Question:

I know that not gargling after taking inhaled steroids can lead to problems. I was just wondering if taking inhaled steroids and having oral sex could cause a problems too. Would there be an increased chance of getting an infection? Thanks

Response:

I was just wondering if taking inhaled steroids and having oral sex could cause a problems too. Would there be an increased chance of getting an infection?

What kind of infection are you referring to?? Ash http://www.angelfire.com/tn/Ashleigh1976/index.html

Response:

I’m really not sure what kind of infection, I just know that my throat doesn’t feel right and my Asthma gets worse. The doctor says it looks really red and that I could have an infection or just allergies. They usually just give me antibiotics, I don’t think they’ve ever taken a culture.  I asked the question only because the problem seems to occur around the same time I’ve had this kind of activity and I wanted to know if there could be a connection.  Maybe next time I’ll insist that the doctor take a throat culture.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just wondering if taking inhaled steroids and having oral sex could cause a problems too. Would there be an increased chance of getting an infection? What kind of infection are you referring to?? Ash http://www.angelfire.com/tn/Ashleigh1976/index.html

Response:

Thrush? Now there’s something for the weekend sir!! OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH !!!!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was just wondering if taking inhaled steroids and having oral sex could cause a problems too. Would there be an increased chance of getting an infection? What kind of infection are you referring to?? Ash http://www.angelfire.com/tn/Ashleigh1976/index.html

Response:

I’m really not sure what kind of infection, I just know that my throat doesn’t feel right and my Asthma gets worse. The doctor says it looks really red and that I could have an infection or just allergies. They usually just give me antibiotics, I don’t think they’ve ever taken a culture.  I asked the question only because the problem seems to occur around the same time I’ve had this kind of activity and I wanted to know if there could be a connection.  Maybe next time I’ll insist that the doctor take a throat culture.

    Well, the, uh, feminine area is lined with a mucous membrane, just like the throat.  So if you’ve a sore throat, it could be, uh, spread to your paramour.  The other possibility is that your paramour might have a relatively benign infection and be spreading it to you.  Exercise your judgment.

Response:

culture.    Well, the, uh, feminine area is lined with a mucous membrane, just like the throat.  So if you’ve a sore throat, it could be, uh, spread to your paramour.  The other possibility is that your paramour might have a relatively benign infection and be spreading it to you.  Exercise your judgment.

Light Soor is not uncommon for the Vagina, but makes normally no problems May be, there was a transfer, but I thing, this is not a problem of your sex praxis. Fungus is ubiquit

Question:

I had these symptoms and after blood tests it was determined that I was anemic.  Some nights I got very little sleep because of the intense "charley horses" in my legs. After three months of consuming ferrous sulfate 4 times a day I have relief. Kitty disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs. …. Has anyone – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

Response:

I had these symptoms and after blood tests it was determined that I was anemic.  Some nights I got very little sleep because of the intense "charley horses" in my legs. After three months of consuming ferrous sulfate 4 times a day I have relief. Kitty disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs. …. Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

I had identical problems for a couple of months. My pulmonologist put me on a very high dose of Flovent and a standard dose of Serevent. I had experienced leg cramps when on oral prednisone in the past and the high dose of inhaled Flovent was affecting me in the same way. To compound the problem, I learned that Serevent can deplete potassium, so there was another potential source of leg cramps. Fortunately, my asthma improved, so I’m now on a much lower dose of Flovent.  I also take a potassium tablet every other day. The leg cramps are gone but I’m going to check things out with my GP during my annual physical this month. It seems that the pulmonologist’s sole goal was to get rid of the asthma symptoms with little regard for the rest of my body.

Response:

I tried calcium salt, potassium and magnesium without relief. I was up most of the night two nights ago with intense repeat cramps in both feet, the calves, hand and elbow. I was really in pain, perhaps due to the potassium and bananas I had been taking all week. I’ll try iron supplements instead. I gave blood 10 days ago, so that explanation makes sense to me. Thanks!! Peggy I had these symptoms and after blood tests it was determined that I was anemic.  Some nights I got very little sleep because of the intense "charley horses" in my legs. After three months of consuming ferrous sulfate 4 times a day I have relief. Kitty disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs. …. Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

– To reply, remove the asterisk in asterisk.

Response:

Other and more tasty potassium sources:  bananas, tomato-based juices…

: I have found that potassium tablets help me with this problem. The bottle : tells the dosage to take. : : My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often : disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to : take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone : else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? : : Sleepless in San Antonio : I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking : Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions : associated with Serevent.  Jeff. : : — Murray Stone phone:  (403) 486-5146  fax:  (403) 483-7791 snailmail:  616-21, 10405 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB, T5J 3S2 Canada

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions associated with Serevent.  Jeff. Yep, I’ll go with the Serevent as well. The leaflet does list cramps as a side effect. For me the cramps are worth the relief that Serevent gives me. Remove the spam from address if replying by email

I also was taking Flovent,Severent, and Accolate along with Flonase.  I too was experiencing the severe cramps.  I discontinued the Accolate and have had the problem no more.  Cramps are also listed as an Accolate side effect.  I must have been one of those people that Accolate does not work for as I can tell no difference in my condition.

Response:

Yes I had bad leg cramps when I used Aerobid and Serevent at the same time, my Doctor said this is a known side effect of combining Serevent with some other meds,  it does happen , though it is a rare. She should talk to her doctor again. I had to be removed from the Serevent and had to take Pedisone to fight off the effects. Of course DO NOT STOP any meds without first talking with your Doctor. Dave Hereid – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy?

Response:

My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

Steroids can cause those symptoms, but they can also be caused by other things.  One of the most common causes is a lack of potassium.  My husband, the non-asthmatic in the family , had the same problems.  A banana or orange a day cured them. Chris Owens

Response:

Try having her drink a glass of tonic water. It has quinine in it that is an antispasmodic and has worked for me for years. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

Response:

My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions associated with Serevent.  Jeff.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio Steroids can cause those symptoms, but they can also be caused by other things.  One of the most common causes is a lack of potassium.  My husband, the non-asthmatic in the family , had the same problems.  A banana or orange a day cured them. Chris Owens

I have severe muscle cramps often when tapering from Prednisone. during those times, I take extra calcium (Prednisone depelets it). A previous message mentions tonic water. I often find it helps to drink orange juice mixed into tonic water. That combines potassium with quinine, both of which can help with the muscle cramps that can’t be walked off or stretched out.

Response:

My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.   I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions associated with Serevent.  Jeff.

Yes … if you read the data sheet with Serevent carefully, you’ll discover the cause of the cramps … Serevent actually works to deplete potassium from your body. Since I started using Serevent I’ve also started drinking orange for breakfast every day and tomato or V8 juice for lunch. This seems to fix the problem for me. —  Don Faatz                       |

Response:

I have found that potassium tablets help me with this problem. The bottle tells the dosage to take. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions associated with Serevent.  Jeff.

Response:

Try having her drink a glass of tonic water. It has quinine in it that is an antispasmodic and has worked for me for years.

Should it include Gin? My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

– Surfer! To e-mail change ww to w in ‘Reply to’

Response:

My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio I had the same problem, which disappeared when I stopped taking Serevent. The PDR lists muscle cramps as one of the adverse reactions associated with Serevent.  Jeff.

Yep, I’ll go with the Serevent as well. The leaflet does list cramps as a side effect. For me the cramps are worth the relief that Serevent gives me. Remove the spam from address if replying by email

Response:

I don’t know that the medication is actually connected to this.  I also have had the pain and cramping in my legs over the years but even before I started any asthma meds.  I do take the same meds she takes now and don’t have much problem with it anymore. In the past, potassium helped me.  Now I use valerian.  I took it every night for a week and now I take it a couple of nights a week.  I’d try either or both but not at the same time. There are medications that can also help with this but you need to talk to her doctor about it.  The sleep disorders unit at a local hospital may be able to give you some information as well. Loki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

Response:

My wife takes Flovent, Serevent and Accolate.  Her sleep is often disturbed by pain and muscle cramps in her legs.  The doctor said to take calcium, and that has helped a little, but not much.  Has anyone else had this experience, and does anyone know of a remedy? Sleepless in San Antonio

I doubt any of the 3 asthma drugs is implicated but Accolate might be a long shot possibility if cramps started after adding Accolate. Here are some references on muscle cramps in legs. http://www.healthnet.ivi.com/bh/cond/ailments/htm/musclec.htm "CAUSES Muscles contract or lengthen in response to electrical signals from nerves; minerals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium, which surround and permeate muscle cells, play a key role in the transmission of these signals. Imbalances in those minerals

Question:

Hi all — I wanted to report my pleasure with my Gurney’s black-stripe sunflowers. The plants are about 6 feet tall and vigorous, but for a change the flowers do not bend down and face the ground.  The flower heads are smaller than some varieties, but hold themselves up very well.  They look just fantastic!  I hope the birds will find and harvest them. KeziaK Northern VA

Response:

I would like to second that sunflower rave. I have generic sunflowers, dont knnow what type, I first planted them about 5 or 6 years ago in a small plot on the edge of my garden about 12 x 12, every year they have re seeded. I look forward to the blue jays that cruise by every fall for a few weeks and feast. Its a sustainable sunflower bed. Except of course for the roundup I spray every spring to clear out the weeds, the 2,4-D I use to clear out the broad leaf stuff, and the insecticides I use 3 or 4 times a year just to be on the safe side. NOT. Hi all — I wanted to report my pleasure with my Gurney’s black-stripe sunflowers. The plants are about 6 feet tall and vigorous, but for a change the flowers do not bend down and face the ground.  The flower heads are smaller than some varieties, but hold themselves up very well.  They look just fantastic!  I hope the birds will find and harvest them. KeziaK Northern VA

– Ken Toews    *            In life effects are certainty while causes                      Stay Hungry, Stay foolish  <<

Response:

Question:

Wishing you the best as you stop the effexor.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers ((((Di)))) JimD — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.

Now stop right there young lady!  Who says we have assigned times when we should be helping others here?  I think we can all get what we can and give when we can.  No one should feel obliged!  When it happens, it happens!  (Besides, I haven’t even had the time to say hi to the new people and I don’t want to look bad.)  ;-) Hi new people!  :-)    I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}}

Wishing you the best with the med change! ((((Di)))) Tono — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Thanks so much Jim.  I really appreciate it.  :-) Hugs, Di

Wishing you the best as you stop the effexor.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers ((((Di)))) JimD

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks. Now stop right there young lady!  Who says we have assigned times when we should be helping others here?  I think we can all get what we can and give when we can.  No one should feel obliged!  When it happens, it happens!  (Besides, I haven’t even had the time to say hi to the new people and I don’t want to look bad.)  ;-)

Thanks Tono!  :-)  You are right. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi new people!  :-)    I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Wishing you the best with the med change!

Thanks again Tono.  So far, so good. ((((Di)))) Tono

Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Thanks so much Elise.  I hope the weeks go by fast.  :-) Hugs, Di

Hi, Di, Wishing you much success with the med change.

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di Hi Di — Glad to hear you’re nearly rid of the nausea. I hope you feel better with every passing hour. I’ll be interested to hear how you like your new drug combination. Love Deirdre

Thanks so much Deirdre.  I’ll be so grateful when I’m off this crap.  So far, so good with Inderal and Compazine.  It took 10 mgs. of Compazine and 1 mg. of Ativan for the nausea to go away, most of the way.  Took another Ativan a little while ago. Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di

Hi Di. I’m not sure why these two drugs are contraindicated but I’m sure it’s no big deal if your doc recommended both  I can pretty much guarantee you will feel less nausea after quitting Effexor – it is a very nauseating drug! If you are going through effexor withdrawal and you start taking Remeron be careful – both could make you eat like a horse.  I just quit Lexapro (another slightly nauseating drug IMO) and I am eating like crazy.  Be well! — _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Di, Wishing you much success with the med change.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di

Hi Di — Glad to hear you’re nearly rid of the nausea. I hope you feel better with every passing hour. I’ll be interested to hear how you like your new drug combination. Love Deirdre — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that. I already sent you the email about the interaction, Di. Which isn’t clinically significant IMO. And taking the two together is not contraindicated. BTW benzos can be used for nausea. Occasionally I will take a Xanax for an upset stomach and find it very effective. Hope you feel better soon (((Di))) Chip

Thanks so much Chip.  I always appreciate it.  The Ativan helped and I took another one.  :-) Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di Hi Di. I’m not sure why these two drugs are contraindicated but I’m sure it’s no big deal if your doc recommended both  I can pretty much guarantee you will feel less nausea after quitting Effexor – it is a very nauseating drug! If you are going through effexor withdrawal and you start taking Remeron be careful – both could make you eat like a horse.  I just quit Lexapro (another slightly nauseating drug IMO) and I am eating like crazy.  Be well! — _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE

Thanks so much TJ.  You are soooooo right.  This is the worst med I’ve ever been on!  I’m not starting Remeron until I’m completely off Effexor.  I don’t mind the weight gain.  I need it.  LOL Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.

I already sent you the email about the interaction, Di. Which isn’t clinically significant IMO. And taking the two together is not contraindicated. BTW benzos can be used for nausea. Occasionally I will take a Xanax for an upset stomach and find it very effective. Hope you feel better soon (((Di))) Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Question:

Hey moron, solar cells work at night too! We have these little things called batteries, you fucking idiot. "Bill Bonde, one of many Fair and Balanced Conservatives, AKA Spike, currently brunching on extra juicy ortolans, where do you put the beaks

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "It is a massively fragile Rube Goldberg device that dangerously and inefficiently carts around electricity from expensive, polluting and extremely unsafe central generating plants… The technology for a decentralized, solar-based power system is ready now. We don’t need massive research breakthroughs…" Does anyone out there actually believe this stuff? In 1952 a Blue Ribbon report to Harry Truman predicted that the future of America’s energy rested with the sun.  It predicted 13 million solar-powered homes here by 1975, and the promise of decentralized, off-grid self-sufficiency. Instead, Dwight Eisenhower took us into the pit of the "Peaceful Atom".  A trillion dollars later, we have a half-century of crashing grids and dangerous nukes that are vulnerable to terrorism and must shut down precisely when they’re most needed, as they did during this latest blackout. I suppose your solar power won’t shut down when it’s most needed, at night. The latest Bush energy bill only makes the situation worse, with more nuke subsidies and a powerful push for fossil fuels, especially coal. Nuclear power and coal are the only practical major new sources of energy right now. Nuclear power is especially attractive. The whole system demands a green deconstruction.  Solar technologies are ready to make energy self-sufficiency a tangible reality. Photovoltaic cells on rooftops and embedded in windows can produce grid-free electricity, with battery or fuel-cell backups. Do you know what fuel cells cost? Geothermal power can heat and cool with nothing but the power of the earth’s crust. Sure but it isn’t available everywhere and where it is, tapping it too hard can cause negative effects in on nearby national treasures such as Yellow Stone. Methane digestion can turn waste into usable gas.  Basement generators can use biomass fuels like ethanol and soy diesel for off-grid self-sufficiency. These systems need not provide 100% of a building’s energy, but can gradually make them increasingly self-sufficient. If they don’t provide 100% of the build’s needs, then we will still need a grid. Meanwhile more efficient heating, lighting and cooling systems can reduce demand. Windows that actually open and close can balance usage, building by building. Bush’s "upgrading the grid" means a new money pit for the same old unsafe nukes, polluting coal burners and gas turbines whose prices are set to skyrocket all looped together by dangerous, wasteful wires that are bound to crash again and again. Almost all of the alternative sources of energy are not available on demand. Coal, nuclear, gas, are available on demand. A grid could be used to transfer power from where there is a temporary surplus to where it is needed. That’s what is done now. Doing away with that seems like a negative for those who want to run homes in cloudy areas on solar power. San Francisco has used part of a public bond to put the first of a new generation of solar cells atop its downtown Moscone Center.  Those same cells could’ve kept Madison Square Garden or any other Manhattan building up and running during this latest outage.  Will New Yorkers know better next time? The person who wrote this didn’t bother to even do the most basic of math. Geez. What if the outage had occurred in the Winter? At night?

Response:

"It is a massively fragile Rube Goldberg device that dangerously and inefficiently carts around electricity from expensive, polluting and extremely unsafe central generating plants… The technology for a decentralized, solar-based power system is ready now. We don’t need massive research breakthroughs…"

Does anyone out there actually believe this stuff? In 1952 a Blue Ribbon report to Harry Truman predicted that the future of America’s energy rested with the sun.  It predicted 13 million solar-powered homes here by 1975, and the promise of decentralized, off-grid self-sufficiency. Instead, Dwight Eisenhower took us into the pit of the "Peaceful Atom".  A trillion dollars later, we have a half-century of crashing grids and dangerous nukes that are vulnerable to terrorism and must shut down precisely when they’re most needed, as they did during this latest blackout.

I suppose your solar power won’t shut down when it’s most needed, at night. The latest Bush energy bill only makes the situation worse, with more nuke subsidies and a powerful push for fossil fuels, especially coal.

Nuclear power and coal are the only practical major new sources of energy right now. Nuclear power is especially attractive. The whole system demands a green deconstruction.  Solar technologies are ready to make energy self-sufficiency a tangible reality. Photovoltaic cells on rooftops and embedded in windows can produce grid-free electricity, with battery or fuel-cell backups.

Do you know what fuel cells cost? Geothermal power can heat and cool with nothing but the power of the earth’s crust.  

Sure but it isn’t available everywhere and where it is, tapping it too hard can cause negative effects in on nearby national treasures such as Yellow Stone. Methane digestion can turn waste into usable gas.  Basement generators can use biomass fuels like ethanol and soy diesel for off-grid self-sufficiency. These systems need not provide 100% of a building’s energy, but can gradually make them increasingly self-sufficient.

If they don’t provide 100% of the build’s needs, then we will still need a grid. Meanwhile more efficient heating, lighting and cooling systems can reduce demand. Windows that actually open and close can balance usage, building by building. Bush’s "upgrading the grid" means a new money pit for the same old unsafe nukes, polluting coal burners and gas turbines whose prices are set to skyrocket all looped together by dangerous, wasteful wires that are bound to crash again and again.

Almost all of the alternative sources of energy are not available on demand. Coal, nuclear, gas, are available on demand. A grid could be used to transfer power from where there is a temporary surplus to where it is needed. That’s what is done now. Doing away with that seems like a negative for those who want to run homes in cloudy areas on solar power. San Francisco has used part of a public bond to put the first of a new generation of solar cells atop its downtown Moscone Center.  Those same cells could’ve kept Madison Square Garden or any other Manhattan building up and running during this latest outage.  Will New Yorkers know better next time?

The person who wrote this didn’t bother to even do the most basic of math. Geez. What if the outage had occurred in the Winter? At night?

Response:

"It is a massively fragile Rube Goldberg device that dangerously and inefficiently carts around electricity from expensive, polluting and extremely unsafe central generating plants… The technology for a decentralized, solar-based power system is ready now. We don’t need massive research breakthroughs…" "San Francisco has used part of a public bond to put the first of a new generation of solar cells atop its downtown Moscone Center.  Those same cells could’ve kept Madison Square Garden or any other Manhattan building up and running during this latest outage.  Will New Yorkers know better next time?" The latest bogus fossil-nuke blackout: this grid should not exist by Harvey Wasserman, August 15, 2003 This is the fourth—and worst—completely unnecessary major regional blackout in this country in forty years, dating back to 1965. It’s scope—from Detroit to Ottawa to New York and New Jersey—is absolutely awesome, especially since it’s due to total stupidity and corruption. This does not count the blackouts that raged through California in 2000-2001.  Those were "blackmails," set by Enron and the other Bush gas cronies to rip $60 billion out of the state, leading to, among other things, the impending ouster of Gov. Gray Davis. When the lights went out, Davis kissed the feet of Southern California Edison’s John Bryson, who engineered a deregulation bill that gouged $30 billion out of the ratepayers for the state’s failed nukes.  That opened the gates for the gas pirates to steal yet another $60 billion. Davis got caught in the backdraft. The culprits in this latest northeastern disaster are basically the same—the barons of fossil and nuclear power and their cronies in the electric utility business. Their "weapon" is an ancient electric grid that’s obsolete if not obscene.   It is a massively fragile Rube Goldberg device that dangerously and inefficiently carts around electricity from expensive, polluting and extremely unsafe central generating plants to buildings that waste massive amounts of energy and generate none. That the grid will crash again and again and yet again is absolutely certain.  The only question is who are the real terrorists:  errant crazies who blow things up, or entrenched interests that refuse to change? The technology now exists to transcend this mess.  In the mid 1990s California’s green energy advocates proposed a 600-megawatt mosaic of solar, wind and other renewable generators that would have entirely prevented the fake deregulatory crisis of 2000-1.  It was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, but then killed by Southern California Edison and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Today, the Bush Administration wants to further subsidize its fossil/utility friends with a bad energy bill, and by pouring billions into "upgrading" the electric grid.  The only thing certain is that every cent of that money will be wasted. In 1952 a Blue Ribbon report to Harry Truman predicted that the future of America’s energy rested with the sun.  It predicted 13 million solar-powered homes here by 1975, and the promise of decentralized, off-grid self-sufficiency. Instead, Dwight Eisenhower took us into the pit of the "Peaceful Atom".  A trillion dollars later, we have a half-century of crashing grids and dangerous nukes that are vulnerable to terrorism and must shut down precisely when they’re most needed, as they did during this latest blackout.  The latest Bush energy bill only makes the situation worse, with more nuke subsidies and a powerful push for fossil fuels, especially coal. The whole system demands a green deconstruction.  Solar technologies are ready to make energy self-sufficiency a tangible reality. Photovoltaic cells on rooftops and embedded in windows can produce grid-free electricity, with battery or fuel-cell backups.  Geothermal power can heat and cool with nothing but the power of the earth’s crust.  Methane digestion can turn waste into usable gas.  Basement generators can use biomass fuels like ethanol and soy diesel for off-grid self-sufficiency. These systems need not provide 100% of a building’s energy, but can gradually make them increasingly self-sufficient.  Meanwhile more efficient heating, lighting and cooling systems can reduce demand. Windows that actually open and close can balance usage, building by building. Bush’s "upgrading the grid" means a new money pit for the same old unsafe nukes, polluting coal burners and gas turbines whose prices are set to skyrocket all looped together by dangerous, wasteful wires that are bound to crash again and again. San Francisco has used part of a public bond to put the first of a new generation of solar cells atop its downtown Moscone Center.  Those same cells could’ve kept Madison Square Garden or any other Manhattan building up and running during this latest outage.  Will New Yorkers know better next time? The technology for a decentralized, solar-based power system is ready now. We don’t need massive research breakthroughs. We need public demand and fully funded production capacity.  And to stop repeating the same mistakes because the utility and fossil/nuke guys fund the politicians in power. This isn’t rocket science.  It’s just common solar sense, known to all since 1952. Harvey Wasserman is author of THE LAST ENERGY WAR and senior editor of www.freepress.org. CONTACT THE FREE PRESS: PRINT: 1240 Bryden Road Columbus, Ohio 43209 Ph/Fx 614.253.2571 SOURCE: http://www.freepress.org/columns.php?strFunc=display&strID=735&strYea… Author=7 = = = = STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT’S GOING ON? = = = = More information: Daily Online 2 hour radio show reporting: www.DemocracyNow.org = = = = Sorry we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email For more information: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/ (peace) And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/ (general)

Response:

Question:

Everyone on the anxiety board (not moderated) seems to love Klonipin. Why is my doctor so adamant about getting me off it?

"The controversy surrounding benzodiazepine administration and potential abuse or addiction in routine patient use is generally not supported by the available scientific evidence. In a large community study of long-term alprazolam users, Romach and colleagues (1992) found that dosage did not escalate over prolonged use and that most patients used the benzodiazepines as prescribed. In fact, if deviations occured, it was generally that a patient took less than the prescribed dosage." Schatzberg and Nemeroff, 2nd Edition (1998) —- J Clin Psychopharmacol 1992 Oct;12(5):316-21 Characteristics of long-term alprazolam users in the community. Romach MK, Somer GR, Sobell LC, Sobell MB, Kaplan HL, Sellers EM. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The widespread use of benzodiazepines remains a source of concern to the medical profession and the general public, especially as newer compounds come on the market. Our goal was to characterize long-term alprazolam users in the community and to determine whether such use represented abuse or behavioural dependence. We conducted three community surveys to learn about the natural history of long-term alprazolam use. Current long-term alprazolam users (those using the drug for 3 months or longer) were recruited on three separate occasions 1 year apart by identical newspaper advertisements in the metropolitan Toronto area. All respondents were mailed a questionnaire with a stamped, addressed return envelope. Our data from 312 respondents show that: (1) the majority of patients have a substantial history of prior medication use for symptom control (65%), (2) dose escalation is not a characteristic of long-term use, (3) patients change their initial pattern of regular use to one of symptom control only when required, (4) most physicians do not discuss discontinuation of the drug with their patients, (5) patients frequently try to stop their drug use (with a median of 2 attempts) and often report symptoms upon discontinuation, and (6) patients perceive a need for medication use and indicate that alprazolam is effective (75%). We conclude that some patients persistently use alprazolam but that this use does not represent abuse or behavioral dependence. PMID: 1479048 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] —- "Addiction and dependence are frequently confused. ‘Addiction’ is hard to define, with little consensus on what it means, and in fact is not even defined as a condition in the DSM-IV. ‘Addiction’ usually refers to a behavioral pattern of drug abuse characterized by overwhelming involvement with use of a drug (compulsive use) and with the securing of its supply and by a high tendency to relapse after discontinuation. The term ‘addiction’ is frequently employed by those who are not experts in psychopharmacology when ‘dependence’ is what they mean. ‘Dependence’ is a physiological state of neuroadaptation produced by repeated administration of a drug, necessitating continued administration to prevent the appearance of a ‘withdrawal syndrome’. ‘Dependence’ is a term that is not frequently used outside of psychopharmacology but in fact is a key feature of many antihypertensive medications, hormones, and other treatments throughout medicine. Thus several antihypertensives can produce ‘rebound’ hyptertension, worse than the original blood pressure elevation, when suddenly discontinued. These patients are not ‘addicted’ to the blood pressure medications although they are ‘dependent’ on them. ‘Withdrawal’ is the term for the adverse psychological and physiological reactions to abrupt cessation of a dependence-producing drug." Essential Psychopharmacology, 2nd Edition (2000), Stephen M. Stahl, published by Cambridge University Press (Dr. Stahl is a PhD and MD, and is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. He has conducted numerous research projects awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the Veterans Administration, and the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Stahl is an internationally recognized clinician, researcher, and teacher in psychiatry with subspecialty expertise in psychopharmacology.) Quoted from "Panic Disorder: The Medical Point of View", by William Kernodle, M.D. "Our society appears to have a phobia concerning benzodiazepines.  I believe this fear started many years ago when Valium was prescribed for minor anxiety and patients were not made aware of the potential for developing physical dependence.  It is physical addiction that most patients worry about with a benzodiazepine.  I believe *addiction* refers to a severe form of drug abuse in which the individual craves a substance despite negative consequences and needs more and more for the same effect.  I do not think that patients with panic disorder crave the benzodiazepines for their effect or frequently develop physical tolerance (with the possible exception of substance abusers).  It is possible for patients to develop *physical dependence* on the benzodiazepines when used at moderate to high doses over months or years.  However, this simply means that the benzodiazepine has to be tapered slowly rather than stopped abruptly to avoid having a withdrawal symptom" (p 115). — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg for about two years.  About 7 months ago I started taking Klonipin .5 as needed because Buspar wasn’t helping.  As far back as I can remember, I have been hypersomnolent and self-medicated, sort of, with coffee to stay awake.  About 2 months ago I saw my MD and told her I’d like to get off the coffee so I’m not in the bathroom every 5 minutes and she put me on Adderall to stay awake — I had already had two sleep studies with no narcolepsy, etc. but for some reason — anti-depressants, etc. I am always sleepy.  Even as a child I could sleep 12, 15 hour stretches. Question:  I went to a new pdoc the other day who insisted I get off the Klonipin because it is very sedating and habit forming and potent.  She made me taper.  At the time I was taking about 1 mg per day, but have taken up to 4, with the okay of MD, on occasion.  I tapered down to .25 mg and am anxious with the Adderall now, which makes sense, but if I don’t have some type of stimulant in my system I am sleepy, period.  I concentrate so much better WITH the Klonipin.  The Adderall, for me, doesn’t really help my concentration.  i take Adderall twice a day because even the extended release capsules wear off for me. Everyone on the anxiety board (not moderated) seems to love Klonipin. Why is my doctor so adamant about getting me off it? — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

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I went to a new doc once and he told me that I was addicted to clonazepam and must immediately start tapering off it. That was my last visit with that doctor.  He was a rigid-minded, benzo-phobe who cared more about his seats at a basketball game than he did about me. I’ve been taking clonazepam for 6 years now.  I’ve actually lowered my daily dose from 4 mg in the beginning to a maximum of 2 mg per day. Find a new doctor.  Run from this new one.  Run very fast and don’t look back  :  ) Tony — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

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Question:

Was diagnosed with low testosterone after stopping Effexor, never had this problem before but believe it to be related to the drug for a whole bunch of reasons that I won’t go into here.  Has this happened to anyone else?  My urologist believes my pitutatary gland has some how got out of whack, now I am not only depressed but have this to deal with.  Wish I had never taken the drug, Wellbutrin is much better. I read on one of these posts that a user of effexor who quit taking it was told by his doctor that the drug had completely rewired his brain.   Has anyone else heard of permanent side effects from Effexor?

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – << Was diagnosed with low testosterone after stopping Effexor, never had this problem before but believe it to be related to the drug for a whole bunch of reasons that I won’t go into here.  Has this happened to anyone else?  My urologist believes my pitutatary gland has some how got out of whack, now I am not only depressed but have this to deal with.  Wish I had never taken the drug, Wellbutrin is much better. I read on one of these posts that a user of effexor who quit taking it was told by his doctor that the drug had completely rewired his brain.   Has anyone else heard of permanent side effects from Effexor? Sounds like bullshit to me. But when dealing with medicine and drugs, I suppose anything is possible. Its also possible that your testosterone was already low before starting Effexor, you just didnt know it yet and neither did your doctor. Low testosterone levels can cause depression all by itself. In fact, up at Columbia/Presbyterian psychiatry in NYC, there are some experimental clinical trials that use testosterone supplements (anabolic steroids) to "augment" SSRIs in refractory depressed men. Abnormally low levels of testosterone can no doubt cause depression. Anabolic steroids (testosterone) are said to have strong antidepressant effects. So you are on track..correct your low testosterone levels first, then if you still need an AD go back on the Effexor or an SSRI. Eric Steroids caused my depression…prednisone should be used conservatively http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FactsAndFallaciesOfDepression MIBS (Minimally Invasive Brain Stimulation) http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/fnrd/tms.htm

I am really sure I never had low testosterone before effexor, the effects of having this are pretty dramatic, hot flashes, tired all the time, no libido, very erratic mood swings.  After I went on Effexor I started getting these symptoms.  At first I thought it was the drug so I went off of it, after a few months of being off of it and the side effects staying I realized something was really wrong.  I found another person who had this happen by searching through some old postings, that makes 2, how many more are there?

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Question:

I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

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Hi Erin, I have anxiety and panic attacks and depression. I just started about a month ago on Effexor XR. So far it has been working well without any bad side effects for anxiety. In fact very few side effects at all. I’m also on a low dose of Xanax. I’ve never taken Wellbutrin so I can’t help you there. Your feelings of being run down and achy could be coming from the fact that you’re depressed. Finding the right doctor and the right meds can be tough. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Don’t give up! Best wishes, LInda

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

Response:

Hi – I’m like you Erin- also had horrible time coming off Paxil – so I’d hate to repeat that. I took Wellbutrin about a year ago. Started out w/ one 150mg each morning. (about a week) Then doc wanted me to take 1 in a.m. and 1p.m. Had to stop this as it made me very jittery and could not sleep at nite. Did fine on just the one 150mg each a.m. Then I went to one every other day- Didn’t really help me w/ anxiety. Then went to Serzone- Serzone helped me somewhat but I had to stop as it gave me heart palps and an unexplainable rash ! (heart palps- I guess it didnt help w/ anxiety after all). Now I am trying Celexa- very drowsy right now in the first wks – so if you feel run down, you may not want to try. Have you been checked for thryoid problems ? I was just diagnosed w/ hypothyroid and symptoms are no energy, depression, inability to tolerate cold (to name a few). simple test in doc’s office- and treatment relatively easy- med (that is very inexpensive). good luck, kim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Erin, I have anxiety and panic attacks and depression. I just started about a month ago on Effexor XR. So far it has been working well without any bad side effects for anxiety. In fact very few side effects at all. I’m also on a low dose of Xanax. I’ve never taken Wellbutrin so I can’t help you there. Your feelings of being run down and achy could be coming from the fact that you’re depressed. Finding the right doctor and the right meds can be tough. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Don’t give up! Best wishes, LInda I am a 25 female who has been on Paxil and Zoloft for anxiety attacks. I went off of them two years ago but now my anxiety is back. The doctor wanted me back on them but being I had very bad withdrawl going off I said no. So he gave me prozac which made me feel crappy and very tired. Now he put me on Wellbutrin because I also suffer from depression but I am afraid to start it because of side effects. Has anyone been on this realtively new drug? I occasionally take Xanax but I don’t very often because it makes me so tired, even on a low dose.   Can anyone recommend a good drug without bad side effects for anxiety? Also does anyone get really run down and achey like feelings from anxiety? I am constantly tired and feel flu-like but the doctors say I’m fine. I don’t feel very fine. Thanks, ERIN

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Question:

I can’t figure out why my Pdoc. continues to prescribe the same dosage (50mg), when I have been on that same dosage for over 2 months. (He also does let me have xanax, for the anxiety.) At some point shouldn’t the dosage of zoloft be increased, if I remain depressed at whatever level it may be ? Just wondering if any of you have been on this low a dosage for 2 months. Thanks Much!

I think that if you still jhave clear symptoms the Zoloft dose should be raised. You’re on a low (if not sub-therapeutic) dose. One can easily take 3 times as much if necessary. Philip

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I can’t figure out why my Pdoc. continues to prescribe the same dosage (50mg), when I have been on that same dosage for over 2 months. (He also does let me have xanax, for the anxiety.) At some point shouldn’t the dosage of zoloft be increased, if I remain depressed at whatever level it may be ? Just wondering if any of you have been on this low a dosage for 2 months. Thanks Much!

Hi Dan, If you still have depression and/or anxiety at 50mgs( which is a low theraputic dose ), your dose should be raised. Some people I am sure do well at 50mgs, others need to go higher, you can go as high as 200mgs. Have you told you doctor how you feel at the 50mgs and have you asked him to go to a higher dose? If he is not willing to work with you, then a new doctor might be the answer. You are at full effectiveness with the 50mgs at this point, are you happy with the way you feel? Good luck!! jackie

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I can’t figure out why my Pdoc. continues to prescribe the same dosage (50mg), when I have been on that same dosage for over 2 months. (He also does let me have xanax, for the anxiety.) At some point shouldn’t the dosage of zoloft be increased, if I remain depressed at whatever level it may be ? Just wondering if any of you have been on this low a dosage for 2 months. Thanks Much!

Dan –  This is the LOWEST theraputic dose (at least from the studies)…So you have lots of room to go…If your side-effects were mild at the 50 mg, they will not get much worse (though they will return briefly – most likely) at 100 mg in my experience…I would definately talk to your doctor about upping the dose…I am at 100 mg and I felt MUCH better than at 50 mg…However, I am still considering an increase to 125-150 as I don’t feel like I am all the way there after nearly 2 months…Anyway, 8 weeks is plenty of trial time…If you are still not feeling how you want to I would strongly encourage you to try 100 mg…   Another thing is to make sure that your doc knows that you still feel badly…Sometimes we tell our docs we’ve seen improvement and they take it to mean you are fine…But improvement and 100% are totally different things…Make sure to let him know you are not in the latter category… Best, — Charles Phipps

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I can’t figure out why my Pdoc. continues to prescribe the same dosage (50mg), when I have been on that same dosage for over 2 months. (He also does let me have xanax, for the anxiety.) At some point shouldn’t the dosage of zoloft be increased, if I remain depressed at whatever level it may be ? Just wondering if any of you have been on this low a dosage for 2 months. Thanks Much!

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Question:

Can someone tell me if Xanax and Zoloft are different, or are they just different meds for different people?  I’m on Xanax, and I wonder if Zoloft would be better?  I take Xanax just for when I need it. Pip

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Zoloft is an SSRI type anti-depresant.  Xanax is a Benzo.  Difference is Xanax is fast acting, and wears off quickly.  Zoloft is more preventitive (in other words you can not take it per needed basis, you must take it everyday).  It takes several weeks to see full benefit, and the results for everyone may vary.  I will not even begin to go into the side effects, but if you want more info on that you can do a search at deja news for zoloft. I would suggest trying the Zoloft in conjunction with the Xanax if you want to.  What you may find over time that you can ween off of the xanax, or use it per needed basis.  What you are going to find is ssri’s work for some, but not for all.  YMMV, and IMO. Good Luck. d – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone tell me if Xanax and Zoloft are different, or are they just different meds for different people?  I’m on Xanax, and I wonder if Zoloft would be better?  I take Xanax just for when I need it. Pip

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Philippa lomax schreef: Can someone tell me if Xanax and Zoloft are different, or are they just different meds for different people?  I’m on Xanax, and I wonder if Zoloft would be better?  I take Xanax just for when I need it. Pip

Xanax is a benzodiazepine (a so-called minor tranquillizer). Its anxiolyutic effects are undisputed. It can be taken *as needed* por as a maintenance med. Also a combo with another, longer-acting benzo like Klonopin works well for many people and Xanax can also be combined with an antidepressant of whatever type and often is. Benzo’s have mainly some drowsiness in the beginning as side effect.Zoloft is a SSRI-type antidepressant. These antidepressants work for anxiety/panic as well, as PAD and depression are sort of cousins, chemically. Unlike benzo’s which have immediate effect, with the SSRI’s (which block the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin so that you have enough of it at the right time at the right place, to be very simplistic about it) you need to give them between 3-8 weeks to be able to evaluate their effects. In the first few weeks your symptoms may worsen as your body adjust to the med. Therefore it is necessary to start at a real low dose and slowly raise it to therapeutic level which is a personal matter of trial and error. Often a benzo is added in these first weeks and this combo can also be taken long-term. A very unpleasant side effect of most SSRI’s with most people is sexual dysfunction. If I were you (but I’m not and I’m also not a doctor) I would try and see if raising my Xanax dose and taking it as a maintenance med (taking 4-5 times a day, say, .5 mgs = 2.5 mgs in total while average therapeutic dosage is 2-5 mgs) won’t do the trick for me. If it wouldn’t I would start to think about a combo. I feel that it is important to start out with just one med (so that you know for sure that the results are from that particular med) and to give it a full trial. YMMV etc. Philip

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Can someone tell me if Xanax and Zoloft are different, or are they just different meds for different people?

Dear Pip,   I don’t know the medical terms for the meds, but I do know that they are two different drugs.   I take Zoloft everyday and it has helped restore my pre-panic disorder disposition. (Which was pretty nice.)   I only take the Xanax when I push to travel (still have some problems with distance from home, but is much better. I now can go 20 miles from home.) Anyway, the Xanax just takes the edge off.   If you have an opportunity to try Zoloft, go for it. It really does help.   All the best.                            Sharon

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Dear Sharon, I am interested to know how much Zoloft and Xanax you take each day.My MD has suggested  I take 100mg a day of Zoloft, along with 0.5mg of Xanax 4 – 5 times a day for panic attacks and anxiety.  I would appreciate any feedback from you.  Thanks for your help.

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