re able to tolerate it for a little while, the extra anxiety will go away as your body gets used to the drug. I don’t remember if you are taking other meds as well, but if not, you might ask for a benzo such as Klonopin, Xanax, or Ativan, to smooth things out while you’re increasing the dose of Zoloft. Paxil doesn’t work better than Zoloft in general (statistically), but it does work better for some people. For others, Zoloft works better – it averages out the same. You have no way of knowing which will be better for you unless you try them both – which is a pain in the a**, admittedly! If I were in your place, though, I’d stay with the Zoloft, since you’ve already put so much time into it and had a bit of an improvement even at a very low dose. I hope things continue to get better! -elizabeth

Response:

Question:

what your experiencing are panic attacks, i get them quite often.  i take st. johns wart to help me relax.  jamie

Response:

Hi! My name is Tracy and I had my first anxiety attack a few months ago.  I woke up and felt I was having a heart attack: fast heart beat, sweating, numbness in my right arm, so bad I had to keep it elevated (thinking is would help the circulation.  I even went as far as dialing 911 just in case I dropped dead – I figured it would be the last thing I would hit….thinking it was the end.  Well when I woke up the next morning, happy to be alive, I played with fate, was a lucky person. and really believed I fought a heart was on my way home when those "heart attack symptons" reoccured, only in my mind I played with fate once before  and new something was seriously  wrong even thought as far as of going to the hospital, but figured it would pass by to go….where she asked.  and me a person who hates going to the dr. insisted we go to the hospital immediately.  Of coarse getting everyone panicked, we were off to  the hospital which was fifteen minutes away.  I didn’t think i was going to make it.  We arrived at the Hospital and they admitted me immediately and ran an ekg, and took blood, even a cardiologist came and took blood.  While waiting for my results the doctor thought that I was just having an axiety attack (yeah right I thought)  he later confirmed that it was indeed a axiety attack and that I was hyperventilating.  (i disagreed – I did not think I was breathing out of control – I know what hyperventilating is) My carbon dioxide level and oxygen levels were high and low wich gives you that dizzy feeling. The worse that could of happened was that I passed out. He gave me a prescription and that was it – that was about 5 months ago.  3.  I just had my third axiety attack while out was friends on Saturday….once again happy to be alive and still wonder if my doctor is correct – am I really having axiety attacks or am I having heart problems and because I’m only 31 he won’t pursue more detailed testing.  I don’t want to die –  And I know I’m not crazy.  I am glad to know i’m not the only one who gets these attacks. I felt better only when I read other people’s experiences.  So many friends don’t understand what it feels like, so to read someone else’s experience makes me feel not reality this is really really short.

Response:

Hi Tracy, welcome to our NG!! You are definitely not alone, everyone here is battling against an anxiety disorder of some sort. I myself experienced symptoms which mirror those you have described. I thought I had some sort of heart dysfunction or defect that was going to kill me at any instant. I woke up in the night with it, delt with it in social situations and when I was alone…it really was terrifying. After a complete physical and cardiac examination (by the head of the cardiology dept. in the largest hospital in my province) nothing could be found…I was only 21 yrs old. Well, three years later here I am, alive!!! The only thing is that I am trying to live with Panic Disorder!!! My medication allows me to live a fairly normal life, despite the occasional unexplained anxiety, which I guess is normal. Good luck to you and try to participate in the group I have found it very beneficial!!! all the best jason – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! My name is Tracy and I had my first anxiety attack a few months ago.  I woke up and felt I was having a heart attack: fast heart beat, sweating, numbness in my right arm, so bad I had to keep it elevated (thinking is would help the circulation.  I even went as far as dialing 911 just in case I dropped dead – I figured it would be the last thing I would hit….thinking it was the end.  Well when I woke up the next morning, happy to be alive, I played with fate, was a lucky person. and really believed I fought a heart was on my way home when those "heart attack symptons" reoccured, only in my mind I played with fate once before  and new something was seriously  wrong even thought as far as of going to the hospital, but figured it would pass by to go….where she asked.  and me a person who hates going to the dr. insisted we go to the hospital immediately.  Of coarse getting everyone panicked, we were off to  the hospital which was fifteen minutes away.  I didn’t think i was going to make it.  We arrived at the Hospital and they admitted me immediately and ran an ekg, and took blood, even a cardiologist came and took blood.  While waiting for my results the doctor thought that I was just having an axiety attack (yeah right I thought)  he later confirmed that it was indeed a axiety attack and that I was hyperventilating.  (i disagreed – I did not think I was breathing out of control – I know what hyperventilating is) My carbon dioxide level and oxygen levels were high and low wich gives you that dizzy feeling. The worse that could of happened was that I passed out. He gave me a prescription and that was it – that was about 5 months ago.  3.  I just had my third axiety attack while out was friends on Saturday….once again happy to be alive and still wonder if my doctor is correct – am I really having axiety attacks or am I having heart problems and because I’m only 31 he won’t pursue more detailed testing.  I don’t want to die –  And I know I’m not crazy.  I am glad to know i’m not the only one who gets these attacks. I felt better only when I read other people’s experiences.  So many friends don’t understand what it feels like, so to read someone else’s experience makes me feel not reality this is really really short.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! My name is Tracy and I had my first anxiety attack a few months ago.  I woke up and felt I was having a heart attack: fast heart beat, sweating, numbness in my right arm, so bad I had to keep it elevated (thinking is would help the circulation.  I even went as far as dialing 911 just in case I dropped dead – I figured it would be the last thing I would hit….thinking it was the end.  Well when I woke up the next morning, happy to be alive, I played with fate, was a lucky person. and really believed I fought a heart was on my way home when those "heart attack symptons" reoccured, only in my mind I played with fate once before  and new something was seriously  wrong even thought as far as of going to the hospital, but figured it would pass by to go….where she asked.  and me a person who hates going to the dr. insisted we go to the hospital immediately.  Of coarse getting everyone panicked, we were off to  the hospital which was fifteen minutes away.  I didn’t think i was going to make it.  We arrived at the Hospital and they admitted me immediately and ran an ekg, and took blood, even a cardiologist came and took blood.  While waiting for my results the doctor thought that I was just having an axiety attack (yeah right I thought)  he later confirmed that it was indeed a axiety attack and that I was hyperventilating.  (i disagreed – I did not think I was breathing out of control – I know what hyperventilating is) My carbon dioxide level and oxygen levels were high and low wich gives you that dizzy feeling. The worse that could of happened was that I passed out. He gave me a prescription and that was it – that was about 5 months ago.  3.  I just had my third axiety attack while out was friends on Saturday….once again happy to be alive and still wonder if my doctor is correct – am I really having axiety attacks or am I having heart problems and because I’m only 31 he won’t pursue more detailed testing.  I don’t want to die –  And I know I’m not crazy.  I am glad to know i’m not the only one who gets these attacks. I felt better only when I read other people’s experiences.  So many friends don’t understand what it feels like, so to read someone else’s experience makes me feel not reality this is really really short.

What you desecribe is the classic beginning of Panic Disorder. Yes, you have panic attacks. The thing to do is see a psychiatrist who is specialized in anxiety disorders (is there a university clinic in your area? often a good bet), get properly diagnosed and prescribed some meds. I’m sorry to welcome you to ASAP, the club nobody wants to belong to but everybody is glad exists ) Philip

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Hi.  I am also a new comer to this group.  Let me tell you a little about what I have gone through.  After my daughter (I was 25 ) was born 23 years ago I started to feel the same way you did, losing my breath, feeling very weird like I was losing my mind and completely out of contro.  So I also went to the doctor and he told me I was having a panic attack and maybe I needed to take some time off work.  I did but the panic attacks were still happening.  I got to a point where I didn’t want to go anywhere (and that is  not me I love to go out and have fun).  So after going to the doctor a million times and to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack or I had some other life threatening disease, I finally read some books and told myself I tired of this and I want it to stop.  So with the help of medication called Tranxene and a lot of hard work on my part I finally felt better.  It took me a long time.  Now 20 years later my attacks have come back. (I’m trying to keep this short) I think the reason is this.  A year and half ago my husband at 46 suffered a massive heart attack.  He is doing fine, but it was the worst thing I have ever gone through.  I held up pretty well until 6 months later.  I started driving to work, my hands and feet got clammy I started to get that weird feeling of losing control and burst into tears.  I was so scared to drive.  I finally called my boss and had him drive me to the doctor.  It was the same thing panic attack!!  He put me on Tranxene (I am not a very good pill taker).  I have been on it since last May.  I stopped taking it about 2 weeks ago and just 3 days ago I started those feelings.  So I am going to take it regularly and get myself back on track.  I have been to a shrink and I got nothing out of it.  I have found that having someone to talk to and keeping myself busy helps.  The problem with me is I worry about everyone and think I can fix the world.  I have been where you are  and I know you will be ok.  It’s just so frightening.  I hope I have helped you in some way and if you every want to talk more e-mail me.  Nothing like this was every available when I first started my panic attacks and being able to talk to someone and knowing they have felt the same way you have does help.  I wish you the best and do know you are ok.  I have to remember to think positive.. Take care…

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I’m a new comer to this group & was wondering if I could get some explanation as to what a panic attack is. I guess I can start off by saying what I have experienced & go from there. I’ll try to keep it short. About a year ago while driving to work (at night, I work midnights) I started losing my breath, feeling very wierd, my arms were going numb, thoughts of wanting to kill myself (which is definately not me!!) i thought i was having a heart attack (I’m 39 now) I made it to work but was to shakey i couldnt cope, went home but was just dazed & confused. I went to my doctor & she said i had a panic attack. I had one similar several days afterwards but wasnt as bad and i tried hard to control myself, after all both times I was driving!! So that was it, back to the doctor & have been on 50mg of Zoloft since. Now I was supposed to start weening off the zoloft this month & what happens, I have one of these attacks at work. So now i’m still on it. I am going to go see a shrink I guess, i dont want it to get worse, I’m getting to the point where I am almost scared of driving & going to work. I feel very strongly that it is my midnight shift that is doing this to me, because I cant think of anything else that it could be. Is there anyone else out there that works nights that is going through this?? The zoloft is good though & i have been very reassured that it is a safe drug to stay on for many years if needed, but i would like to get off it. If anyone has taken the time to read my long storey get back to me with your storey or thoughts I would appreciate it. Thanks & think positive!!!

Hi Frank, Welcome to ASAP! A panic attack can be a very  individual thing. Your attack does sound like a Panic attack. Mine are different, I get very hot, flushed, dizzy, off-balance, shaky, can`t concentrate and tingling sensations in my fingers. I think I either am going to die or go crazy. I think you should see a Pdoc, one that is knowledgeable in anxiety disorders. CBT therapy is a very good compliment with medication. You might want to give serious thought to increasing your Zoloft dose. You are on a very low therapeutic dose, and you are experiencing alot of discomfort still. You might want to get a script for a benzo to be used on a "as needed" basis. Doing CBT, increasing your Zoloft and getting a benzo, could really get you back on your feet again. Yes, you can stay on Zoloft for a long time. About getting off meds, first you need to get better and be better for awhile, before you think of getting off meds. Some of us need meds for the rest of our lives, others need it on and off, depending on setbacks and remissions, and then there are some that are on meds for awhile, get off the meds, and never need them again. Unfortunately, you won`t know, until you go off I am not sure that the night shift "caused" your anxiety, although it could be a contributing factor. I use to work the graveyard shift in a nursing home, and I didn`t like the way it made me feel. It wasn`t anxiety, I just felt off. After a few months I begged to get off that shift, and I felt much better. If you can, change your hours, maybe a note from your doctor could help with that. Take Care and good luck!! Jackie

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Hi I’m a new comer to this group & was wondering if I could get some explanation as to what a panic attack is. I guess I can start off by saying what I have experienced & go from there. I’ll try to keep it short. About a year ago while driving to work (at night, I work midnights) I started losing my breath, feeling very wierd, my arms were going numb, thoughts of wanting to kill myself (which is definately not me!!) i thought i was having a heart attack (I’m 39 now) I made it to work but was to shakey i couldnt cope, went home but was just dazed & confused. I went to my doctor & she said i had a panic attack. I had one similar several days afterwards but wasnt as bad and i tried hard to control myself, after all both times I was driving!! So that was it, back to the doctor & have been on 50mg of Zoloft since. Now I was supposed to start weening off the zoloft this month & what happens, I have one of these attacks at work. So now i’m still on it. I am going to go see a shrink I guess, i dont want it to get worse, I’m getting to the point where I am almost scared of driving & going to work. I feel very strongly that it is my midnight shift that is doing this to me, because I cant think of anything else that it could be. Is there anyone else out there that works nights that is going through this?? The zoloft is good though & i have been very reassured that it is a safe drug to stay on for many years if needed, but i would like to get off it. If anyone has taken the time to read my long storey get back to me with your storey or thoughts I would appreciate it. Thanks & think positive!!!

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Frank, My first anxiety attack was about 5 1/2 years ago while I was driving. Like you I thought I was having a heart attack.  I didn’t want to kill myself but was sure I must be dying.  I had a lot of stresses in my life at that time so once I realized that it was anxiety attacks I was having  I did go to a therapist. I also take Zoloft.  I started at 50 mg but have decreased it to 25 mg.  I have tried to wean off it several times and each time I have a panic attack.  I don’t like taking meds all the time but I believe it is better than going through the feelings of panic and constant anxiety. So who knows how long I will take this stuff.  I feel pretty good when I am on it. I do have times when I don’t feel as well but everyone has good and bad days whether or not they have PA’s. Do you have any particular stressful things going on in your life?  Or did you when the panic attacks started?  It might be a good idea to find a pdoc who specializes in anxiety who can help you to recognize possible triggers. The one thing about panic attacks is that they seem to strike "out of the blue" and that is the most frustrating part about them.  Because you don’t know when you’ll have one you sometimes start to avoid situations where you had one before. (Like driving, grocery shopping, eating in a restaurant)  It is a vicious (sp?) circle but you know what? You are NOT ALONE.  And you will get through them. Good luck and keep us posted. Nori — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

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The zoloft is good though & i have been very reassured that it is a safe drug to stay on for many years if needed, but i would like to get off it.

Frank, Is medication the only way you are managing? Not that I am knocking it! I am using three different meds, myself. But I am also doing something that I did not do the last time I was in remission from panic. I am now making the effort to learn Cognitive Behavioral techniques. A few years ago, the med of my dreams rid me of Panic, General Anxiety and Agoraphobia for just over a year. But it did not last, I started having breakthrough attacks and didn’t have the skills that I have since gained in controlling the symptoms. Changing my thoughts, correcting my breathing, muscular relaxation and slowing my heart beat are things I have become pretty good at, but not perfect. And there are many more symptoms that I must work with. I would just like to suggest that you get yourself some long lasting coping skills before going off of your med. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has worked for so many. Some without any meds. But I believe combining the two is very powerful. My two cents and wishing you well, Kathryn

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Hi Frank, The following a criteria for panic attacks recently distributed in a brochure to Australian GPs A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:     palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate     sweating     trembling or shaking     sensations of shortness of breath or smothering     feeling of choking     chest pain or discomfort     nausea or abdominal distress     feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint     feelings of unreality or being detached from oneself     feelings of losing control or going crazy     fear of dying     paraesthesia (numbness or tingling sensation)     chills or hot flushes I reckon I have experienced each and every one of these! Given that your symptoms are recurring I suggest that you discuss your medication, dosage, with your doctor. It doesn’t sound like a good time to wean off. I am also experiencing a recurrence of some symptoms, in particular situations, so my medication is being reviewed. I guess where lucky that our conditions are treatable. Take care, Meryl

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I’m a new comer to this group & was wondering if I could get some explanation as to what a panic attack is. I guess I can start off by saying what I have experienced & go from there. I’ll try to keep it short. About a year ago while driving to work (at night, I work midnights) I started losing my breath, feeling very wierd, my arms were going numb, thoughts of wanting to kill myself (which is definately not me!!) i thought i was having a heart attack (I’m 39 now) I made it to work but was to shakey i couldnt cope, went home but was just dazed & confused. I went to my doctor & she said i had a panic attack. I had one similar several days afterwards but wasnt as bad and i tried hard to control myself, after all both times I was driving!! So that was it, back to the doctor & have been on 50mg of Zoloft since. Now I was supposed to start weening off the zoloft this month & what happens, I have one of these attacks at work. So now i’m still on it. I am going to go see a shrink I guess, i dont want it to get worse, I’m getting to the point where I am almost scared of driving & going to work. I feel very strongly that it is my midnight shift that is doing this to me, because I cant think of anything else that it could be. Is there anyone else out there that works nights that is going through this?? The zoloft is good though & i have been very reassured that it is a safe drug to stay on for many years if needed, but i would like to get off it. If anyone has taken the time to read my long storey get back to me with your storey or thoughts I would appreciate it. Thanks & think positive!!!

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Hi there, I used to think the exact same thing.  But, not anymore.  I can’t do this with the aid and assistance of meds.  I am beginning to believe that it is all in my head.  I will still be able to "feel" things, but it won’t be as strong.  I think I am finally coming into my own person.  I just want to be the old me, and if medication will do that and help me accomplish that, then I will be forever grateful. Kelly

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to me, the first step to recovery, is to not need any meds.  we can do this without the assistance of meds.

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Hi…I don’t know what your docs are thinking, but Prozac can cause weight loss.  If prescribed for a person with ed, it’s usually bulimia since this med can help the b/p urges.  I also asked my dr about Zyban and she wouldn’t give it to me b/c apparently it can cause seizures in people with eds.  I think you should ask your docs about switching you to Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor or something else that doesn’t have a high incidence of weight loss as a side effect, but probably not Wellbutrin…the seizure side effect was scary enough to me to forget that idea.  Good luck.  H.

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Poeople with ED’s should NOT take Wellbutrin, unless specifically directed by a physician who is  fully aware of the ED To email, leave off the "xyz"

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Here is an entry from my ‘Journal’: (spoilered for drug and other info) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On the news this morning they did a thing about Wellbutrin (which is the

same as Zyban) to stop smoking.. I did a little research online and something ‘clicked’…    the dr.’s keep telling me to take my pills, but then tell me they don’t know much about anorexia and what to do about it and stuff..  They don’t seem to see a connection… for anorexia i read that you need to let the person know they are loved

and wanted and have worth..  I keep telling myself that, and i do believe it.. But i think it’s something medical as well… Well..  what ‘clicked’ was when i was reading about Wellbutrin messing

with your ‘pleasure centers’ and replacing other cravings and pleasures in the brain with the drug..  The dopamine thing… Well, ‘hunger’ (for food) is a mild form of ‘craving’…… I no longer

have cravings for foods or even hunger for them, although my body feels/displays the effects of no nutrition.   And the ‘pleasure’ i used to get from foods/tastes/etc. is gone a lot of the time…. Just like the smokers who quit with Zyban, the pleasure of smoking went

away and they were able to quit.. Please, does this make any sense at all?  I am desperate for an answer

before it’s too late…  I started losing the most weight when i started prozac 2 years ago, and the psychs told me it was not the meds doing it. But before that i was never anorexic and i was over 20 pounds heavier than now. i need help to make sense of it, the doc’s won’t listen when i say i need

off meds.. i can’t do it myself, i feel suicidal when i cut the meds.  that scares me becuz that’s not what i want, that’s the meds talking…   i don’t want that at all; i never acted on feelings like that before meds…….but i feel so alone at times…   ignoring the ED doesn’t make it go away…. Does it make sense, my theory about the Wellbutrin and cravings?  I mean,

don’t smokers flll the smoking void with food?.. now they can fill it with Wellbutrin… I have read repeatedly that Wellbutrin is not supposed to be given to anyone with anorexia.  And i never in my life felt TRUE ‘anxiety’ before i was on meds… But my doc’s say that’s not so… Who do i believe???   The stuff i read online is real medical info, not just someone’s personal

opinions..  Are the drug companies paying off the medical ppl, at the expense of the patients???  At $100 a bottle of Wellbutrin, i wouldn’t doubt it… I feel it’s my obligation to find an answer, and then i can help the other

people.  

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