Question:

 He has already been to his peditrician twice since his loss of appetite started. He sees his allergist next week for a regular scheduled appointment and I plan on talking to him about it then.  The Dilantin was prescribed by a neurologist after he had a seizure. The Singulair was prescribed by the allergist, and he knows about the Dilantin. I tell all the doctors he sees about the all the meds he is on. That includes the dentist and the eye doctor.  My reason for posting was to get different opinions from a variety of people. I have found this is often helpfull in obtaining answers. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -no advice is intended in this reply, I am merely providing information. QUstions like yours should definitely be referred to your sons doc .. his pediatrician as well as his allergist/pulmonologist. Appetite loss is NOT reported as a common adverse effect of anti-leukotrienes.  Diarrhea and nausea are listed just abouyt at the 3% "reportable" level.  These same side effects occur with Dilantin and are more common. Did the same doc prescribe the Dilantin and the Singulair? Dilantin is NOT on any common are path for asthma that this researcher is aware of.

Response:

I have been on SINGULAIR for the past month and have noticed no loss of appitite.  Actually I find myself more hungry–that’s probably due to the fact that I’m the the height of track season not the SINGULAIR.  I was taking ACCOLATE, but trying not to eat two hours before or two hours after taking it was a real drag.  Not only is my eating schedule a lot more flexible, but my peak flow is on averege better now that I am on SINGULAR instead of ACCOLATE.

Response:

 My 8 year old son started on Singulair about 3 weeks ago. In the middle of March he started on Dilantin. I noticed no change in his appetite until the Singulair was started. A few days after he started it he would hardly eat at all. Now he will only eat in the mornings and afternoons if I make him. He says he is just not hungry. He does eat a full meal at dinner time. But one meal a day is not good for a growing boy. At least not over a long period of time. My thoughts are it may be the Singulair. But then again maybe it is the Dilantin. His first check of Dilantin level was fine. The peditrician had tests done again today for the Dilantin plus a liver and CBC test. I’ll get those results tomorrow. I’m wondering if any others of you who have started Singulair have noticed a loss of appetite?

Loss of appetite is one of the possible listed effects of Dilantin, per the US Pharmacopeia. Perhaps he needs a lower dose of Dilantin. Here’s a link: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/phenyt.htm phenytoin sodium (Dilantin) Excerpt: "Adverse Reactions: Gastrointestinal System: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, toxic hepatitis  and liver damage." Info on Singulair ar www.singulair.com But I think the problem is the Dilantin. (I assume he is taking the child dose of Singulair). Ellis

Response:

 My 8 year old son started on Singulair about 3 weeks ago. In the middle of March he started on Dilantin. I noticed no change in his appetite until the Singulair was started. A few days after he started it he would hardly eat at all. Now he will only eat in the mornings and afternoons if I make him. He says he is just not hungry. He does eat a full meal at dinner time. But one meal a day is not good for a growing boy. At least not over a long period of time. My thoughts are it may be the Singulair. But then again maybe it is the Dilantin. His first check of Dilantin level was fine. The peditrician had tests done again today for the Dilantin plus a liver and CBC test. I’ll get those results tomorrow. I’m wondering if any others of you who have started Singulair have noticed a loss of appetite?  Sorry this is kind of rambling but I wanted to get it out and I’m listening to my son talk well I type. We are discussing what we are going to do for Cub Scouts tonight.  Thanks

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Question:

I tried homeopathic meds on myself but would not try them on my son. Kids really are too little to be messing with.  I know that you are searching for answers but there really are none.  The best advice I can give is to educate yourself on the disease and the medications or therapies used, this way you can be informed to make the best decisions for your child. nicamrem —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

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There are enough tombs,you can look. good willing is not good doing. Lothar

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Neeraj, I face the same issue with my 3 year old daughter.  What really helps is avoiding any all all things that could trigger her asthma.  Also, use preventive medications if the doctor prescibes some.  Before 3 months my daughter went throught the allergy tests and now we know that my daughter is allergic to milk, dust mites, mold and mild dew.  We used to use the humidifier very often, now we don’t. People tell us that kids usually grow out of this, however, our doctor said that with each attack of asthma the chances of her growing out of it decreases.  That is the very reason we try our very best to avoid things that could trigger asthma. I know what you are going through.  Try your best and have faith in God. Chetan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi , I am wondering whether asthma is common among the childern in US. My 2 year old daughter has been dignosed with asthma and there is really no cure has been advised so far. Except temp relief by using breathing machine. I want to know if this is true that there is really no cure of the problem. Has anyone tried any Homeopathic Madicine ? Please advise.

Response:

Hi , I am wondering whether asthma is common among the childern in US. My 2 year old daughter has been dignosed with asthma and there is really no cure has been advised so far. Except temp relief by using breathing machine. I want to know if this is true that there is really no cure of the problem.

Yes, asthma is common; 10-20% of children seem to have it.  No, there isn’t an cure . . . just treatments. Has anyone tried any Homeopathic Madicine ?

Not anyone who actually wanted their child to survive to adulthood and understood the scientific fallacies behind homeopathy; IOW, this is a BAD idea. Chris Owens

Response:

I am wondering whether asthma is common among the childern in US. My 2 year old daughter has been dignosed with asthma and there is really no cure has been advised so far. Except temp relief by using breathing machine. I want to know if this is true that there is really no cure of the problem. Has anyone tried any Homeopathic Madicine ? Please advise.

Asthma is diagnosed using breathing tests. In toddlers, where breathing tests can’t be administered, the condition is often called RAD (reactive airways disease). As toddlers grow, they often outgrow the condition as their airways become larger. The treatment is inhaled albuterol for short term relief (and rescue), inhaled preventor meds like cromolyn or steroids for long term relief. Asthma is a chronic disease which needs ongoing drugs. There is no ‘cure’ but in some cases the syptoms resolve for a period of time. For Moderate to Severe cases in infants and toddlers, it’s advisable to see a pediatric allergist. Minimizing allergens and irritants in the environment is important. Homeopathy involves the use of very dilute drugs; not effective for asthma (unless contaminated with steroids). Link: http://www.aaaai.org/public/publicedmat/tips/tip20.html CHILDHOOD ASTHMA (AAAAI) Excerpt: "Approximately 10% of children have symptoms consistent with  asthma. Correct diagnosis and management of childhood asthma  requires an asthma and allergy specialist who recognizes the  uniqueness of childhood asthma, compared to asthma which  begins in adulthood." Ellis

Response:

Hi , I am wondering whether asthma is common among the childern in US. My 2 year old daughter has been dignosed with asthma and there is really no cure has been advised so far. Except temp relief by using breathing machine. I want to know if this is true that there is really no cure of the problem.

The most important thing you can remember is that There Is No Cure For Asthma.  Anybody who claims otherwise is trying to defraud you. Has anyone tried any Homeopathic Madicine ?

Try distilled water – it is the same stuff.  And will probably do more good as you will drink more of it. Another thing to consider is that statistically, asthmatics who use ‘alternative’ medicine have twice the hospitalization and death rates as those who do not. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." Einstein

Response:

Hi , I am wondering whether asthma is common among the childern in US. My 2 year old daughter has been dignosed with asthma and there is really no cure has been advised so far. Except temp relief by using breathing machine. I want to know if this is true that there is really no cure of the problem. Has anyone tried any Homeopathic Madicine ? Please advise.

Response:

My son is 6, has had asthma for 6 years.  I have gone to many doctors and there is no cure but there are methods to keep it under control.  He’s on inhaled steroids, Pulmicort and on Singulair, everyday.  When he breaks through he goes on ventolin and atrovent, and sometimes prednisone.  Right now the treatment is prevention but I keep the hope there might be a cure. Good Luck Gina

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Question:

Increasing one’s albuterol is not one of the recommended answers to falling peak flows. Inhaled steroids… yes. The overall goal is to use as little of the albuterol as possible. This should have been something that your doctor discussed. I would certainly call your doctor if your peak flows fall below 80%… and I would expect some immediate treatment.

Response:

I have a question. I recently started on Pulmicort and Accolate. For the past week, I have had very few symptoms and haven’t used any albuterol. My peak flow is running from 80% to 85% of peak. This means my peak flow is about 400 most of the time with my max at 500. The question is this, should I use albuterol when I reach the 80% mark? Or should I pass it up since I feel OK? I haven’t been using it on the theory that the least medicine is the best. I’d like to see your opinions on this. I haven’t had a chance to get back to my doctor for a while. Probably won’t see him until April. Thanks, Jim

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Question:

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

Response:

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.

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- 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!

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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

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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!

Response:

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!

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Question:

Ok, so my doctor agreed to try another SSRI, but she wanted me to wean off Paxil first! Told her I could wean off one and wean onto another at the same time, but she was dubious about that so I asked her to look it up and ask around… now she agrees. She has prescribed Effexor.

Although Effexor technically is not an SSRI it is cross tolerant with SSRI’s so switching this way should be no problem. I’ve been told to take 20 mgs of paxil(instead of 40) and to add 37,5mgs of effexor for the next 3 days, then drop the paxil completely and raise the effexor to 75mgs. Does this sound about right? It seems like a fast changeover to me, but I’d rather deal with any side effects and get this change over with quickly myself anyway.

I agree that this may be a tad fast but I think it can be done if you are prepared to white-knuckle through some possible temporary side effects. My other question; is the target does of 75 mgs of effexor comparible to the 40 mgs of paxil I’ve been taking?

That is impossible to say as our reactions to meds are so personal. 75 mg of Effexor sound OK to me and if after a few weeks you feel it doesn’t work well enough you can always raise the dose a bit more. My xanax has been switched from 2x .5mg per day to 1x 1mg xanax XR per day. Hopefully it will stop me feeling like a yo-yo, I may need to ask for a dose increase I think.

I think so too considering the AD change. I take Xanax XR and IMO it is far preferable to *normal* Xanax. No rollercoatser effect anymore but a comparatively very smooth ride. Any thoughts/comments about this change in meds?

No ) Keep us posted! Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Ok, so my doctor agreed to try another SSRI, but she wanted me to wean off Paxil first! Told her I could wean off one and wean onto another at the same time, but she was dubious about that so I asked her to look it up and ask around… now she agrees. She has prescribed Effexor. I’ve been told to take 20mgs of paxil(instead of 40) and to add 37,5mgs of effexor for the next 3 days, then drop the paxil completely and raise the effexor to 75mgs. Does this sound about right? It seems like a fast changeover to me, but I’d rather deal with any side effects and get this change over with quickly myself anyway. My other question; is the target does of 75 mgs of effexor comparible to the 40 mgs of paxil I’ve been taking? My xanax has been switched from 2x .5mg per day to 1x 1mg xanax XR per day. Hopefully it will stop me feeling like a yo-yo, I may need to ask for a dose increase I think. I’ll soon find out, considering the other med change! : ) Any thoughts/comments about this change in meds? I mean to start the changeover tommorow… Vashti

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From what you say above, and below, Vashti, it doesn’t seem like she has a good grip on these medications, but at least is open minded. Both frustrating and refreshing at the same time!

well could be dangerous to be less savy about things one prescribes Yes, I think it’s far too fast and large a drop in Paxil,

I concur My biggest concern would be that sudden drop of Paxil from 40 to 20, with a "starter" dose of Effexor ( 37.5 mg ) to take the place of 20 mg of Paxil?  I don’t think so!!

nope best off dropping paxil by 5mg a day per week until off Remember, they may be very slight, if much at all. So much depends on how ‘you’ react, not how some others have.

true 150 mg of Effexor to 40 mg of Paxil??

or  more since paxil is up to 17 times more potent at the synapse then prozac effexor hits multiple sites at higher doses and is basicaly serotonergic at lower ones so a sliding conversion may not be too bad-as a phenethylamine compound it excerts reuptake inhibition on serotonin first noradrenaline second and weakly dopaminergic thirdly so in some ways in works like a tca but in reverse where the tca hits adrenergic sites first serotonin sites second. it would be somewhat difficult to make a comparative dose per dose response due to the different pharmacokinetics and individual responses From what I understand, the XR should work out very well.

yes it would bot Rita and Philip use this med with good success You’re not alone..

Microbes are everywhere

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Question:

My doc put me on a beta blocker she seems to think it will help. Bringing my heart rate down some. Has anyone been on this and has it helped at all?

Response:

Julie– I have mitral valve prolapse, and the first drug I was put on to control my symptoms (the most irritating being heart palipations and a racing heart) was a beta-blocker.   It did help but, since I have blood pressure in the normal to a-little-bit-low range, it ended up lowering my blood pressure to the point where I was feeling light-headed a lot.  For a while I counteracted that by eating salty foods, but eventually I went onto anti-anxiety meds (Xanax and Zoloft), which, for me, are actually more effective and have caused me far fewer side effects.  But, except for the blood pressure issue (mine went down to like 90/60 at one point, which will make you feel really, really faint), it wasn’t bad. Lori

Response:

Hi, I took a beta blocker for several years for my anxiety – however it was started at the same time I officially started the anti-depressant I currently take.  It is difficult for me to determine how much each helped to control my symptoms.  I do know that  prior to the beta blocker I did experience a hard pounding heart beat when I would lay down at night, which was very anxiety provoking.  The beta blocker did ease that for me.  For myself, the beta blocker  was a part of a combination of meds to help manage my PD, not the only thing I was taking for it. Debbie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My doc put me on a beta blocker she seems to think it will help. Bringing my heart rate down some. Has anyone been on this and has it helped at all?

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My doc put me on a beta blocker she seems to think it will help. Bringing my heart rate down some. Has anyone been on this and has it helped at all?

I don

Question:

I have a   ‘depersonalization’ disorder, which may stem from stress , no panic attacks, moderate anxiety.  I’m 40 years old and I have never taken any medications for my psyche. I will be taking Prozac soon in a depersonalization study. On this newsgroup however,  Paxil seems to be all the rage. Has it supplanted Prozac?  What are the pros and cons of each? Is one better then the other?

Response:

I have a   ‘depersonalization’ disorder, which may stem from stress , no panic attacks, moderate anxiety.  I’m 40 years old and I have never taken any medications for my psyche. I will be taking Prozac soon in a depersonalization study. On this newsgroup however,  Paxil seems to be all the rage. Has it supplanted Prozac?  What are the pros and cons of each? Is one better then the other?

Like all medications, Paxil and Prozac work differently for different people. Probably why Paxil features more here than Prozac or Zoloft is that its manufacturers have had it tested and approved for use in anxiety cases – thus doctors tend to reach for it first. However, that *doesn’t* mean it is more effective, simply that SmithKline Beecham decided to put it through the approval process so they could sell it for that use. Your doctor will have prescribed you Prozac because s/he thinks it’s worth trying. But there’s no way anyone can be sure and if you’d started with Paxil you might well have ended-up on Prozac anyway. It’s suck it and see, I’m afraid – literally! — Gary Cooper

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I don’t know what the SSRIs are doing in "the real world", but in 1993 when my psychiatrist put me on Zoloft, he said of the three SSRIs then available, Paxil was the most sedating, Prozac the most stimulating, and Zoloft was somewhere between those two. Therefore he suggested Zoloft. Naturally I followed his advice and glad I did. The Zoloft has never caused sedation or stimulation in me. Even though psych meds are YMMV, etc, etc, there are valid generalizations that can be made IMHO. Chip

Chip Thanks for your information.  What do you mean by stimulating. When you started Zoloft did you have anxiety ?  My problem is anxiety and OCB. I tried paxil and gained tons of weight but felt great. I was sleeping well (something I never did). I was very very lazy.  I went off paxil because of the weight gain, but I feel I need to get back on the SSRIs again. I’m thinking Prozac or Zoloft. I’v heard of some strange side effects with Zoloft though, like eye twitching, having trouble peeing and so on.  Did you exeperience any side effects that you couldn’t cope with? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (PST+9) I don’t think that, in the real world, Prozac has a very good track record when used for anxiety. It is generally much more anxiety-provoking than Paxil, and chances are that you will experience the same adverse effects anyway, especially with respect to sexual problems. Of course, you will never know for sure unless you try it. Pierre In the real world Prozac has about the same track record for PAD as the other SSRI’s. I would definitely not say that it’s more anxiety-provoking than Paxil. It’s very much an YMMV thing. I myself had good results with Prozac but had to stop it after a year or so because of a rare side effect. Of the SSRI’s Luvox seems to give somewhat lesser problems with sexual dysfunction but low dose Prozac (10 mg) chances are that one may not experience it either. Because all AD’s tend to cause heigthened anxiety and some other weird side effect in the beginning it is advisable to *start low and go slow*: as Prozac is available in lquid form it’s possible to start it at 2,5 mgs and then up it with 2,5 mg every week. Otherwise (tabs) 5 mg is rather safe too. Philip I was on Paxil for 9 months (for anxiety) and loved it – except for the weight gain and sexual disfunction. I want to try Prozac. Has anyone had any good results from using it for anxiety? What are the side effects that you experieced? Please help! I am dying to get back on an SSRI but I want to take the right one. Thanks for any help. ..Tania Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

If you have OCD, any of the SSRIs or Anafranil (more side effects, but possibly more effective), are supposed to be drugs of choice.  Often they have to be augmented with BuSpar or Klonopin or an "antipsychotic". OCD is hard to treat, but any improvement is appreciated by most patients. Chip

Hi Chip,  My OCD was not "hard to treat". The Paxil knocked it right out and even switching to Zoloft it did not return. Also, I am wondering what "antipsychotic" you are referring to as a cure for OCD?? Maybe mine’s (OCD) just not that big of a deal. You might want to throw in a YMMV on these two. I know mine did if what you say is true. Can someone enlighten me?  P.S. Also I hear more about xanax or klon. being used as an augment med with SSRIs…….is Buspar used as well? I had zero luck with Buspar too. YMMV. Regards, Miriam

Response:

Hi Miriam, I’m glad you responded to both meds you mentioned for OCD. Often OCD is difficult to treat (i.e. get a good response from meds), and larger doses of the SSRIs may have to be used (for example, up to 80 mg/day of Prozac). I have also read that SSRIs may have to be augmented with other med(s) to get a good response in OCD, such as BuSpar, up to 60 mg/day. Many meds have been used attempting to augment SSRIs for OCD, including Klonopin, and an antipsychotic (pimozide has been used). None of these meds "cure" OCD, but they can reduce symptoms. I’m on Zoloft and Klonopin for PD with good response for the PD, but still have mild OC symptoms such as checking and doubt. Chip

If you have OCD, any of the SSRIs or Anafranil (more side effects, but possibly more effective), are supposed to be drugs of choice. Often they have to be augmented with BuSpar or Klonopin or an "antipsychotic". OCD is hard to treat, but any improvement is appreciated by most patients. Chip Hi Chip,

Question:

<Posted and Mailed One thing that my therp threw at me that was hard to accept (okay…still is), but I know is true, is that we cannot control the way we feel, only how we act because of our feelings. Yeah, it’s kind of warped sounding in a way, but it is true. For instance, I can’t stop myself from feeling I’m a completely useless turd, BUT, hopefully I can stop acting like a completely useless turd until I finally (maybe) feel differently.

This is similar to what I call "acting you way into a feeling". It is far easier said than done — particularly when you’re very depressed. But for example lets say that you are mildly depressed and don’t want to go to a party that otherwise you would want to go to. But you are going to make the effort to go anyway in spite of how you feel. You decide that you are going to act like you are having a great time. So you put on your best party grin and start mingling and talking. Pretty soon you find that you are no longer acting a role — but you are really enjoying yourself. This technique works better with situational depression than with bipolar depression. It’s much harder to fool neurotransmitters!

Response:

permanently in the ether: I wasn’t aware that Buspar was so short acting. I take 30 mg at bedtime, it used to be 15mg am and pm, but the am dose was definitely making me sluggish. Of course, it could have been the paxil that was knocking me out. I have no idea how effective the Buspar is; because I take so damned many drugs, I never know what is what.

The drowsiness you describe does sound like what happened to my MIL her first few weeks on buspar–then she adjusted–but she does take a nap after lunch and sometimes tries to take on after breakfast. Buspar has made a world of difference for her.  Before buspar, she refused to go to any activities–and kept asking ppl to take her home. After a couple weeks on buspar–she turned around. These drugs have so many different effects on different ppl.  When I was in college I took a pharmacology class that was a survey of all drugs, from caffeine to heroin to thorazine.  One of the first things covered was the LD 50 and the ED 50. LD 50 is the lethal dose for 50 ppl out of 100.  That means the lethal dose stated on your insert will kill 50 out of 100 ppl, of the  50 ppl left, some will die at a lower dose and some will not die at the LD 50 level.  I dont like those odds. ED 50 is the effective dose for 50 out of 100 ppl.  So if a dr prescribes a med based on the medical information provided, you only have a 50/50 chance of the drug even being an effective dose for what you are trying to change.  You also have a chance (if you are one of the 50 ppl that the LD 50 doesnt work for) of the drug being either too strong or too weak for the benefit you are after. I find this whole medical crapola to really be one big game of Russian Roulette.  JMAO.    Yes, I have been having a bad time, but it is getting better. Of course, I have taken a fatalist attitude toward my problems. There is nothing I can do about it, so if they shut off my cable, internet, and telephone; oh well. I don’t think they can shut off my electric because it is my heat and a/c, and with my asthma I must have a/c. Of course, many times in the past, I have discovered the hard way that they can do things to me that I thought they couldn’t.

Please contact the power company if you are not already on lifeline service.  If you are not on lifeline service–they can cut you off. Even my kid got lifeline and he is fairly normal.   Also, I thought cable companies were  required to provide a basic economy package for ppl with low incomes?  Maybe it is a california thing–but here it is the law. Nancy in CA All thoughts posted here, unless otherwise cited, are my opinion based on my research and my experience.  Everyone should do their own research and make their own choices based on their situation. Please visit the new fms-guaifenisin support group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.guaifenisin Please visit the new moderated recovery group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info Please visit the new grandparents ng, alt.talk.grandparents. To respond via email, delete "Z" from my addy.

Response:

hi…me again! for what it is worth, i find it interesting that you get sluggish from buspar…when they had me on that stuff i felt like i had water flowing through my ears constantly, and i was always wired…i never slept. i went on xanax and zoloft after that and even though the zoloft made me that way for around a week, i got over it. but buspar never agreed with my system.(made me want to call the phone company to thank them for billing me…ugh.)…bruce

Response:

Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) sounds like you made some progress today. I’m curious about the buspar.  I’ve been watching sci.med.pharmacy for a while because someone asked about whether or not buspar could be prepared in a long acting form.  My MIL in a nursing home from a stroke takes buspar for stroke related anxiety.

That is a good g, eh? Hospitals and nursing homes do not like buspar because it has a short half life and therefore requires more frequent dosing.

Yes…3 times a day. I also understand that is is much less addicting, or tolerance building, I should say, than ativan or valium.

Yes it is. So, I am wondering why you would take a short acting anti-anxiety medication at bedtime?  For sleep alone?  I am still new here and am just getting ppl straight–did I recall you are having a bad time right now? And now I’m wondering–if you take buspar at bedtime–it wears off in the middle of the night–sending you into the depression during the day that you have?  I may be totally off base–but this is a thought that occured to me. And I have been given Lorazepam (ativan) for anxiety and maybe buspar might be a more controllable choice for me.  I have never used up a script–they go out of date on me when the bottle has been half used.

Peace,

Response:

Hey Ralph you think the Buspar actually works? I was kin a thinking of blowing off refilling mine this month. The freaking prescription is $80 to refill…….anyway. Maybe the therapist will help? Hey its possible. Your not useless you provide a lot of help to us, and personally I like reading your posts. Hopefully your depression will lift soon. ((((((((((((Ralph)))))))))))

Dear Robert,         I don’t know about the buspar, myself. It seems to help me sleep when I have a lot of anxiety. I also seem to forget to take it, a lot. I never forget to take my Prozac. Boy, am I grateful that my Medicare HMO has a RX plan. Without it, my meds would be over $700.00 per month. I think what I am trying to say is that Buspar helps when I am really agitated/anxious and can’t sleep; but I question the usefulness of it day in and day out.         Thank you for your kind words. Yes, you are right, I am not totally useless. But lets just say that my usefulness is severely impaired by this damned condition. When I realize that I haven’t had the ability to so much as keep my apartment clean for over 3 years now; to do the simple things that most people take for granted…. but hey, I am sure that I am not alone in this.         Hope you are having a great day.  Hugs back to you Robert, Ralph

Response:

Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt)

Hi Ralph– sounds like you made some progress today. I’m curious about the buspar.  I’ve been watching sci.med.pharmacy for a while because someone asked about whether or not buspar could be prepared in a long acting form.  My MIL in a nursing home from a stroke takes buspar for stroke related anxiety. Hospitals and nursing homes do not like buspar because it has a short half life and therefore requires more frequent dosing. I also understand that is is much less addicting, or tolerance building, I should say, than ativan or valium. So, I am wondering why you would take a short acting anti-anxiety medication at bedtime?  For sleep alone?  I am still new here and am just getting ppl straight–did I recall you are having a bad time right now?  And now I’m wondering–if you take buspar at bedtime–it wears off in the middle of the night–sending you into the depression during the day that you have?  I may be totally off base–but this is a thought that occured to me. And I have been given Lorazepam (ativan) for anxiety and maybe buspar might be a more controllable choice for me.  I have never used up a script–they go out of date on me when the bottle has been half used. May your good days be many and your bad days fade away, Nancy To respond via email, delete "nospam" from my addy. Please visit the new moderated recovery group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info Also, check out the guafenisin group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.guaifenesin Please visit the new grandparents group, alt.talk.grandparents.

Response:

I wasn’t aware that Buspar was so short acting. I take 30 mg at bedtime, it used to be 15mg am and pm, but the am dose was definitely making me sluggish. Of course, it could have been the paxil that was knocking me out. I have no idea how effective the Buspar is; because I take so damned many drugs, I never know what is what.         Yes, I have been having a bad time, but it is getting better. Of course, I have taken a fatalist attitude toward my problems. There is nothing I can do about it, so if they shut off my cable, internet, and telephone; oh well. I don’t think they can shut off my electric because it is my heat and a/c, and with my asthma I must have a/c. Of course, many times in the past, I have discovered the hard way that they can do things to me that I thought they couldn’t.         I have "faith" that somehow I will get bailed out of this mess; but if not, there is nothing I can do. Oh well, no sense me working myself up. Hope you are having a good day,  Ralph – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) Hi Ralph– sounds like you made some progress today. I’m curious about the buspar.  I’ve been watching sci.med.pharmacy for a while because someone asked about whether or not buspar could be prepared in a long acting form.  My MIL in a nursing home from a stroke takes buspar for stroke related anxiety. Hospitals and nursing homes do not like buspar because it has a short half life and therefore requires more frequent dosing. I also understand that is is much less addicting, or tolerance building, I should say, than ativan or valium. So, I am wondering why you would take a short acting anti-anxiety medication at bedtime?  For sleep alone?  I am still new here and am just getting ppl straight–did I recall you are having a bad time right now?  And now I’m wondering–if you take buspar at bedtime–it wears off in the middle of the night–sending you into the depression during the day that you have?  I may be totally off base–but this is a thought that occured to me. And I have been given Lorazepam (ativan) for anxiety and maybe buspar might be a more controllable choice for me.  I have never used up a script–they go out of date on me when the bottle has been half used. May your good days be many and your bad days fade away, Nancy To respond via email, delete "nospam" from my addy. Please visit the new moderated recovery group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info Also, check out the guafenisin group at alt.med.fibromyalgia.guaifenesin Please visit the new grandparents group, alt.talk.grandparents.

Response:

Saw my PDoc today. He isn’t happy about my depressions. He uped my Prozac to 30mg for 7 days then 40mg Still 400 neurontin 4X a day Welbutrin 300mg AM 150mg PM Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) I am also going to get a therapist for the purpose of learning how to deal with my life. Hopefully I will learn some tricks to doing simple things like the laundry, cleaning the house, remembering to take my meds, and surviving being dirt poor and useless. <grin I don’t want to do any of this visualization crap, or how do you feel about how you feel about how you feel about. I want this is what you do, this is how you do it, and maybe you will actually have clean clothes, clean dishes, and dinner on the table. Hugs, Ralph

Response:

So how do you FEEL about this? hahahaha love, Amy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Saw my PDoc today. He isn’t happy about my depressions. He uped my Prozac to 30mg for 7 days then 40mg Still 400 neurontin 4X a day Welbutrin 300mg AM 150mg PM Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) I am also going to get a therapist for the purpose of learning how to deal with my life. Hopefully I will learn some tricks to doing simple things like the laundry, cleaning the house, remembering to take my meds, and surviving being dirt poor and useless. <grin I don’t want to do any of this visualization crap, or how do you feel about how you feel about how you feel about. I want this is what you do, this is how you do it, and maybe you will actually have clean clothes, clean dishes, and dinner on the table. Hugs, Ralph

Response:

How do I feel? With my hands! How do you feel? <tease Hugs from the serial hugger,  ralph – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So how do you FEEL about this? hahahaha love, Amy Saw my PDoc today. He isn’t happy about my depressions. He uped my Prozac to 30mg for 7 days then 40mg Still 400 neurontin 4X a day Welbutrin 300mg AM 150mg PM Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) I am also going to get a therapist for the purpose of learning how to deal with my life. Hopefully I will learn some tricks to doing simple things like the laundry, cleaning the house, remembering to take my meds, and surviving being dirt poor and useless. <grin I don’t want to do any of this visualization crap, or how do you feel about how you feel about how you feel about. I want this is what you do, this is how you do it, and maybe you will actually have clean clothes, clean dishes, and dinner on the table. Hugs, Ralph

Response:

You got a deal. Now, just how do we get you here? Tie me down? Hmmmm, whatever do you have in mind? <tease Hugs from the serial hugger, ralph – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wish I lived close by, Ralph.  I’d drop by, do your laundry, clean your house, organize your meds.  Then I’d tie you down and relay 3 or so decades of my life, viola!!–you have thus served a function–eliminate useless.  Dirt poor?  Sorry, sport, miracles belong to the manic and she ain’t here today. Houston Saw my PDoc today. He isn’t happy about my depressions. He uped my Prozac to 30mg for 7 days then 40mg Still 400 neurontin 4X a day Welbutrin 300mg AM 150mg PM Buspar 30mg at night (it knocks me on my butt) I am also going to get a therapist for the purpose of learning how to deal with my life. Hopefully I will learn some tricks to doing simple things like the laundry, cleaning the house, remembering to take my meds, and surviving being dirt poor and useless. <grin I don’t want to do any of this visualization crap, or how do you feel about how you feel about how you feel about. I want this is what you do, this is how you do it, and maybe you will actually have clean clothes, clean dishes, and dinner on the table. Hugs, Ralph

Response:

Question:

  I just changed my 9 yr old son’s dr…..he was on 75mg luvox and 1-1/2 mg risperdal for OCD/ADD/anxiety.    The meds were great for a few months but then it seemed he needed to change (had alot of tantrums, frustration, very impulsive etc) and the old doc wasn’t cooperative and very hard to talk to. Went yesterday to a new one and she changed him from Luvox to Zoloft (we’re reducing Luvox for a week and slowly adding Zoloft).  Also she split up the Risperdal so he takes some in the morning and some at night instead of all at once.  I hope the Zoloft works for him.  Does anyone have any comments about any of these meds, specifically for children?  Thank you Debbie

Response:

  I just changed my 9 yr old son’s dr…..he was on 75mg luvox and 1-1/2 mg risperdal for OCD/ADD/anxiety.    The meds were great for a few months but then it seemed he needed to change (had alot of tantrums, frustration, very impulsive etc) and the old doc wasn’t cooperative and very hard to talk to. Went yesterday to a new one and she changed him from Luvox to Zoloft (we’re reducing Luvox for a week and slowly adding Zoloft).  Also she split up the Risperdal so he takes some in the morning and some at night instead of all at once.  I hope the Zoloft works for him.  Does anyone have any comments about any of these meds, specifically for children?  Thank you Debbie

Sounds like your child is in good hands now. However, no-one wants to do research on the use of psych meds in children and pregnant women, so how these meds are used in these specific patient populations is taken from research done on nonpregnant adults. Chip Before you buy.

Response:

Hello everyone!! just wondering if anyone had this happen to them.  My doc put me on zoloft started at 12 1/2mg for a week then 25mg for 2 weeks then 50mg when i started taking the 50mg it made my heart flutter, so she put me back on 25mg again but it is not doing much for me now she wants me to try the 50mg again and i am scared she said try 25 in the morning then 25mg at night i am scared to do that also any suggestions? I just didnt like my heart doing that and i am scared it is going to happen again HELP Thanks Diana

I must say that your doc isn’t doing this as badly as some other docs do. She realizes that you have to wean on Zoloft slowly and that’s a good thing. Still, between 25 mg and 50 mg there is 37,5 mg. I think it’s advisable to try that first. Moreover it seems advisable to ask for a benzo (Xanax) on the side *as needed* which may help avoid or minimize initial Zoloft side effects like a fluttering heart. I hope you will hang in there as it takes about 8 weeks to be able to properly assess Zoloft’s value for you (but beneficial effect may be felt much earlier). Philip

Response:

Hello everyone!! just wondering if anyone had this happen to them.  My doc put me on zoloft started at 12 1/2mg for a week then 25mg for 2 weeks then 50mg when i started taking the 50mg it made my heart flutter, so she put me back on 25mg again but it is not doing much for me now she wants me to try the 50mg again and i am scared she said try 25 in the morning then 25mg at night i am scared to do that also any suggestions? I just didnt like my heart doing that and i am scared it is going to happen again HELP Thanks Diana

Diana –   I experienced a return of side-effects for a few days with each increased dose of Zoloft…One side effect for me was the shakes, which increased my anxiety and led to a racing heart…I suspect that you perhaps are having a similar experience…You may have to go through a few days of side-effects like this to reach a theraputic dose…And I checked the PDR, heart attack is not listed as a possible side-effect of Zoloft so don’t worry! Later, — Charles Phipps

Response:

WOW!!  My Dr. started me off at 50mg right away..he did not work me up to 50mg..At any rate I had NO side effects at all from Zoloft.. ~But there’s one thing I know…the blues they send to meet me won’t defeat me, it won’t be long till happiness is out to greet me~

Response:

Hello everyone!! just wondering if anyone had this happen to them.  My doc put me on zoloft started at 12 1/2mg for a week then 25mg for 2 weeks then 50mg when i started taking the 50mg it made my heart flutter, so she put me back on 25mg again but it is not doing much for me now she wants me to try the 50mg again and i am scared she said try 25 in the morning then 25mg at night i am scared to do that also any suggestions? I just didnt like my heart doing that and i am scared it is going to happen again HELP Thanks Diana

Response:

Hello everyone!! just wondering if anyone had this happen to them.  My doc put me on zoloft started at 12 1/2mg for a week then 25mg for 2 weeks then 50mg when i started taking the 50mg it made my heart flutter, so she put me back on 25mg again but it is not doing much for me now she wants me to try the 50mg again and i am scared she said try 25 in the morning then 25mg at night i am scared to do that also any suggestions? I just didnt like my heart doing that and i am scared it is going to happen again HELP Thanks Diana

Hi Diana, I have been dealing with those heart flutters on and off for years. I get mine when I am anxious, drink too much coffee, and have PMS. I don`t like them, but they are harmless. You won`t know if you will get  those flutters, unless you try the 50mgs again. There may be a way to lessen that possibility. Instead of going from 25mgs to 50mgs, go to 37.5mgs. Getting to your prescribed dose is not a race. You want to be as comfortable as possible, and if it means going at a slower pace, so then be it. Watch your caffeine consumption too, it can trigger the heart flutters. And if you should get them , remember they will pass and are harmless. Asking your doctor for a benzo might help too. Jackie "Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks out his head."

Response:

I was started on 25mg of zoloft daily about two weeks ago for anxiety and panic disorder.  The first few days I took it I had some crazy mood swings but those went away after a while.  Lately I’ve had two episodes of depression that I wonder about.  I know that most side effects are supposed to go away but is this something I should talk to my doctor about immediately or should I just try to tough it out and hope that it goes away.  So far it’s been pretty bearable so I think I could get through it.  Any comments on this would be appreciated and any information on zoloft in general would be great.

15 mg if Zoloft is a subtherapeutic dose, it must be raised. The best way to do that is by weekly increments of 12.5 mg to avoid unpleasant side effects: *start low, go slow*. It may take a few weeks but your depression should disappear. So yes, ask your doctor to raise the dose 37.5 mg etc. Philip

Response:

Hi, Jack, I take Zoloft and Clonazepam for depression and anxiety.  25 mg is low so maybe you could call your pdoc and see about a slight increase.  It never hurts to check in with your pdoc and let them know how you are feeling. smiles, Elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was started on 25mg of zoloft daily about two weeks ago for anxiety and panic disorder.  The first few days I took it I had some crazy mood swings but those went away after a while.  Lately I’ve had two episodes of depression that I wonder about.  I know that most side effects are supposed to go away but is this something I should talk to my doctor about immediately or should I just try to tough it out and hope that it goes away.  So far it’s been pretty bearable so I think I could get through it.  Any comments on this would be appreciated and any information on zoloft in general would be great.

Response:

I was started on 25mg of zoloft daily about two weeks ago for anxiety and panic disorder.  The first few days I took it I had some crazy mood swings but those went away after a while.  Lately I’ve had two episodes of depression that I wonder about.  I know that most side effects are supposed to go away but is this something I should talk to my doctor about immediately or should I just try to tough it out and hope that it goes away.  So far it’s been pretty bearable so I think I could get through it.  Any comments on this would be appreciated and any information on zoloft in general would be great.

Response:

Hi I have often had tinitus.  On and off.  The doctor once gave me a long story about how it was just a disease.  Its been quite bad lately and I found out in the last few weeks maybe from this newsgroup ( if so I apologize ) that it is caused by aspirin. I have been taking lots of painkillers to help with paxil withdrawals love Moira – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I took Zoloft last fall for anxiety for 2 and 1/2 months. (I got off it because it began to give me night tremors).  However, only after a month on it, my ears started ringing/hissing.  I also had a bad sinus infection at the time and I assumed it was related to that, never thinking the medication would do such a thing (HA–looks like the joke was on me!).  When I related this to my doctor, she never let on that she KNEW some antidepressants caused tinnitus (why not, I am now asking myself) and continued to let me take the drug for 6 more weeks! I’ve been off the Zoloft for 6 weeks now, and I STILL have the ringing/hissing in my ears.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  Is this EVER going to go away?. It drives you crazy and I fear now I’ll have it forever.

Response:

Hi I have often had tinitus.  On and off.  The doctor once gave me a long story

about how it was just a disease.  Its been quite bad lately and I found out

in the last few weeks maybe from this newsgroup ( if so I apologize ) that it is caused by

aspirin. I have been taking lots of painkillers to help with paxil withdrawals

love Moira   Hi Moira, You say you are taking painkillers… what kind?  I have taken many, many different kinds (due to my headaches) and found that Midrin effected my ears horribly.  Could be an additional cause.. Lee feeling silly lately…must be a side effect

Response:

I took Zoloft last fall for anxiety for 2 and 1/2 months. (I got off it because it began to give me night tremors).  However, only after a month on it, my ears started ringing/hissing.  I also had a bad sinus infection at the time and I assumed it was related to that, never thinking the medication would do such a thing (HA–looks like the joke was on me!).  When I related this to my doctor, she never let on that she KNEW some antidepressants caused tinnitus (why not, I am now asking myself) and continued to let me take the drug for 6 more weeks! I’ve been off the Zoloft for 6 weeks now, and I STILL have the ringing/hissing in my ears.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  Is this EVER going to go away?. It drives you crazy and I fear now I’ll have it forever.

For what it’s worth, I, too, suffered from tinnitus while on Zoloft (for a similar period of time as you) before switching to Prozac.  In my case, the tinnitus went away within days of stopping Zoloft.  I wouldn’t give up hope that yours will fade with time too. Good luck, Bob

Response:

I’ve been off the Zoloft for 6 weeks now, and I STILL have the ringing/hissing in my ears.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  Is this EVER going to go away?. It drives you crazy and I fear now I’ll have it forever.

For what it’s worth, I, too, suffered from tinnitus while on Zoloft (for

a similar period of time as you) before switching to Prozac.  In my

case, the tinnitus went away within days of stopping Zoloft.  I wouldn’t

give up hope that yours will fade with time too.  (piggybacking on Bob)  I had a similar problem with a different med altogether.  I think it was Midrin.  It went away for the most part.  It still happens occasionally, but not on a constant basis.   If it keeps up, you should mention it to your doctor, or go to a specialist. Lee feeling silly lately…must be a side effect

Response:

I took Zoloft last fall for anxiety for 2 and 1/2 months. (I got off it because it began to give me night tremors).  However, only after a month on it, my ears started ringing/hissing.  I also had a bad sinus infection at the time and I assumed it was related to that, never thinking the medication would do such a thing (HA–looks like the joke was on me!).  When I related this to my doctor, she never let on that she KNEW some antidepressants caused tinnitus (why not, I am now asking myself) and continued to let me take the drug for 6 more weeks!   I’ve been off the Zoloft for 6 weeks now, and I STILL have the ringing/hissing in my ears.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  Is this EVER going to go away?. It drives you crazy and I fear now I’ll have it forever.  

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Tom,     Welcome to ASAP. I’m 21 and diagnosed with manic depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd.. and now I’m beginning to wonder about something else, but anyways, the reason for your post and mine.     I’ve been on Zoloft since mid-October. I started on 25mg, two weeks later increased to 50mg, and then two weeks after that 100mg. I finally gained some control over my "problems." I was taken off Zoloft and put on Celexa for a 6 week rollercoaster. I’m back on the Zoloft, and have been since February. I’m up to 200mg a day.     Now, I have little side effects. In the beginning I had a lot of side effects, those you listed, extreme dry mouth, but not the rash and I still have a hard time getting out of bed at a decent hour, I have to keep myself on a very strict sleep pattern, or when I get off of it, I don’t go to bed until 2,3,4am, then never make it up in time to make it to work by 8:30am. And yes, the decreased sex drive is a pain.     Are you taking anything with the Zoloft? I was taking 100mg Zoloft and 4mg Xanax daily, now I’m on 200mg Zoloft and 3mg Klonopin daily. That might also explain the rash, and the waking up thing.     Hope this is of some help for you. Much Love, Brooke Hi Brooke, Do you take anything for the manic depression? Chip

No, because it rarely rears its ugly head, the manic side at least.. it’s often usually just regular old depression, however, we are keeping an eye on it (Daily journal of what’s going on and keeping track of how often the manic side rears up). The pdoc is really concerned with me hiding my depression from people as well as I do, so he wants to try and get that and the anxiety all under control. Much Love, Brooke PS I think the Klonopin helps with the manic too… that’s just my thought. Since I’ve switched from xanax to Klonopin I’ve had a lot fewer manic episodes. B.

Response:

Hi Tom,     Welcome to ASAP. I’m 21 and diagnosed with manic depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd.. and now I’m beginning to wonder about something else, but anyways, the reason for your post and mine.     I’ve been on Zoloft since mid-October. I started on 25mg, two weeks later increased to 50mg, and then two weeks after that 100mg. I finally gained some control over my "problems." I was taken off Zoloft and put on Celexa for a 6 week rollercoaster. I’m back on the Zoloft, and have been since February. I’m up to 200mg a day.     Now, I have little side effects. In the beginning I had a lot of side effects, those you listed, extreme dry mouth, but not the rash and I still have a hard time getting out of bed at a decent hour, I have to keep myself on a very strict sleep pattern, or when I get off of it, I don’t go to bed until 2,3,4am, then never make it up in time to make it to work by 8:30am. And yes, the decreased sex drive is a pain.     Are you taking anything with the Zoloft? I was taking 100mg Zoloft and 4mg Xanax daily, now I’m on 200mg Zoloft and 3mg Klonopin daily. That might also explain the rash, and the waking up thing.     Hope this is of some help for you. Much Love, Brooke

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to the group and am interpreted if people can give me any feed back on Zoloft. I started on Zoloft and two months ago after about of panic and depressive episodes. Though the attacks had seemed to be lessening, it seemed to make sense at the time to treat them to prevent a reoccurrence. The first two weeks were difficult on Xanax and brought back the panic as well as diarrhea, stomach upset, heart palpitations, but these went away and I began to increase my dosage from 25mg to the doctor recommended 50mg. I can’t say I feel that much better and am wondering whether these are side effects. I knew about the decreased sex drive and can probably handle that. One major difference is that I used to wake up early in the morning with a feeling of anxiety and now I can hardly drag myself out of bed at a normal time. I also experience frequent headaches as if my head and nose is pinched. I also am putting on weight. Also wondering about the rash that appeared unexpectedly on my arms (though this could be from something else; it is pretty mild.) Do these sound familiar to anyone? I also am wondering about the dosage of 50mg since I felt pretty good on 25mg and have heard that is a standard dosage. Any thoughts about decreasing dosage? — Tom Semmes 301-530-9586 Fax 301-530-9587

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Tom,     Welcome to ASAP. I’m 21 and diagnosed with manic depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd.. and now I’m beginning to wonder about something else, but anyways, the reason for your post and mine.     I’ve been on Zoloft since mid-October. I started on 25mg, two weeks later increased to 50mg, and then two weeks after that 100mg. I finally gained some control over my "problems." I was taken off Zoloft and put on Celexa for a 6 week rollercoaster. I’m back on the Zoloft, and have been since February. I’m up to 200mg a day.     Now, I have little side effects. In the beginning I had a lot of side effects, those you listed, extreme dry mouth, but not the rash and I still have a hard time getting out of bed at a decent hour, I have to keep myself on a very strict sleep pattern, or when I get off of it, I don’t go to bed until 2,3,4am, then never make it up in time to make it to work by 8:30am. And yes, the decreased sex drive is a pain.     Are you taking anything with the Zoloft? I was taking 100mg Zoloft and 4mg Xanax daily, now I’m on 200mg Zoloft and 3mg Klonopin daily. That might also explain the rash, and the waking up thing.     Hope this is of some help for you. Much Love, Brooke

Hi Brooke, Do you take anything for the manic depression? Chip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new to the group and am interpreted if people can give me any feed back on Zoloft. I started on Zoloft and two months ago after about of panic and depressive episodes. Though the attacks had seemed to be lessening, it seemed to make sense at the time to treat them to prevent a reoccurrence. The first two weeks were difficult on Xanax and brought back the panic as well as diarrhea, stomach upset, heart palpitations, but these went away and I began to increase my dosage from 25mg to the doctor recommended 50mg. I can’t say I feel that much better and am wondering whether these are side effects. I knew about the decreased sex drive and can probably handle that. One major difference is that I used to wake up early in the morning with a feeling of anxiety and now I can hardly drag myself out of bed at a normal time. I also experience frequent headaches as if my head and nose is pinched. I also am putting on weight. Also wondering about the rash that appeared unexpectedly on my arms (though this could be from something else; it is pretty mild.) Do these sound familiar to anyone? I also am wondering about the dosage of 50mg since I felt pretty good on 25mg and have heard that is a standard dosage. Any thoughts about decreasing dosage? — Tom Semmes 301-530-9586 Fax 301-530-9587

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I am new to the group and am interpreted if people can give me any feed back on Zoloft. I started on Zoloft and two months ago after about of panic and depressive episodes. Though the attacks had seemed to be lessening, it seemed to make sense at the time to treat them to prevent a reoccurrence. The first two weeks were difficult on Xanax and brought back the panic as well as diarrhea, stomach upset, heart palpitations, but these went away and I began to increase my dosage from 25mg to the doctor recommended 50mg. I can’t say I feel that much better and am wondering whether these are side effects.

Yes, these are common side effects from weaning on Zoloft and should be temporary. I knew about the decreased sex drive and can probably handle that. One major difference is that I used to wake up early in the morning with a feeling of anxiety and now I can hardly drag myself out of bed at a normal time. I also experience frequent headaches as if my head and nose is pinched. I also am putting on weight. Also wondering about the rash that appeared unexpectedly on my arms (though this could be from something else; it is pretty mild.) Do these sound familiar to anyone?

These can all be side effects, the headaches should be temporary. I also am wondering about the dosage of /50mg since I felt pretty good on 25mg and have heard that is a standard dosage. Any thoughts about decreasing dosage?

On the contrary you may not have noticed much positive change because you’re on a subtherapeutic dose. I think you should consult your doctor (hopefully a psychiatrist with some knowledge of anxiety disorders and not a GP…) about raising the dose. However, the best way to do this is in increments of 12.5 mg in order to avoid or minimize side effects caused by the dose increase. Having a benzo like Xanax or Ativan on the side to take *as needed* may be helpful too. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text — Tom Semmes 301-530-9586 Fax 301-530-9587

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I am new to the group and am interpreted if people can give me any feed back on Zoloft. I started on Zoloft and two months ago after about of panic and depressive episodes. Though the attacks had seemed to be lessening, it seemed to make sense at the time to treat them to prevent a reoccurrence. The first two weeks were difficult on Xanax and brought back the panic as well as diarrhea, stomach upset, heart palpitations, but these went away and I began to increase my dosage from 25mg to the doctor recommended 50mg. I can’t say I feel that much better and am wondering whether these are side effects. I knew about the decreased sex drive and can probably handle that. One major difference is that I used to wake up early in the morning with a feeling of anxiety and now I can hardly drag myself out of bed at a normal time. I also experience frequent headaches as if my head and nose is pinched. I also am putting on weight. Also wondering about the rash that appeared unexpectedly on my arms (though this could be from something else; it is pretty mild.) Do these sound familiar to anyone? I also am wondering about the dosage of 50mg since I felt pretty good on 25mg and have heard that is a standard dosage. Any thoughts about decreasing dosage? — Tom Semmes 301-530-9586 Fax 301-530-9587

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am new to the group and am interpreted if people can give me any feed back on Zoloft. I started on Zoloft and two months ago after about of panic and depressive episodes. Though the attacks had seemed to be lessening, it seemed to make sense at the time to treat them to prevent a reoccurrence. The first two weeks were difficult on Xanax and brought back the panic as well as diarrhea, stomach upset, heart palpitations, but these went away and I began to increase my dosage from 25mg to the doctor recommended 50mg. I can’t say I feel that much better and am wondering whether these are side effects. I knew about the decreased sex drive and can probably handle that. One major difference is that I used to wake up early in the morning with a feeling of anxiety and now I can hardly drag myself out of bed at a normal time. I also experience frequent headaches as if my head and nose is pinched. I also am putting on weight. Also wondering about the rash that appeared unexpectedly on my arms (though this could be from something else; it is pretty mild.) Do these sound familiar to anyone? I also am wondering about the dosage of 50mg since I felt pretty good on 25mg and have heard that is a standard dosage. Any thoughts about decreasing dosage?

Hi Tom, Welcome to ASAP! Alot of the symptoms you mentioned liked headache, weight gain and fatigue are side-effects of Zoloft. You could try going down to 25mgs ( ask your doctor first)  to see if the side-effects decrease but there is a good chance that 25mgs would not be enough to control your anxiety. The therapeutic dose of Zoloft is 100 to 200mgs, although there are people that do well on lower doses. It is also possible that better. Only you know what side-effects you are willing to tolerate or not tolerate. It is important that you talk to your doctor about what is going on so something can be done to help you. Take care Jackie ~*~When you get to the end of all the light you know and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taughhow to fly~*~

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My friend has an anxiety disorder-was recently prescribled 50 mg of Zoloft to take in the a.m.  She finds that she is very tired and ready for sleep around 2:30 p.m.   Is 50mg of Zoloft/day normally prescribed?  She’s complains of feeling too sedated. Thanks in advance for your response.  :0) Jennifer

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: :My friend has an anxiety disorder-was recently prescribled 50 mg of Zoloft to :take in the a.m.  She finds that she is very tired and ready for sleep around :2:30 p.m.   : :Is 50mg of Zoloft/day normally prescribed?  She’s complains of feeling too :sedated. : :Thanks in advance for your response.  :0) Dear Jennifer, Welcome to ASAP! Some people do well on 50mgs of Zoloft, others do well on 100mgs and then person to person. Sedation and feeling tired are common side-effects of antidepressants which is why it`s so important for people with anxiety disorder to start antidepressants at a low dose (zoloft would be12.5 or 25mgs) and to wean slowly (with Zoloft increasing the dose in 12.5 or 25 mg increments once a week or so). We tend to be sensitive to the side-effects of medication. Had your friend started Zoloft at 12.5 mg or even 25mgs the sedation may not have been so bad. She could try to stick this side-effect out, it might start to diminish once her body adjusts to the 50mgs. If she finds this side-effect is just too much for her, she should call her doctor and ask to lower her dose. Take care Jackie ~*~Do unto others as though you were the others~*~

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My friend has an anxiety disorder-was recently prescribled 50 mg of Zoloft to take in the a.m.  She finds that she is very tired and ready for sleep around 2:30 p.m. Is 50mg of Zoloft/day normally prescribed?  She’s complains of feeling too sedated. Thanks in advance for your response.  :0) Jennifer

If her sleepiness is due to the Zoloft, she could try 25 mg/day for awhile, and then raise the dose. Chip

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I definitely agree with lowering the dose initially. She could also try taking the 50mg at bedtime. Zoloft is one of those medications that usually must build up in the system over at least two weeks and it doesn’t really matter if you take it in the morning or at bedtime. Often it is just trial and error to find the regime that works best. Good luck, Russ,  M.D.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My friend has an anxiety disorder-was recently prescribled 50 mg of Zoloft to take in the a.m.  She finds that she is very tired and ready for sleep around 2:30 p.m. Is 50mg of Zoloft/day normally prescribed?  She’s complains of feeling too sedated. Thanks in advance for your response.  :0) Jennifer

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WHATS the story with Zoloft.Ive been on it for a week and still don,t feel any better.Please email me your xperiences with zoloft.Does it take a long time to work.  I DON,T want to give up on it yet I am taking 150mg a day Time wounds all heels!! Generally it takes up to 6 weeks for antidepressants to work.  Some though are fortunate that feel "something" happening by the end of the first week. Don’t give up.  Keep it up. I thought you might have written in another post about difficulty getting an orgasm.  This is experienced with SSRIs, and when it comes so soon after initiation of treatment it is more than likely due to that.  Let your MD know and he may want to change to another SSRI or some other antidepressant that does not have this side effect. kksoo

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Major Impact schreef: WHATS the story with Zoloft.Ive been on it for a week and still don,t feel any better.Please email me your xperiences with zoloft.Does it take a long time to work.  I DON,T want to give up on it yet I am taking 150mg a day Time wounds all heels!!

Alkthough I don’t have experiences with Zoloft I did take three other meds from the same (SSRI) group of antidepressants. These have in common that it may take awhile (anything up from 2-10 weeks) to take effect. So take that time to give the med a chance. After a week it’s already a very good sign that you experienced no side effects or heightened anxiety. This may well be the right med for you! Philip Peters – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –                                                                                                                                                l

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WHATS the story with Zoloft.Ive been on it for a week and still don,t feel any better.Please email me your xperiences with zoloft.Does it take a long time to work.  I DON,T want to give up on it yet I am taking 150mg a day Time wounds all heels!!                                                                                                                                                    l        

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  my 9 yr old son is taking zoloft..he started at 25mg the first week, now the 2nd week is up to 50 mg.  A little while after he takes it he says he feels hot and his head feels funny.  The whole day he is fine and it is really helping his impulsiveness, frustration and tantrums…these traits have nearly disappeared.  I am going to ask the doctor about it but is this normal?  He just was weaned off of Luvox at the same time he started the Zoloft. Debbie

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my 9 yr old son is taking zoloft..he started at 25mg the first week, now the 2nd week is up to 50 mg.  A little while after he takes it he says he feels hot and his head feels funny.  The whole day he is fine and it is really helping his impulsiveness, frustration and tantrums…these traits have nearly disappeared.  I am going to ask the doctor about it but is this normal?  He just was weaned off of Luvox at the same time he started the Zoloft. Debbie

Hi Debbie, Zoloft can cause sweating and headaches and that could be what your son is experiencing. I would mention this to the doctor, it should go away in a few weeks and appears to be mild, so I wouldn`t worry. That is wonderful that Zoloft has helped your son so much ) Take care!! Jackie

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Hopefully the side effects will go away. I had a really bad time on zoloft. Things did get better but I only took it for two days becuase I could not go to work. So mabe I’ll give a go when I have some space. Incidentally my doc said that the minumum dose was 50mg and that’s what I started on. I am in the UK, but this cannot be right. I think I may purchase myself a pill cutter — And god said. Let there be light. And there was light. But the darkness crept over me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  my 9 yr old son is taking zoloft..he started at 25mg the first week, now the 2nd week is up to 50 mg.  A little while after he takes it he says he feels hot and his head feels funny.  The whole day he is fine and it is really helping his impulsiveness, frustration and tantrums…these traits have nearly disappeared.  I am going to ask the doctor about it but is this normal?  He just was weaned off of Luvox at the same time he started the Zoloft. Debbie

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I had the same symptoms the first couple of days after switching from Paxil. went to 50 the second week. Felt it for a while the first day of 50, but not since. Good luck to your son. Lee

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my 9 yr old son is taking zoloft..he started at 25mg the first week, now the 2nd week is up to 50 mg.  A little while after he takes it he says he feels hot and his head feels funny.  The whole day he is fine and it is really helping his impulsiveness, frustration and tantrums…these traits have nearly disappeared.  I am going to ask the doctor about it but is this normal?  He just was weaned off of Luvox at the same time he started the Zoloft. Debbie Hi Debbie, Zoloft can cause sweating and headaches and that could be what your son is experiencing. I would mention this to the doctor, it should go away in a few weeks and appears to be mild, so I wouldn`t worry. That is wonderful that Zoloft has helped your son so much ) Take care!! Jackie

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Hopefully the side effects will go away. I had a really bad time on zoloft. Things did get better but I only took it for two days becuase I could not go to work. So mabe I’ll give a go when I have some space. Incidentally my doc said that the minumum dose was 50mg and that’s what I started on. I am in the UK, but this cannot be right. I think I may purchase myself a pill cutter

Oh yes, the UK where psychiatry still has to be invented…. 12.5 mg is the recommended starting dose (half a 25 mg tab), 25 mg may be managed but 50 mg is cruelty! Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — And god said. Let there be light. And there was light. But the darkness crept over me.  my 9 yr old son is taking zoloft..he started at 25mg the first week, now the 2nd week is up to 50 mg.  A little while after he takes it he says he feels hot and his head feels funny.  The whole day he is fine and it is really helping his impulsiveness, frustration and tantrums…these traits have nearly disappeared.  I am going to ask the doctor about it but is this normal?  He just was weaned off of Luvox at the same time he started the Zoloft. Debbie

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Oh yes, the UK where psychiatry still has to be invented…. Philip —

Not true!!! My shrink has a certificate of competence signed by no less a person than Noah (of Ark fame).  Must admit though I was a bit worried by the Thioridazine he gave me.  I could just make out on the label that it was best before 3000 BC — Jon Guite Live support and chat for anxiety and panic disorders at the #anx/pan chat room in Dalnet.  For details see http://www.skcldv.demon.co.uk/anxpanw.htm

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LEJ351 schreef: how long did it take for you to start feeling better?  I am only at 2 weeks and am still strugggling with insomnia, lack of appetite and  an acidic stomach.  I also use ativan as needed

Hopefully the Ativan will take you through these weeks as your body is adjusting to Zoloft. You should give Zoloft between 6-8 weeks to be able to evaluate its effect, but it’s entirely possible that you will feel better sooner than that. Philip

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I recently began taking zoloft and have never felt better.  I am curious why it seem many people take zoloft and xanax combo.  Does this help to alleviate some side effects?

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I recently began taking zoloft and have never felt better.  I am curious why it seem many people take zoloft and xanax combo.  Does this help to alleviate some side effects?

It does but when you don’t need it, so much the better! Glad it works! Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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how long did it take for you to start feeling better?  I am only at 2 weeks and am still strugggling with insomnia, lack of appetite and  an acidic stomach.  I also use ativan as needed

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how long did it take for you to start feeling better?  I am only at 2 weeks and am still strugggling with insomnia, lack of appetite and  an acidic stomach.  I also use ativan as needed

Hi: I am on ZOloft 25mg a day, and klonipin 3mg a day (all at bedtime)  I take benadryl 50mg PRN if I can’t get to sleep. For your stomach acidity, I had the same problem, and a simple dose of Zantac 75 (available without prescription) works wonders for the acid problem..in fact..NO problem!!!..It also doesn’t have any side effects. My pdoc lowered my Zoloft prescription after I found it caused too many side effects. At 25 mg’s at bedtime, it works wonders. I’ve been on it about a month now. Again, the benadryl as per needed, (even if I have to take it every second night!!) works great to knock off to sleep. Most impotantly, it keeps my sleep pattern regular.(ie. don’t sleep all day, and stay awake all night, which was my problem before I took the benadryl) Also, Gravol is simular to Benadryl, but a little bit milder, so may also want to consider this. These are non-prescription drugs, so you can take a shot yourself, and if they work..GREAT!! They’ve worked for me, and I’ve heard they worked well for many other, but, just try, as YMMV… Best of luck.. James — "All of us get lost in the darkness… Dreamers learn to stear by the stars.." Neil Peart, Rush, "The Pass"

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have been plagued by this question ever since the Glen and Greg fiasco. If I say something that upsets or offends someone… am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and flammed and ostricized for my posts? I am *not* being sarcastic.  I am very serious, and scared.  This is really concerning me… and I hesitate to post anything ‘political’ now… for fear it might happen.  I hate walking on eggshells… it makes me feel even more fake. The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this group.  You are all I have right now. Love, Keats xoxox who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned.

Hi Keats,     Nobody can lose their "membership" unless they are outright abusive or violate one of the other newsgroup rules – which, although I haven’t read the FAQ lately, I assume to be along the lines of no harrassment and no commercial postings.     It’s always possible that one person or another will not like what you have to say.  It’s also possible that in their attempt to express their feelings, someone will make you feel unwanted.     The best thing to do is stay true to yourself, and at the same time stay open to learning from others, even if you disagree (or are disagreed with).     We are imperfect people and this is an imperfect medium of communication.  But there is just so much opportunity to learn and to grow, it would be a shame to let your fear talk you out of continuing to take risks.     Post on! Love, Betsy

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I have been plagued by this question ever since the Glen and Greg fiasco. If I say something that upsets or offends someone… am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and flammed and ostricized for my posts? I am *not* being sarcastic.  I am very serious, and scared.  This is really concerning me… and I hesitate to post anything ‘political’ now… for fear it might happen.  I hate walking on eggshells… it makes me feel even more fake. The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this group.  You are all I have right now. Love, Keats xoxox who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned.

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Keats writes: If I say something that upsets or offends someone… am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and flammed and ostricized for my posts? I am *not* being sarcastic.  I am very serious, and scared.

Dearest Keats, In response to your concern (which I *totally* understand) that with all the flaming of Glen & Greg that you could be next if someone objected to you…..  I just don’t see it happening.  I usually obsess over stuff like that, and I’m usually very afraid that I will be the next bashing victim of anger that may not eve be there.  But in this case, I don’t think this is likely. I’ve stayed out of this debate, but I think that both Dr.’s G. tended to word their messages (which were often, in my opinion, rather long and preachy) in ways that seemed very condescending.  I believe that they both mean very well and are genuinely concerned about us and the issue of e.d.s.  And I do think they had some good points to make, but there was a lot of (what I considered) superfluous and (imo) preachy stuff that you had to wade through in order to get to the good points.  I think, though, that their main mistakes (not, in my perception, *deliberate* offenses by any stretch of *my* imagination) were in not reading the group long enough before posting, and not thinking about their words before hitting send.  I think the majority is simply errors caused by not learning the ropes here, not figuring out what is said and not said, what the group is capable and not capable of, etc.  And I do believe that there was a bit too much (by *everyone* involved) taking criticisms and anger too personally.  Bottom line, for me:  too many people got hurt.  Hardest part to understand/deal with (imo):  no one *meant* to give offense.  Cause thought, yes.  Hurt others, no. These are the points where I believe a certain level of prejudice entered (from my p.o.v. as well).  1. They’re not coming from strong positions of authority.   2.  They’re men.  Keats, love, you are not handicapped in anyone’s perceptions by either of these two issues. The cause of #1 is a lack of direct experience–not necessarily a lack of concern or desire to learn.  On this group, those of us who are facing/have faced e.d.’s are coming from a position of authority; we know whereof we speak…intimately.  And even though we experiences the e.d.’s and develop the e.d.’s in different ways and for different reasons, we all accept that, at least for each person, those experiences are valid.  These two gentlemen don’t have the validation of *having* the experience, for which, for their sakes, I am grateful.  I believe they *can* have valid points to make on the issue regardless, and there are certainly individuals here who *do* make good points although they’ve not personally experienced an e.d.  I think that their sudden appearance and enthusiastic, frequent postings startled some people and left a bad taste in certain people’s mouths, which I understand, but which I don’t think necessarily invalidates their comments or presence. In terms of point #2, there is a level at which I know some of us (myself very much included) tend to listen less to what men have to say about this issue, especially when they are not directly facing the e.d. themselves. I know that I have serious doubts (this is my own prejudice, for which I apologize if it hurts any feelings; I don’t believe it’s *right*, I just know it’s how I instinctively think and react) about *any* man’s ability to understand how I feel, about *any* man’s ability to understand women’s issues.  This doesn’t mean that I don’t try to explain, or that I never believe they *have* understood, but I often think it’s just too much trouble to explain because I’m so afraid that they won’t understand. I’m sorry for the length and any apparent self-righteousness or offensiveness of this post; I’ve been meaning to say something and never found the time or words or courage. I guess all this boils down to that I have no real problem with Dr.s G remaining, but I hope they will each (as I suspect they have been doing) read a bit more and get more of a feel for what the system is here.  I hope we can all take things less personally, and believe me, I *know* that’s hard.  I take it personally if the *littlest* things happen.  :-) I hope I haven’t said anything too offensive or bad; I just wanted to share what my perception of this whole affair has been. Love, Amilyn

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Dear Keats, PLEASE keep posting.  I love reading what you have to say.  No, not everyone is always going to agree with you, but that’s part of life.  And, I, for one, would not get rid of that part of life for anything.  It is what makes it possible for us all to really connect when we do!  You are an incredibly valuable member of ased (as is everyone else).  Don’t let these fears take you away.  PLEASE. KT — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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: If I say something that upsets or offends someone… : am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and : flammed and ostricized for my posts? : The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this : group.  You are all I have right now. : who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned. Keats…         To be completely practical, I see it this way: we know you.  I don’t see us kicking you out for something you say (not that this is like irc where any of us have the *power* to do so).         On a still somewhat practical note:  I dunno who Glen is.  Greg, as far as I remember, posted something about dieting or pills or something totally off base here.  It’s like a satanist posting to alt.christnet or something – you *have* to expect to get flamed doing something like that.  I don’t forsee you posting "New!! Exciting new diet pill on the horizon!! Just 19.95!"         On a not so practical note:  if anyone tries to ban you from here, I’ll have to kick some ***           I will NOT abandon you. *hug* Charlene — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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Heya Keats : If I say something that upsets or offends someone… : am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and : flammed and ostricized for my posts? The honest answer is "It depends on how and what you write". As an extension to that, I don’t believe for one second that _anyone_ could possibly react negatively to anything which _you_ could write, Keats. As Amilyn pointed out in her post, you have an intimate understanding of EDs – of the issues which need to be skated around delicately, and of instances where tip-toeing is the best policy. Even if you were to say something which caused a negative reaction, I don’t think rejection or ostracizion (sp?!) would result. Much of the problem, I feel, with the Dr.s is that people possibly feel they’re, ummm, "outsiders?". Do you see what I mean? To some, maybe they haven’t yet proven themselves; by which I mean their empathy or ability to express their concerns in ways which _don’t_ cause negative reactions. (Greg: I *will* respond to your e-mail, btw, just as soon as I get the time. Bear with me. You, Keats, do have this empathy and the ability to express yourself delicately, clearly, and in cases where clarification _is_ needed, I think you’ve been quite responsive. Speaking from a purely personal point of view, I *hope* I’ve demonstrated some of this ability and empathy myself, as I don’t have an ED. If I haven’t, I wish someone would _please_ tell me..? The last thing anyone wants is to cause others upset. And in as much as that is true, none of us want to be rejected either. : Love, : Keats : xoxox : who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned. Not a chance, sweetie. Not a _chance_. *HUG* Lots of love, Dave —  ! NOTE: THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS INVALID FROM 15 JUNE 1996 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE !  ! It’s so easy to become unhappy. It’s harder to work on happiness, because!  ! to be unhappy you’ve just got to sit and wait for it. For happiness, you !  !   need to get up, get out, and grab it. (Message to S.S., 26 June 1995)  !

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I have been plagued by this question ever since the Glen and Greg fiasco. If I say something that upsets or offends someone… am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and flammed and ostricized for my posts? I am *not* being sarcastic.  I am very serious, and scared.  This is really concerning me… and I hesitate to post anything ‘political’ now… for fear it might happen.  I hate walking on eggshells… it makes me feel even more fake. The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this group.  You are all I have right now. Love, Keats xoxox who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned.

Keats,  I know you are being *very* serious, because i worry about the self-same question all the time. I guess that as long as we don’t say anything really hurtful… then we will be okay… now posts are open to a lot of misinterpretation..the very nature of e-d’s make us more vvulnerable and someone. feeling very fragile may be hurt by something  any of us write… but if someone is offended/hurt  by anything YOU say… then i will be very, very surprised Keats… Keats,  you have so much compassion and understanding…i have severe doubts of you ever saying anything to hurt anyone else.. whether it is by accident or by design… please keep posting… i think the majority, if not all of us will fear at least once that something we write will hurt someone.. however unintentionally… and Keats,  no, we would NEVER abandon you  {{{{{ HUGS }}}}}} take good care of yourself.. don’t be afraid to post what is in your heart.. for your heart is full of kindness and love… love and extra special hugs because i think  you deserve them Susan

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been plagued by this question ever since the Glen and Greg fiasco. If I say something that upsets or offends someone… am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and flammed and ostricized for my posts? I am *not* being sarcastic.  I am very serious, and scared.  This is really concerning me… and I hesitate to post anything ‘political’ now… for fear it might happen.  I hate walking on eggshells… it makes me feel even more fake. The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this group.  You are all I have right now. Love, Keats xoxox who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned.

        We all have these feelings of insecurity sometimes, I think.  In this case it’s clearly irrational.  You’re one of us, one of the people this group exists for, not some outsider trying to use us to feed your bank book or your ego.  We all know and love you and we would never ostracise you — even if you suddenly start posting pyramid scams and ads for diet pills and asking for our credit card numbers we wouldn’t ostracise you; we’d ask what was going on and if somebody had hacked into your account.  <HUG -Cougar Allen :{) The Moving Finger writes; and having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

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writes: If I say something that upsets or offends someone… : am I to suffer the same fate as Glen and Greg?  Will I be rejected and : flammed and ostricized for my posts? : The last thing I need right now is to lose my ‘membership’ to this : group.  You are all I have right now. : who is sad, confused and scared of being abandoned.

Keats, No one can kick you out.  As long as you can turn on your machine, you can and have the right to read and write here.  As for me, I will never abandon you; I’ve been there too many times.  Also, the way I look at it, everyone has the right to their own opinons, that’s what makes them unique.  Some, I don’t look forward to reading, some I do. Now, woman, if you stop writing, I’ll be upset.  You’re a neat person with more insight than you give yourself credit for.  Okay. Hope you’ve got some sunshine up your way, Pj

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