Question:

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am 33 year old computer programmer.   I was on Paxil for approx 5 years where I was taking in the end 40 mg/ day.  This was not helping with my anxiety symptoms like it had done so in the past.   The fact that I was diagnosed with  Avascular Necorsis (caused my prednisone) and needed a Total Hip Replacement was not adding to my cheer. I went to see my doctor a general practitioner who put me on Short Term Disability while he gave me a wean down schedule for the paxil and then started me on Effexor at 75 mg.  I’ve been on the Effexor for a week and am less then happy with the results. The side affects I have experienced include the following: 1) Dry Eyes 2) Cold Hands and feet 3) At times extremely itchy 4) Ringing in the earsr 5) The most worrisome side affect is the irratablity and anger I feel Today I am supposed to go up to 150 mg and am scheduled to see my doctor next week.  I have read  some real horror stories about this drug and I hope this is not the start of one.

it’s weird that the doc weaned you off paxil before getting you on Effexor, i just cut my Paxil dose in half, and took half a dose of Effexor at the same time for a week, then upped to the full Effexor dose.  i didn’t have any unpleasant side effects when starting, except for mild jitters/anxiety. with this type of med, the side effects usually go away in three to four weeks, so i’d try to wait it out.  as another poster said, you may be suffering from the paxil withdrawal, and your effexor dose might not be high enough to counteract it.  increasing the dose might actually help you. -kelly

Response:

Effexor is an SSRI like Paxil, however it has the capacity to also impact your nor-epinephrine re-uptake as well (this generally, in humans, happens at higher doses, but it’s unpredictable when it will happen, or at what dose amount)  I hated effexor- personally.  However, it may turn out to be a great drug for you.  Some of the side effect stuff is probably related to the lowering of your Paxil dose; you may have to reduce it more slowly. You don’t have to raise the Effexor, nothing bad will happen if you don’t titrate it up at some particular rate, so I’d talk to the doctor first before I did that. Gary

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am 33 year old computer programmer.   I was on Paxil for approx 5 years where I was taking in the end 40 mg/ day.  This was not helping with my anxiety symptoms like it had done so in the past.   The fact that I was diagnosed with  Avascular Necorsis (caused my prednisone) and needed a Total Hip Replacement was not adding to my cheer. I went to see my doctor a general practitioner who put me on Short Term Disability while he gave me a wean down schedule for the paxil and then started me on Effexor at 75 mg.  I’ve been on the Effexor for a week and am less then happy with the results. The side affects I have experienced include the following: 1) Dry Eyes 2) Cold Hands and feet 3) At times extremely itchy 4) Ringing in the earsr 5) The most worrisome side affect is the irratablity and anger I feel Today I am supposed to go up to 150 mg and am scheduled to see my doctor next week.  I have read  some real horror stories about this drug and I hope this is not the start of one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. THanks in advance,

Response:

I am 33 year old computer programmer.   I was on Paxil for approx 5 years where I was taking in the end 40 mg/ day.  This was not helping with my anxiety symptoms like it had done so in the past.   The fact that I was diagnosed with  Avascular Necorsis (caused my prednisone) and needed a Total Hip Replacement was not adding to my cheer.   I went to see my doctor a general practitioner who put me on Short Term Disability while he gave me a wean down schedule for the paxil and then started me on Effexor at 75 mg.  I’ve been on the Effexor for a week and am less then happy with the results.   The side affects I have experienced include the following: 1) Dry Eyes 2) Cold Hands and feet 3) At times extremely itchy 4) Ringing in the earsr 5) The most worrisome side affect is the irratablity and anger I feel Today I am supposed to go up to 150 mg and am scheduled to see my doctor next week.  I have read  some real horror stories about this drug and I hope this is not the start of one.   Any advice would be greatly appreciated. THanks in advance,

Response:

Question:

What say you all???

I say all things in moderation. I don’t see how it could be any worse than breathing while driving a car, or drinking treated water, drinking regular coke or coffee, or getting a measles shot. .. Bridget M. Atkins maintenance for life.

Response:

Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural.

And your statement "seems" like unscientific garbage. Sugar is  processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I  think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake.

Don’t listen to this dumbass.  Use the Splenda, and DON’T use sugar. –Bryan

Response:

I say, neither, but rather, like most things, some good and some evil.   Priscilla — Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.   (thanks be to topfive.com)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural. And your statement "seems" like unscientific garbage. Sugar is  processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I  think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake. Don’t listen to this dumbass.  Use the Splenda, and DON’T use sugar.

Geez, what’s your problem?  I think what he said makes a lot of sense. Priscilla — Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.   (thanks be to topfive.com)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural. And your statement "seems" like unscientific garbage. Sugar is  processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake. Don’t listen to this dumbass.  Use the Splenda, and DON’T use sugar. Geez, what’s your problem?  I think what he said makes a lot of sense.

i think so too.  i can handle small amounts of sugar – a tablespoon of organic sugar or maple syrup in my oatmeal doesn’t send me over the moon with cravings.  i’m one of those annoying people who prefers "real" food over "artificial," so for my purposes small amounts of sugar work just fine.  

Response:

i think so too.  i can handle small amounts of sugar – a tablespoon of organic sugar or maple syrup in my oatmeal doesn’t send me over the moon with cravings.  i’m one of those annoying people who prefers "real" food over "artificial," so for my purposes small amounts of sugar work just fine.  

My summertime morning iced tea tastes putrid to me with only artificial sweetener in it, so I use some sugar and some fake sweetener and am getting used to having it be not nearly as sweet as I used to drink it.   In cool weather my mug of hot tea in the morning has one level teaspoon of real sugar in it.  It doesn’t taste right otherwise.  One teaspoon doesn’t seem to spike me much, and sugar is a much safer carb to eat than, say, potatoes. Priscilla, T2, good control with LC — Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.   (thanks be to topfive.com)

Response:

I agree completely, but have never been able to word it as well, Archon.  I use a little sugar in my hot beverages and control the amount very carefully.  I do not seek to replace all manner of sweets and carbs through articifical means and don’t feel prohibited or cheated because the basic lo carb diet is stabilizing enough to have banished my former cravings. Your reply is particularly timely because I was about to go shopping for Stevia today even though I’m having no hitch in my weight loss with the small of amounts (as compared to before) of sugar I’m consuming.  What do you think of Stevia, btw? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural. Sugar is processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake.

Response:

Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant. Noone told the millions of people using it that it would be addictive and hell to get off of.  There are people all over the internet signing petitions to start a class action lawsuit against the drug company.  Anyway, I digress, but my point is that just because the government says Splenda is safe, imo, does not necessarily make it so. I’ve been reading a few things on it lately and it’s made me a little cautious of using it now. jmo

Nasty. See why I dislike medication? I wasn’t saying – have no expertice to do so – that Splenda is or may be harmful. Just that I don’t like the idea. Btw it does remind me about the margerine episode – replace butter with margerine. It’s fat altered so the body doesn’t recognize it as fat – like with Splenda it’s sugar altered so the body doesn’t recognize it as sugar. I prefer something the body knows what is and then just use less of it. — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE Music:   http://mp3.com/archon2 Website: http://www.archonia.dk

Response:

BTW, How many carbs in a teaspoon of sugar vs sugar substitutes? DC 187/174/155 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I say, neither, but rather, like most things, some good and some evil.   Priscilla

Response:

BTW, How many carbs in a teaspoon of sugar vs sugar substitutes?

A standard teaspoon (5 ml) sugar is 4 gram. — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE Music:   http://mp3.com/archon2 Website: http://www.archonia.dk

Response:

Don’t listen to this dumbass.  Use the Splenda, and DON’T use sugar.

Do you earn your living selling Splenda? If not, why so emotionally involved? — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE Music:   http://mp3.com/archon2 Website: http://www.archonia.dk

Response:

I agree completely, but have never been able to word it as well, Archon.  I use a little sugar in my hot beverages and control the amount very carefully.

A small teapsoon (5 gram) in my tea is too sweet for me (6 months ago I’d NEVER believe I would EVER say "it’s too sweet for me"!). I just use a squirt of heavy cream that gives a very pleasant mouth feel and satisfying effect and also sweetens it, smoothes the tannin, and produces a taste that kinda turns me on!   I do not seek to replace all manner of sweets and carbs through articifical means and don’t feel prohibited or cheated because the basic lo carb diet is stabilizing enough to have banished my former cravings.

One must beware of not becoming fanatic (see note) about it and treat oneself sometimes. And I find it more romantic and "healthy for the soul" to use natural things. I like some of the mottos for these diets: Don’t eat processed/refined foods, eat whole foods. I thinks it’s a shame that everything have to be so synthetic these days (I really hate those polyester shirts!) There’s medicine for the silliest things – I don’t have any drugs in the house – not even headache pills. When I was given a prescription for something silly I didn’t take it (if I was a doctor I’d say "get off all non critical medication, eat lowcarb, and buy some good inline skates and get out there and exercise". dealing with everythign with medicine weakens the body’s natural defence). And in my area I’m the one who’s least ill and sick – I saw a post theorizing that saturated fat may improve the immune system and I have always eaten huge amounts of whipped cream! My research is about improving performance in agriculture without using chemical means. Optimising fertilizer leaving no residual fertilizer in the soil, and minimizing need for toxins and finally leading to mechanical weeding. Note: Since I started this diet I’ve often been accused of being fanatic, though! I tell that I don’t deny myself of things, but the food I eat now is actually better. Last time I was called fanatic I could tell that I had just the day before felt like having good old-fashioned Danish pancakes (sweet crepes with raw cane sugar and strawberry jam). So I just made them – ate all I could eat (which was less than I used to be able to) and so I got my pancake fix (didn’t have any jam in the house so I used strawberries and whipped cream instead – so actually more lowcarb than I’d normally eat them!) Your reply is particularly timely because I was about to go shopping for Stevia today even though I’m having no hitch in my weight loss with the small of amounts (as compared to before) of sugar I’m consuming.  What do you think of Stevia, btw?

I’m not familiar with it – is it what used to be called Nutrasweet (which got banned in Denmark when I was a teenager)? — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE Music:   http://mp3.com/archon2 Website: http://www.archonia.dk

Response:

Many diabetics and LC`ers use them, I mean millions of us, are we all wrong and those two right?

so the millions of you that use it are either diabetic or overweight? hmmm…..

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant.  Which antidepressant? — Mike Graham                  | Metalworker, rustic, part-time zealot. <http://www.metalmangler.com| First run on low-carb: 320lbs to 210lbs.            Restarted June 01/2003 – 245/236/not sure.                  DENIQUE DIAETAM EFFICACEM INVENI

Effexor.  Do a google search on Effexor withdrawals.  Thousands of people are suffering needlessly. ~~Lisa~~ 230/217/150 Started Atkins 06/04/03 Mark 10:26 ~ With God all things are possible.   The only thing worse then being alone is wishing you were.

Response:

Hi, Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant.   Which antidepressant?

I’m guessing Paxil.  It’s got a bad rep for that sort of thing. Take care, Carmen

Response:

Hi Lisa, Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant.  Which antidepressant? Effexor.  Do a google search on Effexor withdrawals.  Thousands of people are suffering needlessly.

I guessed wrong then.  I thought it was Paxil.  How did Effexor work with the depression? Take care, Carmen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Lisa, Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant.  Which antidepressant? Effexor.  Do a google search on Effexor withdrawals.  Thousands of people are suffering needlessly. I guessed wrong then.  I thought it was Paxil.  How did Effexor work with the depression? Take care, Carmen

Carmen, It did okay, but if I missed a dose by an hour or so the withdrawal symptoms were terrible.  I just couldn’t help thinking what this crap was doing to my body and my brain that I would react that way. I’ve never been much of a drug person anyway and so I’ve just decided to try and get off of it all and treat the FMS some other way. I’m researching vitamin therapy at the moment. ~~Lisa~~ 230/217/150 Started Atkins 06/04/03 Mark 10:26 ~ With God all things are possible.   The only thing worse then being alone is wishing you were.

Response:

Effexor.  Do a google search on Effexor withdrawals.  Thousands of people are suffering needlessly.

  I was curious because I’ve known several people who went on Wellbutrin for a short period (to quit smoking) and none of them had any difficulties with it. — Mike Graham                  | Metalworker, rustic, part-time zealot. <http://www.metalmangler.com| First run on low-carb: 320lbs to 210lbs.             Restarted June 01/2003 – 245/236/not sure.                   DENIQUE DIAETAM EFFICACEM INVENI

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural. Sugar is processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake. — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE

Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant. Noone told the millions of people using it that it would be addictive and hell to get off of.  There are people all over the internet signing petitions to start a class action lawsuit against the drug company.  Anyway, I digress, but my point is that just because the government says Splenda is safe, imo, does not necessarily make it so. I’ve been reading a few things on it lately and it’s made me a little cautious of using it now. jmo ~~Lisa~~ 230/217/150 Started Atkins 06/04/03 Mark 10:26 ~ With God all things are possible.   The only thing worse then being alone is wishing you were.

Response:

i think so too.  i can handle small amounts of sugar – a tablespoon of organic sugar   Just so’s you know, sugar is sugar.  ’Organic sugar’ is no better for you than the regular sucrose that you get in the big bag for cheap.  The organic stuff is more likely to have contamination issues, as well.

i’m well aware that sugar is sugar; however, cane sugar tastes different than beet sugar does, and performs differently in baking.   evaporated cane juice sugar, to me, tastes better and gives better baking results – so that’s what i buy.  evaporated cane juice sugar is usually organic.  i don’t go out of my way to buy organic anything ever (i’m too poor), but the brand of sugar i prefer happens to be organic. so that’s what i typed.  

Response:

Great post, Michael.  I’ve been wondering about Splenda myself and what you said made a lot of sense.  I for one do not trust everything the government says is safe.  Prime example is a drug I’ve been trying to get off of for 2 months now.  Just a "harmless" antidepressant.

  Which antidepressant? — Mike Graham                  | Metalworker, rustic, part-time zealot. <http://www.metalmangler.com| First run on low-carb: 320lbs to 210lbs.             Restarted June 01/2003 – 245/236/not sure.                   DENIQUE DIAETAM EFFICACEM INVENI

Response:

i think so too.  i can handle small amounts of sugar – a tablespoon of organic sugar

  Just so’s you know, sugar is sugar.  ’Organic sugar’ is no better for you than the regular sucrose that you get in the big bag for cheap.  The organic stuff is more likely to have contamination issues, as well. — Mike Graham                  | Metalworker, rustic, part-time zealot. <http://www.metalmangler.com| First run on low-carb: 320lbs to 210lbs.             Restarted June 01/2003 – 245/236/not sure.                   DENIQUE DIAETAM EFFICACEM INVENI

Response:

Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. Now I read that it may be very bad for me.  Should I stop using it and just use regular sugar?  I hate Sweetnlow so that wasn’t an option, and the Equal has got Aspartme (sp).  Having a little sweet something now and then is a treat that I’m hoping I can get one way or the other, I just want to make the best choice. What say you all???

Response:

Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now. Now I read that it may be very bad for me.  Should I stop using it and just use regular sugar?  I hate Sweetnlow so that wasn’t an option, and the Equal has got Aspartme (sp).  Having a little sweet something now and then is a treat that I’m hoping I can get one way or the other, I just want to make the best choice. What say you all???

Hi, Splenda and aspartame are completely and totally safe. They both been repeatedly tested by a whole lot of government regulatory agencies in a whole lot of different countries, and always passed. The possible and imaginary dangers are from the distorted minds of Mad Betty Martin and lunatic David Icke ( in th US and the UK respectively). Many diabetics and LC`ers use them, I mean millions of us, are we all wrong and those two right? hth — Al, Melton Mowbray, UK, diabetic Low-Carb a la Bernstein

Response:

Hello All, I have read in Adkin’s books about Splenda which is a artificial sweetner.  I have heard some folks swear by it because they can cook with it. I live overseas on an Air Force Base and I was shocked that we had it so I got some.  I only have it maybe twice a day with my caffine free coffee or my green tea.  That is the ONLY sugur I have used in weeks now.

When you use that little you might try real sugar and see if you can handle it. To me Splenda seems too processed and unnatural. Sugar is processed from beets or canes and then further processed into Splenda. Wonderful things happen when you don’t eat as much sweet anymore and I think using something "safe" like Splenda to sweeten might make you use more and thus will keep you addicted to sweetness, thus ruining the experience of real food. If you use sugar you know you have to limit your intake. — Michael Nielsen M.Sc.EE Music:   http://mp3.com/archon2 Website: http://www.archonia.dk

Response:

Question:

hey everyone… my doctor finally switched me off of effexor xr to welbrutrin sr… and now i have little bits of me that keep going numb, of i keep getting little jolts of electricity through my body. although these are not painful they are disconcerting. any suggestions? -will

the jolts of electricity sound like Effexor withdrawal. They will disappear with time. Chip

Response:

:hey everyone… :my doctor finally switched me off of effexor xr to welbrutrin sr… : :and now i have little bits of me that keep going numb, of i keep getting :little jolts of electricity through my body. although these are not painful :they are disconcerting. : :any suggestions? :-will Dear Will, Did you stop effexor cold turkey? Effexor is known for withdrawals. Electric shock type sensations can be withdrawal symptoms. There is also the possibility that this is a side-effect of wellbutrin. It can be hard to know what is causing this being you stopped taking one med and started a new med all at the same time. What dose of wellbutrin did you start at? Why are you taking the wellbutrin, anxiety and/or depression? You might want to give your doctor a call about this, maybe something can be done to alleviate this symptom. Take care! Jackie ~*~Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities Am I a part of the cure, or am I part of the disease~*~      ~Coldplay~

Response:

hey everyone… my doctor finally switched me off of effexor xr to welbrutrin sr… and now i have little bits of me that keep going numb, of i keep getting little jolts of electricity through my body. although these are not painful they are disconcerting. any suggestions? -will

Hi Will –  a lot has been written about Wellbutrin (bupropion) on this newgroup over the years. In general, it’s thought that Wellbutrin is not a good med for treating anxiety disorders. One or two people here have done ok on it, but it’s a stimulating anti-depressant, and it has a lot of side-effects, which include increased anxiety – it sounds as though that might be what you’re experiencing in those symptoms. They could also possibly be related to the switch from Effexor (venlafaxine). Are you taking a benzo? That could help to alleviate the symptoms – but you need to talk to your doctor again, I think. -David-

Response:

hey everyone… my doctor finally switched me off of effexor xr to welbrutrin sr… and now i have little bits of me that keep going numb, of i keep getting little jolts of electricity through my body. although these are not painful they are disconcerting. any suggestions? -will

Response:

Question:

Folks,           I’ve been on the Paxil for about five weeks now,  feeling better but really experiencing the sexual side effects of the Paxil. I have heard that Serzone gives you all the benefits of Paxil and No sexual side effects.          Can anyone respond both pro and con for switching to Serzone. I’d like to get my drive/libido back. Also if you have made the switch from Paxil how did you do it, were you weaned off the Paxil slowly or just a cold turkey switch to the serzone. Thanks in advance for any and all responses. — Dan ICQ 108553906

Response:

         I’ve been on the Paxil for about five weeks now,  feeling better but really experiencing the sexual side effects of the Paxil. I have heard that Serzone gives you all the benefits of Paxil and No sexual side effects.         Can anyone respond both pro and con for switching to Serzone. I’d like to get my drive/libido back. Also if you have made the switch from Paxil how did you do it, were you weaned off the Paxil slowly or just a cold turkey switch to the serzone.

My doctor switched me from paxil to serzone just before new year’s. No weaning — quit paxil one day, started serzone the next. I can definitely attest to the fact that serzone doesn’t depress libido the way paxil did. However, I’m not as certain that the serzone is as effective as paxil was in controlling anxiety. I *do* know that I’m prepared to stick with the serzone….. — Tom

Response:

I have had no sexual side effects as a result of taking Serzone. It has also gotten rid of my insomnia. I took Paxil for one day and it freaked me out!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –          I’ve been on the Paxil for about five weeks now,  feeling better but really experiencing the sexual side effects of the Paxil. I have heard that Serzone gives you all the benefits of Paxil and No sexual side effects.         Can anyone respond both pro and con for switching to Serzone. I’d like to get my drive/libido back. Also if you have made the switch from Paxil how did you do it, were you weaned off the Paxil slowly or just a cold turkey switch to the serzone. My doctor switched me from paxil to serzone just before new year’s. No weaning — quit paxil one day, started serzone the next. I can definitely attest to the fact that serzone doesn’t depress libido the way paxil did. However, I’m not as certain that the serzone is as effective as paxil was in controlling anxiety. I *do* know that I’m prepared to stick with the serzone….. — Tom

Response:

Danny, I didn’t go from Paxil to Serzone but did go Zoloft-Wellbutrin-Serzone, which I now have been on for about five months.  With the Wellbutrin I ramped off, and then began the "starter pack" of Serzone.  But even the lowest dosage I found intolerable at first – it upset my stomach and made me feel like I had drank ten cups of coffee.  I had to break the beginning pills in half to make it comfortable and move up from there.  Once you’re on it it’s fine, but it’s bumpy getting there. As far as libido or sexual side effects there were none . . . . at first. However (and this could just be me, obviously) at about the four month mark I did start to have problems, similar to what the Zoloft was doing.  It disperses my concentration to the point where it’s very difficult to "finish" in bed.  I don’t know why it took this long to kick in, but it did. I’m currently at 150mg twice a day, and at one point my doc tried to increase it to 400 total.  That DIDN’T work, made me feel like a zombie and totally screwed with my physical coordination, so I went back to 300.  But I’m seriously thinking of ramping off it entirely, not just because of the sexual problem but other side effects as well.  I’ll call my doc and talk about it. Good luck to you, however, and don’t take my experience as a negative for trying Serzone.  I’ve noticed on the other meds many times I have an unusual reaction which just proves we all react differently to some degree. Wayne

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Folks,           I’ve been on the Paxil for about five weeks now,  feeling better but really experiencing the sexual side effects of the Paxil. I have heard that Serzone gives you all the benefits of Paxil and No sexual side effects.          Can anyone respond both pro and con for switching to Serzone. I’d like to get my drive/libido back. Also if you have made the switch from Paxil how did you do it, were you weaned off the Paxil slowly or just a cold turkey switch to the serzone. Thanks in advance for any and all responses. — Dan ICQ 108553906

Response:

Question:

The moderator of my mailing list has been busy taking care of her husband who suddenly started swelling up like a balloon. After a bout of diuretics his swelling started going down and he’s been put on Arimidex while in the hospical. She picked up some ChryDIM and will sit on him if necessary while she applies it! If any of you is having trouble getting it up and is also having a bout of lackawanna please get it looked into. It isn’t necessarilily in your head and the necessary battery of tests could save your life! IT IS NOT A JOKE! IT IS NOT "ALEC AND HIS PREOCCUPATION"! It is a real danger. It almost killed 3 people that I know of personally! It has done damage to everyone that I know of with that condition! DO NOT WAIT! — *** http://medstuff.ftn.org – for the sake of your health *** *** http://www.ftn.org  Fight the creatures of The Night ****

Response:

ok, Alec I am about as confused as ever right now.  I just do not understand the msg..  Are you talking about Erectal Dysfunction?  or something else?  I suffer from ED because the nerves going both to my brain and to my back were severed either during my last accident or during the (several???? operations) that followed.  I am able to produce about a 50% result with injections or pump.  It is about the same result.  What else is available?  I will try almost anything that might have a chance of results.  Even the combination of injection and pump only produce about a 60%??  I am a candidate for implant and they have already ordered one for me.  BUT, the doctors in the states do not want to do the surgery until I either move back to the states or eliminate my need to use a catheter.  (I am almost always with a low grade UTI, and that is dangerous with an implant) John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The moderator of my mailing list has been busy taking care of her husband who suddenly started swelling up like a balloon. After a bout of diuretics his swelling started going down and he’s been put on Arimidex while in the hospical. She picked up some ChryDIM and will sit on him if necessary while she applies it! If any of you is having trouble getting it up and is also having a bout of lackawanna please get it looked into. It isn’t necessarilily in your head and the necessary battery of tests could save your life! IT IS NOT A JOKE! IT IS NOT "ALEC AND HIS PREOCCUPATION"! It is a real danger. It almost killed 3 people that I know of personally! It has done damage to everyone that I know of with that condition! DO NOT WAIT! — *** http://medstuff.ftn.org – for the sake of your health *** *** http://www.ftn.org  Fight the creatures of The Night ****

Response:

Newsgroups: alt.support.chronic-pain ok, Alec I am about as confused as ever right now.  I just do not understand the msg..  Are you talking about Erectal Dysfunction?  or something else?  I suffer from ED because the nerves going both to my

It’s low libido. The drive or desire is missing. If you’re checked for Testosterone, you need to be checked for free testosterone and estradiol. Actually, when you have the symptoms, which include lack of stamina, depression, tiredness, anemia, low libido, etcetera and your testosterone is not above the median then you should look at the test results for the following: Total Testosterone. The amount of T circulating in the                     blood. The most common test and the                     villain in so many cases. Since  free T                     drops with age faster than total, it’s                     the measurement that makes so many men                     miserable,  because a "normal" total is                     meaningless except as a measure of                     testicular function. `                     A "normal" level is useless. What you                     want is the top half of the range. If                     your not in the top half then symptoms                     of low T can mean LOW T! ` Free Testosterone   *NOT* SHBG only.  This is the active                     ingredient  that does the job. The                     total can be thru the roof  and the                     free thru the floor. Insufficient Free                     T  and you have ED. Again – the top                     half of the range. ` SHBG                Sex Hormone Binding Globulin reduces                     the amount of free testosterone in the                     blood. It can be countered and is not                     the only binding substance. ` LH                  Leutenizing Hormone – the biggy. No LH                     means no testosterone. The drugs used                     to chemically castrate Prostate cancer                     patients stops LH production.  High LH                           and low testosterone means that the                     pituitary is working alright and that                     the problem is elsewhere. FSH                 FSH stimulates the follicles that                     produce sperm.  Low FSH means                     sterility, but not necessarily ED.                     High FSH and low LH means a problem in                     the  pituitary. DHEA                DHEA is the fuel used by the testes to                     produce androstenedione, which becomes                     testosterone. Low DHEA can cause                     hypogonadism. High DHEA. High LH and                     low testosterone is a sign of either                     testicular failure or  liver problems. Prolactin           High prolactin is a sign of a pituitary                     malfunction, possible tumors, low                     dopamine / libido, etcetera. Estradiol           Too much estradiol will cause negative                     feedback in the pituitary and Low LH,                     also feminization and androgen                     insensitivity. Lower half is good. Total Estrogen      Too much estrogen can cause feminization and ED. Zinc                Zinc deficiency can cause androgen                     insensitivity, loss of testicular                     response to LH and prostate problems.                     Also osteoporosis. Too much calcium leaches out                     your zinc and can cause osteoporosis! TSH                 Hypo/Hyperthyroid can both cause ED. Free T3 Free T4 Liver Function      The liver enzymes convert Pregnenolone                     to DHEA among other things. Note the Free testosterone. Simply measuring the SHBG is inadequate,  since Free T is affected by other factors.  Free T AND SHBG give a very useful picture to an andrologist.  There is some controversy about albumin-bound testosterone being  "bioavailable". To date the data is inconclusive. Watch out for "NORMAL". Too many doctors see that you’re in the "normal" range and turn their brains off. If you’re in the top half in your testosterone levels FOR A 30-YEAR-OLD, then you probably don’t have a problem with the amount of testosterone. Otherwise you might still have a problem. Also watch out for "NORMAL" in prolactin, Estradiol and estrogen. Make sure that it’s the notmal for MEN. Too often the doctor looks at the range for women and switches off the brains. brain and to my back were severed either during my last accident or during the (several???? operations) that followed.  I am able to produce about a 50% result with injections or pump.  It is about the same result.  What else is available?  I will try almost anything that might have a chance of results.  Even the combination of injection and pump only produce about a 60%??  I am a candidate for implant and they have already ordered one for me.  BUT, the doctors in the states do not want to do the surgery until I either move back to the states or eliminate my need to use a catheter.  (I am almost always with a low grade UTI, and that is dangerous with an implant)

I don’t know what might work but I’le pull out my reference manuals. Also look at alt.support.impotence and ignore Jerry Sturdivant. He was deprived of oxygen between the ages of 5 and now and his brain sows it! — *** http://medstuff.ftn.org – for the sake of your health *** *** http://www.ftn.org  Fight the creatures of The Night ****

Response:

Alec, I do not mean to be dis-respectful and I ask this out of my own interest only. But, This is a chronic pain support group, right?  I know that many, many men that have chronic pain suffer from this terrible problem, but…why are you posting questions and answers on this ng, when they should be posted to a group for this particular problem?. You have been a wonderful addition to the group, and you insight on most problems is welcome, but I just don’t see where these questions are needed on this group. Can you explain why they are popping up here so often! Respectfully,  Jo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Newsgroups: alt.support.chronic-pain ok, Alec I am about as confused as ever right now.  I just do not understand the msg..  Are you talking about Erectal Dysfunction? or something else?  I suffer from ED because the nerves going both to my It’s low libido. The drive or desire is missing. If you’re checked for Testosterone, you need to be checked for free testosterone and estradiol. Actually, when you have the symptoms, which include lack of stamina, depression, tiredness, anemia, low libido, etcetera and your testosterone is not above the median then you should look at the test results for the following: Total Testosterone. The amount of T circulating in the     blood. The most common test and the     villain in so many cases. Since  free T     drops with age faster than total, it’s     the measurement that makes so many men     miserable,  because a "normal" total is     meaningless except as a measure of     testicular function. `     A "normal" level is useless. What you     want is the top half of the range. If     your not in the top half then symptoms     of low T can mean LOW T! ` Free Testosterone   *NOT* SHBG only.  This is the active     ingredient  that does the job. The     total can be thru the roof  and the     free thru the floor. Insufficient Free     T  and you have ED. Again – the top     half of the range. ` SHBG                Sex Hormone Binding Globulin reduces     the amount of free testosterone in the     blood. It can be countered and is not     the only binding substance. ` LH                  Leutenizing Hormone – the biggy. No LH     means no testosterone. The drugs used     to chemically castrate Prostate cancer     patients stops LH production.  High LH     and low testosterone means that the     pituitary is working alright and that     the problem is elsewhere. FSH                 FSH stimulates the follicles that     produce sperm.  Low FSH means     sterility, but not necessarily ED.     High FSH and low LH means a problem in     the  pituitary. DHEA                DHEA is the fuel used by the testes to     produce androstenedione, which becomes     testosterone. Low DHEA can cause     hypogonadism. High DHEA. High LH and     low testosterone is a sign of either     testicular failure or  liver problems. Prolactin           High prolactin is a sign of a pituitary     malfunction, possible tumors, low     dopamine / libido, etcetera. Estradiol           Too much estradiol will cause negative     feedback in the pituitary and Low LH,     also feminization and androgen     insensitivity. Lower half is good. Total Estrogen      Too much estrogen can cause feminization and ED. Zinc                Zinc deficiency can cause androgen     insensitivity, loss of testicular     response to LH and prostate problems.     Also osteoporosis. Too much calcium leaches out     your zinc and can cause osteoporosis! TSH                 Hypo/Hyperthyroid can both cause ED. Free T3 Free T4 Liver Function      The liver enzymes convert Pregnenolone        to DHEA among other things. Note the Free testosterone. Simply measuring the SHBG is inadequate,  since Free T is affected by other factors.  Free T AND SHBG give a very useful picture to an andrologist.  There is some controversy about albumin-bound testosterone being  "bioavailable". To date the data is inconclusive. Watch out for "NORMAL". Too many doctors see that you’re in the "normal" range and turn their brains off. If you’re in the top half in your testosterone levels FOR A 30-YEAR-OLD, then you probably don’t have a problem with the amount of testosterone. Otherwise you might still have a problem. Also watch out for "NORMAL" in prolactin, Estradiol and estrogen. Make sure that it’s the notmal for MEN. Too often the doctor looks at the range for women and switches off the brains. brain and to my back were severed either during my last accident or during the (several???? operations) that followed.  I am able to produce about a 50% result with injections or pump.  It is about the same result.  What else is available?  I will try almost anything that might have a chance of results.  Even the combination of injection and pump only produce about a 60%??  I am a candidate for implant and they have already ordered one for me.  BUT, the doctors in the states do not want to do the surgery until I either move back to the states or eliminate my need to use a catheter.  (I am almost always with a low grade UTI, and that is dangerous with an implant) I don’t know what might work but I’le pull out my reference manuals. Also look at alt.support.impotence and ignore Jerry Sturdivant. He was deprived of oxygen between the ages of 5 and now and his brain sows it! — *** http://medstuff.ftn.org – for the sake of your health *** *** http://www.ftn.org  Fight the creatures of The Night ****

Response:

Question:

My 80 year old farther(in pretty good shape looks more like 65) has bouts of depression…last time lasted 2 months and had to move in  with me and my family.Finnaly got off zanax(very unpleasent) , now will start on prozac???He doesn’t seem tolerante to these medications…sometimes making him worse.Depression started in again about a week ago…any good results with anything..including prozac?Bill

Xanax is a benzodiazepine, in the same class of drugs as Valium. It is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, including anxiety due to depression However, ALL benzodiazepines are very sedating, and they should not be used for treatment of depressive disorders without anxiety. Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) are Selective Serotonin Receptor uptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) These constitute a newer class of antidepressants with greater specificity and proportedly lower incidence of side-effects, but YMMV. Since up to a third of diabetics (with studies ranging from 20 – 50%) will develop symptoms of depression during their lifetimes, depression is not uncommon and may respond to the right drug or combination of drugs for treatment of the depression. Parenthetically, Tricyclic anitdepressants (TCA) like Elavil (ami ryptaline), Desipramine (norpramine) and Imipramine (Tofranil) have also been effectively used to manage pain due to peripheral diabetic neuropathy. Hope things go well for Dad.

Response:

Your information about the seratonin receptors, Prozac and Zoloft was most interesting.  You say, one third of all diabetics suffer from depression. Would this account for "black moods"?  Moods that seem to make one snappy and irritable?  Would that constitue depression or just a borderline kind of thing one needs to live with?  Are there any nonmedicational prescriptions that are just as effective. If on Prozac, do people tend to become more conscientious about taking care of themselves. I tend to find that there is a cycle at play.  Feeling bad, overeating, raised sugars, feeling irritable, eating, etc. What are your thoughts?  Is Prozac effective incombating some of these cyclic problems?  Do you find that Prozac or Zoloft is effective in helping with relationships. The family is taking quite a beating.

Response:

<snip He doesn’t seem tolerante to these medications…sometimes making him worse.Depression started in again about a week ago…any good results with anything..including prozac?Bill

Karen Knox Responds: I have had good luck with zoloft, which is a cousin to prozac.  I did have some naseau at first and jumped between being tired and jittery. I am now taking my 150 mgs in the am which allows me to sleep at night. Not all have this good experiemce.  I have taken Pamelor and had good results, but the side effects were very hard for me (dry mouth) because I teach.  Good luck. Karen Knox in chilly Maine

Response:

My 80 year old farther(in pretty good shape looks more like 65) has bouts of depression…last time lasted 2 months and had to move in  with me and my family.Finnaly got off zanax(very unpleasent) , now will start on prozac???He doesn’t seem tolerante to these medications…sometimes making him worse.Depression started in again about a week ago…any good results with anything..including prozac?Bill

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am s depressed. Can someone help me? I am reading Diabetis For Dummies. It is a good book but so depressing. I can not keep my glucose under control. Yes, it is depressing, no different than dealing with any other chronic health problems. I *strongly* urge you to either find or start a support/social group with other diabetics in your area. Having access to that kind of accumilated wisdom is great and inspiring, but sometimes you just need a hug from someone who’s been there, and you can’t get that from the Usenet. I read if you’ve had one heart attack you have a 80% chance of having another within 5 years. I’ve gon 4 and a half. Does that mean I only have 6 mths left? Please help me. My father has had two heart transplants, about two years apart. After the second one, he was told that he likely had only seven years to live (the typical expectency for someone having a transplant and already on anti-rejection medication.) That was almost 13 years ago, and he is still very much alive, healthy and (to my great happiness) spending his children’s inheritence with abandon The statistics are merely *averages*. For every three people who have a second heart attack within five years, there is one who has it sooner and one who has it latter. There are people who, because of changes in their lifestyles, NEVER have a second. Certainly you’ve learned the drill from your reading, so repeat after me: "I will NOT have seconds. I will NOT have seconds…."

Hello, I’m new to the group but have some input on your subject.  As to the Depression, if it lasts more than a week or so seek professional help.  I know as I am a Manic/Depressive (BiPolar I) and I have an Anxiety Disorder.  These I’ve been treated for over 6 years now and its under control. I just found out 8 months ago I was a Type II Diabetic, tried several of the pills but they didn’t agree with my IBC (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) so I take Humulin N injections 1x a day.  At the beginning this started to depress me but with the help of my therapist and a positive attitude that it was just another bump in the road of life I have accepted my condition. As to worrying about another heart attach, well my father died about 3 days after his 48th birthday of heart disease and from the age of 30 to 47 I worried about it or thought about it almost every day.  I’m now 48 1/2 and realize that all that worry was for nothing.  I enjoy each day as though it might be my last.  Treat others as I would like to be treated, go to Mass regularly and try to follow my doctors advice as well as educate myself on my various illness’s. Your on your way with the education part, now just accept you have it and learn to deal with it. "The Internet is like a giant jellyfish. You can’t step on it. You can’t go around it. You’ve got to get through it."                                 -John Evans TIA & Regards, Tom  

Question:

Renee, your idea sounds wonderful.  Yes, part of the problem is that my brain is like a video in fast forward.  I tend to keep busy (physically busy) just to keep from thinking. Now that helps, but the moment I stop being busy, the brain switches into fast forward.  I can’t read very much without losing track and if I force myself my headaches start.  Can you tell me a little more.  What kind of thoughts do you try to focus on…..I believe I would tend to go to the thoughts that trouble me.

I don’t try to focus on anything – i think that for me, that was part of the problem – i was trying to control it.  When I unfocus and just let the thoughts and images flow over me, eventually, I can calm down, my mind isn’t racing as much, and i generally feel calmer.  Doing this 15 minutes a day reguarly over a period of time helped me immensely.  I hope it does the same for you! I’ve been like this for about five years, when I was peacekeeping in Bosnia. Before that I never had any problems….I read all the time.  I finished university with an A/B average….I had what I believe was similar to a photographic memory.   The memory seems to be improving a little.  I just need to attack the concentration problem.

I believe you can do it, but it might take some time and some effort, and it’s easy (or at least it was for me) to get discouraged.  Journaling your thoughts might also help.  It might be helpful to look at them as a small child needing attention – if you give them the attention, and just flow along with it for a short period of time, they might give you some peace the rest of the day, or at least be less intrusive. good luck and let me know how it goes! take care, Renee No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. –Helen Keller

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks for the input everyone. Jackie, I’ve been taking effexor since March.  I’m up to 150 mg a day and I take imovane for sleep.  The headaches have improved since I switched over from Prozac…and improved to the point that I feel I can overcome the concentration problems. Renee, your idea sounds wonderful.  Yes, part of the problem is that my brain is like a video in fast forward.  I tend to keep busy (physically busy) just to keep from thinking. Now that helps, but the moment I stop being busy, the brain switches into fast forward.  I can’t read very much without losing track and if I force myself my headaches start.  Can you tell me a little more.  What kind of thoughts do you try to focus on…..I believe I would tend to go to the thoughts that trouble me. I’ve been like this for about five years, when I was peacekeeping in Bosnia. Before that I never had any problems….I read all the time.  I finished university with an A/B average….I had what I believe was similar to a photographic memory.   The memory seems to be improving a little.  I just need to attack the concentration problem. Take Care Lesleyanne

Hi chech, I looked up Imovane on the net because it isn’t listed in my US PDR. From what I saw, doses of 7.5 mg and less should have no effect on your CNS, but above that, there can and probably will be.  If you are taking doses greater than 7.5 mg, you may want to talk to your pdoc about it. Otherwise, I know that even while on SSRIs, an increase in anxiety will have a tremendous effect on my concentration and memory.  Even when I don’t "feel" anxious, anxiety inducing events will have that effect. Remember that I have GAD with PD, so YMMV, etc., etc. tnx, drr — The second nicest guy on the internet Need the ASAP Mini-FAQ? A copy is at www.drrhodes.org

Response:

Thanks for the input everyone. Jackie, I’ve been taking effexor since March.  I’m up to 150 mg a day and I take imovane for sleep.  The headaches have improved since I switched over from Prozac…and improved to the point that I feel I can overcome the concentration problems. Renee, your idea sounds wonderful.  Yes, part of the problem is that my brain is like a video in fast forward.  I tend to keep busy (physically busy) just to keep from thinking. Now that helps, but the moment I stop being busy, the brain switches into fast forward.  I can’t read very much without losing track and if I force myself my headaches start.  Can you tell me a little more.  What kind of thoughts do you try to focus on…..I believe I would tend to go to the thoughts that trouble me. I’ve been like this for about five years, when I was peacekeeping in Bosnia. Before that I never had any problems….I read all the time.  I finished university with an A/B average….I had what I believe was similar to a photographic memory.   The memory seems to be improving a little.  I just need to attack the concentration problem. Take Care Lesleyanne The one and only chech has a home on the information highway… just turn right at http://home.thezone.net/~chech

Response:

Roo asked:

Hi Roo, If your anxiety and/or depression are causing problems with your attention span, than there is the possibility that Effexor could help. If Effexor is effective in eliminating or greatly reducing your anxiety and depression then your attention span might improve. With my last setback I was so bad that following a recipe in a cookbook was hard for me. Paxil reduced my anxiety so much, that my concentration has come back. However, there is no quarantee even if the Effexor does work, that your attention span will be better. I know a few people that even when they found effective meds for their anxiety and/or depression their concentration was still bad…….so this is a YMMV thing. Take care and good luck with your new med!! jackie

Response:

Hi Lesleyanne ~ I have PTSD too and concentration used to be a real problem for me.  I’d read the same paragraph or sentence over and over and still not know what it said.  Don’t remember that headaches were a part of that, but it seems like I’ve always had trouble with them. Weird question: I’m wondering what specifically is troublesome about reading or concentration…. is it that too many things are going through your head, ‘just’ unfocused ??  I had some of each.  Meditation really helped ‘quiet’ my racing mind.  I would lay on the floor or sit in a comfortable chair for 15-30 minutes (and had to work up to that.  initially, if I could do it for 30 seconds, I was thrilled).  Sometimes I’d try to focus on a specific thing, other times I would just let all those thoughts flow over me, and eventually, my brain would slow down enough to where I felt more comfortable, and had greater focus.  It took a long time – many months – to get to the point where I could read a book again. How long have you dealt with this, and what have you tried?  I agree with Jackie that it’s hard for anyone to concentrate with a headache. I find that I work best when I am not focusing on any one thing for ‘too long’, and am doing a variety of things through the day.  I’m a multitasker take care, Renee No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. –Helen Keller – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I suffer from PTSD and the one symptom that is really bothering me now is the concentration problems. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to get it back.  I can’t read for very long or do anything that requires mental concentration for very long.  I have a constant ‘tension’ type headache (usually on the right side) althought that has improved since I switched from prozac to effexor. Any thoughts or experiences with this problem would be greatly appreciated.

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— Roo.com       http://www.roo.com Well, dip me in honey…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I suffer from PTSD and the one symptom that is really bothering me now is the concentration problems. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to get it back.  I can’t read for very long or do anything that requires mental concentration for very long.  I have a constant ‘tension’ type headache (usually on the right side) althought that has improved since I switched from prozac to effexor. Any thoughts or experiences with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lesleyanne Hi Lesleyanne, How long have you been on the Effxor? If it has only been a short while, then maybe more time is needed to see if this symptom will improve with the Effexor. With my last setback my concentration was awful, but Paxil really took care of it. I know concentration problems are quite common with anxiety disorders and it seems to be a stubborn symptom. I suffer from Migraines and when I have one, I cannot concentrate. It is possible that your chronic headaches might be interfering with your concentration. Have you been to a neurologist for your headaches? Perhaps treating the headache would help the concentration? The only other time I had terrible concentration problems was when my thyroid was acting up. I assumed that all my symptoms were anxiety, when in fact it was my thyroid. Might not hurt to look into that, just to be sure. Take care and feel better!!! Jackie "Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality.  If you can dream it, you can make it so."

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I suffer from PTSD and the one symptom that is really bothering me now is the concentration problems. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to get it back.  I can’t read for very long or do anything that requires mental concentration for very long.  I have a constant ‘tension’ type headache (usually on the right side) althought that has improved since I switched from prozac to effexor. Any thoughts or experiences with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lesleyanne The one and only chech lives in cyberspace at http://home.thezone.net/~chech

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I suffer from PTSD and the one symptom that is really bothering me now is the concentration problems. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to get it back.  I can’t read for very long or do anything that requires mental concentration for very long.  I have a constant ‘tension’ type headache (usually on the right side) althought that has improved since I switched from prozac to effexor. Any thoughts or experiences with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Lesleyanne

Hi Lesleyanne, How long have you been on the Effxor? If it has only been a short while, then maybe more time is needed to see if this symptom will improve with the Effexor. With my last setback my concentration was awful, but Paxil really took care of it. I know concentration problems are quite common with anxiety disorders and it seems to be a stubborn symptom. I suffer from Migraines and when I have one, I cannot concentrate. It is possible that your chronic headaches might be interfering with your concentration. Have you been to a neurologist for your headaches? Perhaps treating the headache would help the concentration? The only other time I had terrible concentration problems was when my thyroid was acting up. I assumed that all my symptoms were anxiety, when in fact it was my thyroid. Might not hurt to look into that, just to be sure. Take care and feel better!!! Jackie "Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality.  If you can dream it, you can make it so."

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Question:

        Hey, how are YOU doing? Haven’t talked to you in a long time (yep, my fault ) If you ever want to write me, e-mail! Luv, Jen

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thanks linda.  i used to take dannon light and freeze it so i could not binge on it.  maybe i will discuss it with the dietician. shell

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Hiya, Shell,    you mentioned in your post to meghan that in refeeding you had problems with your body handling food. cna you elaborate? i am on a very very low cal food plan to maintain my weight at the present due to the recent weight gain which occured out of the blue. but no longer purging and my body has gone whacko with severe pains and bloating way above the ribcage even.  bloated more than when i was binging.

        I’m going to *spoiler* the response, due to talk of food issues…. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *         O.k…. I just would rather be safe, than to trigger anyone, just in case.  O.k… well, this is what occurred to me, after having restricted for a long period of time.  When I finally got to a very low weight, and was briefly hospitalized, I realized that I had to start eating again.           It was quite difficult, both physically and mentally.  I dealt with the psychological aspect of it, rather well, I knew that I had to eat, I could see how weak I had became, and so forth, so I made the conscious decision to start eating again.  So, I figured that all would be *good* again, well…. it didn’t quite work that was, and wasn’t that easy.         I would try to eat, obviously, very careful about foods that I ate, and so forth, and even though I had accepted the fact to eat, my body no longer knew what to do with the food that I was giving it.  I would have pains in my stomach, major bloating, feel nauseated,  chest pains, and the food wouldn’t not *stay in*.  My body would almost immediately reject the food that I was giving it.  It was quite scary and very discouraging.  Later, I found out that I had some damage (which was reversible… so I was very fortunate), but I had damage to my stomach, my liver, and muscles around my heart, due to the restricting.         I began then eating foods that would help get my digestive system back on track, such a yogurt (which was excellent and very helpful for me), and began to slowly drink my Ensures (which I would add milk to, in the beginning, so that I could drink it). then toasts, and so forth.  I gave my body foods that we easily digestible.  I was told not to eat fruits of vegetables, unless they were very well cooked.  It the point to trying to get your body use to having food, and relearning how to deal with it.  It takes a while, Shell, don’t give up.  I know that it’s hard, and it’s scary…. *my* weight fluctuated, but has stabilized since then…. your body needs a period of readjustment.  Try the yogurt…. that is very good and helpful for your digestive system.  I hope that this is somewhat helpful, and there is anything else, please let me know, o.k.?  I’m right here!         Sending you *continued* strength and courage.  : O ) Take Care, Linda (Brown-eyed Girl)

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Meghan, wow! My name is Meghan, spelled the exact same way, and I have never met anyone who spells it that way! Welcome to ased.  I am glad that you decided to post, and look forward to hearing more from and aboutyou! Meg — "Hitch your wagon to a star." Ralph Waldo Emerson

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hi linda,    you mentioned in your post to meghan that in refeeding you had problems with your body handling food. cna you elaborate? i am on a very very low cal food plan to maintain my weight at the present due to the recent weight gain which occured out of the blue. but no longer purging and my body has gone whacko with severe pains and bloating way above the ribcage even.  bloated more than when i was binging. shell

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Hi, Meghan,         Welcome to ASED.  I’m glad that you decided to post, that takes a lot of strength and is a wonderful step in the right direction.  You will see that there are many wonderful and supportive people here.           What kind of work do you do?  I have a very stressful job as well, and I do enjoy my work, although I am on a leave of absence at the moment.  I am 30, and also dealing with anorexia. I went through a similar *phase*, were I would try to eat, but my body would have difficult with the food, it was a result of the restricting.  I know that it’s scary, but speak with your doctors, if you haven’t mentioned the anorexia already, so that they know your entire situation, and then they will know what to look for, and how to help you.           Sending you strength and courage.  Hoping that you will post again. : O ) Take Care, Linda (Brown-eyed Girl)

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Hi, my name is Meghan and I am anorexic.  I am 28  Irish (living in America), and I work in a VERY stressful job (that I love…) I have decided to post to get some support because I have not been well lately – mostly everytime I eat I feel terrible (nausea, dizziness and feverish).  I have been to doctors and they seem to think there is a physical cause, but I have to go through more tests to get a diagnosis. The result is that I’m afraid to eat *anything*, which I know is not right, but feels safe.  It’s wierd because I really DO like to eat (my safe foods) but now I can’t even do that. Frustrated and scared, Meghan

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Hi! I’ve been lurking in this group for awhile but this is my first post. I’ve had bulimia for about 20 years. For about 15 of them, I denied that it was a problem. I finally began working with a wonderful therapist and hve had varing stages of success at recovery. My greatest time was when I first started on Zoloft. I was free of vomitting for about 6 months and then for the next 6 months I had 2-3 episodes. I stopped the Zoloft but after a few months of vomiting 3-4/week I went back on it. It helped for awhile but I was never as "free" as I was that 1st time. I’m so obsessed with food, the amounts I eat, my weight, and how successful will I be at not vomitting eac day. I’ve also developed this disgusting behavior of chewing food and spitting it out so I don’t have to vomit. That’s become a new obsession too and I feel like my obsessions are taking over my life. At the suggestion of my therapist, I’ve begun to investigate some local support groups and have not been successful in finding any ones that would be appropriate for me so I am trying this in the hopes of some helpful advice from other sufferers as to what to do next.  Either replies to this post or direct e-mail to me are welcome.

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FRAN, I am glad you decided to join the group.  I am new myself.  This is only the 3rd week, but some people have been here for a year or so. I am bulimic to but only for about a year and a half.  I am 17 years old.  How old are you?  I was also anorexic for about 6 months or so, so I know quite a bit about both disorders. I know what you mean about going off your medication.  I have went off of my prozac many of times thinking that It just didn’t work.  But when I went off it I again started my episodes of binging/purging, and having strong serious thoughts and ideas of suicide.  Infact, that is just what happened to me a few days ago.  Sometimes I feel like just giving up, but I look at my family and other people who have recovered and it gives me hope to move on and look more possitive about things.  It doesn’t always work, but It’s still helps to know about these things.   How are you doing now?  Me, things are really up and down.  One day things seem ok, but something triggers me to go back.  I have only been through this for 2 years but you have for much longer.  I have been through hell, so I can just imagine how what you have been through. I hope you get some kind of help from this newsgroup as I hope so for myself. I hope to  hear from you soon! lots of love and luck, Lisa

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I just wanted to say that I always felt I was being *good* when I chewed up food and spit it out. What a sense of control! I wasn’t going to have to purge (and we all know the health risks of that). I didn’t even realize it was part of ed behavior until about 6 months ago when I read it somewhere on the net. I am curious about Zoloft. I was on Paxil for 8-9months and discontinued it b/c of ongoing headaches. I had a 2 week breather and then just recently started Prozac. The headaches are back! (I must add that I have them even when I am not on an ad but they get worse when I take the ad) Do you get any side effects to Zoloft? If you don’t, maybe if your dosage was increased, you would quit the eating/spitting behavior. Don’t beat yourself up about it, in the meantime. If everything else is progressing, I am sure this behavior will follow suit. Good luck, Dee

I don’t have any side effects with Zoloft except that I can’t cry.  But who needs that anyway, right?  Hoped this helped. Nandi Anne

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Fran, Welcome to ased.  I’m recovering from a bout of anorexia, never have been bulimic.  If I may be so bold, are you seeing your therapist, now? One thing I learned about my eating disorder is that it’s a symptom/reaction to unresolved issues.  As we delve into the issues, I’m conquering it a little at a time.  That’s why I asked if you’re still in therapy.  Maybe you may want to explore the issues.  Sure the medication helps the immediate symptoms — Like you can plant a tree in the back yard, but if you don’t water it, it won’t grow.  It’s tough,but you can do it.  We’re here supporting you in your journey, Pj

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Question:

Ari, I wonder if he meant that hair loss is not an issue with SSRIs in general, or specifically not a problem with Zoloft?  If it’s the latter, maybe I’ll switch from Prozac, which seems to be causing some mild & subtle hair loss for me. But I do think that all SSRIs warn that it is a rare side effect. — Ari

I was pretty amazed to see all sorts of discussion lists on the web with lots of people saying that all sorts of different SSRIs were causing hair loss.  The two worst offenders seemed to be Paxil and Zoloft.  But Prozac was in there, too.  Now, maybe it was just that the people with the hair loss were posting, and actually very few people had hair loss.  But, from what I read (spent many hours reading all this stuff one night, all the while checking my hair to make sure it indeed still was up there), it seems to be more than rare. Matt

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Well, I logged in to post a question about hairloss with serzone.  I may be imagining it (but I don’t think so), but it seems my scalp has been itching more than usual since starting serzone, and after washing my hair I lose lots of hair (more than usual by about half).  Anyone else?

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I didn’t have much before I started Serzone! (8 ^O —— Ahhhhh! OH NO I’M BALD *Grin* But anything’s possible…. Cheers, Mike from OZ

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Well, I logged in to post a question about hairloss with serzone.  I may be imagining it (but I don’t think so), but it seems my scalp has been itching more than usual since starting serzone, and after washing my hair I lose lots of hair (more than usual by about half).  Anyone else?

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ari, I wonder if he meant that hair loss is not an issue with SSRIs in general, or specifically not a problem with Zoloft?  If it’s the latter, maybe I’ll switch from Prozac, which seems to be causing some mild & subtle hair loss for me. But I do think that all SSRIs warn that it is a rare side effect. — Ari I was pretty amazed to see all sorts of discussion lists on the web with lots of people saying that all sorts of different SSRIs were causing hair loss.  The two worst offenders seemed to be Paxil and Zoloft.  But Prozac was in there, too.  Now, maybe it was just that the people with the hair loss were posting, and actually very few people had hair loss.  But, from what I read (spent many hours reading all this stuff one night, all the while checking my hair to make sure it indeed still was up there), it seems to be more than rare. Matt

It’s too early to tell if it’s working, but I got myself on the same kind of vitamin regimen adopted by some depakote users.  The consensus on a few online forums seems that selenium and zinc (and to a lesser degree choline, inositol, vitamin B and folic acid) is sometimes useful for people on mood stabilizers (is that the right term?).  I have been taking them for two months, and perhaps there has been less hair loss recently (25 hairs/day versus 45), but it’s still early.  Mind you, my wife thinks I’m imagining things, but I have definitely noticed some subtle fallout since I began Prozac in November 97.  But at this point, since the hair loss is so mild, I prefer to stick with Prozac a bit longer; it works too well otherwise for me not to. Ari

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    Interesting, I know it can be a problem with depakote, but I haven’t heard of antidepressant doing it. Tim, Try an altavista with +hair +zoloft (or prozac or paxil or effexor, for that matter). Matt

I never had that problem when I was on zoloft but it is listed as a side effect. John

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : : I’m currently on Zoloft, and it’s working great for me. Some mild side : effects, but nothing I can’t live with. I haven’t noticed any hair loss : after five weeks, but then, I haven’t got much hair left to lose . : : I’m seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon. I’ll ask him how common this : problem is and get back to you. : : –Ed : Thanks Ed–I look forward to the report. : Best, : Matt Matt, According to my doc (who’s a good guy, very smart), hair loss is *not* a side effect of Zoloft. It is with other meds (which, he didn’t say), but not with this one. I can see it now: TV ads for Zoloft which proclaim, "With Zoloft, your hair is safe!" –Ed

I wonder if he meant that hair loss is not an issue with SSRIs in general, or specifically not a problem with Zoloft?  If it’s the latter, maybe I’ll switch from Prozac, which seems to be causing some mild & subtle hair loss for me. But I do think that all SSRIs warn that it is a rare side effect. — Ari

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Have any of you had any hair loss/thinning with zoloft? Thanks Matt

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Have any of you had any hair loss/thinning with zoloft? I wouldn’t rule it out, Matt – I’ve certainly heard of it with Serzone. — Gary Cooper

So it looks like just about all of the new antidepressants can do this–I know that Effexor and the SSRIs can have this effect.  Now Serzone too, eh? One thing that I don’t know is exactly how common this is with each; since I’m on Zoloft I was interested in hearing other’s experiences with this drug. Thanks Matt

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Have any of you had any hair loss/thinning with zoloft?

I wouldn’t rule it out, Matt – I’ve certainly heard of it with Serzone. — Gary Cooper

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: So it looks like just about all of the new antidepressants can do this–I : know that Effexor and the SSRIs can have this effect.  Now Serzone too, : eh? : One thing that I don’t know is exactly how common this is with each; since : I’m on Zoloft I was interested in hearing other’s experiences with this : drug. : Thanks : Matt Hi Matt, I’m currently on Zoloft, and it’s working great for me. Some mild side effects, but nothing I can’t live with. I haven’t noticed any hair loss after five weeks, but then, I haven’t got much hair left to lose . I’m seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon. I’ll ask him how common this problem is and get back to you. –Ed

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I’m currently on Zoloft, and it’s working great for me. Some mild side effects, but nothing I can’t live with. I haven’t noticed any hair loss after five weeks, but then, I haven’t got much hair left to lose . I’m seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon. I’ll ask him how common this problem is and get back to you. –Ed

Thanks Ed–I look forward to the report. Best, Matt

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m currently on Zoloft, and it’s working great for me. Some mild side effects, but nothing I can’t live with. I haven’t noticed any hair loss after five weeks, but then, I haven’t got much hair left to lose . I’m seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon. I’ll ask him how common this problem is and get back to you. –Ed Thanks Ed–I look forward to the report. Best, Matt

    Interesting, I know it can be a problem with depakote, but I haven’t heard of antidepressant doing it.

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: : I’m currently on Zoloft, and it’s working great for me. Some mild side : effects, but nothing I can’t live with. I haven’t noticed any hair loss : after five weeks, but then, I haven’t got much hair left to lose . : : I’m seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon. I’ll ask him how common this : problem is and get back to you. : : –Ed : Thanks Ed–I look forward to the report. : Best, : Matt Matt, According to my doc (who’s a good guy, very smart), hair loss is *not* a side effect of Zoloft. It is with other meds (which, he didn’t say), but not with this one. I can see it now: TV ads for Zoloft which proclaim, "With Zoloft, your hair is safe!" –Ed

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    Interesting, I know it can be a problem with depakote, but I haven’t heard of antidepressant doing it.

Tim, Try an altavista with +hair +zoloft (or prozac or paxil or effexor, for that matter). Matt

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