Question:

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

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

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

Question:

Boy can I sure relate to this post!  I see a Pulmonologist while also receiving allergy shots.  I had some unanswered questions about the immunology shots that only the Allergist could answer.  Can we say the Allergist is a bit arrogant? He totally disagreed with all the med’s that the Pulmonologist has me on..commented that it was a child’s dose.  Said the blood test the Pulmonary dr. did was…"A waste of money"..questioned why I was changed from Serevent MDI to the Discus and the Pulmicort.  Wanted to know why I was off the Flovent and this guy already slammed into me when I said I was experiencing side effects from the Flovent he said that it was.."ALL up in my head".  That Flovent doesn’t cause side effects.

The 2 newest steroid inhalers in the US are Flovent [3 strengths, MDI & DPI versions] and the Pulmicort Turbuhaler. There seems to be a lot of controversy over which of the 2 is ‘best’. My personal preferance is the Pulmicort Turbuhaler [200 ug budesonide/puff]. 200 puffs/container My doctor has to write an annual justification to my HMO to cover it, but it’s the one that works best. It has no additives, just pure drug; and no propellant. And the 200 pf/canister lasts a long time. The Serevent Discus is one I would like to transfer to since it’s also a DPI, but don’t know if my HMO will cover it. It’s a little more expensive. Note that inhaled steroid should be used in the lowest dose needed to control the problem; if all you need is a ‘child’s dose’ that’s all you should use. However this is usually called a ‘Low Dose’, not a child’s dose. Maybe a new allergist would work better. Anyway I prefer advice from your pulmonologist on asthma drugs. Ellis

Response:

It’s impossible to generalize without knowing the individuals involved. I’m a pulmonologist and I use allergists and ENT’s. While I obviously have my bias, I just note to people that the pulmonologist will be able to take care of your asthma if you are hospitalized – even if you’re so sick you wind up on a ventilator. I don’t know of any ENT’s or allergists who do this. Most allergists don’t work in the hospital at all and most tend to not be that available after hours. Further, in the case of asthma (but perhaps not in other diseases) there’s no financial incentive on the part of the pulmonologist to pursue allergy shots or surgery though these referrals are certainly available if they seem indicated. I have both sinusitis and asthma.  I have been to see ENTs, allergists, and pulmonologists.  And one thing I have noticed is that each type of specialist seems to be a bit "prejudiced" toward the others.  That is, some allergists think that ENTs only care about surgery; some pulmonologists think they know how to treat asthmatic bronchitis better than allergists; some allergists think THEY are the best experts on asthma; etc. Anyone else noticed this?  Is it just good-natured rivalry, or is there some legitimate basis for this mutual suspicion?

– Don Elton Columbia, SC http://www.midcarolina.org

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Boy can I sure relate to this post!  I see a Pulmonologist while also receiving allergy shots.  I had some unanswered questions about the immunology shots that only the Allergist could answer.  Can we say the Allergist is a bit arrogant? He totally disagreed with all the med’s that the Pulmonologist has me on..commented that it was a child’s dose.  Said the blood test the Pulmonary dr. did was…"A waste of money"..questioned why I was changed from Serevent MDI to the Discus and the Pulmicort.  Wanted to know why I was off the Flovent and this guy already slammed into me when I said I was experiencing side effects from the Flovent he said that it was.."ALL up in my head".  That Flovent doesn’t cause side effects. Gee…could it be all the samples of Flovent I see marching in the doors sometimes?  I had mentioned that they were alot of people on the internet suffering from side effects and this jerk proceeds to tell me.."Well, if you listen to the idiots on the internet there’s nothing I can tell you"….

Denice, as one of the "Internet idiots," I would like to point you to the Clinical Pharmacology database at http://cp.gsm.com/ where under "Flovent:  Adverse Reactions", it states the following: "Common adverse reactions to oral inhalation of fluticasone include pharyngitis (10

Question:

does anyone here know what the sideaffects of zoloft are? i have been on the 100mg for a week now, well tomorrow it will be. and tonight i felt shaky inside, nervous, but yet i also felt like i was in a coma. i just didn’t want to move. thank you everyone for the great responses.

I also felt shaky..very shaky, and only at a 12.5 dose. It was like drinking 3 pots of coffee. I started at 12.5 mg, then titrated by 12.5 mg per week despite my depression being severe. All that went away. I now take 200mg with no problems and no nervousness. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

does anyone here know what the sideaffects of zoloft are? i have been on the 100mg for a week now, well tomorrow it will be. and tonight i felt shaky inside, nervous, but yet i also felt like i was in a coma. i just didn’t want to move. thank you everyone for the great responses. yes i know i can’t spell lol. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Many of the meds we take do have side effects which usually will go away in time.  Some could include anxiety, sleepiness… Could the coma-like state you refer to be depersonalization which is defined as a state in which one no longer perceives the reality of one’s self or one’s environment? smiles, Elise

does anyone here know what the sideaffects of zoloft are? i have been on the 100mg for a week now, well tomorrow it will be. and tonight i felt shaky inside, nervous, but yet i also felt like i was in a coma. i just didn’t want to move. thank you everyone for the great responses. yes i know i can’t spell lol. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

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

Response:

::does anyone here know what the sideaffects of zoloft are? i have been ::on the 100mg for a week now, well tomorrow it will be. and tonight i ::felt shaky inside, nervous, but yet i also felt like i was in a coma. i ::just didn’t want to move. thank you everyone for the great responses. ::yes i know i can’t spell lol. Dear Gina, I really hate listing side effects of a med for fear it will cause someone to anticipate them. I can tell you this, the symptoms you are experiencing are common side effects of Zoloft. They are not dangerous, just very uncomfortable. You do have some options, ask your doctor for a benzo (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) to be used while you acclimate to Zoloft. It can really help to tame side-effects. If you find you are just too uncomfortable and your doctor won’t prescribe a benzo, ask him to ‘temporarily’ lower your dose a bit, then wean slowly back to 100 mgs. What was your dose before your doctor increased you to 100mgs? How long had you been on that dose? Feel better soon! Jackie ~*~The glass isn’t half full or half empty… the glass is EMPTY…BONE DRY…NOTHING! ~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

jackie, I am just going to counseling. i started the 50mg about a month ago and went straight to 100mg after that. i started getting tickling feelings and numbness in some places, so now i am back to 50mg. my counselar thinks now maybe bipolar, but i don’t think so. gina – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Gina, I really hate listing side effects of a med for fear it will cause someone to anticipate them. I can tell you this, the symptoms you are experiencing are common side effects of Zoloft. They are not dangerous, just very uncomfortable. You do have some options, ask your doctor for a benzo (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) to be used while you acclimate to Zoloft. It can really help to tame side-effects. If you find you are just too uncomfortable and your doctor won’t prescribe a benzo, ask him to ‘temporarily’ lower your dose a bit, then wean slowly back to 100 mgs. What was your dose before your doctor increased you to 100mgs? How long had you been on that dose? Feel better soon! Jackie ~*~The glass isn’t half full or half empty… the glass is EMPTY…BONE DRY…NOTHING! ~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

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

Response:

::I am just going to counseling. i started the 50mg about a month ago and ::went straight to 100mg after that. i started getting tickling feelings ::and numbness in some places, so now i am back to 50mg. my counselar ::thinks now maybe bipolar, but i don’t think so. Dear Gina, A 50mg increase at one time is too much for someone with an anxiety disorder. When it comes to Zoloft, increasing in 12.5 or 25mg increments is the best way to go. If you decide to go for 100mgs, do it slowly. It won’t be so painful. About the Bipolar diagnosis, get a 2nd from a psychiatrist. When we are very anxious and panicky it can mimic other mental disorders, like Bipolar. Didn’ t this therapist tell you last week that she thought you had PTSD? Who is prescribing your Zoloft? Take care, Gina Jackie ~*~Acting like a witch…..Eating 14 chocolate bars…..this isn`t a holiday for — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Question:

I read an article about people taking Zyban (a quit smoking drug) to treat depression and panic. Anyone ever try it?

Response:

Zyban, which is sold to help people quit smoking, is actually the same drug as Wellbutrin, which is used to treat depression.  Wellbutrin SR (slow release) is now available.  But Wellbutrin *can* cause jitteriness, so it is not often prescribed as a first-course anti-depressant for someone with anxiety.  However, after using the SSRI’s for years and finally getting tired of the sexual side effects, I began using Wellbutrin SR over a year ago.  I have had no heightened sense of anxiety.  Your Mileage May Vary….. I also take Xanax 0.5mg three times a day.   It is more likely that a psychiatrist would prescribe one of the SSRI drugs (Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, among others) before prescribing Wellbutrin to treat someone with a combo of depresison *and* anxiety attacks. When I began taking Prozac, it was as if my world change completely… I became more self-confident, and I was able to confront some of my long-held fears.  I too, Prozac for about 10 years before converting to the Wellbutrin. Best wishes! MikeH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read an article about people taking Zyban (a quit smoking drug) to treat depression and panic. Anyone ever try it?

Response:

Question:

Has anyone heard of Zoloft withdrawal lasting longer than a couple of weeks? I was taking 200 to 250 mg Zoloft daily (increased during PMS) and then switched to Celexa. I was frustrated with neither of them helping my depression, so I unwisely abruptly discontinued the medication. My withdrawal symptoms ranged from moderate to severe…initially, I experienced extreme agitation, anxiety, crying, uncharacteristic rage, and formication (sensation that bugs were crawling on me). With the help of my doctor, I restarted a low dose of Celexa (I had been on 20 mg prior to this) and tapered off–but still quicker than I should have because I’m stubborn. The main problems that persisted for a couple of weeks were numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, and then spontaneous pain or muscle spasms in my legs. (Pretty darn painful). That and gastro-intestinal distress. My doctor felt that most of this was actually withdrawal from the Zoloft, not Celexa. She felt that the Celexa had prevented me from going into Zoloft withdrawal, but when I discontinued Celexa, the Zoloft withdrawal kicked in. From what I’ve read about other people’s experiences with Zoloft withdrawal, my symptoms do appear to match theirs. I had been taking Zoloft (at different doses) for about 4 years. I tried other medications during that time, but I was unable to tolerate most of them. I am very sensitive to medications and tend to have side effects with just about everything I take, usually to the point where I don’t want to take anything. Back to the symptoms–after 2-1/2 weeks, these symptoms diminished. 3-1/2 weeks after the initial discontinuation, however, I had a flare-up of gastro-intenstinal distress that lasted a day or two. Then, 4-1/2 weeks after the initial discontinuation (maybe 2 weeks since stopping the mild tapering-off) I experienced the leg pain, numbness, tingling along with severe stomach cramps and such. I did not expect to still be experiencing withdrawal symptoms, so I’m confused. Am I imagining things? Is this something else? Thank you for any help you can provide.

Response:

Question:

Amazing.  We switched from DSL to Cable as our internet provider yesterday. I had only seen one reply to my post via DSL, when I logged on using the cable connection, all the rest appeared. Thank you everybody.  For your words of support, and suggestions and for sharing your Serzone experiences.  I dropped my dose down about three days ago from 400mg a day to 300mg.  I have my mind back!  It’s like the fog lifted and I can think again.  I had exceeded a dose that was good for me. That’s all I can assume.  The first couple of days I needed a prn Ativan along toward evening, but didn’t even need that yesterday.  So, I’m feeling hopeful. Again, thank you all so much.  I’m sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but the messages just weren’t there for me to respond to.  Funky DSL. Debbie

Response:

Debbie: My DR put me on Serzone about a month ago (and took me off of it).  I, too, had memory problems (short-term memory), disorientation and confusion.  It was like walking through a thick fog all the time. I can’t offer you the "hang in there" you need, because Serzone didn’t work with me.  All I can offer is the "wait and see" approach or start the med "roulette."  When Prozac quit working for me after 10 years, I, too, was terrified about starting a new med. My first SSRI was Paxil (I was severly depressed at the time) and all I did was sleep .. not a good thing when I really needed to get out of the house and work.  Prozac worked just dandy for me, then in January, I noticed more and more PAs. I rode the Serzone roller coaster (each time the starter kit upped the dose, I got worse, lots of crying, light-headedness, forgetfulness) until I couldn’t even teach, grade, sleep …  The DR switched my to Zoloft, it’s working OK right now, but I’m still wary. The Zoloft dose increases in two days …. who knows what it will do … Do you have a good doctor?  One who listens?  So far, I have a standing appointment with my DR every 2 weeks to see how the new meds are working (always with the option to get in before the 2 week appt). I don’t think I’ve helped you at all, but I hope my experience …. I don’t know … gives you some idea of a path to follow (not that I have a path … ) Let me know how it goes. schel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I’ve been a frequent lurker to your group for over five years.  I’ve gained much understand about my Panic Disorder and wealth of information – for which I am very grateful to all of you. I’ve struggled with my PD for six years.  Fought the beast alone for three years with just PRN Xanax, then three years ago, I began daily medication to combat it.  Serzone 150mg BID.  It literally gave me my life back and the full blown PA’s actually stopped for several years.  Last year we increased my PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety.  Three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance.  I literally ran sobbing from a dinner theater.  The first major, rock your world PA in almost three years.  I went to the doc because I didn’t recover from this easily.  I was tearful and anxious for several days following.  At my insistence, the dose was increased to 200mg BID.  In addition I have always taken 1mg Ativan at night, with the script written for PRN in addition. It’s been over two weeks now – I just can’t seem to get adjusted to this increase.  I am just exhausted all the time and feel so spaced out and air-headed, not to mention it hasn’t done a thing for my overall anxiety. It is the short term memory loss that really has me bothered.  I have felt this as a nagging concern for well over a year now. That I just couldn’t remember things from one minute to the next.  This med increase just brought it screaming to the front of mind because it is even so much worse right now. I have decided, along with my doc over the phone, to go back to a place where I was successful.  150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN. She stresses the need to go ahead and use the Ativan PRN stave off the anxiety. I ramble all of this to begin with, because if feels kind of relieving to share it with others who understand, & to ask:  How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??  Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med? The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.  Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the med? I would literally be scared to death to try another med.  I think I’m in the running for the poster child for "med phobics" <grin  I just wonder if others have used this long term for PD and if so, encountered any of these sorts of experiences.  I read backward in DejaNews for posts on the subject. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".  I  feel like I’m at the bottom of the world right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to wade through this. Debbie, who remembers better days, and is struggling with the current ones. — Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.                            –Henry Kaiser

Response:

Liz, Thanks so much for the moral boost.  I’m hoping reducing the dose will at least clear up fog I have seemed to be living in.  I’ll have to see what happens with the anxiety piece.  I always try to think positive, so I hope this is the trick.  I appreciate your note, Debbie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Debbie, Welcome, Debbie.  I am so sorry you are having more anxiety and the meds don’t seem to be working right.  I will leave the med questions to the experts, but just wanted to send you strength and hope. Take care, Liz

Response:

struggled with PD for six years. began Serzone 150mg BID. increased PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety. three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance. dose increased to 200mg BID. take 1mg Ativan at night, PRN. can’t adjust to increase after two weeks on new dose. exhausted all the time, spaced out and air-headed does nothing for overall anxiety short term memory loss has increased back to successful dose of 150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN.

IMHO, this was a really good move on your part. I’m glad your pdoc agreed. How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??

Depends. My Dx is panic disorder w/o depression.  Been on Serzone continuously since Sep 2000. Experienced short term memory loss and inability to focus on details 1 wk after dose went beyond 150mg BID. Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med?

Went as high as 200mg BID. Almost all background thought processing ceased. Although ruminating/runaway thoughts often triggered symptoms, my mind became TOO quiet. Very disturbing.  Pdoc and I agreed to back-off to 100mg BID which is where I am now. Mind ‘thawed-out’ a day or two later and thought processing returned mostly to normal except for short-term memory ‘brown-out’ periods every so often. Get breakthru symptoms (but no full-blown attacks) about once every two weeks at this dose. Have Xanax PRN, but haven’t had the need in over a month now. The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.  Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the med?

IMHO, yes. But ya never know until you try. Start low and move slow is a good rule of thumb. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".

I only have 6mo experience with Serzone, so can’t speak to long term side effects. My pdoc and I have agreed to stop around June/July 2001 and see what happens. However, if you feel like you can function within acceptible limits on your current regimen, my suggestion is to hang in there…  

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I’ve been a frequent lurker to your group for over five years.  I’ve gained much understand about my Panic Disorder and wealth of information – for which I am very grateful to all of you. I’ve struggled with my PD for six years.  Fought the beast alone for three years with just PRN Xanax, then three years ago, I began daily medication to combat it.  Serzone 150mg BID.  It literally gave me my life back and the full blown PA’s actually stopped for several years.  Last year we increased my PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety.  Three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance.  I literally ran sobbing from a dinner theater.  The first major, rock your world PA in almost three years.  I went to the doc because I didn’t recover from this easily.  I was tearful and anxious for several days following.  At my insistence, the dose was increased to 200mg BID.  In addition I have always taken 1mg Ativan at night, with the script written for PRN in addition. It’s been over two weeks now – I just can’t seem to get adjusted to this increase.  I am just exhausted all the time and feel so spaced out and air-headed, not to mention it hasn’t done a thing for my overall anxiety. It is the short term memory loss that really has me bothered.  I have felt this as a nagging concern for well over a year now. That I just couldn’t remember things from one minute to the next.  This med increase just brought it screaming to the front of mind because it is even so much worse right now. I have decided, along with my doc over the phone, to go back to a place where I was successful.  150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN.  She stresses the need to go ahead and use the Ativan PRN stave off the anxiety. I ramble all of this to begin with, because if feels kind of relieving to share it with others who understand, & to ask:  How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??  Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med? The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.

The memory loss is temporary, and will go away when (or if) you stop the Serzone. All psychoactive substances can impair cognition (ability to concentrate) and memory. Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the

med? Your body couldn’t tolerate the increase, and it told you so. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I would literally be scared to death to try another med.  I think I’m in the running for the poster child for "med phobics" <grin  I just wonder if others have used this long term for PD and if so, encountered any of these sorts of experiences.  I read backward in DejaNews for posts on the subject. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".  I  feel like I’m at the bottom of the world right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to wade through this. Debbie, who remembers better days, and is struggling with the current ones.

Since an increase in your anxiety level precipitated the increase in Serzone, I think it advisable to treat the anxiety with a benzo, such as Ativan, taken on a regular (not as needed) basis. Chip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Hi Debbie, Welcome, Debbie.  I am so sorry you are having more anxiety and the meds don’t seem to be working right.  I will leave the med questions to the experts, but just wanted to send you strength and hope.   Take care, Liz – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I’ve been a frequent lurker to your group for over five years.  I’ve gained much understand about my Panic Disorder and wealth of information – for which I am very grateful to all of you. I’ve struggled with my PD for six years.  Fought the beast alone for three years with just PRN Xanax, then three years ago, I began daily medication to combat it.  Serzone 150mg BID.  It literally gave me my life back and the full blown PA’s actually stopped for several years.  Last year we increased my PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety.  Three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance.  I literally ran sobbing from a dinner theater.  The first major, rock your world PA in almost three years.  I went to the doc because I didn’t recover from this easily.  I was tearful and anxious for several days following.  At my insistence, the dose was increased to 200mg BID.  In addition I have always taken 1mg Ativan at night, with the script written for PRN in addition. It’s been over two weeks now – I just can’t seem to get adjusted to this increase.  I am just exhausted all the time and feel so spaced out and air-headed, not to mention it hasn’t done a thing for my overall anxiety. It is the short term memory loss that really has me bothered.  I have felt this as a nagging concern for well over a year now. That I just couldn’t remember things from one minute to the next.  This med increase just brought it screaming to the front of mind because it is even so much worse right now. I have decided, along with my doc over the phone, to go back to a place where I was successful.  150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN.  She stresses the need to go ahead and use the Ativan PRN stave off the anxiety. I ramble all of this to begin with, because if feels kind of relieving to share it with others who understand, & to ask:  How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??  Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med? The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.  Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the med? I would literally be scared to death to try another med.  I think I’m in the running for the poster child for "med phobics" <grin  I just wonder if others have used this long term for PD and if so, encountered any of these sorts of experiences.  I read backward in DejaNews for posts on the subject. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".  I  feel like I’m at the bottom of the world right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to wade through this. Debbie, who remembers better days, and is struggling with the current ones.

– Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.                            –Henry Kaiser

Response:

Well Debbie I am not a med expert.  I am sorry you are having a rough time right now.  It does feel pretty unfair and makes you angry, doesn’t it, that IT came back!  I have spent a lot of time pondering why IT attacked me for the first time almost a year ago and I have not been the same since.  I can’t tell you about your meds, but I would encourage you to take your doc’s advice about using the Ativan as needed.  Don’t cheat yourself out of the needed calming it can bring you during this rough time. Jeannie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello, I’ve been a frequent lurker to your group for over five years.  I’ve gained much understand about my Panic Disorder and wealth of information – for which I am very grateful to all of you. I’ve struggled with my PD for six years.  Fought the beast alone for three years with just PRN Xanax, then three years ago, I began daily medication to combat it.  Serzone 150mg BID.  It literally gave me my life back and the full blown PA’s actually stopped for several years.  Last year we increased my PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety.  Three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance.  I literally ran sobbing from a dinner theater.  The first major, rock your world PA in almost three years.  I went to the doc because I didn’t recover from this easily.  I was tearful and anxious for several days following.  At my insistence, the dose was increased to 200mg BID.  In addition I have always taken 1mg Ativan at night, with the script written for PRN in addition. It’s been over two weeks now – I just can’t seem to get adjusted to this increase.  I am just exhausted all the time and feel so spaced out and air-headed, not to mention it hasn’t done a thing for my overall anxiety. It is the short term memory loss that really has me bothered.  I have felt this as a nagging concern for well over a year now. That I just couldn’t remember things from one minute to the next.  This med increase just brought it screaming to the front of mind because it is even so much worse right now. I have decided, along with my doc over the phone, to go back to a place where I was successful.  150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN.  She stresses the need to go ahead and use the Ativan PRN stave off the anxiety. I ramble all of this to begin with, because if feels kind of relieving to share it with others who understand, & to ask:  How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??  Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med? The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.  Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the med? I would literally be scared to death to try another med.  I think I’m in the running for the poster child for "med phobics" <grin  I just wonder if others have used this long term for PD and if so, encountered any of these sorts of experiences.  I read backward in DejaNews for posts on the subject. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".  I  feel like I’m at the bottom of the world right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to wade through this. Debbie, who remembers better days, and is struggling with the current ones.

Response:

Hello, I’ve been a frequent lurker to your group for over five years.  I’ve gained much understand about my Panic Disorder and wealth of information – for which I am very grateful to all of you. I’ve struggled with my PD for six years.  Fought the beast alone for three years with just PRN Xanax, then three years ago, I began daily medication to combat it.  Serzone 150mg BID.  It literally gave me my life back and the full blown PA’s actually stopped for several years.  Last year we increased my PM dose to 200mg due to increased generalized anxiety.  Three weeks ago, PD returned with a vengeance.  I literally ran sobbing from a dinner theater.  The first major, rock your world PA in almost three years.  I went to the doc because I didn’t recover from this easily.  I was tearful and anxious for several days following.  At my insistence, the dose was increased to 200mg BID.  In addition I have always taken 1mg Ativan at night, with the script written for PRN in addition. It’s been over two weeks now – I just can’t seem to get adjusted to this increase.  I am just exhausted all the time and feel so spaced out and air-headed, not to mention it hasn’t done a thing for my overall anxiety. It is the short term memory loss that really has me bothered.  I have felt this as a nagging concern for well over a year now. That I just couldn’t remember things from one minute to the next.  This med increase just brought it screaming to the front of mind because it is even so much worse right now. I have decided, along with my doc over the phone, to go back to a place where I was successful.  150mg BID with the Ativan at night and PRN.  She stresses the need to go ahead and use the Ativan PRN stave off the anxiety. I ramble all of this to begin with, because if feels kind of relieving to share it with others who understand, & to ask:  How serious is this memory loss thing regarding Serzone??  Is it a permanent kind of thing, or just chemically induced when taking the med? The memory issues didn’t get much/any press on the web sites I looked at.  Do you think maybe I just tried to exceed my own therapeutic level when I wanted to increase the med? I would literally be scared to death to try another med.  I think I’m in the running for the poster child for "med phobics" <grin  I just wonder if others have used this long term for PD and if so, encountered any of these sorts of experiences.  I read backward in DejaNews for posts on the subject. I found a good many post about the various reason why others stopped taking it, but not so much from the folks who continued.  I guess I just need a good "hang in there".  I  feel like I’m at the bottom of the world right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to wade through this. Debbie, who remembers better days, and is struggling with the current ones.

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

*Confuse-a-cashier* seems to be the favorite pass time for some of my more inebriated customers. Karen  :D – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

before I had my hourly allowance of caffeine. It actually made sense to me. Karen

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen

But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie

Really? Oh well, have it your way. You have more *left* but I’m always *right*. Philip (hehe) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip

Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.

Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?   Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually. Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?  Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

Dan, I am into my 6th week on Zoloft and can take up to 3 .25mg Xanax a day.  If the Zoloft works for anxiety/depression I want to get off of the Xanax even though I know I am on a very low dosage, if not I will stay on them.  The less pills I take the better I feel about it. Gene in New Jersey if not I will stay on it.  

Response:

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other )

Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie "The male brain is like a railroad freight car…. guaranteed to have a certain capacity but often running empty."

Response:

I am new to xanax I do forget things alot and tend to forget what I was talking about right in the middle of a discussion but, I can handle that part just not the dizziness! I am alot better on the medicine then off      Melissa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

I’ve got a benzo brain.  It can be a bother sometime, but it beats an anxiety attack any day; besides, I’m a bit absent minded anyway. God bless,   Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

Response:

I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

Response:

I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

 I bought a pill cutter once, and the blade was bent.  Cmat

Response:

Hi all, Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Cmat, Where did this come from?  Just go get the damn xanax.  :o) You know I’m just kidding, I go through the same thought processes over and over again.  I find it funny to see it in others as well.  As I said before, I don’t think the withdrawl has to be so painful if you let your doctor know the trouble that you had before.  Plus, you said he didn’t really taper you… (but, I’ll let you know firsthand if I ever have to taper off of this klonopin) <G. I know… I talk like this now, but in a few days I’ll be sending question after question to the group about the new AD I start on Thursday. Maria

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Response:

It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Absolutely. And there also is such a thing as *psychological dependence*. Many moons ago I weaned off of Valium without a problem until I took only 1 mg which is virtually *nothing* and surely wouldn’t work for PA’s with anyone. It took me a lot of time to stop taking that last half pill! And later I always still carried a bottle of Valium with me without taking any, but just in case, as a security blanket. I also remember that, whatever my medication was, when I realized I had missed a dose (or had forgotten to take the pill bottle along) that would send me into an immediate PA while in *reality* nothing had changed. Now that I’m at it, to reply to your other post: if you can get the Xanax in every possible dose IMO it would indeed be easier to stop as you can do it more gradually and take more time for it. Philip

Response:

Oh Mark, You sound like I feel.  I did all that you said…once when the only narcotic I was taking was xanax, and once when I was also taking heavy pain meds together with the xanax.  It is a vicious circle.  My memory is all but gone.  Cause a lot of arguments around here, "you did NOT tell me that"…."I most certainly did TOO!" etc.  I am weary. My anxiety creeps back in sometimes and sometimes dives in.  You see, I have tried several times to not be dependant on this med and as much as I hate to admit it, I function better with it than without it.  My one great hope is that one day, the underlying need for it will disapear and I will return to normalcy.  I to was able to wean back without discomfort, but like you said, the anxiety returns. I wish I knew if the new effects you describe are derived from long term usage or were in line to come on anyway due to this disorder. good luck little bear – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

Ditto to everything Chip and Randee posted.  There is absolutely no evidence to support that any SSRI causes permanent brain damage….in rats or in humans….and they sliced up a lot of rodents to find this out.  SPECT and MRI scans indicate the same for humans….and I’m sure that over the next decade, posthumous studies will produce the same results.  What you should know is that the average age of onset for most Axis I diagnoses is 18-25. More than likely your continued problems are as Philip described synchronous rather than caused by the meds.  We have all been angry about the seeming failure of our body chemistry as expressed by psych symptoms.  However, blaming it on the meds, is a cop-out of taking responsibility for making yourself well…..and posting such accusations here causes a lot of unnecessary worry by people who need their energies to focus on REAL problems.  Get some counseling.   ~Valerie

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I take zoloft and I was crazy before I took it. Panic and the constant thought pattern ruined my life. Zoloft has really helped me. Yes, I had some side effects but nothing like I had on other meds. I will not say neg on xanex but I am sure long term use may also cause you to go crazy. I also have psoriasis and this is not caused by zoloft. Got that before the zoloft or panic. Read up on psoriasis.Psoriasis may aggrivate the zoloft. Some meds do. Good luck on your research but remember many of us need this medication and unless you are 100% sure of what you have found I would be careful before you scare to many people. Joan

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

I’d say it’s doubtful that your complaints are the result of having taken Zoloft. There seems to be a *synchronicity* here but not necessarily a *causal* relationship. It might be the original anxiety for all I know (or can conclude from the sparse data you provided). Does Xanax work for these symptoms as you say that you’re taking it? If it works (at what dose?) it’s obviously a better med for you than Zoloft was. Some of us (including me) will have to be on meds for the rest of our lives. I’d rather not be on meds but it’s the only way for me to have a life. You may be just like me… Philip

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    ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does..

 Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

Mike you can spend the rest of your life trying to figure out why you have this disorder. I seriously doubt that Zoloft is the cause. You were put on Zoloft for a reason, what was that reason? Depression and anxiety are closely related. My disorder started when I was 18, one day I was fine and the next day I was different. Mike you can try to find the reason for your disorder, and try to place blame. You are going to make yourself nuts trying to find the cause. Even if you do find the cause, it won`t help you much. Unless you accept your disorder and own it, you are not going to move on and get better. There are many people that have never been on anti-depressants, that have depression, anxiety, panic, social phobia and psoriasis. How do you explain that Mike? Take all this energy that you are using to blame Zoloft into getting better instead. Jackie

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Would it be safe to say…that Zoloft is a powerful drug?For me the answer is YES. Did Zoloft increase my Anxiety?…yes for me it did! The first month or so were the weirdest (kind of a slight mania….depersonalization ) it pretty much went away.(.except for Anxiety) the longer I stayed on it! I can see how it can help people, I think it helped me with a uplifting state of mind; but it didn’t seem to be worth the price of continuing if I still had to deal Tension and Anxiety. I have discontinued Zoloft for about 2 weeks and I can’t tell much difference; except I can tell I’m not quite as know) I wanted them all to work wonders for me…but they created there own little draw-backs. I’ve given Zoloft 2 trys. I can see why somebody posted about the effects of this drug…I’ve read many places and from ASAP posters on the things I went through…I know that I’m not alone. BUT I know this drug has worked wonders for many other people. Anyway just sharing…not an expert(Obviously) Oh by the way if anybody can offer me a better alternative drug….I’m all EARS! Thanks Much       Wild & Crazy                                                            P.S. my other 2 drugs are Trazodone and Zanax( I really like the Zanax!) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage. My wife has been on Imiprimine, Luvox, and Zoloft.  The imiprimine helped her depression but the side effects were almost bad enough that the depression was better.  The Luvox had very mild side effects, but it didn’t do much for her depression.  Zoloft has been effective with her depression and with very mild side effects.  I see no evidence of brain dammage. I was on prozac (an SSRI, the same family as Zoloft) for 2 weeks.  It gave me tinnitus and halucinations.  I won’t take an SSRI again.  These are very rare side effects for Prozac, but I’m not the first to get them.  However, just because SSRIs are a bad choice for me, doesn’t mean that huge numbers of users haven’t been helped by them.  Xanax is what helps me, and I may have to take it the rest of my life, but there’s enough research to suggest that there’s a good chance that I won’t. If Zoloft really does cause brain dammage, I think it would of turned up prior to now.  I agree with the prior posts that say you have an anxiety/panc disorder that just happend to manifest itself after you went off the Zoloft. I would also say that you at least have a chance that it’s not permenant. Good Luck,  Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

My wife has been on Imiprimine, Luvox, and Zoloft.  The imiprimine helped her depression but the side effects were almost bad enough that the depression was better.  The Luvox had very mild side effects, but it didn’t do much for her depression.  Zoloft has been effective with her depression and with very mild side effects.  I see no evidence of brain dammage. I was on prozac (an SSRI, the same family as Zoloft) for 2 weeks.  It gave me tinnitus and halucinations.  I won’t take an SSRI again.  These are very rare side effects for Prozac, but I’m not the first to get them.  However, just because SSRIs are a bad choice for me, doesn’t mean that huge numbers of users haven’t been helped by them.  Xanax is what helps me, and I may have to take it the rest of my life, but there’s enough research to suggest that there’s a good chance that I won’t. If Zoloft really does cause brain dammage, I think it would of turned up prior to now.  I agree with the prior posts that say you have an anxiety/panc disorder that just happend to manifest itself after you went off the Zoloft. I would also say that you at least have a chance that it’s not permenant. Good Luck,   Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..  When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

You may be confusing cause and effect here. There are many people on this NG who take or have taken Zoloft as well as many other AD’s. The symptoms that you describe could mean that you are still have problems with depression. I’m not saying outright that you are wrong, however, there is no current evidence to support your claim, either from the med reaearch or, more importantly, anecodotes posted to the NG’s. Is it possible than somehow in your mind that it might be easier to believe your symptoms were induced by your use of Zoloft than to acknowledge that you have an ongoing problem with Panic and/or depression? Keep us up to date if you find any research on the topic. Regards, JaneB

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   These kind of messages really make me mad.Keep your opinions to yourself. Its not enough that I have to take this but then there are people like you who have to make it worse for me.Zoloft is really helping me and I definatly have no brain damage and i’m not depressed.So when you have real proof then post it!!!! Randee

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

  I don’t know about this either…I have had fewer side-effects on Zoloft than I’ve had on any other med but aspirin and ibuprofen (no kidding)…Antibiotics give me flu-like symptoms, antihistimines knock me on my ass and cause dizziness…The list goes on…I have had almost NIL side-effects on Zoloft…Not only that, but like others have said, I was drained and sick WELL before I took Zoloft…If I still am when I get off, I can only assume I still need it, not that it caused it…   Finally, all the research I have read recently is starting to suggest just the opposite of what you say…That depression and anxiety (specifically cortisol and other hormones that are overstimulated in depressed and anxious folks) CAUSES brain damage…Long time depressives have smaller brains in some places  (I cannot remember the specific region at 12:20 PM! ) that control emotions…This seems to be reversible, but that is inconclusive…Also, research shows that taking medications and getting therapy immediately is the best way to prevent this effect and reduce or eliminate further epsiodes… Best, — Charles Phipps

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I’d be interested in whatever you find out about zoloft. I have been on it since March 99. Only 50mg. Haven’t seen a lot of improvement, but I thought it was to treat depression. I went to the Pdoc complaining of anxiety,panic and lack of sleep. Although, he did give me xanax as well for that. You may be right in your claim about zoloft, but I have not heard this before about the medicine.

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Hi, New Jersey! Haven’t  I seen you before down on the boardwalk in Atlantic City , and over there at the Trump Plaza? You look familiar.  : ) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -New Jersey writes: I’m trying to get to the bottom of this. I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem.. When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis…. Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

NJ, I’ve been on Zoloft for the last 6 years, and so far, no brain damage, just less depression and anxiety. And I’ve been very pleased with this med. And I have never even heard that it causes brain damage. And untill someone shows me proof, I won’t believe it. Just because you met someone that claims his problems are due to brain damage caused by Zoloft doesn’t mean it’s true. It sounds like you were depressed enough at 18 to be treated with Zoloft. I don’t know how long you took it. It seems you now have anxieties, phobias, numbness on your face.  All of these are part of an anxiety disorder. Some, like you,  get depressed first, and later on get the anxiety symptoms. Others have the anxiety symptoms first and may get depressed later on. I had depression in my late teens, and onset of panic disorder  and phobias at age 22. And I had alot of strange feelings all over my body and thought I had disease. But I didn’t. It sounds like you have the same problems we  have here at ASAP. And they’re not due to brain damage from meds. So, are you ever going to go back down to Atlantic City, again?  : ) Take care, Chip

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    ***I’m trying to get to the bottom of this *** I am posting this because of this problem and research I am doing on Zoloft… I have also found another person that has te same exact problems that I have because of this anti-depressant.. First of all , I think it causes permanent brain damage.. I also think that a person who starts out on zoloft will need some sort of anti-depressant for the rest of their life because of the damage it does.. Well, I’ll just try to be short here because I dont know how many of you will have the same problem..   When I was 18, I took zoloft.. I felt very weird in the beggining. Like a draining , kind of brain meltdown feeling… And ever since then (6 years without zoloft) I have had a constant numbing feeling on the left side of my head… It makes me feel more prone to stress/anxiety/panic.. Since then I have also developed a social phobia , psoriasis , and psoriatic arthritis….  Even though I was a little depressed when I was 18, I never knew that this crazyness was going to happen.. It made my condition much worse.. Now i’m stuck with taking xanax for the rest of my life….Anybody else expierence simaler symptoms?? We should sue these damn companies for this garbage.

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Question:

Twice a day won’t work with Neurontin unless you are worried about seizures. It wears off! If you can’t do at least 3x a day I am afraid you may be wasting your money. On 4x a day maybe you could take less. I don’t think Wellbutrin is the AD for you. I suggest something in the Celexa line, or if you could use help getting to sleep, Remeron. Just have your pharmacist give me a call. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Do you think going higher in dosage would help?  James suggests taking it every 6 hours would help.  I have a hard enough time remembering it twice a day.  At work it is chaos at times and remembering to take the medication would be very difficult.  So far I see no adverse reactions.  I can go higher.  It is costing me 300 a month but I would pay 500 or even 1000 dollars a month if I could enjoy life on a daily basis.  It took away my high highs… now I am left with really some bad bad lows.  But I do cycle out for a few short hours… but mornings are hell.  I take the meds at noon and in the evening.  That isn’t spaced out right though.  Should take the evening dose later but the morning dose wears off.  I don’t know if raising the wellbutrin would help.  Maybe I need to ask for Lamictal.  So tired of this.  Life was so much easier years ago.

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Do you think going higher in dosage would help?  James suggests taking it every 6 hours would help.  I have a hard enough time remembering it twice a day.  At work it is chaos at times and remembering to take the medication would be very difficult.  So far I see no adverse reactions.  I can go higher.  It is costing me 300 a month but I would pay 500 or even 1000 dollars a month if I could enjoy life on a daily basis.  It took away my high highs… now I am left with really some bad bad lows.  But I do cycle out for a few short hours… but mornings are hell.  I take the meds at noon and in the evening.  That isn’t spaced out right though.  Should take the evening dose later but the morning dose wears off.  I don’t know if raising the wellbutrin would help.  Maybe I need to ask for Lamictal.  So tired of this.  Life was so much easier years ago. —   O  ooo   Cindy          O – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am on 2400mg and still cycle….I just have lower lows and lower highs. I don’t feel clearer in thinking…but compared to lithium..whew!  This is MUCH better.  Just wish it would help more with the depressions. There appears to be no known therapeutic blood serum level for gabapentin used in bipolar. Each person will need a different amount. You could go as high as your doctor would allow, but money would be a limiting factor.

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I am on 2400mg and still cycle….I just have lower lows and lower highs.  I don’t feel clearer in thinking…but compared to lithium..whew!  This is MUCH better.  Just wish it would help more with the depressions.

There appears to be no known therapeutic blood serum level for gabapentin used in bipolar. Each person will need a different amount. You could go as high as your doctor would allow, but money would be a limiting factor.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 4800mg is considered high, and the therapeutic range seems to span all dosages, at least for bipolar. Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. Eric

Eric when I was on this drug, which was way back when it first came out on the market.  I was one of the test people for the drug.  I took 3600mgs. So higher doseages can be tolerated for this drug.  I was on it at least 3 different times for different reasons.  I was taken off 2 times and put back on it 2 other times to make it a total of 3 times.  The other mood stabilizer I was on it with I think was either Depakote or Lithium.  I am almost quite sure it was Depakote.   Betsy

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I am on 2400mg and still cycle….I just have lower lows and lower highs.  I don’t feel clearer in thinking…but compared to lithium..whew!  This is MUCH better.  Just wish it would help more with the depressions. —   O  ooo   Cindy          O – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I’m nearly certain that the therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just simply 2gs. By the way, I don’t feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very alert and relatively up. Good luck Ephriam Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. Eric

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Which mood stabizer did you use along with neurontin? —   O  ooo   Cindy          O – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? You can use more than one mood stabilizer. Neurontin should be taken every six hours.  A good therapeutic dose for me was 300 mgs 4 x per day until I added another mood stabilizer.  Once I had polytherapy I was able to lower my dose of Neurontin to 600 to 900 mgs per day. Good luck to you. Julie Thanks in advance. Eric

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Do i still have to take Neurontin 4 times a day if i increase the dosage from 400 to 600 or even 800 mg? What are the side effects of Neurontin at this dosage? Thanks.

Eric: The Neurontin is excreted every six hours.  Eight if you have a slow renal excretion rate. The six hours apart is crucial if it is your only mood stabilizer.  Even if you have increased the dosage. I learned that the hard way and ended up ultra rapidly cycling till I joined the ranks of the James Milton Philosophy It had it’s drawbacks, like setting my alarm for three am just to take a pill.  I did get used to it and it was effective.  I also got tired of it and now take 2 mood stabilizers and only take Neurontin 2x per day. Good Luck! Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Eric

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4800mg is considered high, and the therapeutic range seems to span all dosages, at least for bipolar. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. Eric

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions?

You can use more than one mood stabilizer. Neurontin should be taken every six hours.  A good therapeutic dose for me was 300 mgs 4 x per day until I added another mood stabilizer.  Once I had polytherapy I was able to lower my dose of Neurontin to 600 to 900 mgs per day. Good luck to you. Julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks in advance. Eric

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Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I’m nearly certain that the therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just simply 2gs. By the way, I don’t feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very alert and relatively up. Good luck Ephriam

Do i still have to take Neurontin 4 times a day if i increase the dosage from 400 to 600 or even 800 mg? What are the side effects of Neurontin at this dosage? Thanks. Eric

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Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. Eric

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Neurontin has been extremely helpful to me as an anti-depressant, mood stabilizer for me recently. I am a manic depressive. I’m nearly certain that the therapeutic range is about 400 to 2500 mgs. I am taking 2000mgs or just simply 2gs. By the way, I don’t feel "zombefied". On the contrary I feel very alert and relatively up. Good luck Ephriam – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings everybody, I have rapid cyclings with sometimes mixed states. I never had any manic episode. I never took any mood stabilizer in my life. I’ve been taking antidepressants and anxiolytics for 10 years now with moderate results. And i lost so many jobs… So Neurontin is my first mood stabilizer. I’ve been taking Neurontin (100 mg x 4 per day) for 2 weeks now. I also take Effexor XR 150 mg per day. My mood is better. I’m not anymore angry and the anxiety is almost gone. My concentration is improved too. It’s great. I’m starting again to live after a long nightmare. However, i still have sometimes cyclings even if they are more rare and lower in intensity. What is the therapeutic range of Neurontin? I want to feel fine but to be honest i’m afraid to be *zombified* by a too much high dose of Neurontin. Suggestions? Thanks in advance. Eric

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Question:

We solved most of our puppy’s whining and barking problems when she was tiny, by building a small pen – small enough to be moved around the house, but big enough to provide her with a bed, a bowl of water and a litter tray.  That way, she could see us, feel included – she got lots of time out of the pen too being cuddled and things.  At night, the pen was at the side of the bed, and she settled down really quickly.  After a few weeks, and a few accidents, we got her housetrained, threw out the pen and she slept between our feet until she got too big then she moved onto the floor without much trouble.  HTH.

Jon, Thanks for the advice.  I am so looking forward to when she is housebroken. However, I must say, things have already been settling down here alot. Take care, Brad

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writes: Guess what, she went and got into one of the other dogs’ crates, vomited and returned to her own.

Tasha… I think that’s what my children did when they were sick…they came in my room and threw up! Jody

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b.

Maybe an alternative is Paxil.. I was on Zoloft and felt the panic syptom , they raised the dose and I had more trouble.  Paxil seems more along the lines for treatment of panic/depression. Meanwhile, enjoy watching your son and dog grow together. good luck,     MM<<<< Paul, Thanks for your reply.  If I can’t get Zoloft to work any better, I will try Paxil, it is the next step I guess. Brad

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I think that’s what my children did when they were sick…they came in my room and threw up!

LMAO!!!!!  Oh Gawd……I haven’t laughed all weekend!!!!!   But I HATE you for making me laugh this hard at 7am…..I hate laughing before  I’m awake!!!!! LOLOLOL! shaddap. kc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Hey, I got a puppy too!  And the anxiety that goes with it.  AGH.  And the pee and dog puke, and whining, yapping, ripped up papers….double-AGH.

I was feeling like the only person on the planet that felt like he was going to have a nervous breakdown because I got a cute little puppy. First thing I’d say is that sometimes a side effect of Zoloft is anxiousness. Many people shoot a benzo (Xanax, Klonopin, ATivan) at it until it

subsides. I’m currently afraid of the Ativan my doc gave me, but I may try it again. Your point is a good one though and I believe you are right. You may be just reacting to a normal side effect and sticking it on the fact that you have a puppy.

–Snipped to save space– Try not to fret, sometimes animals pick up on it and will whine and cry worse. If you give in, the puppy has learned if he cries long enough you will come get him.  Make it stick.  Being miserable a couple days now is better than having a pest for a dog for the rest of it’s life.

Thanks for all that advice, I’m not the best dog trainer. You probably know all this stuff already.

No, some, but not all. And I used to breed Yorkies when my 3  kids were babies…..I let them set their own boundaries.  Kids got bit, dogs had hair pulled, there were fights over chewies….

Once again, I thought I was the ONLY person who would EVER dare get a new puppy with a young child at the same time. but unless you got a dog with a weird history or bad lineage they will grow up together like siblings and play and love each other even though there will be an occassional fight.

Well, my family got me an Italian Greyhound from a liniage of champion show dogs – which I have been told are very mild mannered easy to train dogs. But besides the occasional rough-housing, my son loves the dog. As a temporary hedge against anxiety, you might ask your doc if you can get a couple of benzos to smooth over the rough places…..it will even itself out. Hope this helps

This post has helped me more than you will ever know.  I thank you very much because I read it over and over and was able to calm down immensely…At first I wanted us to simply give the dog back to the breeders, but now I’m really adjusting and having fun. Thank you so much, Brad – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -KC Cindy

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the other day, my family surprised me with a new puppy that I said I wanted a few months ago.  When I first saw her I thought like most people — "Wow she is so cute and adorable, I love her!" and told everyone how pleased I was.  Well, that night(as per the breeders instructions), she slept in bed with me and my wife and needless to say, we all slept in the wet spot. She whined and kept us awake most of the night.  The next night we put her in her kennel and she barked and woke us up and my 15 month old son.  By Saterday night, I was feeling depressed and panicky, kind of like "what have we done? A puppy is a huge responsibility and we have a 15 month old son for Heaven’s sake"

Hi B, Didn’t go the puppy route but did just adopt a 2nd dog about 6 months ago and went thru MONTHS of anxiety and saying what have I done???  No matter pup or 2 year old – bringing anything new into the family is always (in my opinion) going to cause stress.  With a 15 month old, I am sure you can relate to the massive changes.  Give it time and try and enjoy the pup while it is still a pup, they grow up faster than kids, ya know!  :)  It took me til about a month ago to finally feel good about our new addition and for me to stop being on edge all the time.  Think the pooch is glad too as I was on her about everything, expecting her to *know* all the rules like the older dog.  I had to stop and make time to spend with her everyday.  Been a long time since I did the pup thing, but you have the chance to train her and I think your son will like the companion.  Good luck! Gwen

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Hi all, I’ve been posting/lurking here for a couple of months now and had a pretty weird experience the other day that has me anxious as hell and depressed. Well, I had started taking my Zoloft 8 weeks ago again after being off of it for 3 months.  I’m at 50 mg. I was up to 100 mg. five months ago, but this time, the side effects have been pretty bad so I’ve been fighting to stabilize at 50. Anyway, I was finally feeling GREAT a week ago.  I was able to stop taking my sleep aids and I was making it through a good part of the day without even checking my state of mind for "crazy feelings" Well, the other day, my family surprised me with a new puppy that I said I wanted a few months ago.  When I first saw her I thought like most people — "Wow she is so cute and adorable, I love her!" and told everyone how pleased I was.  Well, that night(as per the breeders instructions), she slept in bed with me and my wife and needless to say, we all slept in the wet spot.  She whined and kept us awake most of the night.  The next night we put her in her kennel and she barked and woke us up and my 15 month old son.  By Saterday night, I was feeling depressed and panicky, kind of like "what have we done? A puppy is a huge responsibility and we have a 15 month old son for Heaven’s sake" Saturday, I upped my dosage 25 mg. and noticed a little MORE anxiety setting in.  Sunday and Monday I did the same and by late Monday morning I felt about as bad as I did 6 weeks ago. I worry about the puppy hurting my son, about my son hurting the puppy, about her messing on the floor…And since this whole episode happened, I now worry about if the Zoloft is going to help me when I am at full dosage. I know I am handling my anxiety better now than I was 6 weeks ago at the height of my Panic attacks/depression.  And I know I’m at only half the dosage…It’s just gonna take me awhile before I am able to deal with the side effects and up my dosage to the 100mg. I guess I’d like to here of others who have had similar situations.  It’s like, if I can’t enjoy the simple pleasures of life like a new puppy, what the hell can I enjoy? Thanks, B.

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