Question:

What were the side effects of Mometasone furoate (if any)?  I wonder if it will eventually be a possible substitute for high dose inhaled steroids??  I really dislike the side effects from my Flovent 220.  I’m so glad it worked for your daughter and hope she can get a prescription soon.  Nancy, I know you have been waiting a long time for this…I remember your posts about the med from last year!!!  :o)

Hiya – I went looking for the notes from my study – I dont know if I was on Mometasone Furoate or not.  I know that I, personally, experienced no side effects from the inhaler.  From what my doctor mentioned, the biggest complaint was thrush, but I have always been very careful about gargling, so it wasnt a problem for me. Thanks Patrice – I am hopeful that it will come out this year, and pray that my insurance will cover it!!! Life is uncertain – eat dessert first. Nancy 8=: )

Response:

Hi Linda and others, What were the side effects of Mometasone furoate (if any)?  I wonder if it will eventually be a possible substitute for high dose inhaled steroids??  I really dislike the side effects from my Flovent 220.  I’m so glad it worked for your daughter and hope she can get a prescription soon.  Nancy, I know you have been waiting a long time for this…I remember your posts about the med from last year!!!  :o) Patrice – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My daughter (age 10) just finished a year long study of inhaled mometasone furoate. It was terrific! The doctor that performed the study said it ought to be approved around August or September of this year. Ours was a Phase 3 study. Linda CHICAGO-A dry-powder inhaler charged with mometasone furoate can reduce the need for oral corticosteroid therapy. Seeking to wean high-dose, steroid-dependent patients with severe asthma from prednisone, a Thomas Jefferson Hospital-Hershey Medical Center team administered mometasone furoate at dosages of 400 mcg or 800 mcg BID in 128 patients over three months. The same patients were later rolled into a second open-label study where they got mo-metasone furoate in a dose gradually reduced over nine months to 400 mcg BID. Among 95 patients who completed the study, daily oral prednisone usage was reduced by 86%, with 64% completely eliminating it, a team led by Dr. James E. Fish told the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology meeting here. Lung function also improved. I was in a study group for a Mometasone inhaler (not the dry powder type, the normal type) and it worked MIRACLES for me.  I have been steroid dependent for 3 years now.  By the time the study was over, I was on 2 mg a day, and on my way to getting off of that, which was unheard of before.  Once the study ended and I had to stop the medicine, I went back to my normal 20-30 mg daily. I finished this study almost 2 years ago and the company is still waiting for freakin FDA approval.  It drives me nuts knowing that a med is out there that might enable me to go back to work and have a life, and not have access to it – arrgghhhhhh!!! Life is uncertain – eat dessert first. Nancy 8=: )

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -CHICAGO-A dry-powder inhaler charged with mometasone furoate can reduce the need for oral corticosteroid therapy. Seeking to wean high-dose, steroid-dependent patients with severe asthma from prednisone, a Thomas Jefferson Hospital-Hershey Medical Center team administered mometasone furoate at dosages of 400 mcg or 800 mcg BID in 128 patients over three months. The same patients were later rolled into a second open-label study where they got mo-metasone furoate in a dose gradually reduced over nine months to 400 mcg BID. Among 95 patients who completed the study, daily oral prednisone usage was reduced by 86%, with 64% completely eliminating it, a team led by Dr. James E. Fish told the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology meeting here. Lung function also improved.

I was in a study group for a Mometasone inhaler (not the dry powder type, the normal type) and it worked MIRACLES for me.  I have been steroid dependent for 3 years now.  By the time the study was over, I was on 2 mg a day, and on my way to getting off of that, which was unheard of before.  Once the study ended and I had to stop the medicine, I went back to my normal 20-30 mg daily. I finished this study almost 2 years ago and the company is still waiting for freakin FDA approval.  It drives me nuts knowing that a med is out there that might enable me to go back to work and have a life, and not have access to it – arrgghhhhhh!!! Life is uncertain – eat dessert first. Nancy 8=: )

Response:

My daughter (age 10) just finished a year long study of inhaled mometasone furoate. It was terrific! The doctor that performed the study said it ought to be approved around August or September of this year. Ours was a Phase 3 study. Linda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – CHICAGO-A dry-powder inhaler charged with mometasone furoate can reduce the need for oral corticosteroid therapy. Seeking to wean high-dose, steroid-dependent patients with severe asthma from prednisone, a Thomas Jefferson Hospital-Hershey Medical Center team administered mometasone furoate at dosages of 400 mcg or 800 mcg BID in 128 patients over three months. The same patients were later rolled into a second open-label study where they got mo-metasone furoate in a dose gradually reduced over nine months to 400 mcg BID. Among 95 patients who completed the study, daily oral prednisone usage was reduced by 86%, with 64% completely eliminating it, a team led by Dr. James E. Fish told the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology meeting here. Lung function also improved. I was in a study group for a Mometasone inhaler (not the dry powder type, the normal type) and it worked MIRACLES for me.  I have been steroid dependent for 3 years now.  By the time the study was over, I was on 2 mg a day, and on my way to getting off of that, which was unheard of before.  Once the study ended and I had to stop the medicine, I went back to my normal 20-30 mg daily. I finished this study almost 2 years ago and the company is still waiting for freakin FDA approval.  It drives me nuts knowing that a med is out there that might enable me to go back to work and have a life, and not have access to it – arrgghhhhhh!!! Life is uncertain – eat dessert first. Nancy 8=: )

Response:

Physician’s Weekly March 20, 2000 Mometasone furoate subs for steroids CHICAGO-A dry-powder inhaler charged with mometasone furoate can reduce the need for oral corticosteroid therapy. Seeking to wean high-dose, steroid-dependent patients with severe asthma from prednisone, a Thomas Jefferson Hospital-Hershey Medical Center team administered mometasone furoate at dosages of 400 mcg or 800 mcg BID in 128 patients over three months. The same patients were later rolled into a second open-label study where they got mo-metasone furoate in a dose gradually reduced over nine months to 400 mcg BID. Among 95 patients who completed the study, daily oral prednisone usage was reduced by 86%, with 64% completely eliminating it, a team led by Dr. James E. Fish told the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology meeting here. Lung function also improved.

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:

no ….never,

Response:

Hi Charles… I don’t like it. I’m sure…. This form was a ghost. Aline – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline With Effexor I had a variety of symptoms, some could be classed as visual hallucinations.  To me, it was more like dream state while I was awake, or awake state while I thought I was asleep. It also didn’t work on my depression, so I quit. No experience with Paxil. I have had what I think of as break-through dreams while awake on almost all the ADs I have used, usually within the first few weeks, and that goes away with time.

Response:

I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline

With Effexor I had a variety of symptoms, some could be classed as visual hallucinations.  To me, it was more like dream state while I was awake, or awake state while I thought I was asleep. It also didn’t work on my depression, so I quit. No experience with Paxil. I have had what I think of as break-through dreams while awake on almost all the ADs I have used, usually within the first few weeks, and that goes away with time.

Response:

I have never seen Ally McBeal. I don’t watch prozakian American TV. Bri — If you post, please don’t email

Response:

No… It’s not med. You don’t understand me. Too expensive it’s not med but psychotherapy because psychotherapy change nothing for me.  I don’t want pay for nothing. Aline – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – you want me to go get the post you wrote , where you told me , you’re not taking meds anymore , because they are too expensive and they make you feel bad ? I don’t stopped my meds %%%%%%% The doctor prescribed me Effexor. I need to take med.  I don’t have a choice. Aline I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline it doesn’t matter , you stopped taking meds , remember . —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—– —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

ok Aline , whatever , have a nice day … bye . – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -It’s real… I stopped Paxil during 3 weeks because this med wasn’t good for me. Because my depression, the doctor told me I have no choice to take meds. He prescribed me an other antidepressant. Aline then why did you tell me you stopped taking all meds ? I had auditive hallucination with Paxil and Thursday evening I had visual hallucination with Effexor. I saw a strange form who disappeared rapidely.  This form was white, fluid and opaque in the same time. I don’t sleep when I saw this. Now I’m afraid… I don’t want see this again. Aline I have had several visual hallucinations with paroxetine; I had little people dancing on the end of my bed. It was cute watching them. Bri — If you post, please don’t email —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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It’s real… I stopped Paxil during 3 weeks because this med wasn’t good for me. Because my depression, the doctor told me I have no choice to take meds. He prescribed me an other antidepressant. Aline – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – then why did you tell me you stopped taking all meds ? I had auditive hallucination with Paxil and Thursday evening I had visual hallucination with Effexor. I saw a strange form who disappeared rapidely.  This form was white, fluid and opaque in the same time. I don’t sleep when I saw this. Now I’m afraid… I don’t want see this again. Aline I have had several visual hallucinations with paroxetine; I had little people dancing on the end of my bed. It was cute watching them. Bri — If you post, please don’t email —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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you want me to go get the post you wrote , where you told me , you’re not taking meds anymore , because they are too expensive and they make you feel bad ? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I don’t stopped my meds %%%%%%% The doctor prescribed me Effexor. I need to take med.  I don’t have a choice. Aline I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline it doesn’t matter , you stopped taking meds , remember . —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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then why did you tell me you stopped taking all meds ? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I had auditive hallucination with Paxil and Thursday evening I had visual hallucination with Effexor. I saw a strange form who disappeared rapidely.  This form was white, fluid and opaque in the same time. I don’t sleep when I saw this. Now I’m afraid… I don’t want see this again. Aline I have had several visual hallucinations with paroxetine; I had little people dancing on the end of my bed. It was cute watching them. Bri — If you post, please don’t email

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Response:

I don’t stopped my meds %%%%%%% The doctor prescribed me Effexor. I need to take med.  I don’t have a choice. Aline – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline it doesn’t matter , you stopped taking meds , remember . —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

I had auditive hallucination with Paxil and Thursday evening I had visual hallucination with Effexor. I saw a strange form who disappeared rapidely.  This form was white, fluid and opaque in the same time. I don’t sleep when I saw this. Now I’m afraid… I don’t want see this again. Aline – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had several visual hallucinations with paroxetine; I had little people dancing on the end of my bed. It was cute watching them. Bri — If you post, please don’t email

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I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline

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I have had several visual hallucinations with paroxetine; I had little people dancing on the end of my bed. It was cute watching them. Bri — If you post, please don’t email

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I have a question for you. Someone have an auditive or visual hallucination with Paxil or Effexor? Aline

it doesn’t matter , you stopped taking meds , remember . —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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Question:

Maybe it’s me on effexor withdrawal, but the proliferation of these multiple threads sucks.  Is there a problem with some people’s browsers?  Why can’t people continue the thread instead of splintering it into another category?  It’s really irritating, especially since my browser is slow and so the extra scrolling, guessing if the discussion is a continuation or new takes a lot of time and money. basically, I’m otta here.  Too slow. Best, AD Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Actually, a lot of your problem is your browser. Sure, people should be careful not to splinter threads, but a good browser will put most of that back where it goes. I see that you use Netscape3.01 Gold and Windows 95. Chances are that you have room on your hard drive for Agent, which will solve most of your problems. I used to get irritated at the same thing. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Maybe it’s me on effexor withdrawal, but the proliferation of these multiple threads sucks.  Is there a problem with some people’s browsers? Why can’t people continue the thread instead of splintering it into another category?  It’s really irritating, especially since my browser is slow and so the extra scrolling, guessing if the discussion is a continuation or new takes a lot of time and money. basically, I’m otta here.  Too slow. Best, AD Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

HI ITS ME AMY AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL  WHO HELPED ME BEFORE THIS CHAT LINE IS A GOD SENT, ANYWAY IM NOW ON ZOLOFT AND STILL WEENING OFF PROZAC, I FEEL SOOOO SHITTY TIRED, HEART PALPS AND DIZZY, IS THIS NORMAL AND HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THESE   SYMTOMS  AMD WHEN DOES IT GET BETTER THANKS TO ALL

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HI ITS ME AMY AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL  WHO HELPED ME BEFORE THIS CHAT LINE IS A GOD SENT, ANYWAY IM NOW ON ZOLOFT AND STILL WEENING OFF PROZAC, I FEEL SOOOO SHITTY TIRED, HEART PALPS AND DIZZY, IS THIS NORMAL AND HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THESE   SYMTOMS  AMD WHEN DOES IT GET BETTER THANKS TO ALL

Are you taking a benzo…I got tired from Xanax, but not Zoloft…The heart palps and dizziness are signs of anxiety…I would suspect that perhaps you have  the classic additional anxiety that you get when starting a new AD…I had tremors and other side-effects with Zoloft that increased my anxiety…This went away for the most part inside of a week, and continued to disapear in the following weeks… Best, — Charles Phipps

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Question:

Someone explained to me that the drug has a short half life and needs to be perked up after 12 hours to remain constant

Deb – My shakiness and headaches don’t seem to coincide with my dosing.  As a matter of fact my symptoms don’t seem to coincide with anything, which makes this whole situation much more frustrating. I take my dose at 10:00 p.m. every night.  I have absolutely no trouble falling asleep – it’s staying asleep.  When I wake up at 5:00 a.m. (if I am lucky enuf to have slept the whole night through – rare) I start to shake shortly after I wake up, not instantly upon waking.  This is only 7 hours after I have taken my dose.  Later in the morning I actually feel better. Karen

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I start to shake shortly after I wake up, not instantly upon waking.  This is only 7 hours after I have taken my dose.  Later in the morning I actually feel better.

Dear Karen, Sorry to hear you still don`t feel well!! You say when you wake up you feel shaky, but later in the morning you feel better. Are you feeling better after you have eaten something?? When is the last time you eat or drink something the night before? This may be a long shot, but maybe you are going to long without eating something. Sometimes I will eat dinner at 5pm, and then not eat anything else for the rest of the evening, then the next day when I  wake up I feel a little shaky. Sometimes just having a glass of oj and a slice of cheese, I feel better. You could try at 10pm having a glass of milk and some graham crackers, maybe you might see a difference or maybe you won`t, can`t hurt. Take Care!! Jackie Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.–George Carlin

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Karen, Do you think you could ask your doc about twice daily dosing? I felt MUCH better when I went to this. Someone explained to me that the drug has a short half life and needs to be perked up after 12 hours to remain constant in your blood stream. A few weeks ago, I forgot my evening dose and woke up in a shaky panic – called shrink and she said once I am up to this level (300mg daily split twice) that missing a dose can easily bring on anxiety and that when I DO get off, it needs to be done gradually just like I built up. Just a thought, but it MAY be what is causing you to feel so bad? Your evening dose would be wearing off about midmorning – is this when you feel worse? I also sleep much better if I take my dose at dinner rather than before bed. Take care, Karen

Very interesting.  My doc says the missed dose theory is way overrated.  He said you recover typically in a day and it’s nothing to be concerned about. I have also done very well with twice daily.

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Very interesting.  My doc says the missed dose theory is way overrated.  He said you recover typically in a day and it’s nothing to be concerned about. I have also done very well with twice daily.

I only had the one morning anxiety return on the morning after my missed dose and it was fine by afternoon. I really do not know if it was a breakthough episode or really related to the missed dose, but it seemed to be. Anyway, I am MUCH better about remembering my meds now

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You say when you wake up you feel shaky, but later in the morning you feel better. Are you feeling better after you have eaten something??

I start to feel better after I get up out of bed and get rolling.  I thought maybe it was nutritional too, but food does not seem to matter.  I get shaky when I feel anxious (of course) but then I also get anxious because I get the shakes. Karen

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been on Serzone since August 13th.  I started at 50 mg and progessed to 100 mg 1x at night.  Now I’ve been bumped to 150 mg and then will go to 200 mg 1x at night. I started to really feel better then had a set back.  I am back to the low level constant shakiness and I have headaches that will not go away.  The headaches start in the back of my neck and end up behind my eye.  I also have some dizziness when I up my dose.  I am really sick of these headaches. Neither Tylenol, Tylenol Sinus or Aleve take it away.  Yesterday I tried a little caffiene and that seemed to help. No trails or nausea or skin crawl, though. I am really sick of feeling this overall weak shakiness, exactly the feeling you have if you have just gotten off the treadmill or stairmaster. I am patiently waiting for my stronger dose of Serzone to kick in.  At least my PA’s have really subsided. In the meantime, I sure could use a neck rub! Karen

I’ll offer some views from someone who has taken Serzone for 1.5 years. (Remember, meds are different with each person) Serzone is an interesting beast.  It was originally thought of as an anti-depressant and then moved towards the anxiety/PD arena.  Through my reading and a top notch local doctor, I found that Serzone can actually INCREASE anxiety in some folks.  I was one of those folks. Serzone did a great job of helping me sleep and has little sexual side effects.  The downside for me was increased low level anxiety. My doctor put me on a very low dose of Xanax (.25mg 3 times daily).  That helped some.  He also increased the Serzone level slowly until my depression was under control.  (He says that Serzone seems to work only at certain dosage levels for each person). I had taken Zoloft for a number of years and tried Paxil after that due to an increase in PAs.  As a final fine tuning, he put me on a low dose of Zoloft.  The combo of Serzone, Xanax, and Paxil was a homerun.  I’ve been in great shape for a long time now. I will note that I also strongly believe in therapy to assist the meds.  I have learned a ton about breathing and relaxation techniques.  I also have learned about self-hypnosis from a terrific therapist.  Finally, I understand myself better and can think through the tough situations that are side-effects of having Panic/Anxiety for a long time. Good luck all.

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As stated above, I STILL have low level shakiness and slight headaches and I am on 150mg twice daily, BUT it is getting better!!!! I have been on 300mg twice daily for 4 weeks. I am thinking about moving from 150 twice daily to 200mg A.M. and 150 P.M. if the docs will do it. I felt better after my increase to 300 but it took a couple of days. I have read that is very common after an increase. I have never heard of a 1x daily dosage and I have also read and heard that a therapuetic dose is between 200-400mg daily. Stick with it as we are all feeling the same symptoms and maybe we can sort this out better with good communication between us! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been on Serzone since August 13th.  I started at 50 mg and progessed to 100 mg 1x at night.  Now I’ve been bumped to 150 mg and then will go to 200 mg 1x at night. I started to really feel better then had a set back.  I am back to the low level constant shakiness and I have headaches that will not go away.  The headaches start in the back of my neck and end up behind my eye.  I also have some dizziness when I up my dose.  I am really sick of these headaches. Neither Tylenol, Tylenol Sinus or Aleve take it away.  Yesterday I tried a little caffiene and that seemed to help. No trails or nausea or skin crawl, though. I am really sick of feeling this overall weak shakiness, exactly the feeling you have if you have just gotten off the treadmill or stairmaster. I am patiently waiting for my stronger dose of Serzone to kick in.  At least my PA’s have really subsided. In the meantime, I sure could use a neck rub! Karen

Response:

Hi Karen, Do you think you could ask your doc about twice daily dosing? I felt MUCH better when I went to this. Someone explained to me that the drug has a short half life and needs to be perked up after 12 hours to remain constant in your blood stream. A few weeks ago, I forgot my evening dose and woke up in a shaky panic – called shrink and she said once I am up to this level (300mg daily split twice) that missing a dose can easily bring on anxiety and that when I DO get off, it needs to be done gradually just like I built up. Just a thought, but it MAY be what is causing you to feel so bad? Your evening dose would be wearing off about midmorning – is this when you feel worse? I also sleep much better if I take my dose at dinner rather than before bed. Take care, Karen

Response:

I’ve been on Serzone since August 13th.  I started at 50 mg and progessed to 100 mg 1x at night.  Now I’ve been bumped to 150 mg and then will go to 200 mg 1x at night. I started to really feel better then had a set back.  I am back to the low level constant shakiness and I have headaches that will not go away.  The headaches start in the back of my neck and end up behind my eye.  I also have some dizziness when I up my dose.  I am really sick of these headaches. Neither Tylenol, Tylenol Sinus or Aleve take it away.  Yesterday I tried a little caffiene and that seemed to help. No trails or nausea or skin crawl, though. I am really sick of feeling this overall weak shakiness, exactly the feeling you have if you have just gotten off the treadmill or stairmaster. I am patiently waiting for my stronger dose of Serzone to kick in.  At least my PA’s have really subsided. In the meantime, I sure could use a neck rub! Karen

Response:

Have been on serzone 300mg daily for 4 weeks. Ramped up from 200 after 10 days. I have been helped by serzone quite a bit! I have never had real relief however from the slight dizzy feelings and the general visual "trailing" or blurring of images when you move your head to look at something else. I have xanax .25 but only take them as needed. I do not take serzone on a full stomach and have not noticed nausea. I also had low grade headache and for me, mostly pressure in the back of my head before I increased to 300. Also started with a psych doc about 3 weeks ago but I cannot say it is helping much yet or if it will at all. I am going to try to get on ativan to try to combat the low level shaky feelings I seem to still have almost daily, very subtle but not enough to take a xanax as they as so short lived I don’t burn one for the shaky feelings, I just try to ride them out. Good luck on the serzone, it does work for a majority of people.I have consulted a psych doc and the real theraputic dose is 200-400mg daily but they cannot give you that much to start, you MUST ramp up to a higher dose slowly. Do not up it yourself ! Let the group know how you are progressing. It does get better! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  hello all   i have just started serzone (50 mg 2x a day)1 week ago, i also take clonazepam 2mg per day.  i suffer from GAD, and depression–and social phobia.     I am no stranger to clonazepam, but does anyone have any experience with serzone.  i have had a low grade headache and have been dizzy off and on. i understand that serzone is "supposed " to be good foe anx. and dep. please share   thanks Perry

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HI Rocky, Can you explin what you mean by "visual trails"? I am having what I think is trailing but I have not seen a definition online. Thank You – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello all  i have just started serzone (50 mg 2x a day)1 week ago, i also take clonazepam 2mg per day.  i suffer from GAD, and depression–and social phobia.    I am no stranger to clonazepam, but does anyone have any experience with serzone.  i have had a low grade headache and have been dizzy off and on. i understand that serzone is "supposed " to be good foe anx. and dep. please share  thanks Perry Perry,         I am on serzone (400mg/day) and was once on your dosage as I was ramping up. I’ve been on it now for nearly 5 months.  It certainly helps me with controlling my anxiety levels.    I experienced quite a few headaches for the first month.  I don’t usually get headaches and so attributed it to the serzone. They subsided when I relaxed/lay down.  I am practically free from bad side effects now, the only one being drowsiness if I take a tablet with only a drink rather than a full meal.  Taking it with milk lessens this side effect for me.  Oh I also get visual trails when I wake up in the morning , this isn’t really a bad side effect.  It’s also a common one. I hope it works out for you. Rocky

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Hi Perry, I began with 50mg daily back on Sep 18th and gradually (weekly) built up to my current target dose of 300mg split into morning and evening. Yes, I did have some headaches, weird skin sensations, nausea and dizziness for the first few days of each increase but they always diminished after that. I found that it helped me GREATLY to take each dose with food (someone here recommended that to me) I have only been at my target dose for about three weeks now and it took quite awhile to notice real improvement, but is has now helped very much. I am sleeping better, have my appetite back, and NO PA’s for past three weeks. In fact I have only had 4-5 of them since starting the Serzone where I was having them 3-4 times a week. I still notice some very minimal side effects but nothing bad-some nausea and a weird skin sensation..kinda like cold chills, about an hour after each dose..I call this the "hit" but it passes quickly. I took .5mg Klonopin with each dose as I built up but noticed I was feeling very sleepy so I cut it back gradually to .25mg with each dose and now I feel less tired for sure. Next step for me is to try eliminating the Klonopin and I think I can do it since the Serzone is helping so much, but if not, no big deal because I am taking only a tiny amount. For me, this drug is the first one to really help me. I have been through Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Depakote and Paxil. None of these others were for me I guess. Hey you guys on Serzone!! How about jumping in here? Debbie, Karen, Eric, Steve, BG and others??? Take care,

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 hello all   i have just started serzone (50 mg 2x a day)1 week ago, i also take clonazepam 2mg per day.  i suffer from GAD, and depression–and social phobia.     I am no stranger to clonazepam, but does anyone have any experience with serzone.  i have had a low grade headache and have been dizzy off and on. i understand that serzone is "supposed " to be good foe anx. and dep. please share   thanks Perry

I seem to have gathered the information that Serzone is not really a first choice med for PAD (although remarkably quite some people here have positive reports) but works well when used in conjunction with Xanax. (Maybe you could try Xanax instead of Klonopin, which also seems logical as Xanax will often kill breakthrough PA’s within 15 minutes and you already have a maintenance med in Serzone). Philip (FWIW)

Response:

 hello all   i have just started serzone (50 mg 2x a day)1 week ago, i also take clonazepam 2mg per day.  i suffer from GAD, and depression–and social phobia.     I am no stranger to clonazepam, but does anyone have any experience with serzone.  i have had a low grade headache and have been dizzy off and on. i understand that serzone is "supposed " to be good foe anx. and dep. please share   thanks Perry

Response:

hello all  i have just started serzone (50 mg 2x a day)1 week ago, i also take clonazepam 2mg per day.  i suffer from GAD, and depression–and social phobia.    I am no stranger to clonazepam, but does anyone have any experience with serzone.  i have had a low grade headache and have been dizzy off and on. i understand that serzone is "supposed " to be good foe anx. and dep. please share  thanks Perry

Perry,         I am on serzone (400mg/day) and was once on your dosage as I was ramping up. I’ve been on it now for nearly 5 months.  It certainly helps me with controlling my anxiety levels.    I experienced quite a few headaches for the first month.  I don’t usually get headaches and so attributed it to the serzone. They subsided when I relaxed/lay down.  I am practically free from bad side effects now, the only one being drowsiness if I take a tablet with only a drink rather than a full meal.  Taking it with milk lessens this side effect for me.  Oh I also get visual trails when I wake up in the morning , this isn’t really a bad side effect.  It’s also a common one. I hope it works out for you. Rocky

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Question:

Thanks to everyone who responded.  It really does make me feel better to read such supportive comments.   No more AOL….. Thanks again! Peace, Dan

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I’d like to introduce myself.  I’m a twenty six year old male, and I’ve read this newsgroup on and off for the last couple years.   Also, I’d like some feedback on my medication.  First, though, my history with panic disorder…  Ever since I was a little kid I’ve had trouble with panic attacks.  In Little League, I was a nervous wreck before games because I thought I might have an attack.  (Of course at the time I didn’t know what they were, and was afraid to tell anyone.)  I quit the basketball team because I thought I was prone to PAs at night, particularly in the lighting of a gymnasium.  These were textbook panic attacks I was having (and worrying about having!) – most of the symptoms, and they’d last about fifteen minutes or so. I had a pretty normal childhood otherwise.  By the time I reached high school, I considered the PAs a thing of the past, something I’d luckily outgrown.  I made it through college without really giving panic attacks any thought. Then — about three years ago (I’d been out of college almost a year), I was going through a somewhat stressful time in my life, trying to figure out my future, looking for a career I cared about, etc.  I had *the* worst panic attack I’d ever had, and the reason it was so bad was because it seemed to not go away.  Without exaggeration, I can honestly say that I felt like I was having a panic attack for two months.  I had no idea what was going on, and grew very depressed.  I was living with my girlfriend, who was supportive as she could be, but she was the only person I told.  This was a very dark, scary time in my life.  Things lightened up a bit when I finally told my mom.  She knew someone who’d had a problem that sounded similar.  Soon, I moved back home.  I met with my mom’s friend, who gave me several books to read (Kernodle, Sheehan, Reid, Weekes), which I read with a frenzy.  She also recommended a psychiatrist, who helped me through medication.  This was a summer of healing for me.  We found a medication combination – 5 mg per day of Xanax, 1mg per day Klonopin, and 150 mg per day Zoloft.  I had tried Imipramine, but it made me feel even more anxious, as though I were about to have a PA at any time. Anyway, this dosage took awhile to reach, but it was the dosage that worked for me.  I also read and practiced many of the self-help techniques such as deep relaxation, breathing exercises, meditation, stopping negative thought patterns, et al.  It took awhile, but I got better.  I finally felt some joy in life again.  Since then, I’ve stayed at the same dosages of the medications, with few side effects, and feel very good.  I’ve had panic attacks begin, but the combination of the medication and learning not to fear the attack enables me to take a deep breath and let it go.  My life isn’t perfect, but I feel sane. I’ve moved away from my parents house, and owe them a HUGE debt of gratitude for letting me free-load for a year as I got better.  It took me awhile to get a job, because I had an immense fear of being stuck somewhere for eight hours. I wasn’t afraid to go out – I was afraid, though, to *have* to be in one place.  When I finally started working, it was a huge step in my recovery.   So, I’m curious what your thoughts are on my medication.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, like I should try to taper off the meds.  Other times, I’m perfectly content to stay on them the rest of my life.  I haven’t built up a tolerance for the Xanax, so that’s not a problem.  My doctor mentions tapering every time I see her, which is every three months, but lately I’ve been in so many transitional stages in my life, I just haven’t felt ready to mess with the medication.  (First I moved away from home – far away, actually – and then I got married to the girlfriend who’d been so supportive when I first got sick, and now we have a three month old baby boy….I’d call all that "transitional".)   That’s my story, and I’m curious what you all have to say about my medication. I know the dosages are pretty high, but I also know that quality of life is not something to take for granted. Peace, Dan "Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true  Or is it something worse?"              - Bruce Springsteen

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It is hard enough to find medications that take care of the symptoms. If these meds work for you, then you have achieved your goal and I would not try to change them right now, just to get your life back in shape while you are still feeling well.  Make sure your doc. informs you about all possible side effects, but basically I wouldn’t touch a thing for as long as possible if you find a set of meds that really work for you. Dr.S. There are no false alarms http://www.algy.com/pdi – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(SYMKTB) writes: I’d like to introduce myself.  I’m a twenty six year old male, and I’ve read this newsgroup on and off for the last couple years.   Also, I’d like some feedback on my medication.  First, though, my history with panic disorder…  Ever since I was a little kid I’ve had trouble with panic attacks.  In Little League, I was a nervous wreck before games because I thought I might have an attack.  (Of course at the time I didn’t know what they were, and was afraid to tell anyone.)  I quit the basketball team because I thought I was prone to PAs at night, particularly in the lighting of a gymnasium.  These were textbook panic attacks I was having (and worrying about having!) – most of the symptoms, and they’d last about fifteen minutes or so. I had a pretty normal childhood otherwise.  By the time I reached high school, I considered the PAs a thing of the past, something I’d luckily outgrown.  I made it through college without really giving panic attacks any thought. Then — about three years ago (I’d been out of college almost a year), I was going through a somewhat stressful time in my life, trying to figure out my future, looking for a career I cared about, etc.  I had *the* worst panic attack I’d ever had, and the reason it was so bad was because it seemed to not go away.  Without exaggeration, I can honestly say that I felt like I was having a panic attack for two months.  I had no idea what was going on, and grew very depressed.  I was living with my girlfriend, who was supportive as she could be, but she was the only person I told.  This was a very dark, scary time in my life.  Things lightened up a bit when I finally told my mom.  She knew someone who’d had a problem that sounded similar.  Soon, I moved back home.  I met with my mom’s friend, who gave me several books to read (Kernodle, Sheehan, Reid, Weekes), which I read with a frenzy.  She also recommended a psychiatrist, who helped me through medication.  This was a summer of healing for me.  We found a medication combination – 5 mg per day of Xanax, 1mg per day Klonopin, and 150 mg per day Zoloft.  I had tried Imipramine, but it made me feel even more anxious, as though I were about to have a PA at any time. Anyway, this dosage took awhile to reach, but it was the dosage that worked for me.  I also read and practiced many of the self-help techniques such as deep relaxation, breathing exercises, meditation, stopping negative thought patterns, et al.  It took awhile, but I got better.  I finally felt some joy in life again.  Since then, I’ve stayed at the same dosages of the medications, with few side effects, and feel very good.  I’ve had panic attacks begin, but the combination of the medication and learning not to fear the attack enables me to take a deep breath and let it go.  My life isn’t perfect, but I feel sane. I’ve moved away from my parents house, and owe them a HUGE debt of gratitude for letting me free-load for a year as I got better.  It took me awhile to get a job, because I had an immense fear of being stuck somewhere for eight hours. I wasn’t afraid to go out – I was afraid, though, to *have* to be in one place. When I finally started working, it was a huge step in my recovery.   So, I’m curious what your thoughts are on my medication.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, like I should try to taper off the meds.  Other times, I’m perfectly content to stay on them the rest of my life.  I haven’t built up a tolerance for the Xanax, so that’s not a problem.  My doctor mentions tapering every time I see her, which is every three months, but lately I’ve been in so many transitional stages in my life, I just haven’t felt ready to mess with the medication.  (First I moved away from home – far away, actually – and then I got married to the girlfriend who’d been so supportive when I first got sick, and now we have a three month old baby boy….I’d call all that "transitional".)   That’s my story, and I’m curious what you all have to say about my medication. I know the dosages are pretty high, but I also know that quality of life is not something to take for granted. Peace, Dan "Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true Or is it something worse?"             – Bruce Springsteen

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SYMKTB schreef: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – < snipped life story for space  We found a medication combination – 5 mg per day of Xanax, 1mg per day Klonopin, and 150 mg per day Zoloft. with few side effects, and feel very good.  I’ve had panic attacks begin, but the combination of the medication and learning not to fear the attack enables me to take a deep breath and let it go.  My life isn’t perfect, but I feel sane. So, I’m curious what your thoughts are on my medication.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, like I should try to taper off the meds.  Other times, I’m perfectly content to stay on them the rest of my life.  I haven’t built up a tolerance for the Xanax, so that’s not a problem.  My doctor mentions tapering every time I see her, which is every three months, but lately I’ve been in so many transitional stages in my life, I just haven’t felt ready to mess with the medication.  (First I moved away from home – far away, actually – and then I got married to the girlfriend who’d been so supportive when I first got sick, and now we have a three month old baby boy….I’d call all that "transitional".) That’s my story, and I’m curious what you all have to say about my medication. I know the dosages are pretty high, but I also know that quality of life is not something to take for granted. Peace, Dan

Hi Dan! Good to hear you’re doing so much better. It seems you have a nice family and your parents seem to have an OK son who will surely be a great father himself. It’s a kind of success story which is always inspirational and it seems there is much warmth around you. About the meds: it’s a lot of benzodiazepine but if it works, it works and if you don’t notice side effects like motor or cognitive impairment I wouldn’t worry about it. The combo of SSRI and benzo is a common one and the Zoloft dose is not unusually high. I’m happy that it works for you the way it does. If and when you feel like it you can always experiment with reducing the Xanax dosage but if it turns out that need 5 mgs that’s fine too IMO. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true  Or is it something worse?"              - Bruce Springsteen

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We found a medication combination – 5 mg per day of Xanax, 1mg per day Klonopin, and 150 mg per day Zoloft…… I’ve stayed at the same dosages of the medications, with few side effects, and feel very good.  I’ve had panic attacks begin, but the combination of the medication and learning not to fear the attack enables me to take a deep breath and let it go.  My life isn’t perfect, but I feel sane.

This is great you have had such support and found a combo that works for you and given you back your life. So, I’m curious what your thoughts are on my medication.  Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, like I should try to taper off the meds.  Other times, I’m perfectly content to stay on them the rest of my life.  I haven’t built up a tolerance for the Xanax, so that’s not a problem.

My first reaction is – if it ain’t broken, why fix it?  I think many of us get to a point we feel we can do this without meds and you are certainly free to try and lower your doses and see what happens.  I did that once and found I didn’t need as much K as I was taking.  Went a little lower and found I had pushed it too far.  Anyways,  I don’t know why you feel guilty, as IMO, there is no need to.  Better to be on meds and functioning than a suffering *warrior*.  Plus you have already been there and know what it is like. My doctor mentions tapering every time I see her, which is every three months, but lately I’ve been in so many transitional stages in my life, I just haven’t felt ready to mess with the medication

An excellent reason for NOT making changes at this time.  If you do want to try that….I hope you will do it at a time when life is relatively stable and nonchaotic – and having a new baby sure doesn’t seem the time.  Congrats by the way.  :) That’s my story, and I’m curious what you all have to say about my medication. I know the dosages are pretty high, but I also know that quality of life is not something to take for granted.

Dan…I think you just answered your own question.  Dosages are irrelevent – all that matters is what works for the individual.  Alot to be said for that quality of life thing. Best wishes… Gwen

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(SYMKTB) writes: That’s my story, and I’m curious what you all have to say about my medication.

Hi Dan, good story. It gives people hope when they read that someone is doing well. I can’t give you much input on the meds. Please don’t ever feel guilty about taking the medication you need to control the PD. I suffered for years without them. I tried going to therapy and CBT  but nothing ever worked for me.  I’m considering asking my Dr about taking Klonopin. I’ve taken Xanax .5 mg PRN for the past 2 years. I’ve had PD since I was a child as well, but it was only 2 years ago that I decided to go to a Dr and ask for medication. You’re fortunate to have a supporting family and spouse. It’s much easier to deal with your PD if you know someone actually "believes" what’s going on. My husband always thought I was "making it up" until he saw our (at the time 4 yr old) daughter going through a PA. First he started to yell at her, then he saw the fear on her little face and said,"my God, what’s wrong with her?" Of course, I knew what was happening to her and told him. Then he felt awful for all those years of actually yelling at me to "knock off the bullsh*t" during my PA’s. Now whenever he witnesses one, he comes close to tears and tries everything he can to help. I can really relate to your comment on not being afraid to go out, but  being afraid of *having* to be somewhere for 8 hours. I have to return to work as soon as my daughter starts school, and I know I can only handle a few hours a day. That’s why I’m thinking about the Klonopin. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of helpful information from your post. I really learn a lot from here as long as I skip over the useless "wars" that go on. I don’t post here that often myself, but , what prompted me to was to congratulate you on your new baby boy!  And that I see you are a fellow BOSS fan! good luck with the little 3 month old "transition"!! (that’s a biggie isn’t it? LOL!) adp

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Question:

Has anyone else been on meds that worked only transiently? I finally had some relief from my depression a few weeks ago, but now I am becoming depressed again and it seems so much worse after having felt somewhat "normal" for a brief period. Does this mean that the dose is too low? or that I am simply out of luck? Martha

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Has anyone else been on meds that worked only transiently? I finally had some relief from my depression a few weeks ago, but now I am becoming depressed again and it seems so much worse after having felt somewhat "normal" for a brief period. Does this mean that the dose is too low? or that I am simply out of luck?

I have had this experience with Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Depakote.  It would work at first, then my body (or mind?) would "adjust" I suppose, and the dosage would have to be increased.  I’ve maxed out my current meds (Depakote & Wellbutrin).  I don’t know if you’re out of luck, but I hope not, because then I am too. June "word I was in my life alone, word I had no one left but God."                                                   — Robert Frost

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YES-SOME BIPOLAR SUBJECTS ONLY RESPOND A SHORT TIME. I HAD TAKEN EVERY ANTI-DEPRESENT ON THE MARKET EXCEPT PARNATE(MOAI0) MONOAMINE OXIDASE IN- HIBITOR. THIS IS NOT A NEW DRUG BUT REQUIRES SPECIAL DIET. THIS IS THE FIRST TO EVER WORK MORE THAN THREE MONTHS WITHOUT A MAJOR DEPRESSION.OUT OF FRUSTATION TO FINE A PHYCIATRIST THAT REALLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, MY SEARCH TOOK ME TO STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL WHERE THEY SPECIALIZE IN BIPOLAR DISORDERS. BELEIVE ME THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.KEEP LOOKING UNTIL YOU FIND THE RIGHT COMBO OF DRUGS AND DOCTOR. TOOK ME 5 YEARS BUT WAS WORTH IT. GOOD LUCK.   TOM D.

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It would be helpful to know what the med is and how much you are taking, but it sounds as though it might need to be titrated up until you start to feel better. Regards, Randy.

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Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Howdy group.  I was just diagnosed with cervical dystonia last week. While I have had symptoms for YEARS all of the doctors I went to either could find nothing wrong or told me to "relax"! I am so happy to find this news group on here.  A big relief.  I did find a fantastic Neurologist who believed me and understood exactly what I was talking about.  We are currently trying a variety of oral medications to see if we can control it.  Of course as all of you know, with these types of medications come side-effects.  After being on one medication for 2 days, my husband said, "you don’t need to be on that, it will make you crazy." I don’t think my husband is understanding what dystonia is all about quite yet.  I am looking for some encouragement and am hoping to find it here. Thanks for letting me get a little bit off my mind…I hope I can be of help to other people here as well. Connie

Welcome to A.S.D., Connie!!!   We are so happy to meet you!  I am hoping that some of our ‘dystonia spouses’ will respond to your husband and his concerns.  We have found that significant others in our lifes often have a hard time watching us go through this process.  Connie, please know that all of us here at the n/g are more than eager to lend a listening ear, commiserate, and even laugh occasionally!!!  Please keep in touch!! TTYS, MB

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Howdy group.  I was just diagnosed with cervical dystonia last week. While I have had symptoms for YEARS all of the doctors I went to either could find nothing wrong or told me to "relax"! I am so happy to find this news group on here.  A big relief.  I did find a fantastic Neurologist who believed me and understood exactly what I was talking about.  We are currently trying a variety of oral medications to see if we can control it.  Of course as all of you know, with these types of medications come side-effects.  After being on one medication for 2 days, my husband said, "you don’t need to be on that, it will make you crazy." I don’t think my husband is understanding what dystonia is all about quite yet.  I am looking for some encouragement and am hoping to find it here. Thanks for letting me get a little bit off my mind…I hope I can be of help to other people here as well. Connie

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy group.  I was just diagnosed with cervical dystonia last week. While I have had symptoms for YEARS all of the doctors I went to either could find nothing wrong or told me to "relax"! I am so happy to find this news group on here.  A big relief.  I did find a fantastic Neurologist who believed me and understood exactly what I was talking about.  We are currently trying a variety of oral medications to see if we can control it.  Of course as all of you know, with these types of medications come side-effects.  After being on one medication for 2 days, my husband said, "you don’t need to be on that, it will make you crazy." I don’t think my husband is understanding what dystonia is all about quite yet.  I am looking for some encouragement and am hoping to find it here. Thanks for letting me get a little bit off my mind…I hope I can be of help to other people here as well. Connie Welcome to A.S.D., Connie!!! We are so happy to meet you!  I am hoping that some of our ‘dystonia spouses’ will respond to your husband and his concerns.  We have found that significant others in our lifes often have a hard time watching us go through this process.  Connie, please know that all of us here at the n/g are more than eager to lend a listening ear, commiserate, and even laugh occasionally!!!  Please keep in touch!! TTYS, MB

Ok MB…I have been extremely busy the last month, but i have been lurking:)  so seeing this post I had to reply..Lacking the time to form a newsgroup for us sig/others & spouses i have formed an email chain. anyone who wishs to share in our letters please feel free to email me. It is indeed very hard to not be able to "fix " my wife and make everything ok.  We go through life one day at a time and I try to stay with what I am powerful over and accept what I am powerless to change. Not my words…they come from a 12 step group. but it helps me to cope.it also helps to keep up with the newsgroup and share with you all when I can.  It also makes me feel good to see that this group has helped my wife Aimee where I have not been able to, and I thank you all for that…:) John F

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Howdy group.  I was just diagnosed with cervical dystonia last week. While I have had symptoms for YEARS all of the doctors I went to either could find nothing wrong or told me to "relax"!

Hey I too have been there. After seeing approx. 6 specialists in the varies fields of medicine, I was finally diagonised with ST. I am so happy to find this news group on here.  A big relief.  I did find a fantastic Neurologist who believed me and understood exactly what I was talking about.  We are currently trying a variety of oral medications to see if we can control it.  Of course as all of you know, with these types of medications come side-effects.  After being on one medication for 2 days, my husband said, "you don’t need to be on that, it will make you crazy."

I remember those days indeed. Taking  all kinds of oral medications for approx a 4-6 month timespan to see if any worked, unfortunately in my case none did, but that isn’t too say that you will not have positive results. We share a strange disorder indeed. I don’t think my husband is understanding what dystonia is all about quite yet.  I am looking for some encouragement and am hoping to find it here.

My wife/family/friends also did not, in fact I didn’t, but we all know alot more now : ) Thanks for letting me get a little bit off my mind…I hope I can be of help to other people here as well.

I am sure you will and am happy too meet you. There is an chatline where many people with Dystonia meet every Wednesday night at 9:00pm EST in the channel named #sd. The chatline program is mIRC. If you don’t have it but would like to know where/how to get it, just say so and all the information will be sent too you here. God bless Mark

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The basal ganglia may be like a computer which, if you have dystonia, malfunctions.

Are you trying to tell us that not only do we have dystonia but our brains are running Windows ‘95?! <g (err… nobody from MicroSoft is on here, are they…?) Cathy. —  (—-)                                                     (—-)   "  "         http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~collisoc          "  "

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Howdy group.  I was just diagnosed with cervical dystonia last week. While I have had symptoms for YEARS all of the doctors I went to either could find nothing wrong or told me to "relax"! I am so happy to find this news group on here.  A big relief.  I did find a fantastic Neurologist who believed me and understood exactly what I was talking about.  We are currently trying a variety of oral medications to see if we can control it.  Of course as all of you know, with these types of medications come side-effects. on’t think my husband is understanding what dystonia is all about quite yet.

Dystonia is a disorder of movement.  It is frequently misunderstood  by the public and misdiagnosed by the medical profession because  of its complexity.  It is a syndrome of sustained muscle contractions frequently causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal  postures.  The cause of these abnormal postures is thought to be  problems in the area of the brain known as the basal ganglia.  Messages to initiate the correct muscle contractions required for specific movements are thought to original in this region.   The basal ganglia may be like a computer which, if you have dystonia, malfunctions. There are no laboratory tests which can confirm the diagnosis of dystonia.  The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical neurological history and examination. Thanks for letting me get a little bit off my mind…I hope I can be of help to other people here as well. Connie

Gene

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A small correction using the computer industry lingo is that our "Operating System" has a small bug that causes intermittent failures of the computer itself.  Consequently, a number of highly paid researchers (Systems Analysts) are attempting to debug the system but so far have not been successful.  We may need to hire more competent personnel. Larry Barlar

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Are you trying to tell us that not only do we have dystonia but our brains are running Windows ‘95?! <g That’s a 32 bit application MB

Hey Larry!  You catch that?!  The gal’s getting smart on us! <g Cathy. —  (—-)                                                     (—-)   "  "         http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~collisoc          "  "

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I am so happy to find this place on the internet–I was diagnosed with dystonia in the upper extremities and essential tremor of the head 2 years ago. It has been a struggle to finally get a diagnosis and even more of a struggle to find out more about it. Thank goodness I stumbled upon this newsgroup. I would like to exchange e-mail with anyone who feels inspired to write and share their experiences with me — I have felt so all alone through all of this. Barbara Zalesny

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The basal ganglia may be like a computer which, if you have dystonia, malfunctions. Are you trying to tell us that not only do we have dystonia but our brains are running Windows ‘95?! <g (err… nobody from MicroSoft is on here, are they…?) Cathy.

That’s a 32 bit application MB

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Question:

ya gotta hang in there with it!     Why are they so sure that the Effexor is possibly causing the manic reaction??  Why couldn’t it be one of the other drugs in the combination? (You’d said you were on more than one thing, right?)   Maybe you could just….um…take a little LESS of the Effexor, rather than stopping it altogether??    Don’t give up!   Don’t despair!  Hang in there!   {{{{{JENNY}}}}} — Connie

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Jenny, Stay very very very close to us right now. Check in every 15 minutes if you want. Consider them YOUR 15 minute checks instead of theirs. Make us your locked ward. We love you dearly. We’ll all join hands and make a wall around you, your own living locked ward. Locked in our hearts anyway.  Breathe in, breathe out, let the minutes pass, you can get thru this. E-mail me every 5 minutes if you want, I’m sure there’s a line of ppl willing to be accessible to you during the hours I don’t have a computer. You can do this, it’s not as overwhelming as it feels, it’s a trick, trying to get you to panic and trip. Such a *smart* girl you are to ask for our help, we can tell you the truth… it IS illusory, you can get thru this. You can get to the other side, and look back and see it for what it is now… the past, something hard you got thru. Nobody could serve up the generous portions of love and truth that you give us…and not have the capacity to serve some to herself. We’ll spoonfeed you love and support if you need it, because we love you, and some of us (blush) have been where you are now, and know what we’re talking about.You recently sent me a massage about my inability to believe someon’e claims that it’s possible to eat and not go nuts.You told me to trust it was the truth b/c you had experienced it yourself. I’m sending you this message to tell you some of the same. You can get thru this, I have experienced that, and can tell you it’s true. Don’t give up.   -Sin Eater

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I need some advice or at least some encouragement.  Please, please, could I have some responses, dearest friends — all it has to be is "hang in there" and "{hug}" — just PLEASE, say something to me.  I’m very confused….

As a former ruling member of the royal family of anxiety disorder, I definitely understand how you are feeling. (I’ve since abdicated my crown, but I was lucky.) What if you work out a deal with your therapist? Since part of the ed is needing to feel like you have control (and since you obviously don’t feel like you do), perhaps you can make some sort of arrangement which will help you to get off this med (if that’s what’s appropriate for you) but to help you feel like you have some options if you start feeling bad again. Jenny, I don’t know you *really* well…I mean, our contact has been limited to email exchange (and a few notes, right? =-) ) but you haven’t sounded like yourself in the last few posts I’ve read. This may *feel* better than it did before, but it might not be a great way to spend the rest of your life. Anyway, I want you to feel good and have a great life. You need to do what’s right for you. Maybe you can work out some sort of agreement with your therapist which will be acceptible to you both. Please write me if you need some hand-holding. Aside from being a hulktress, I’m also a pretty good listener. =-) Patti

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jenny w. i keep searching for something to say that will just cheer you up, cheer you on, lessen the struggles and all that.  But i guess i cannot do that.  I know i cannot.  sigh.  but i wanted you to know i will be thinking of you.  i can only imagine how hard things are….meds, drs, ed, court, exes….sigh… and i just want you to know i think you are one of the most wonderful assets to this group.  i  mean, you have this quirky crazy (in a good way) manner of responding here and i think you are wonderful.  i dont know what else to say, but do know that you are being thought of. krista

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I read your post and I wished I could just be there for you.  I wish there was a way for me to take it all away.  SO I closed my eyes and I tried to send you vibes.  Nice vibes of a good world.  Where things where o.k. and you know what… part of it came true.  There is some good out there as impossible as it may seem.  The spring rain, children’s laughter, a sweet little puppy.  There is stuff out there.  Here(I hope you are not allergic to puppies) can you feel the puppy.  Close your eyes and picture it.  It has a soft fur coat.  Cute little eyes.  I playful energy.  Hey.. it is licking you.  It loves you and thinks you are wonderful.  Just like that innocent little puppy there are other things out there that are good.  I hope some of it crosses your path soon.  But if it just doesn’t seem to be happening.  Be strong.  Jenny..you are an inspiration.  Your power to overcome what you have overcome is amazing.   There is a reason for that.  There is a plan.  SO maybe you have had to run into some really shitty stuff.  Maybe things keep running into you.   But you have survived and have been strong and you are fighting.  Wow you are amazing.  Keep going Jenny.  Keep going.  I am cheering you on 100%. I will be thinking about you. Here is a ton of hugs and stenghth vibes.          ((((((((((((((((((((JENNY)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))                                 Love and peace, Heather  

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ok, bear of very little brain, here goes: (((((((((((((((((((((JENNY)))))))))))))))))))))))) (((((((((((((((((((((JENNY)))))))))))))))))))))))) (((((((((((((((((((((JENNY))))))))))))))))))))))))                     \ ///                      O   O                        /                        ..                      ^    ^                       __/ (that’s me giving you a demonic grin and lots o’cyber hugs!) love, moonbeam — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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Jenny, Stay very very very close to us right now. Check in every 15 minutes if you want. Consider them YOUR 15 minute checks instead of theirs. Make us your locked ward. We love you dearly. We’ll all join hands and make a wall around you, your own living locked ward. Locked in our hearts anyway.  Breathe in, breathe out, let the minutes pass, you can get thru this. E-mail me every 5 minutes if you want, I’m sure there’s a line of ppl willing to be accessible to you during the hours I don’t have a computer.

Jenny, I am home pretty much all day and if I work it’s in the evenings so I check the group and email often if you need to check in count me in as available for support! Every 5 minutes, every two minutes I don’t care if you need some extra support you got it!!!!If you need help I’m HERE for you!!!! HUGS  AND GOOD THOUGHTS TO YOU!!!!!                                       ~Beth~  You can do this, it’s not as overwhelming as it feels, it’s a – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – trick, trying to get you to panic and trip. Such a *smart* girl you are to ask for our help, we can tell you the truth… it IS illusory, you can get thru this. You can get to the other side, and look back and see it for what it is now… the past, something hard you got thru. Nobody could serve up the generous portions of love and truth that you give us…and not have the capacity to serve some to herself. We’ll spoonfeed you love and support if you need it, because we love you, and some of us (blush) have been where you are now, and know what we’re talking about.You recently sent me a massage about my inability to believe someon’e claims that it’s possible to eat and not go nuts.You told me to trust it was the truth b/c you had experienced it yourself. I’m sending you this message to tell you some of the same. You can get thru this, I have experienced that, and can tell you it’s true. Don’t give up.   -Sin Eater

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<<rational self peeks head back in door and says the following… I don’t *know* what to do.  I need some advice or at least some encouragement.  Please, please, could I have some responses, dearest friends — all it has to be is "hang in there" and "{hug}" — just PLEASE, say something to me.  I’m very confused…. Thanks for letting me spew. Love, Jenny

Oh Jenny,   your post made me alternately want to cry and laugh…. you have a wonderful sense of humour, even when you are low and confused hugs?   encouragement?  you don’t have to ask twice Jenny {{{{{ JENNY }}}}}  {{{{{{ JENNY }}}}}}  {{{{{{ JENNY }}}}}}} you can do it Jenny,  I know you can, you’ve come a long  way,  you know you can continue Jenny…. you have wonderful children,  you are a wonderful person and lets face facts Jenny,  you are out of this world [grin] well, gotta keep this short as like i said in my post just before i’m trying to keep my time here down,…. but i couldn’t resist replying to this post Jenny. {{{{ few extra hugs to keep you going }}}}}}} take care love and hugs Susan

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<<<<<<<<<GIANT HUGS <<<<<<<<<EVEN MORE GIANT BEAR HUGS <<<<<<<<<hug <<<<<<<<hug X 100000000000000000000000000000000 Hang in there Jen! Gosh you’ve been through so much…. I just wish I could be there for you. <<<<<more hugs Take care Christine :~) <- tear in eye after reading your touching post! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Hi.         Oh goodness, where to begin??? Jenny, is it possible to wait *before* making any changes with the Effexor to see just what happens with the mania? In other words, is the mania interfering with your life? How long has it lasted? Does it come and go within a days time? Could the mania be due to other medication? Another alternative might be to reduce the Effexor *then* see what happens, rather than stopping it altogether. That way, you could, hopefully, see exactly which medication is triggering the mania. It may not be the Effexor itself, but the Effexor combined with another medication. (I, obviously, no NOTHING about the side effects of medicine, so bear with me!) As much as you might hate the thought of this, if the mania *is* bad, could you add an anti-anxiety type of drug to use on a PRN basis?         I don’t know the relationship you have with your shrink,but has he ever steered you wrong before? I understand that medication is trial and error, so I don’t mean it in that way, but were you ever on a medication you *didn’t* want to stop, he thought you should, and his advice turned out to be right? I guess I would evaluate his track record and weigh that into the decision. I was also wondering if he had a strategy? One that sounds like a good alternative to stopping the Effexor, something hopeful? It doesn’t sound very encouraging to just stop something that is pretty much useful without having a back-up plan. I was curious about one thing. If you shrink can predict that you *WON’T* return to your depression, why hasn’t he been able to predict which medication *WILL* be helpful?? In other words, I think he is pretty arrogant to suggest that you won’t become depressed again, especially given your history. Jeepers, it doesn’t take an M.D. to figure that one out! *sigh* Could I slug your shrink?!? Well, I realize this is so much easier to say than do, Jenny, but my advice would be to do what you gut tells you to do. He may be a doctor,but you also know yourself very well. We don’t have to be conditioned to do what a doctor tells us to do. You know what is helpful, what isn’t, what feels good or bad, what your body can handle, etc. This relationship (with your shrink) should be a collaborative effort. Not just him telling you, or any client, what to do and the client following along like a little robot. Your input should matter A GREAT DEAL. If he isn’t respectful of that, find someone who is. I hope some of this has been helpful, Jenny. I am worried for you and really want you to continue feeling better. One last thought, I hope you don’t mind. Since it is hard to resist the urge, when you are feeling badly, to overdose on your medication, could you ask that the prescription only be filled for a few days worth? I know that is a pain to go to the drug store so often,but it may help. I understand how it feels to be suicidal, and I know that if you really want to do it there are other ways, but for me, it helped to get rid of any medication in the house, I became less impulsive. Just a thought. Lots of safe, warm hugs being sent your way…. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<JENNY ~~Emma P.S. Please keep us informed? — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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Dear Good People, Strange Days have indeed found us… or at least they’ve sure found me, and through their strange hours, we linger alone, etc. etc. (you all know the rest).  But it’s TOO strange, even for me — and I need some reassurance.  QUICKLY.  Five minutes ago.  No!  Wait!  I need it 100 years ago, in the year 1896!  You guys can do that, right? Here’s a quick rundown — a little background. Eating disorder, as you know, and as you’ve probably figured out by now, depression.  Then…. … worse depression.  Suicidal depression.  Overdose, overdose, overdose.  Hospital, hospital, hospital.  Always the locked ward. Hospital, ER, OD, stomach pump, locked ward, court examiner, hahahahahaha what a Big Joke *he* was!  Released to go home.  What a laugh — a laugh and a half… Out of hospital — but with new meds from previous hospital!  What would YOU do if someone just, like, *gave* you lots of Dangerous Drugs and you were feeling suicidal?  I think it’s obvious….. Back in hospital.  ER, stomach pump, locked ward, meds.  MORE meds. Increase meds.  Add meds.  Subtract meds.  Add another and another. Increase meds and cut one and add some more. (Psychiatry is done by trial and error.  The only difference, when they’re doing their little experiments, is psychiatrists don’t use rhesus monkeys or rats — they use People.  And who cares anyway?  If you’re in a Locked Ward, caged up, wrong side of the zoo — hell, you qualify as an animal so why NOT get into some experiments?  Shoot some of that hairspray in my eyes, doc.  Do it again, it hurts SO good.  Gimme some bacteria.  Inject me with Trial Medications.  More, more, MORE!  Oh how I adore being at the mercy of these fiends!) Released again.  OD again on prescribed psych meds.  Repeat. Hospital hospital hospital, then a "sub-acute care facility" — but it, too was locked.  Meds don’t work.  Won’t ever get better.  Screw everything.  Signing contracts not to hurt myself.   Like I cared…. Fifteen-minute checks…. half-hour checks…  screw it all, nothing’s going to work. THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.  An entirely arbitrary combination of meds (they’re ALL arbitrary!!!!!!) started to have an effect.  LESS depression!  Feeling better!  It can’t be true!  Thank you, God, thank you! Going home, and STILL feeling better, and not quite believing it, but it’s TRUE.  One week, two weeks, three…. NO suicidal thoughts! Able to CONCENTRATE at work!  DOING things!  Opening my mail! Answering the phone!  Thank you, God, and PLEASE let it last…. THEN SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED.  A week ago I started getting a little bit manic.  Or… "manicky."  Manicky — that’s what one counselor said.  Can you believe it?  A *professional* said that to me. Manicky?  MANICKY??   Please.  That’s not even a WORD.  Maybe it *should* be a word, because after all it *does* rhyme with "panicky," but it’s NOT a word, and that’s goddamned inexcusable, making up words to fit your fancy!  Why *have* a language anyway?  DEATH to all those who would whimper and cry…. Manic (not manicky) — a state of mania.  Is it strictly medication-induced, or was I bipolar all along & this drug just triggered a manic episode?  Is it going to happen again?  It doesn’t matter right now — what DOES matter is that I have to stop taking the ONLY meds that ever helped me. I "have to" (more truthfully, I have been *told* to) taper down on the Effexor, and by tomorrow I’m supposed to be off of it entirely. I’M NOT FUCKING GOING TO DO IT.  No Way, No Day.  I *know* the depression will return if I do what I’m "supposed" to, and I WON’T DO IT!  Why should I do something to make myself feel BAD on PURPOSE?? My shrink says, "No, the depression won’t come back" in this reassuring voice that I *know* he’s creating artificially in order to trick me into doing this thing; I *know* he’s LYING.  He’s lying to me so I’ll stop taking the Effexor. I *KNOW* HE’S LYING, it’s so obvious!!!!  Son of a bitch!  Of COURSE the depression will come back!  Anything else flies in the face of Common Sense, and he KNOWS it and he’s LYING to me because he thinks I’m BETTER OFF suicidally depressed than having a little touch of mania!  BETTER OFF?  BETTER I HATE THIS!  I HATE THIS!  I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE THIS!  I don’t WANT to go off the meds.  I don’t *care* what he thinks.  He’s just being a PRICK! So anyway, like a Reasonable Person, I told him, "Just wait a minute here — I don’t *want* to be depressed again.  THIS isn’t so bad. He said, "It’s *not* better.  You’ll just have to trust me on that." << rational self steps in for a brief interjection — I *am* afraid, though, of what would happen if I have to go into the court-ordered psychologist’s assessment & am acting somewhat manic. That would…… not be good.  BUT only if I’m being delusional or hostile or something.  It could still be okay! <<anxiety attack — get in a doorway or other safe place, and cover ears AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! I CAN’T STAND IT! <<rational self is ushered out of room at bayonet-point I *like* the Effexor & I don’t think a little bit of mania is going to hurt me or get me in trouble & I don’t CARE if it’s some goddamned "disorder."  I don’t fucking CARE!  My shrink can go to hell and fuck himself while he’s at it, and I’m REALLY, SERIOUSLY quite inclined to IGNORE said shrink’s instructions, and CONTINUE to take my Effexor; after all, I have a bottle of them with 270 tablets and 3 refills, and I’ll do as I damn well please with them! <<rational self peeks head back in door and says the following… I don’t *know* what to do.  I need some advice or at least some encouragement.  Please, please, could I have some responses, dearest friends — all it has to be is "hang in there" and "{hug}" — just PLEASE, say something to me.  I’m very confused…. Thanks for letting me spew. Love, Jenny

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