Hello everybody, I have just been prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler (Flovent) for mild asthma. The pharmacist told me about thrush, and that I should be sure to rinse my mouth after I take my dose. I later called the pharmacist back and asked if I got it, could I give it to someone else (through kissing) and the answer was yes. So my question is, how common is it if you rinse, and how much of an inconvenience is it if you get it? Has anyone ever given it to a boyfriend/girlfriend? Is it easy to control with a fungal mouthwash? I’m afraid to kiss my boyfriend before I find out more (I couldn’t find much on the web beyond the basic description, and the fact that you can get it even if you rinse well). Of course I am going to put a call into my allergist, but he only has a clinic once a week or maybe less, so I don’t know when I will get a response. PLEASE e-mail me about this if anyone has any input on the subject! Thanks! Mary
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello everybody, I have just been prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler (Flovent) for mild asthma. The pharmacist told me about thrush, and that I should be sure to rinse my mouth after I take my dose. I later called the pharmacist back and asked if I got it, could I give it to someone else (through kissing) and the answer was yes. So my question is, how common is it if you rinse, and how much of an inconvenience is it if you get it? Has anyone ever given it to a boyfriend/girlfriend? Is it easy to control with a fungal mouthwash? I’m afraid to kiss my boyfriend before I find out more (I couldn’t find much on the web beyond the basic description, and the fact that you can get it even if you rinse well). Of course I am going to put a call into my allergist, but he only has a clinic once a week or maybe less, so I don’t know when I will get a response. PLEASE e-mail me about this if anyone has any input on the subject! Thanks! Mary
Mary, the germs that cause thrush are found in the normal flora of the mouth. This means your bf already has them. The reason that the inhalers can cause this problem is that they change the pH of the mouth. If you rinse well [drink an entire 16 oz glass of water, and swish it around], you shouldn’t have a problem. I have been using inhaled steroids for more than a decade, and have never gotten thrush. Chris Owens
Mary, I currently have Oral Thrush and have to fight it continuously. I gargle very carefully and rinse after every use of Flovent, but still am prone to it. I think it is very similar to women that are sensitive to vaginal yeast infections also. One of the things I have found to really help is to eat yogurt everyday. I also have a prescription for Mycelex lozenges that I can have filled whenever I need it, although I have found that if I rinse well and eat the yogurt I can usually keep the Thrush at bay without having to overuse the Mycelex. Chrystal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Mary, the germs that cause thrush are found in the normal flora of the mouth. This means your bf already has them. The reason that the inhalers can cause this problem is that they change the pH of the mouth. If you rinse well [drink an entire 16 oz glass of water, and swish it around], you shouldn’t have a problem. I have been using inhaled steroids for more than a decade, and have never gotten thrush. Chris Owens
You may also want to try a spacer if you are not currently using one. It is difficult to time inhalation of the drug with depressing or actuating the inhaler. If you find you are hitting the back of your throat or tasting the medication when you use your inhaler you need to work on your technique. A spacer helps you to get more of the medication to your airway instead of your mouth or throat. Don’t forget to shake the canister really well between each dose and wait 30sec to a minute between each puff. Hope this helps. Shane J. Varnum – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary, I currently have Oral Thrush and have to fight it continuously. I gargle very carefully and rinse after every use of Flovent, but still am prone to it. I think it is very similar to women that are sensitive to vaginal yeast infections also. One of the things I have found to really help is to eat yogurt everyday
Mary: regarding Flovent and thrush. Generally speaking, thrush from Flovent and other inhaled corticosteriods is kind of hard to get. Simple mouth care is all that is really necessary. For example, if you take Flovent 2x/day, take it first thing in the a.m., eat breakfast, brush teeth … take it before bedtime and brush teeth before sleeping. If you’re on the road, drink a few sips of water, soda, breath mints, etc. Yes, thrush is transmittable, avoid kissing and wash eating utensils thoroughly afterwards. To get thrush in the first place, you must be immunocompromised, or not eating/drinking for days (say an unconscious patient in ICU). I take Azmacort (another corticosteroid) and honestly the aftertaste is so bad, it’s not hard to remember to use mouthwash/drink/eat/brush teeth!! An asthmatic health professional
I take Flovent and the only problems I have with it is it makes your throat sore if I dont rinse well. As far as passing thrush on to a boyfriend, I have never heard of that..
The use of a spacer, can reduce the risk of getting thrush. It is also a good idea to use a spacer, so the meds get in your lungs, not on on your tongue, roof of your mouth etc…
rinsing your mouth out, with just water, after each inhaler treatment, will greatly reduce the odds of getting thrush. btw, white oak bark tea works great on killing thrush. i am not usually a proponent of alternative styles of medicine, but it worked for me.
You should always rinse out your mouth after using an inhaler. Especially if you are using any type of steroid inhalers.
The use of a spacer, can reduce the risk of getting thrush. It is also a good idea to use a spacer, so the meds get in your lungs, not on on your tongue, roof of your mouth etc…
So why is it there is such a shortage? Is it for all types of phentermine? I was told that the company stopped making the 30 mg dosage so people were getting 15mg and taking 2. But that the 37.5 was not a problem to get. Is this wrong? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was reading a transcript of one of your chats on WebMD and I followed a link you had posted there to an Rx site http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/phenterm.htm. . I see that they have Phentermine hcl there. The cost is $20 for a 90 day supply. I was wondering if this was pure phentermine? I bought some phentermine pills a while back from another site and paid about $300 for a 90 day supply. I am wondering if you can tell me what the differences are in the different mixes of phentermine. I used to be on Phen-fen and have just never found anything quite like it since. I have pretty good results (2pnds per week) with the phentermine, but now I am not sure what kind to buy and where to buy it at a fair price. I would really appreciate any feedback or help you could give. As far as I know RxList is a monograph service, and it does not sell drugs. $20 for a 90 day supply sounds kind of low, maybe for a 30 day supply. But I don’t have any information about which pharmacies are reliable, or where the best places are to buy it. I do have a few "virtual pharmacies" listed on the OMR site, but they are regular pharmacies (like the cyberpharmacy) and they require a prescription from your doctor. With the shortage I don’t know what pharmacies still have generic phentermine, and I have no real advice to offer you other than that given in the April 2000 issue of OMR on the phentermine shortage. If you are interested in information on the various types of phentermine, there is an autoresponder on the Obesity Meds and Research News site. Just go to the FAQ page and click on the phentermine primer. That will send you an e-mail with the basics about all the major types of phentermine. You might also want to stop by current obesity medications FAQ and read the section there on phentermine. Been out of town for the last week, and off-line for the last several days. Hope this helps. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS May issue: Ephedrine and thermogenesis. http://www.obesity-news.com/
As far as I know RxList is a monograph service, and it does not sell drugs. $20 for a 90 day supply sounds kind of low, maybe for a 30 day supply.
That doesn’t sound low at all for the wholesale price. A 60 day supply goes for $17.76 at drugstore.com.
I was reading a transcript of one of your chats on WebMD and I followed a link you had posted there to an Rx site http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/phenterm.htm. . I see that they have Phentermine hcl there. The cost is $20 for a 90 day supply. I was wondering if this was pure phentermine? I bought some phentermine pills a while back from another site and paid about $300 for a 90 day supply. I am wondering if you can tell me what the differences are in the different mixes of phentermine. I used to be on Phen-fen and have just never found anything quite like it since. I have pretty good results (2pnds per week) with the phentermine, but now I am not sure what kind to buy and where to buy it at a fair price. I would really appreciate any feedback or help you could give.
As far as I know RxList is a monograph service, and it does not sell drugs. $20 for a 90 day supply sounds kind of low, maybe for a 30 day supply. But I don’t have any information about which pharmacies are reliable, or where the best places are to buy it. I do have a few "virtual pharmacies" listed on the OMR site, but they are regular pharmacies (like the cyberpharmacy) and they require a prescription from your doctor. With the shortage I don’t know what pharmacies still have generic phentermine, and I have no real advice to offer you other than that given in the April 2000 issue of OMR on the phentermine shortage. If you are interested in information on the various types of phentermine, there is an autoresponder on the Obesity Meds and Research News site. Just go to the FAQ page and click on the phentermine primer. That will send you an e-mail with the basics about all the major types of phentermine. You might also want to stop by current obesity medications FAQ and read the section there on phentermine. Been out of town for the last week, and off-line for the last several days. Hope this helps. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS May issue: Ephedrine and thermogenesis. http://www.obesity-news.com/
I was reading a transcript of one of your chats on WebMD and I followed a link you had posted there to an Rx site http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/phenterm.htm. . I see that they have Phentermine hcl there. The cost is $20 for a 90 day supply. I was wondering if this was pure phentermine? I bought some phentermine pills a while back from another site and paid about $300 for a 90 day supply. I am wondering if you can tell me what the differences are in the different mixes of phentermine. I used to be on Phen-fen and have just never found anything quite like it since. I have pretty good results (2pnds per week) with the phentermine, but now I am not sure what kind to buy and where to buy it at a fair price. I would really appreciate any feedback or help you could give. Needing to lose 30 pounds……. happygirl
On Fri, 25 Jun 1999, Brenda McKaig wrote:
Comments on anything I’ve said in this message would be greatly appreciated, particularily your experience with either or both of the medications I mentioned: singulair and prednisone to treat polyps.
Before you try the prednisone, check your library or bookseller for a copy of "Coping With Prednisone." Some people can have devastating side-effects from prednisone. I know because I’m one of them.
Do you share a similiar story to me, I’d really like to hear from you. reoccuring polyps? unsuccessful surgery to remove polyps? chronic sinus infection? unsuccessful antibiotic treatments? have had, or are facing radical sinus surgery? feeling helpless and hopeless?
I think most of us who are battling chronic sinusitis suffer bouts of feeling helpless and hopeless. And most of us have been through course after course of unsuccessful antibiotic treatments. You are not the only one and you are not alone. We just have to keep putting one foot in fron of the other one and offering encouragement to each other.
If you have polyps, please ask your doctor about avoiding aspirin and all aspirin products to prevent the reoccurance of polyps. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com
Some people can have devastating side-effects from prednisone. I know because I’m one of them.
What kind of devastating side effects? I just started on Prednisone yesterday. My head still feels full and dizzy although the Dr. said this could take a few days. The only other thing is that I’m extremely weak today, especially in the legs and arms. Ellen in IL
Information on prednisone at http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/pred.htm Remember, not all persons react the same. Not all develop the same side effects, and most don’t develop all the possible side effects. Most of the side effects disappear with tapering down to lower dosages or discontinuance. NEVER change prednisone dosage without your physician’s knowledge and agreement.. it can be very serious. Most physicians will try to use as little prednisone as possible if it the drug required for effective treatment. Good luck with your treatment and I hope it is quickly effective.
Brenda, Not so long ago I was feeling just as hopeless about my situation as you are now. I tried every treatment they had, you name it. Surgery was recommended but it was never explained to me why I needed it except for a deviated septum. I was on my 14th antibiotic course in about a year and my co-worker expressd concern about the over use of the abx. I told him I never heard of anyone who had sucessful sinus surgery and another co-worker overheard and told me his wife had a good outcome. So I asked for the name of her doctor. I went to see him and he sat with me for over an hour and explained why all the other treatments (sprays, abx, allergy shots, etc) had failed and always would without the surgery to unblock the drainage sites and fix the septum. So I went ahead with it, feeling complete confidence in him. While doing the surgery he found many small polyps that never had showed on CT scans, MRIs or nasal endoscopy. I am still recovering and using Nasonex and irrigation. I am about to start allergy shots next week. I was told the nasonex and shots are necessary to slow the regrowth of the polyps (they normally do always recur), and treat the allergies which had thickened all the membranes over many years. If you are anywhere near NYC please e-mail me for the name and location of my doctor. Please don’t give up, keep searching until you find the right doctor for you. Nadine
I saw a new ENT doctor today. My previous two ENT doctors basically gave up on me. I have had a sinus infection for two years now. It won’t go away despite surgery and 13 courses of antibiotics. CT scans and endoscopes show my sinuses are completely infitrated with polps. This new ENT doctor wants me to try the following: prednisone for three days singulair for thirty days I will also be taking my normal medications simultaneously with the new meds which include: nasacort 1 spray twice a day flovent 1 puff twice a day And of course, I’ll continue irrigating everyday and using lots of saline spray and drinking lots of water. I also started allergy shots yesterday which noone has told me I shouldn’t be taking even though I live with an infection every day. So, the bad news is the ENT mentioned he will consider doing that surgery that removes the lining of my sinuses if the prednisone and singulair don’t work. He said this type of surgery is risky because of the proximity to the eyes and brain, and that there may be some not-so-nice effects after of the surgery. I feel like I’m in a no-win situation. If I don’t remove the lining of my sinuses, then I live with an infection everyday which I think has the potential to cause serious damage. If I do remove the lining of my sinuses, the risk is high and the results not very pleasant. Needless to say, I’m depressed. I know I am NOT MY DISEASE but it is HARD to remain positive in light of this new prognosis which represents my third opinion from a specialist. Comments on anything I’ve said in this message would be greatly appreciated, particularily your experience with either or both of the medications I mentioned: singulair and prednisone to treat polyps. Do you share a similiar story to me, I’d really like to hear from you. reoccuring polyps? unsuccessful surgery to remove polyps? chronic sinus infection? unsuccessful antibiotic treatments? have had, or are facing radical sinus surgery? feeling helpless and hopeless? Thank you for listening. Brenda Pickering, Ontario, Canada bmck…@home.com
Hello all, I have been on Effexor XR 37.5mg once a day for a week. The side-effects have gone away except one, the feel of being light headed. My questions is, how long will the lightheadness last? Will this go away? Thank you to all who respond, Mike
not anwerable 100%, but often, yes it does go away. Give it 4 to 6 weeks, then re-assess. Make sure you’re well hydrated and don’t have fever etc.. G
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I have been on Effexor XR 37.5mg once a day for a week. The side-effects have gone away except one, the feel of being light headed. My questions is, how long will the lightheadness last? Will this go away? Thank you to all who respond, Mike
Hi Mike, I took extra Xanax when I felt that way but light-headedness was one of my anxiety symptoms anyway. Just exacerbated, initially, by Effexor. One week may seem a long time but adjustment to Effexor can take much longer. Hang in there, Meryl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I have been on Effexor XR 37.5mg once a day for a week. The side-effects have gone away except one, the feel of being light headed. My questions is, how long will the lightheadness last? Will this go away? Thank you to all who respond, Mike
Has anyone noticed a lot of weight gain with Effexor XR? I took my first 37.5 mg pill today and I’m already significantly overweight as is, so I need to know if this is about to get worse. I have heard things from both end of the spectrum. What did you all experience?
My situation is the same as your: I’m overweight and I started taking Effexor 37.5 XR. I started taking Effexor 2 1/2 weeks ago. Effexor for me was an appetite suppressant and I lost 3 pounds the first week. I was not eating or drinking fluids, which made the side-effects worse than they should have been. So, if you find that you are not hungry, remember to drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated and eat a little something. Mike
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone noticed a lot of weight gain with Effexor XR? I took my first 37.5 mg pill today and I’m already significantly overweight as is, so I need to know if this is about to get worse. I have heard things from both end of the spectrum. What did you all experience?
Thanks Mike! I know drugs tend to affect everyone differently, but it is nice to hear someone who DIDN’T gain weight on it. I am hoping it’ll help with that too. Keep me posted on how it goes for you. Suzanne
Thanks Mike! I know drugs tend to affect everyone differently, but it is nice to hear someone who DIDN’T gain weight on it. I am hoping it’ll help with that too. Keep me posted on how it goes for you. Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, I have been on Efexor for a few years now and recently upped my dose. I have not gained any weight on it and with cutting out some fast foods, I have actually lost some weight. I did put on heaps with Prozac and still need to loose more of it. Jude.
I watched the Primetime report on Paxil. We all know what sensationalist, alarmist crap many of these media reports are, but here’s what I DID get from the report: 1. I suspect, because it was claimed outright, that the makers of antidepressant drugs haven’t much of a clue how they work. The main evidence claimed was that the drug increases brain weight, so it MUST be getting to the brain. [So does a bullet.] 2. 20-40% of patients on Paxil have significant withdrawal symptoms. Over 100 adolescents committed suicide because of it. These numbers were in internal documents but denied to the public because they were "not statistically significant". . 3. Its main target in many adolescents is headaches . . . yet look at the nature of depression and consider the range of effects any drug must have to fight that many symptoms. SURELY any drug that does THAT many things to our MINDS has a strong potential to be much worse than the hot flashes it’s intended to mitigate in HT patients. 4. Some patients require "months" of agony to withdraw from Paxil. Guess what? IAD resumes in "months". The biggest message I came away with? I’m going to do a lot of reading before I even consider an antidepressant drug. And since the only "cure" I’ ve read about yet for hot flashes is antidepressants, and the "cure" is just a 50% reduction, and hot flashes are virtually guaranteed, I’m going to complete that reading before choosing HT. Now multiply that scenario by the number of SEs of HT, and realize that the fix for many of those SEs is another drug . . . with its own SEs, and that no drug company WILLINGLY admits to SEs. I.P. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just watching GMA whereby they discussed Paxil and how the withdrawal symptoms have been greatly downplayed. The side effects can vary from headaches to debilitating electrical shock sensations. Apparently the company producing the drug have this repressed data from their own studies although they state that they have made the physicians aware. They will be presenting this story tonight on Primetime for those interested.
I was just watching GMA whereby they discussed Paxil and how the withdrawal symptoms have been greatly downplayed. The side effects can vary from headaches to debilitating electrical shock sensations. Apparently the company producing the drug have this repressed data from their own studies although they state that they have made the physicians aware. They will be presenting this story tonight on Primetime for those interested. Sandi
Paxil is about the worst to get off because it has a very short half-life. http://www.citypages.com/databank/23/1141/article10788.asp the 2nd page addresses the half-life issues. HTH Lori
conviction: Now THAT would worry my wife. I’m irritable enough as it is; is Clarence — and will I become — grouchy because of ADT? Or has ADT made Clarence more pleasant than he was pre-PC by suppressing his emotions? I.P.
When I was a kid, I put my hand on the stove. It was HOT! I’m that sort of person who lives outside the edge. As for being pleasant at any time, my wife has called me "Grumpy" for as long as I can remember. Point is, I’m trying to get in a few days work every week to maintain my "Millionaire" status, branded on me by CentreLink, (our learned Welfare Organisation), 4 yrs ago after I’d been ratting trash cans for sustenance for 3 months due to a slight economic downturn. Believe me, if you get on ADT, you can kiss it all goodbye. I’m starting to feel I’ll end up like Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest". Androcur Tabs 50mg/day plus a shot of Lucrin quarterly. and revert to the ADT for another 12 months. What a blast!! — "if you can see it coming, head it off at the pass, else put the wagons in a circle" — Please reply to this ng as: — my email adress is 100% faked to prevent proliferation of SPAM!! — Regards — Clarence Crow
I.P. wrote The real message of my personal dilemma for others in this forum is this: PC and its treatment are EXTREMELY complicated stuff . . . far more so than any doctor has time to explain thoroughly. Read. And read. And read. Those two points are possibly the most important of any when dealing with this bastard.
Oh . . . you mean the CANCER. 
I.P.
The real message of my personal dilemma for others in this forum is this: PC and its treatment are EXTREMELY complicated stuff . . . far more so than any doctor has time to explain thoroughly. Read. And read. And read.
Those two points are possibly the most important of any when dealing with this bastard. — Prostate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3bN0M0 PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSA .07 .05 .06 Lupron (3 mo) 8/03 (48), 12/03, 4/04 (49), 09/04 (50) non Illegitimi carborundum
Now THAT would worry my wife. I’m irritable enough as it is; is Clarence — and will I become — grouchy because of ADT? Or has ADT made Clarence more pleasant than he was pre-PC by suppressing his emotions? I.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And a hearty ‘Good Morning’ to you too, Clarence. — Prostate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3bN0M0 PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSA .07 .05 .06 Lupron (3 mo) 8/03 (48), 12/03, 4/04 (49), 09/04 (50) non Illegitimi carborundum up off the mat and advised with conviction: Antidepressant treats hot flashes in men taking hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo study finds Paxil (paroxetine) diminishes hot flashes in men who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. <snip BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! There’s just too many REAMS of doubtful INFORMATION being posted here!! Listen up, all you pussies, I’m a grouchy old buzzard currently on ADT Hormones prior to RAD.
Hi All Men don’t have hot flashes, they have power surges!! Jamie
Hi Sandi…. I know all about the withdrawal symptoms of these SSRI drugs simply because my daughter and my sister suffer from seratonin deficiency and are on them. One on Welbutrin (Zyban) and the other on Effexor. Our ditz of a family doctor told my daughter to just cut them out in two days. She couldn’t get off the couch due to dizzy spells and nausea!! I phoned the pharmacy and they were horrified. Thanks to them, she cut them down VERY gradually and was OK. It would have happened to my sister as well, had I not gone thru this with my daughter, and warned her. Who should we blame?? Doctors who do not read the literature and drug companies who do not disclose all the details. All of these drugs are Prozac derivatives (some 30 of them, I believe) and they do have major withdrawal problems. Paxil has been found to cause suicidal tendencies……which it is supposed to be eliminating. These anti-depressants are very powerful drugs, so use them as your pharmacist directs you to…..they seem to know more. And check to see if there are any cross-medication problems as well. And thanks for the info on Primetime….I will look for it tonight. Heather
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just watching GMA whereby they discussed Paxil and how the withdrawal symptoms have been greatly downplayed. The side effects can vary from headaches to debilitating electrical shock sensations. Apparently the company producing the drug have this repressed data from their own studies although they state that they have made the physicians aware. They will be presenting this story tonight on Primetime for those interested. Sandi
The effects you list, side or not, are but a very small part of the menu, and don’t address the severity some people encounter with some effects or the relative commonality of various effects. Some effects take months to show up, some take months to disappear after ADT cessation, and some can be permanent. And even the benefits of ADT are debatable, regardless of the SEs. If I become convinced I can try ADT for a month or two and realisticaly assess its impacts without being committed to long-term impacts, I’ll jump on the bandwagon. My research so far doesn’t strongly support that approach. I consider the distinction between intended effects and SEs vital because generally, intended effects address benefit and SEs address harm. If a treatment doesn’t work, SEs are irrelevant because I’m not trying it. And many trials study only the intended effect — prolonged heartbeat — without considering QOL. IMO, that renders some studies almost moot. The real message of my personal dilemma for others in this forum is this: PC and its treatment are EXTREMELY complicated stuff . . . far more so than any doctor has time to explain thoroughly. Read. And read. And read. I took several pages of typewritten questions to each of the several doctors I consulted about my PC. Every doctor was very pleased and impressed at this, and some said they wished every patient would do it. I.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 10. I did, and it makes me wonder . . . Do I want to spend my last years obsessed with juggling chemicals and side effects with a chemically impaired brain, or spend maybe fewer — or maybe more — years being I.P. Freely rather than a nut case? I imagine most people relatively recently diagnosed obsess of the issues of ‘life as I knew it’ vs. ‘life as it will be or may be.’ But, what you really need to concern yourself with is the effects of the drugs. Calling some effects "intended" and the others as "side" effects is, IMHO, a distraction. Everything you put in your body has effects. Every place you put your body has effects. Every position you put your body in and the duration you keep your body in that position has effects. Every day of your life, you make decisions on thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of permutations that have effects on your body. It is silly to consider them intended and side effects. They are just plane effects. You do this, and that, that and that happens. Some effects may be positive. They may be negative. They may be positive now and negative later. Or visa versa. They may be positive and negative concurrently. What you really have to do is list the effects and possible effects of ADT. They are; 1. extended life. 2. temporary impotence. 3. temporary disinterest. They may also be; 1. permanent impotence, 2. emotional instability, 3. bone mass loss, 4. hot flashes. Then, decide if some of the effects are worth it in lieu of the others. But, with ADT, you have this great option. Try it for 30, 60, 90 days. If you don’t like it, send it back… no questions asked.
And a hearty ‘Good Morning’ to you too, Clarence. — Prostate Cancer Survivor (so far), not a doctor Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3bN0M0 PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSA .07 .05 .06 Lupron (3 mo) 8/03 (48), 12/03, 4/04 (49), 09/04 (50) non Illegitimi carborundum
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – up off the mat and advised with conviction: Antidepressant treats hot flashes in men taking hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo study finds Paxil (paroxetine) diminishes hot flashes in men who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. <snip BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! There’s just too many REAMS of doubtful INFORMATION being posted here!! Listen up, all you pussies, I’m a grouchy old buzzard currently on ADT Hormones prior to RAD. The other day I was in a bad mood, so I downed a couple of Amitryptiline (Endep 25) and they damn near killed me. Apart from my being useless for a day and a half, all my Osteo-Arthritis pains magnified, plus a few new ones emerged. I phoned into the Rad Oncology Dept, but was only able to get a nurse, who advised me to CEASE them immediately, and see my GP about some alternative. — "if you can see it coming, head it off at the pass, else put the wagons in a circle" — Please reply to this ng as: — my email adress is 100% faked to prevent proliferation of SPAM!! — Regards — Clarence Crow
I was just watching GMA whereby they discussed Paxil and how the withdrawal symptoms have been greatly downplayed.
I wonder who is accused of downplaying the withdrawal symptoms. My wife’s doctor was very frank about the danger of self-unmedicating with it. To be sure, he called me to tell me, just in case my wife was in a poor state of mind if and when she decided to do it.
Each time I’ve seen that yet another antidepressant fixes hot flashes, several thoughts spring to mind: 1. Depression is serious stuff, and antidepressants are serious meds, so any problem requiring antidepressants must be pretty serious.
(snip) IP is worried about very little. Maybe he should pop a pill The dosage of antidepressant that is required for hot flash control is far less than the therapeutic dosage for depression. Frex, I was prescribed Effexor, an antidepressant, to control the hot flashes caused by Zoladex. The prescription called for a beginning dosage of just 37.5mg. Something similar exists with Proscar, which is used to treat BPH and PCa, and Propecia, which is used to treat male-pattern baldness. Both are finasteride, but the Propecia dosage is far less than Proscar. As it happens, as I reported elsewhere in the NG, I recently switched from Zoladex to Lupron and have far fewer and milder hot flashes 
so I elected not to proceed with the Effexor. A SE of that decision is that I have saved mucho dinero; Effexor is expensive. Regards, Steve J
10. I did, and it makes me wonder . . . Do I want to spend my last years obsessed with juggling chemicals and side effects with a chemically impaired brain, or spend maybe fewer — or maybe more — years being I.P. Freely rather than a nut case?
I imagine most people relatively recently diagnosed obsess of the issues of ‘life as I knew it’ vs. ‘life as it will be or may be.’ But, what you really need to concern yourself with is the effects of the drugs. Calling some effects "intended" and the others as "side" effects is, IMHO, a distraction. Everything you put in your body has effects. Every place you put your body has effects. Every position you put your body in and the duration you keep your body in that position has effects. Every day of your life, you make decisions on thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of permutations that have effects on your body. It is silly to consider them intended and side effects. They are just plane effects. You do this, and that, that and that happens. Some effects may be positive. They may be negative. They may be positive now and negative later. Or visa versa. They may be positive and negative concurrently. What you really have to do is list the effects and possible effects of ADT. They are; 1. extended life. 2. temporary impotence. 3. temporary disinterest. They may also be; 1. permanent impotence, 2. emotional instability, 3. bone mass loss, 4. hot flashes. Then, decide if some of the effects are worth it in lieu of the others. But, with ADT, you have this great option. Try it for 30, 60, 90 days. If you don’t like it, send it back… no questions asked.
I was just watching GMA whereby they discussed Paxil and how the withdrawal symptoms have been greatly downplayed. The side effects can vary from headaches to debilitating electrical shock sensations. Apparently the company producing the drug have this repressed data from their own studies although they state that they have made the physicians aware. They will be presenting this story tonight on Primetime for those interested. Sandi
up off the mat and advised with conviction: Antidepressant treats hot flashes in men taking hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo study finds Paxil (paroxetine) diminishes hot flashes in men who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer. <snip
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!! There’s just too many REAMS of doubtful INFORMATION being posted here!! Listen up, all you pussies, I’m a grouchy old buzzard currently on ADT Hormones prior to RAD. The other day I was in a bad mood, so I downed a couple of Amitryptiline (Endep 25) and they damn near killed me. Apart from my being useless for a day and a half, all my Osteo-Arthritis pains magnified, plus a few new ones emerged. I phoned into the Rad Oncology Dept, but was only able to get a nurse, who advised me to CEASE them immediately, and see my GP about some alternative. — "if you can see it coming, head it off at the pass, else put the wagons in a circle" — Please reply to this ng as: — my email adress is 100% faked to prevent proliferation of SPAM!! — Regards — Clarence Crow
Each time I’ve seen that yet another antidepressant fixes hot flashes, several thoughts spring to mind: 1. Depression is serious stuff, and antidepressants are serious meds, so any problem requiring antidepressants must be pretty serious. 2. Any med that can combat a serious problem must have some pretty serious deliberate effects. If their purpose is to reduce depression, then reducing hot flashes is by definition a SE of the antidepressant. Jeez . . . what are its INTENDED effects? i.e., What changes do they make in my body to achieve their INTENDED effect of reducing depression . . . and obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, among others? 3. Do I want to add those intended effects to the SEs of my meds, which, after all, are the reasons I need antidepressants in the first place? 4. What are the other SEs of the antidepressant, besides reducing the number and severity of hot flashes? 5. How many of the antidepressant’s SEs need additional meds to combat THEM? 6. Worse yet, look up the SEs of these antidepressants. Some of the lists run into scores of effects, many of them serious. 7. When do we stop ingesting exponentially increasing numbers of meds and just get on with our lives and hope we beat the statistics? 8. Who sez the statistics aren’t skewed by all the freaking cancatenated SE meds? 9. And in case that list of questions didn’t give me pause, ask Google about the side effects of Paxil/Prozac . . . and stand back. 10. I did, and it makes me wonder . . . Do I want to spend my last years obsessed with juggling chemicals and side effects with a chemically impaired brain, or spend maybe fewer — or maybe more — years being I.P. Freely rather than a nut case? My wife prefers I.P. Freely. That’s why she married him. And I can think of 647 things more fun to do than sitting here researching medications and SEs. But in case I’m overreacting, I’ll keep reading. The problem with THAT plan is that as I expand my search into an exponentially increasing fan of links, I find more support than opposition to my tentative plan . . . such as the end of this Mayo Clinic reference itself. But maybe that’s a good thing, because the confusion factor shrinks with every new report like this one. Following this Mayo Clinic study leads to scores — hundreds? — of related studies . . . most of them spiralling towards the same dilemma: do we want to maximize our heartbeats with the certainty of SEs, or maximize our QOL with the possibility of many SE-free years, then when (IF?) the PC hits the fan we decide an optimal course based on data at that point? Hell, I just spent half an hour on this, when I couldda been actually WATCHING West Wing . . . or maybe making out with my wife. Now multiply that dilemma by a thousand and add 645 other activities. I suspect that many of us would LOSE free time, not gain it, by opting for HT and its complications. I’ve already spent most of a month researching it, and I haven’t even had one shot or one symptom or one SE yet. I.P.
Antidepressant treats hot flashes in men taking hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo study finds Paxil (paroxetine) diminishes hot flashes in men who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo Clinic researchers report. An antidepressant medication is an effective treatment to reduce hot flashes in men who are taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo Clinic researchers report in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The five-week study followed 18 men who completed the therapy, illustrating that their hot flashes decreased from 6.2 per day to 2.5 per day. Hot flash scores, the frequency multiplied by the severity, decreased in the same period from 10.6 per day to 3 per day. "Newer antidepressants have been proven effective in reducing hot flashes in women but have not been studied in men," says Charles Loprinzi, M.D., Mayo Clinic Division of Medical Oncology and the lead author of the study. "Although hot flashes in men with prostate cancer are well documented," he said, "their treatment has not received as much attention." Some doctors treat hot flashes in men receiving hormonal therapy with a short course of a secondary hormone such as Megestrol acetate. But the Mayo team now expresses some "concern" about these secondary treatments (see below). The study looked at men receiving androgen ablation therapy, also known as hormonal deprivation therapy, or hormonal blockade, which is a well-established treatment for various stages of prostate cancer. The antidepressant tested, paroxetine (Paxil), has been used to treat mental depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, among others. A placebo-controlled trial had previously demonstrated that paroxetine reduced hot flashes in women. The study was conducted between August 2001 and October 2003. Men eligible for the study had to have a history of prostate cancer for which they were receiving androgen ablation therapy. Previous Mayo studies suggested that venlafaxine (Effexor) is effective to treat hot flashes in men undergoing hormonal therapy and that citalopram (Celexa) reduces such hot flashes in women. A commoner, older treatment for hot flashes is Megace (Megestrol acetate). Megace is a progestogen, a man-made form of the female hormone progesterone. Megace is sometimes used to treat prostate cancer and when given with newer hormone blockade drugs like Lupron or Zoladex it reduces hot flashes by up to 90 per cent, according to a Mayo study in 2002. But there have been reports of men whose prostate cancer progressed while taking Megace, In 1999 Oliver Sartor M.D. at Louisiana State University Medical Center, reported "a case in which megestrol acetate (20 mg bid) was administered for symptomatic control of hot flashes in a medically castrated patient with prostate cancer. The patient was subsequently noted to have a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Megestrol acetate administration was discontinued, and the PSA level declined. These data indicate that even the low doses of megestrol acetate used for control of hot flashes can be associated with PSA increases in some patients with prostate cancer." This may be especially a concern because, as another study points out, patients whose doctors prescribed Megace for hot flashes have been found to stay on this treatment for three years or more. The authors of the current Mayo study say this therapy "may affect prostate cancer growth and/or cause significant side effects." Patients who do not wish to take an antidepressant for hot flashes need not feel like mavericks. Most patients who experience hot flashes are not interested in adding a medication to suppress them. In a presentation at ASCO in 2001, a team from University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center said that although over 70 per cent of prostate cancer patients they studied complained of "a little" to "some" discomfort during hot flashes, "of those not receiving treatment, fewer than 50 per cent would consider taking medication to treat them." Hot flashes are "a significant side-effect of hormonal treatment," this team concluded, and drugs are available to manage the flashes, but "a significant percentage of patients do not find it as an acceptable option. Therefore, alternative support/educational interventions should also be considered to help patients better understand manage and cope with this treatment side effect. " Others who worked with Dr. Loprinzi on the Paxil study are: Debra Barton, R.N., Ph.D.; Lisa Carpenter; Jeff Sloan, Ph.D.; Paul Novotny; Matthew Gettman, M.D.; and Bradley Christensen, all from Mayo Clinic. knowledge is power – growing old is mandatory – growing wise is optional "Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so." http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc
Antidepressant treats hot flashes in men taking hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo study finds Paxil (paroxetine) diminishes hot flashes in men who are receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo Clinic researchers report. An antidepressant medication is an effective treatment to reduce hot flashes in men who are taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer, Mayo Clinic researchers report in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The five-week study followed 18 men who completed the therapy, illustrating that their hot flashes decreased from 6.2 per day to 2.5 per day. Hot flash scores, the frequency multiplied by the severity, decreased in the same period from 10.6 per day to 3 per day. "Newer antidepressants have been proven effective in reducing hot flashes in women but have not been studied in men," says Charles Loprinzi, M.D., Mayo Clinic Division of Medical Oncology and the lead author of the study. "Although hot flashes in men with prostate cancer are well documented," he said, "their treatment has not received as much attention." Some doctors treat hot flashes in men receiving hormonal therapy with a short course of a secondary hormone such as Megestrol acetate. But the Mayo team now expresses some "concern" about these secondary treatments (see below). The study looked at men receiving androgen ablation therapy, also known as hormonal deprivation therapy, or hormonal blockade, which is a well-established treatment for various stages of prostate cancer. The antidepressant tested, paroxetine (Paxil), has been used to treat mental depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, among others. A placebo-controlled trial had previously demonstrated that paroxetine reduced hot flashes in women. The study was conducted between August 2001 and October 2003. Men eligible for the study had to have a history of prostate cancer for which they were receiving androgen ablation therapy. Previous Mayo studies suggested that venlafaxine (Effexor) is effective to treat hot flashes in men undergoing hormonal therapy and that citalopram (Celexa) reduces such hot flashes in women. A commoner, older treatment for hot flashes is Megace (Megestrol acetate). Megace is a progestogen, a man-made form of the female hormone progesterone. Megace is sometimes used to treat prostate cancer and when given with newer hormone blockade drugs like Lupron or Zoladex it reduces hot flashes by up to 90 per cent, according to a Mayo study in 2002. But there have been reports of men whose prostate cancer progressed while taking Megace, In 1999 Oliver Sartor M.D. at Louisiana State University Medical Center, reported "a case in which megestrol acetate (20 mg bid) was administered for symptomatic control of hot flashes in a medically castrated patient with prostate cancer. The patient was subsequently noted to have a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Megestrol acetate administration was discontinued, and the PSA level declined. These data indicate that even the low doses of megestrol acetate used for control of hot flashes can be associated with PSA increases in some patients with prostate cancer." This may be especially a concern because, as another study points out, patients whose doctors prescribed Megace for hot flashes have been found to stay on this treatment for three years or more. The authors of the current Mayo study say this therapy "may affect prostate cancer growth and/or cause significant side effects." Patients who do not wish to take an antidepressant for hot flashes need not feel like mavericks. Most patients who experience hot flashes are not interested in adding a medication to suppress them. In a presentation at ASCO in 2001, a team from University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center said that although over 70 per cent of prostate cancer patients they studied complained of "a little" to "some" discomfort during hot flashes, "of those not receiving treatment, fewer than 50 per cent would consider taking medication to treat them." Hot flashes are "a significant side-effect of hormonal treatment," this team concluded, and drugs are available to manage the flashes, but "a significant percentage of patients do not find it as an acceptable option. Therefore, alternative support/educational interventions should also be considered to help patients better understand manage and cope with this treatment side effect. "
I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head.
Try reducing your dosage at just 2 1/2 mg at a time, and do that for at least a couple weeks before reducing it some more. It can take a while. You have time to mess with it, so you can go as slowly as you like. I’ve successfully reduced my Paxil to only 5 mg a day, plus .5 Ativan morning and evening. But I’m still sleepy. : ) Dot
Ken, I’ve been on Celexa for several years, and it is my "miracle drug". YMMV depending on your chemical reaction to any medication…. Good luck!!!
I’ve been on Celexa for 1year 3months. It took about 8 weeks to start working and I developed a lot of side effects; prickly skin, itching rash, funny taste, teeth grinding, yawning, diarrhea, gas, restless night legs, purple blotches, insomnia and some sexual side effects. My friend switched from Zoloft to Celexa and she said that the Zoloft side effects were worse than Celexa. So I’m wondering if I have had an atypical reaction. I only ocassionally experience a side effect now (thankfully) but my dosage was increased from 20mg to 40mg about two months after I started because I didn’t feel it working.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – May I ask what was the horrible experience you had with Celexa? I’m taking it also and am trying to confirm some things. Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety. It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all. I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness? Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique? Thanks!
sure Ken… Celexa doubled if not tripled my anxiety in the 2 months of use.. my panic attacks tripled and were incredibly more intense.. i could not sleep.. and had restless leg syndrome.. i was always nauseaus.. and sometimes i had so much energy i didn’t know what to do with myself.. that could have been due to the anxiety though.. it basicially did to me the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do.. hope that helps!
Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety. It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all. I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months.
I’m almost a week into weaning off Paxil CR, and going on to Lexapro. My PDoc called me a ‘textbook case of Paxil side effects’ – sleepiness, intense tiredness all the time, major concentration problems were the biggies. Actually at one time or another, I think I had every side effect except the sexual problems. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head.
Are you working with a doctor on this? What is his/her advice? Can you start on another AD or a benzo while you wean off? Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness? Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique? Thanks!
The best way I found to cope with the sleepiness and tiredness was to get *lots* of sleep. If I didn’t get at least 9 hours, I was hopeless at work. With that, and massive amounts of caffeine I survived. I am so relieved to be getting off that stuff. Gypsy’s Wife, Partner, Lover, and Life Companion
May I ask what was the horrible experience you had with Celexa? I’m taking it also and am trying to confirm some things.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety. It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all. I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness? Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique? Thanks!
Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety. It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all. I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness? Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique? Thanks!
I read an article about people taking Zyban (a quit smoking drug) to treat depression and panic. Anyone ever try it?
Zyban, which is sold to help people quit smoking, is actually the same drug as Wellbutrin, which is used to treat depression. Wellbutrin SR (slow release) is now available. But Wellbutrin *can* cause jitteriness, so it is not often prescribed as a first-course anti-depressant for someone with anxiety. However, after using the SSRI’s for years and finally getting tired of the sexual side effects, I began using Wellbutrin SR over a year ago. I have had no heightened sense of anxiety. Your Mileage May Vary….. I also take Xanax 0.5mg three times a day. It is more likely that a psychiatrist would prescribe one of the SSRI drugs (Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, among others) before prescribing Wellbutrin to treat someone with a combo of depresison *and* anxiety attacks. When I began taking Prozac, it was as if my world change completely… I became more self-confident, and I was able to confront some of my long-held fears. I too, Prozac for about 10 years before converting to the Wellbutrin. Best wishes! MikeH
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read an article about people taking Zyban (a quit smoking drug) to treat depression and panic. Anyone ever try it?
dragon wrote:
Guess what? My wife was diagnosed with severe OCD this morning. I guess she may change her views. What a mind trip! Calvin
Hi Calvin, What a strange twist. So, now what? — monkey http://pages.hotbot.com/health/sillychickens/ mon…@gilligansisland.net (to email me axe ‘gilligans’) —
dragon wrote:
Guess what? My wife was diagnosed with severe OCD this morning. I guess she may change her views. What a mind trip!
Wow! I hope that she can change her views but only time will tell. Kind regards, Steve
Guess what? My wife was diagnosed with severe OCD this morning. I guess she may change her views. What a mind trip! Calvin * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
dragon wrote:
My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs.
and …
She is from China. So she has a different view on everything due to her culture.
Hi Dragon, Like a few of the other posters said, you could take your wife to the doctor with you. Also, maybe you could locate a doctor that is Chinese and/or go to a Chinese Medicine clinic where maybe you could speak with someone who might help build a bridge between the ‘western’ medicine thought and the views your wife has. — monkey http://pages.hotbot.com/health/sillychickens/ mon…@gilligansisland.net (to email me axe ‘gilligans’) —
dragon wrote:
She is from China. So she has a different view on everything due to her culture.
Hmmm… that’s a tough one. I can’t think of a better idea than fuzzybrain’s at the moment. I suppose that you could ignore her views but it could be a very unsatisfactory solution, especially if she has a lot of influence over your son. Kind regards, Steve
She is from China. So she has a different view on everything due to her culture. Calvin Tait * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Dear Dragon Sounds like, if you can arrange it, you and your wife might benefit from a session together with your MD or whomever it was that prescribed the drugs. — peace from fuzzybrain I’m not GOING crazy, I’m already there!!!! dragon <p_taitNOp_S…@yahoo.com.invalid
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Does anyone use Effexor for OCD? I have taken Paxil, Zoloft, and now Effexor XR with Klonopin for OCD and Anxiety. I take 150 mg a day. I have been diagnosed only a month ago with OCD My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network
*
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
dragon wrote:
Does anyone use Effexor for OCD? I have taken Paxil, Zoloft, and now Effexor XR with Klonopin for OCD and Anxiety. I take 150 mg a day.
I used to take Paxil (50 mg) and I now take Effexor (375 mg).
I have been diagnosed only a month ago with OCD
It’s early days then. You may not notice any benefits from the Effexor for a while yet.
My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs.
What an extraordinary attitude! There must be some reason for your wife thinking like this. I think that fuzzybrain’s suggestion of letting your wife talk to your psychiatrist about medications was a very good one. Does she have some strong religious beliefs that perhaps forbid taking medications? She obviously feels very strongly about this and seems to also be prepared to influence your son’s thinking. Perhaps she regards OCD as a "weakness"? Can you talk with her to find out what’s going on? Kind regards, Steve
My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs.
That is terrible! They are different from illegal drugs. People use illegal drugs to get "high", to feel what a normal person cannot feel in a normal day of their lives. We use our medications to feel normal, to have a normal day in our life. Our brains (I would argue) seem to be lacking some important chemicals… and the drugs give us what we need to function close to normally. There is a myth among ‘normal’ people that prozac, and other drugs will make you happy. They think it somehow magically makes you feel great everyday of your life ever after. They have no clue what it’s really like to need these drugs. I’m so sorry that your wife feels that way. If you need the drugs, take them. orlan
Does anyone use Effexor for OCD? I have taken Paxil, Zoloft, and now Effexor XR with Klonopin for OCD and Anxiety. I take 150 mg a day. I have been diagnosed only a month ago with OCD My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Would your wife be ashamed of you if you had high blood pressure and had to take medicine to control it? She is *seriously* misinformed about OCD and medication. I can not advise you specifically about Effexor because I take a different medication, but I *can* tell you that antidepressants have improved my life considerably. They *are* different than illegal drugs. No comparison. Maybe your doctor can talk some sense into her. Don’t let her fears and/or antipathy stop you from doing something that will probably help you in the long run. Regards, Ida dragon <p_taitNOp_S…@yahoo.com.invalid
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Does anyone use Effexor for OCD? I have taken Paxil, Zoloft, and now Effexor XR with Klonopin for OCD and Anxiety. I take 150 mg a day. I have been diagnosed only a month ago with OCD My wife says that if I take these medications, her and my son will be ashamed of me and that they are no different than illegal drugs. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network
*
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This sounds like it could be the start of agoraphobia. I’m surprised that the Xanax isn’t controlling it, although, I’m not sure if "reluctant" means you don’t go far from home at all or you do but don’t ‘enjoy’ the experience. Zoloft, like all anti-depressants, does take 4-8 weeks to work fully, however, Xanax’s action is almost immediate, usually 10-15 minutes. You haven’t stated quantities, but it seems that your dosage is too low. In addition to altering the dose, you can also use Xanax as a ’security blanket,’ take some with you and if you feel the need take an additional tablet. Initially, you may need the extra Xanax, but in time just knowing its there is enough. The meds. used to treat agoraphobia are exactly the same as for anxiety, so are the dosages. The point is that agoraphobia is a manifestation of fear, ie: anxiety, so if you lessen/eliminate the anxiety then you also lessen/eliminate agoraphobia. Ian Ian<<atdragoncon<dotnet
I have been on a full treatment regimen of all the SSRI’s, while using Xanax and/or klonipin, and found the SSRI’s always, no matter how long I was on them for (sometimes up to two years at max dosage) created a mix of anxiety and fatigue. Now, YMMV, and this is just me, but I find the short acting benzo’s like Xanax, Serax, Ativan, the best. In particular Xanax. My belief is that, even though the drugs don’t stay in the body a long time, for somebody who wants to avoid depression caused by using benzo’s, this may be a good thing. The Xanax gets into the body, does it’s job of calming me down, and gets out. Just the chemical changes alone may be enough without having a constant stream of the drug running through your veins. Again, this is just my opinion and experience, and everybody IS different. Just thought I would share it. Peace James — "All of us get lost in the darkness… Dreamers learn to steer by the stars.." Neil Peart, Rush, "The Pass"
snipped I have been on a full treatment regimen of all the SSRI’s, while using Xanax and/or klonipin, and found the SSRI’s always, no matter how long I was on them for (sometimes up to two years at max dosage) created a mix of anxiety and fatigue. Now, YMMV, and this is just me, but I find the short acting benzo’s like Xanax, Serax, Ativan, the best. snipped James
Hi, James Obviously you’re a benzo type guy, rather than a SSRI type. SSRI’s by virtue of their narrow method of action, mostly only on serotonin and specifically 5HT3, don’t suit everyone. It may be that you need something which also directly inhibits the noradrenaline (norepinephrine) pathways. Have you tried the TCA’s or Effexor. The TCAs affect a fairly wide range of neurotransmitters, Effexor affects both Serotonin and noradren. Just a thought. Ian Ian<<atdragoncon<dotnet
James MacLachlan schreef: I have been on a full treatment regimen of all the SSRI’s, while using Xanax and/or klonipin, and found the SSRI’s always, no matter how long I was on them for (sometimes up to two years at max dosage) created a mix of anxiety and fatigue. Now, YMMV, and this is just me, but I find the short acting benzo’s like Xanax, Serax, Ativan, the best. In particular Xanax. My belief is that, even though the drugs don’t stay in the body a long time, for somebody who wants to avoid depression caused by using benzo’s, this may be a good thing. The Xanax gets into the body, does it’s job of calming me down, and gets out. Just the chemical changes alone may be enough without having a constant stream of the drug running through your veins. Again, this is just my opinion and experience, and everybody IS different. Just thought I would share it. Peace James
Obviously benzo’s agree better with you than SSRI’s. There may be several reasons for that which I don’t want to go into now.BTW Xanax is the only benzo with a slight antidepressant effect as well. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — "All of us get lost in the darkness… Dreamers learn to steer by the stars.." Neil Peart, Rush, "The Pass"
Hi. I use Zoloft 200mg. daily and Klonopin at night 1 1/2 tablets and 1/2 tablet during the day. Klonopin is in the same family as Xanax. I am doing better, but I have severe panic attacks while driving. I only drive alone in my hometown, which isn’t that large. As far as going out I can with others but always have the what if’s with me at all times. I’m going to Californina with my mom and sister to visit my niece and I am scared to death. I’m not afraid of flying. I’m afraid of having an attack with no male figure around. But somehow I will make it through. I’ve been nervous about the trip for the month and a
Newtony 1 again. Yes the medication should treat both panic attacks & agoraphobia.
I am currently on a regimen of Xanax and Zoloft to treat panic disorder, no appreciable results as yet. Because I am constantly anticipating another panic attack, I have become reluctant to travel too far from home – could this be a form of agoraphobia? Does anyone have experience with these meds for treatment of agoraphobia as well as for panic attacks? Would appreciate all feedback. Thanks.
This sounds like it could be the start of agoraphobia. I’m surprised that the Xanax isn’t controlling it, although, I’m not sure if "reluctant" means you don’t go far from home at all or you do but don’t ‘enjoy’ the experience. Zoloft, like all anti-depressants, does take 4-8 weeks to work fully, however, Xanax’s action is almost immediate, usually 10-15 minutes. You haven’t stated quantities, but it seems that your dosage is too low. In addition to altering the dose, you can also use Xanax as a ’security blanket,’ take some with you and if you feel the need take an additional tablet. Initially, you may need the extra Xanax, but in time just knowing its there is enough. The meds. used to treat agoraphobia are exactly the same as for anxiety, so are the dosages. The point is that agoraphobia is a manifestation of fear, ie: anxiety, so if you lessen/eliminate the anxiety then you also lessen/eliminate agoraphobia. Ian Ian<<atdragoncon<dotnet
Hi also was put on xanex for my panic and I did experience not wanting to leave my house. My DR. put me on paxil but it is the same as zoloft these meds take about 2-3 weeks before you notice any differance. What I did to overcome my agoraphobia was to try to do at least one small trip a day and then as the paxil started to work I would take a xanex and go on a little larger trip now I can do the small trips with no xanex and the larger trips with a little help. It is very frustrating being on zoloft/paxil because there is not an automatic result but don’t give up it will get better I was were you are 3 weeks ago and now I’m half way to feeling like my old self!! You can do it to ! Good Luck!!
I would not call it agoraphobia, it sounds more like a secondary phobia to me. With Panic and Anxiety these are not too uncommon. I would think that the Zoloft would help here, but YMMV. How long have you been on these meds? Another possibility to look into to rid yourself of these fears would be CBT. That has been the most helpful to me to get rid of my secondary phobias that have popped up since being diagnosed. Of course YMMV. Good Luck d – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am currently on a regimen of Xanax and Zoloft to treat panic disorder, no appreciable results as yet. Because I am constantly anticipating another panic attack, I have become reluctant to travel too far from home – could this be a form of agoraphobia? Does anyone have experience with these meds for treatment of agoraphobia as well as for panic attacks? Would appreciate all feedback. Thanks.
Milliestoy schreef: I am currently on a regimen of Xanax and Zoloft to treat panic disorder, no appreciable results as yet. Because I am constantly anticipating another panic attack, I have become reluctant to travel too far from home – could this be a form of agoraphobia? Does anyone have experience with these meds for treatment of agoraphobia as well as for panic attacks? Would appreciate all feedback. Thanks.
Yes, this is a form of agoraphobia. Anticipatory anxiety and agoraphobia are best treated by a combo of a benzo (Xanax) and CBT, which has great results if you work hard on exposure which isn’t always easy but often pays off. Since when are you taking Zoloft & Xanax? I think it would be a good advice to go out and find a clincical psychologist specialized in CBT. Research shows a very goods track record indeed. I myself was completely housebound for months, started CBT in January and travelled to France this summer without any trouble. Couldn’t have started CBT without my meds (imipramine and Xanax) though. Philip
I am currently on a regimen of Xanax and Zoloft to treat panic disorder, no appreciable results as yet. Because I am constantly anticipating another panic attack, I have become reluctant to travel too far from home – could this be a form of agoraphobia? Does anyone have experience with these meds for treatment of agoraphobia as well as for panic attacks? Would appreciate all feedback. Thanks.
The FDA has issued a new warning on the nonsedating antihistamine Hismanal. See FDA Talk Paper: "T98-5 Ivy Fleischer Kupec: 301-827-6242 Feb. 9, 1998 Broadcast Media: 301-827-3434 Consumer Inquiries: 800-532-4440 IMPORTANT NEW SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT HISMANAL FDA today is warning consumers and health care providers about new safety information regarding the prescription antihistamine Hismanal (astemizole). This warning is being issued in conjunction with the addition of more information in the product label about cardiovascular adverse events, new potentially serious drug interactions and rare reports of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction. The following can be used to answer questions: Hismanal is associated with risks of death due to irregular heart rhythms when taken with certain other drugs and when used at higher than the recommended labeled dose. The new labeling provides information about a specific warning against simultaneously using Hismanal with other types of drugs such as the hypertension drug, Posicor (mibefradil dihydrochloride), and the antibiotics, Biaxin (clarithromycin) and TAO (troleandomycin). The new labeling also provides additional precautions against using Hismanal with a number of other drugs. These include: HIV protease inhibitors such as Crixivan (indinavir), Norvir (ritonavir), Invirase (saquinavir) and Viracept (elfinavir); serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Zoloft (sertraline), Serzone (nefazodone) and Paxil (paroxetine); and the antiasthma medication Zyflo (zileuton). Additionally, the label now recommends that Hismanal should not be taken with grapefruit juice. These recommendations are based on the potential of these drugs and grapefruit juice to interfere with the body’s handling and metabolism of Hismanal. The new labeling also emphasizes that patients with liver disorders should not take Hismanal. The new labeling is designed to give health care providers and consumers who use Hismanal the latest available information about these risks. In the event of Hismanal-related adverse events, health care providers are urged to contact the manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals One-to-One Customer Action Center at 1-800-JANSSEN (526-7736) or FDA MedWatch at (phone) 1-800-FDA-1088, (fax) 1-800-FDA-1078 or (mail) FDA, HF-2, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. #### "
Thanks for the Warning, I already new about the Grapefruit juice. I just started Hismanal a few months ago. Doesn’t do much for the itchy eyes, but it dries the heck out of my nose and mouth. Thank god my air-purifier is plugged in! _____ Environmental Consultant: Management of Indoor Quality air. MY Primary Management is on setting up Home-Businesses for people with little or no money 1-800-481-3181