Question:

I had told the nurse I wanted to do the CT scan today and she said she would schedule it and call with a time.  I let the time get away from me and before I knew it, it was after 5pm.  I guess I will call this morning and see what is up. I have a question for anyone who may know.  I have been taking Bidex, Singulair and Histussin HC for the past week for my breathing and chest congestion.  Do any of these cause a depressing or down-feeling effect?  I have felt like crying a lot the last couple of days.  Of course, when I have felt bad for too long I feel that way also.  I was just wondering if any of these meds could have that side-effect? Vicki — The charter is available at:

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

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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

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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

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Question:

I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head.

Try reducing your dosage at just 2 1/2 mg at a time, and do that for at least a couple weeks before reducing it some more.  It can take a while. You have time to mess with it, so you can go as slowly as you like. I’ve successfully reduced my Paxil to only 5 mg a day, plus .5 Ativan morning and evening.  But I’m still sleepy.  : ) Dot

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Ken, I’ve been on Celexa for several years, and it is my "miracle drug". YMMV depending on your chemical reaction to any medication…. Good luck!!!

I’ve been on Celexa for 1year 3months. It took about 8 weeks to start working and I developed a lot of side effects; prickly skin, itching rash, funny taste, teeth grinding, yawning, diarrhea, gas, restless night legs, purple blotches, insomnia and some sexual side effects.  My friend switched from Zoloft to Celexa and she said that the Zoloft side effects were worse than Celexa. So I’m wondering if I have had an atypical reaction.  I only ocassionally experience a side effect now (thankfully) but my dosage was increased from 20mg to 40mg about two months after I started because I didn’t feel it working.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – May I ask what was the horrible experience you had with Celexa? I’m taking it also and am trying to confirm some things. Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety.  It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all.  I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness?  Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique?  Thanks!

sure Ken… Celexa doubled if not tripled my anxiety in the 2 months of use.. my panic attacks tripled and were incredibly more intense.. i could not sleep.. and had restless leg syndrome.. i was always nauseaus.. and sometimes i had so much energy i didn’t know what to do with myself.. that could have been due to the anxiety though.. it basicially did to me the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do.. hope that helps!

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Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety.  It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all.  I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months.

I’m almost a week into weaning off Paxil CR, and going on to Lexapro. My PDoc called me a ‘textbook case of Paxil side effects’ – sleepiness, intense tiredness all the time, major concentration problems  were the biggies.  Actually at one time or another, I think I had every side effect except the sexual problems. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head.

Are you working with a doctor on this?  What is his/her advice?  Can you start on another AD or a benzo while you wean off? Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness?  Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique?  Thanks!

The best way I found to cope with the sleepiness and tiredness was to get *lots* of sleep.  If I didn’t get at least 9 hours, I was hopeless at work.  With that, and massive amounts of caffeine I survived.  I am so relieved to be getting off that stuff. Gypsy’s Wife, Partner, Lover, and Life Companion

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May I ask what was the horrible experience you had with Celexa? I’m taking it also and am trying to confirm some things.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety.  It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all.  I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness?  Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique?  Thanks!

Response:

Hi All.. I have been taking Paxil 20mg a day for the past 6 months for Panic and Anxiety.  It has worked WONDERFUL!! I haven’t had a panic attack since around day 14 of starting paxil, after having a horrible experience with celexa. In the past month however, I am so tired I cannot seem to do anything at all.  I don’t remember being THIS tired when I started paxil, or in the previous 4 months. I am on day 5 of trying 15mg a day to see if that helps, but I’m experience some anxiety already along with a fuzzy feeling in my head. Should I go back up to 20mg and deal with the tiredness?  Any one have any ideas on how to combat the fatique?  Thanks!

Response:

Question:

Dave, I have never posted to a newsgroup before therefore don’t know how to add the relevant pieces of messages from previous posts but I feel I have very important information which will be helpful to some of your group. I live in the uk and I’m registered disabled due to (hereditary) deafness in both ears and wear hearing aids in both ears. I also have tinnitus although I don’t find it a major problem. My sister suffers from tinnitus and finds that there are certain noises which trigger an episode. She especially found it difficult when trying to get to sleep. Her doctor advised her of certain things to try. I  gave her the address of the (RNID) Royal National Institute for the Deaf which no-one else has ever mentioned to her (she’s not deaf and only hard of hearing if you ask her to PAY for something BUT she could hear a

Question:

message : I hadn’t been able to do any of those things for a long time, because : I didn’t have enough motor control. : : A great side effect of going on the high fat Atkins diet was that, : coupled with the effect I had already achieved by drinking about a : gallon of water a day, my neuro muscular symptoms have cleared up : considerably. Try putting on mascara with your hand waving in front of : your eyes, or applying nail polish with a spastic hand. It doesn’t : work too well. : : I have been urged by people to get tested for Parkinson’s and for : Multiple Sclerosis for years because of  the increasing pain and : frustration of these problems. Benign Essential Tremor, which runs : through my family, didn’t seem to be the source for all that I went : through, especially when my legs started deteriorating. A few weeks : ago The Joy of My Life was teasing me and took my cane away from me, : (that I didn’t need all the time, but had had to pull out that one day : because of pain) saying I didn’t need it. I asked him was he going to : take my wheelchair away from me, too, when it came to that, and : thought to myself, was it really going to have to come to that? It was : then I started looking into the Atkins Diet, because I had read : somewhere that research had been done about ketogenic diets : (high fat consumption that send a body into benign ketosis, or fat : burning, state) making a great difference in the symptoms of epileptic : children, and in some with sclerosis or Parkinson’s. I decided to go : on the diet. : : Well, it’s been working. Not only the weight loss (as I’ve mentioned : elsewhere, 30 pounds) but my muscle control is up considerably and the : pain is a lot less (pretty much gone if I make sure I am drinking : enough water as well). I am able to exercise again, lightly, and hope : to go up to moderate exercise this week. I was able to cut my own hair : last week, have been able to apply eye makeup in 20 seconds, instead : of twenty minutes, and gave myself a manicure and pedicure for the : first time in many years tonight. It’s a really good feeling. : : Sometimes I wonder how much muscle tone I can get back into my legs, : but I’m trying not to get impatient about it. There’s a lot of things : to rebuild. Right now, I think it’s just time to go to bed. Goodnight, : all. : : Sandra :  ((((((Sandra)))))) how blessed you must feel! wishing you continued success, your strength of determination is what i need a little of… good night, donna —     the only baggage you can bring        is all that you can’t leave behind

Response:

I hadn’t been able to do any of those things for a long time, because I didn’t have enough motor control. A great side effect of going on the high fat Atkins diet was that, coupled with the effect I had already achieved by drinking about a gallon of water a day, my neuro muscular symptoms have cleared up considerably. Try putting on mascara with your hand waving in front of your eyes, or applying nail polish with a spastic hand. It doesn’t work too well. I have been urged by people to get tested for Parkinson’s and for Multiple Sclerosis for years because of  the increasing pain and frustration of these problems. Benign Essential Tremor, which runs through my family, didn’t seem to be the source for all that I went through, especially when my legs started deteriorating. A few weeks ago The Joy of My Life was teasing me and took my cane away from me, (that I didn’t need all the time, but had had to pull out that one day because of pain) saying I didn’t need it. I asked him was he going to take my wheelchair away from me, too, when it came to that, and thought to myself, was it really going to have to come to that? It was then I started looking into the Atkins Diet, because I had read somewhere that research had been done about ketogenic diets (high fat consumption that send a body into benign ketosis, or fat burning, state) making a great difference in the symptoms of epileptic children, and in some with sclerosis or Parkinson’s. I decided to go on the diet. Well, it’s been working. Not only the weight loss (as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, 30 pounds) but my muscle control is up considerably and the pain is a lot less (pretty much gone if I make sure I am drinking enough water as well). I am able to exercise again, lightly, and hope to go up to moderate exercise this week. I was able to cut my own hair last week, have been able to apply eye makeup in 20 seconds, instead of twenty minutes, and gave myself a manicure and pedicure for the first time in many years tonight. It’s a really good feeling. Sometimes I wonder how much muscle tone I can get back into my legs, but I’m trying not to get impatient about it. There’s a lot of things to rebuild. Right now, I think it’s just time to go to bed. Goodnight, all. Sandra

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Question:

It’s a little late on this thread for advice about bleeding, but I do want to remind you to keep up with your vitamins.  Lack of vitamins can slow clotting. Also, if you think you may give in and cut yourself, or if you recently have, DON’T take any aspirin! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – my arm won’t stop bleeding. it’s been at least 4 hours and it was under pressure but it still won’t stop.maybe my blood is thinning or something. the therapist from home hasn’t called yet. it is so ugly! i finished my work for tonight. no pressure or nothing and i still don’t feel right. well, my effexor dose is rising again tomorrow. though i don’t even know if it’s effective. oh well. i’m trying not to break my promise (the deal) i am trying. but it’s hard. les.

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my arm won’t stop bleeding. it’s been at least 4 hours and it was under pressure but it still won’t stop.maybe my blood is thinning or something. the therapist from home hasn’t called yet. it is so ugly! i finished my work for tonight. no pressure or nothing and i still don’t feel right. well, my effexor dose is rising again tomorrow. though i don’t even know if it’s effective. oh well. i’m trying not to break my promise (the deal) i am trying. but it’s hard. les.

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my arm won’t stop bleeding. it’s been at least 4 hours and it was under pressure but it still won’t stop.maybe my blood is thinning or something. the therapist from home hasn’t called yet.

if you’re losing too much blood, go to the emergency room!! it is so ugly! i finished my work for tonight. no pressure or nothing and i still don’t feel right. well, my effexor dose is rising again tomorrow. though i don’t even know if it’s effective. oh well. i’m trying not to break my promise (the deal) i am trying. but it’s hard.

Hang in there. You always have us to talk to. Sophie — http://grayarea.diaryland.com

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my arm won’t stop bleeding.

it may ooze for some time depending on how deeply you cut it and with what-you used a knife? too dul it does too much tissue damage-this will scar. you are taking effexor and klonopin now? what happened to the seroquel? If you want to stop cutting you will-not a moment sooner the you decide to-but know there is a price to pay for it-that price is you will feel worse and it will scar-you are duping yourself into thinking it will feel better-it does but only for the moment-then the gult and verification of your worthlessness sets in-it becomes a cycle and a bad habit-you can stop and most likely will when you become busy in an environment that is stimulating as oppossed to boring and scary. But you can only search for this-it won’t come to you. You are working yourself up now and will crash into depression to slow it down-try and moderate-try and get busy-rent a movie listen to music-visit a friend-call one-call your dad-distract yourself from you pain-it will pass. this is temporary-think of how well you felt just a few short months ago in the summer-place yourself in the thoughts-be there-you will get there again. It semester end-exams and then going home-this seems to bring out this stress response in you-it will pass LM

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Question:

Does anyone have any experience with imipramine? 1)  What are the side effects?  Does it cause impotence the way practically all other anti-depressants do?   2)  How effective is it in treating depression? 3)  How different is it from other common drugs such as prozac, effexor, etc.? 4)  Does it have any lethal potential (will it kill a person if they OD on it in large doses)?  Many years ago, I made an unsucessful suicide attempt, and I dont want the temptation to be there if I ever get to that state again. 5)  Is does it have any addictive potential, like some meds can (i.e. you need more and more of it to get the same effect)? I presume in a group like this, many of you are currently on (or have been on) imiprimine.  I just need to get as much info as possible on, since this one of the drugs my doc has mentioned as a possibility for me.  Of course, ive asked him these questions also, but I just want to get another perspective. I’d appreciate any input from anyone out there– thanks advance allegro

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Does anyone have any experience with imipramine?

Not I. Tofranil, haven’t tried it. 1)  What are the side effects?  Does it cause impotence the way practically all other anti-depressants do?  

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-t03.html 2)  How effective is it in treating depression?

About as good as any. Actually, it’s frequently used in comparison studies. 3)  How different is it from other common drugs such as prozac, effexor, etc.?

It’s a tricyclic, kind of like a shotgun. Does a lot of stuff, that’s why the scary side effects. Meds like Prozac do less in the body and so have fewer and less frequently occurring (within a population) side effects. 4)  Does it have any lethal potential (will it kill a person if they OD on it in large doses)?  Many years ago, I made an unsucessful suicide attempt, and I dont want the temptation to be there if I ever get to that state again.

Maybe you should ask for an SSRI. All tricyclics are a little dangerous. 5)  Is does it have any addictive potential, like some meds can (i.e. you need more and more of it to get the same effect)?

None at all. If you click on the Research link at Internet Mental Health you can get a ton of abstracts. Researchers seem to like using imipramine.

Response:

I recently started taking Imipramine.  I’m up to 150Mg/day.  I’ve been on virtually all of the newer anti-depressants, so this is kind of my last hope. I can tell you this much, the newer ADs are no more effective than the older ones, such as the Tricyclics and MAOIs. As far as side effects go, I’m experiencing dry mouth and constipation.  Imipramine seems no worse than ADs like Prozac, Paxil, Serzone, Effexor, etc.  In fact, some of these newer ADs had more side effects.  Paxil, in particular, was the hardest drug to get off of.  Even though I weened off of it slowly, I experienced painful withdrawals, such as migraines, that lasted well over a month. From what I’ve read, one can OD on Imipramine, but so can one on Aspirin.  Also, it’s not addictive. I say it’s worth a try.  I mean, these newer ADs are being marketed heavily (whereas Imipramine is generic and inexpensive) and this is influencing doctors and patients.  But again, I have yet to read any studies that show Imipramine to be less effective. Does anyone have any experience with imipramine? 1)  What are the side effects?  Does it cause impotence the way practically all other anti-depressants do? 2)  How effective is it in treating depression? 3)  How different is it from other common drugs such as prozac, effexor, etc.? 4)  Does it have any lethal potential (will it kill a person if they OD on it in large doses)?  Many years ago, I made an unsucessful

suicide attempt, and I – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – dont want the temptation to be there if I ever get to that state again. 5)  Is does it have any addictive potential, like some meds can (i.e. you need more and more of it to get the same effect)? I presume in a group like this, many of you are currently on (or have been on) imiprimine.  I just need to get as much info as possible on, since this one of the drugs my doc has mentioned as a possibility for me.  Of course, ive asked him these questions also, but I just want to get another perspective. I’d appreciate any input from anyone out there– thanks advance allegro

Before you buy.

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Question:

Lamictal

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Worn_Out,  you seem to be feeling a little better, are you?  hopefully  

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I am doing better.  My wife says I am talking more & I have started kidding with my 24 year old daughter, again.  I think the tofranil is helping & I am on my third week on testosterone injections. I have decided that bi-polar disorder is forever.  I woke up this morning in very bad shape, but have gotten over it.  Somehow we must all manage to survive because the bad times come and go and if things are bad now, they WILL get better. Thanks Worn_Out,  you seem to be feeling a little better, are you? hopefully

Before you buy.

Response:

What % of manic depressives commit suicide?

I have heard that one in five commit suicide, but I wouldn’t swear by it. I hope you find a treatment that works for you. The future brings us the hope of new drugs and new treatments. Web Page at: www.robertpo.com For email replies remove the ****

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What % of manic depressives commit suicide? I have heard that one in five commit suicide, but I wouldn’t swear by it. I hope you find a treatment that works for you. The future brings us the hope of new drugs and new treatments. Web Page at: www.robertpo.com For email replies remove the ****

I’ve seen studies that showed that 1 in 5 bipolars who refused treatment committed suicide. But…these were bipolars sick enough that they had been hospitalized, that’s where they were found for the study. Also, it stands to reason that those who refuse treatment are sicker with more personality problems than average. Also, these were people who were hospitalized in public hospitals, which again indicates that they were sicker…someone in a private hospital probably has been able to work until recently, and hasn’t alienated or shoved away family and friends yet. Still, taking your meds and working with your doctor is the best way to keep from getting worse…and worse can be very, very bad.

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Paxil worked for me. Not to high though-Reached an even – level of comfort. It sounds like you have to find a MD (preferably, a psychopharmacologist) who knows how to mix different combinations of drugs. Don’t lose hope, though.  If you do you start asking questions about suicide, and you might have to live it all again in the next life.  At this point, paying for drugs is a bigger problem for the long haul than taking them.  Any advice? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

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At this point, paying for drugs is a bigger problem for the long haul than taking them.  Any advice?

I have been started on Tofranil/Imipramine and my pharmacy dispensed it in its generic form.  Instead of paying a copay of $7.00 for the name brand I pay $2.00 for the generic.  The book, "The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs", shows that the name brand would be $.62/pill and the generic would be $.05/pill (the book was published in 1990). If this is still true, a great deal can be saved by buying generic, if possible. The book, "The Essential Guide to Psychiatric Drugs", by Jack M. Gorman, MD. is the best help in this area that I have found.  If you can find a recent edition, I highly reccomend it. Good luck! Before you buy.

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Drop trou Nihil  You know you get a spanking for saying bad stuff like that. Bend over,  ten whacks with the leather strap. 1   *[SMACK]*      ( oouch) 2   *[WACK]*         (stop) 3   *[CRACK]*        ( I take it back,  please stop) Let those warm yer buns a while,  I’ll fix you a few fresh ones in a bit. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? Personally, I think that Doctor Kevorkian, whom I consider to be a Saint, has the best treatment.

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Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

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I am now on Tofranil and Lithobid. I have had about 35 ECT treatments (unilateral and bilateral). I have been on: Xanax Elavil Dexedrine Anafranil Welbutrin Buspar Tegretol Librium Valium Effexor Prozac Tofranil Librium Eskalith Ritalin Nardil Serzone Pamelor Parnate Paxil Prozac Risperdal Zoloft Xanax Thyroid Hormone Testosterone I appreciate your interest. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat

Before you buy.

Response:

Worn Out- I can see why you are frustrated I’ve forgotten what Tofranil is for.  Antipsychotic?  Antidepressant?  MAOI or Tricyclic? What symptoms do you have the most trouble with?  I seem to be depressed a lot, and have had depression for most of my life, and "only" a few major manic episodes.  I suffer from migraines as well, and hope that the neurontin that I’ve just started will help in preventing the attacks (mania and migraine). I am wondering what you have tried and what you know about diet and how it affects mood.  I would suggest, if you are not already doing so, to severely cut down on all carbohydrates, have lots of protein, and consume 3T of flax seed oil every day.  Always use olive oil when you can, too (like in salad dressings, for dipping bread in, etc.). These new drugs for seizures are supposed to work for many treatment-resistant patients.  check out the Neurontin facts posted earlier today if you haven’t already. Good luck, and I hope you get some good advice and new ideas from others… -bpkittycat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am now on Tofranil and Lithobid. I have had about 35 ECT treatments (unilateral and bilateral). I have been on: Xanax Elavil Dexedrine Anafranil Welbutrin Buspar Tegretol Librium Valium Effexor Prozac Tofranil Librium Eskalith Ritalin Nardil Serzone Pamelor Parnate Paxil Prozac Risperdal Zoloft Xanax Thyroid Hormone Testosterone I appreciate your interest. Everyone is different.  Tell me what you’ve tried, kay?  Also, let me know what your additional symptoms are, etc.  Have you had partial relief with certain drugs? There may be treatments that are better for BPI and treatments that are better for BPII.  A lot of people take different drug cocktails, as I’m sure you know.  A friend of mine is on lithium AND neurontin, among other things. I’ve been on lots of diff. stuff simultaneously: buspar, trazodone, klonopin, prozac, lithium, depakote, and neurontin are the bulk of the things I’ve been on.  Are you taking an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer? -bpkittycat Before you buy.

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After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

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re: question #1: that’s the question, all right re: question #2: between 15 & 20% (some confusion, apparently, about whether this means *all* people with bipolar or just the untreated ones). What about the undiagnosed ones, then? I interpolate all this to indicate that the figure refers to all bipolars. — Deep – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective treatment for its depression. What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression? What % of manic depressives commit suicide? Before you buy.

Response:

: After 13 years with BiPolar Disorder I have yet to find effective : treatment for its depression. : : What is the most effective treatment for BiPolar Depression?    There is no most effective treatment, it varies with the    circumstances and individual.  Passage of time usually    brings with it some relief of symptoms. : : What % of manic depressives commit suicide?   It is higher for untreated sufferers……15-20% if I recall   correctly.   nm : : : Before you buy. :

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Question:

Hello: I am an ultradian rapid cycler who happens to be hypomanic now. In the next five minutes???? Feel free to reply or email so that we can share experiences. Darren. — — — "Nullum illgetium prandium!" ICQ# 31191600

Response:

Hello: I am an ultradian rapid cycler who happens to be hypomanic now. In the next five minutes???? Feel free to reply or email so that we can share experiences. Darren. — — — "Nullum illgetium prandium!" ICQ# 31191600

Is this possible? My therapist said I was scientifically unable to swing that fast. I am no longer seeing that therapist (or anybody else right now) and would like some information. Lady V

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I am a rapid cycler, and after a year of trying different meds, I am on a cocktail that works: 1000mgs of Tegretol daily, 6mgs of Risperadal, 1mg of Klonopin, and 10mgs of Prozac, prozac every other day.  I am an extreme rapid cycler (can cycle in the same hour!) and have been through enough this past year.  I am also seasonal.  Fall depression, spring mania.  I have finally found some peace.  Good luck to you.  Veronica

Response:

I am a rapid cycler, and after a year of trying different meds, I am on a cocktail that works: 1000mgs of Tegretol daily, 6mgs of Risperadal, 1mg of Klonopin, and 10mgs of Prozac, prozac every other day.  I am an extreme rapid cycler (can cycle in the same hour!) and have been through enough this past year.  I am also seasonal.  Fall depression, spring mania.  I have finally found some peace.  Good luck to you.  Veronica

Great news on success stories is always encouraging.  We have lots of rapids here (gee, advanced level water rapids just came to mind as similar),  I get the feeling that most who are, would prefer not to be…..my feeling is that rapid is better for me than anything horrible that would last months.  Also, since so rapid and breakthru hypomanic every few days (at least) I can’t complain about the SSRI’s bad affect on sex life.  The hypomania push is stronger than the drug side effect of long long long long (why even bother) plateau to orgasm. best regards from julie

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yep i sure am ….. is it any wonder that my favorite toy is Bouncing Tigger …boing boing boing….

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Oh, Ralph!  LOVE you! Some BP vanity plates….                                 I M NUTZ                                 HI LO                                 UP DOWN                                 KING worm                                 FUN E FARM

—Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

Not a good idea, keep letting them play with the meds. I work hard at ‘tuning into" my rapid cycling when it happens. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can’t. I have also had great success by eliminating stress where I can. Cheers! Alan P.S. I absolutely HATE it when I am in mixed states and up for 15 minutes, then down for 15. Your meds must be at least limiting the range you have to deal with. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They work for a while 3-4months and than they fail – a very vicious cycle. Been really depressed past few weeks – kind of dead just watching life pass me by.  If i wasn’t the single Mom of a 14yr old I throw in the bag.  Sometimes I feel like saying the hell with all the meds – since I cycle anyway when I am on them maybe I should just strap in and take the ride drugless.  I don’t know sorry for venting.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello: I am an ultradian rapid cycler who happens to be hypomanic now. In the next five minutes???? Feel free to reply or email so that we can share experiences. Darren. — — — "Nullum illgetium prandium!" ICQ# 31191600 Is this possible? My therapist said I was scientifically unable to swing that fast. I am no longer seeing that therapist (or anybody else right now) and would like some information. Lady V

My mood can swing from normal to deeply depressed or significantly hypo (or the other way) in less than an hour. But it more often takes about 12 hours.  I am fascinated by this. How rapid is rapid? jackie Web page at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/xhq10/mem.htm I’ve been Jay H, Canarybird, Empty Cage, Serin, Phoenix, even Crow. Let’s see if I can stick with this one for a while.

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I’ve been through a variety of meds, too effexor, wellbutrin, depakote. prozac, all with only temporary success. the only mood stabilizer the doc is interested in trying is depakote, and that only helps with the super highs Rapid cycling is a pain because i’m never quite sure how long any given mood is going to last.  It could be weeks or months.  Just to let you know you’re not alone. —

Response:

I was rapid cycling. Lithium stopped it. i take lithium and prozac, but i dont think the prozac is working yet.. it’s supposed to take 2-3 weeks or something. Anyway, i dont think that i’ll always be rapid cycling, it was the onset of my illness, and i read somewhere that females (more than males) are more prone to rapid cycling, and that it can occur at the beginning of an illness. ok,im done molly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed  into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

Response:

Hi: I’m a rapid cycler myself.  I’m also an aerobics instructor (well that’s what they say I am:).  I agree exercise does help, but I’m still having problems.  Of course I haven’t exactly been good about taking my meds so I’m probably not a good example.  I too have even worse symptoms during PMS (which I now have).  My prob is that the meds I’m taking (Depakote and Paxil) make extremely (yawn) lethargic.  I just now started taking my Depakote again (after taking myself off of it) so we’ll see how it goes.  I seem to be even worse with no meds whatsover after a while so I’m trying to hang in there and let it work. If you ever need to vent, please feel free to write, I could use some friends, especially during times like these. Cat (who has no idea what to use for coreagraphy for her next aerobics class:) Has exercise helped? I’m attempting to quit smoking (notice the attempting), and I can tell you that as a rapid cycler myself, exercise has been my salvation. My pdoc and I disagree on what the result of the meds should be. He wants no mood swings, I want to actually be awake. Anyway, and then there is pms week, which I think serves as a reminder to me of why I’m on meds. So, when too much stress, I still freak out, but in spurts. Anyway, exercising helps that, to relieve my stress. Alex

—Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

Some BP vanity plates….                                 I M NUTZ                                 HI LO                                 UP DOWN                                 KING worm                                 FUN E FARM

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey Katnip! Me three!!! My car license is up for renewal on my birthday – July 1st, Canada Day. I grew up thinking that the fireworks and celebration were for me! What a letdown when I found out the truth. Anyway, I’m thinking of getting vanity plates that read "URC BP2". It would be kind of like the secret handshake among Masons, don’t you think? Anybody have any other suggestions for Bipolar plates? My SO wants me to get BPBEAR cause she calls me her big Bipolar Bear. Awwwwww! This is a really tough time of the year for us RC’s. Hang in there. Peace, GaryO Hi: I’m a rapid cycler myself.  I’m also an aerobics instructor (well that’s what they say I am:).  I agree exercise does help, but I’m still having problems.  Of course I haven’t exactly been good about taking my meds so I’m probably not a good example.  I too have even worse symptoms during PMS (which I now have).  My prob is that the meds I’m taking (Depakote and Paxil) make extremely (yawn) lethargic.  I just now started taking my Depakote again (after taking myself off of it) so we’ll see how it goes.  I seem to be even worse with no meds whatsover after a while so I’m trying to hang in there and let it work. If you ever need to vent, please feel free to write, I could use some friends, especially during times like these. Cat (who has no idea what to use for coreagraphy for her next aerobics class:) Has exercise helped? I’m attempting to quit smoking (notice the attempting), and I can tell you that as a rapid cycler myself, exercise has been my salvation. My pdoc and I disagree on what the result of the meds should be. He wants no mood swings, I want to actually be awake. Anyway, and then there is pms week, which I think serves as a reminder to me of why I’m on meds. So, when too much stress, I still freak out, but in spurts. Anyway, exercising helps that, to relieve my stress. Alex —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

You bet. I’m thinking of changing my nick to Bouncing Ball. jackie Web page at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/xhq10/mem.htm I’ve been Jay H, Canarybird, Empty Cage, Serin, Phoenix, even Crow. Let’s see if I can stick with this one for a while.

Response:

Just my opinion… from Oct of 98 to to May of 99 hardly seems like enough time to have given all of those meds enough chance to work their magic..??? peace – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed  into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

—Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

Response:

yes and i am sick of it, nothing helps lny

Response:

Hey there !! I am a rapid cycler..ultra rapid that is… anyway, I am on lamictal and it is a total life saver, you may want to try it.  I feel good mentally and physically now… I been on the whole gamut too, those meds did me no good either.  Also, lamictal is supposed to work very well for rapid cyclers.  I know that in the past there were a few people that posted to me when I first started on it and they said they were on it and that they were doing wonderfully, I didnt get any negative responses. I dont cycle anymore but I sure do have my moments, you know those moments you could cause more damage in a house than a tornado could?  :)  But I am able to control myself a lot better than I used to, it is as though I have some semblance of reason when I get those feelings. Anna

Response:

I too have been working with this "moody personality" as it was origionally called for four years.  I have been thru almost as many treatments as you. Sept 98′ I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar II.  And as recently as Tuesday as dysphoric mania to boot.  My husband and children are struggling to understand it, but I can’t seem to describe it accurately.  I feel for you because if anyone has to go thru what I do on a DAILY basis, I wish them luck.

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Have you read "An unquiet mind?" Good book, if you get past how "great" she is (maybe I was just in a bad mood). My parents read it, and were like, you felt that way (or feel). Hang in there! Alex

Response:

As a relative "newbie" here, what is "rapid cycling"?  What makes that different from "normal" cycling if there is such a thing?  … I take it that "rapid cycling" doesn’t involve the tour de france vs. a slow bicycle ride around the block Thanks, — Kevin White, Software Engineer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

Response:

Hi LADYREB, I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed  into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace.

Unfortunately that is common for some of us <sigh. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

Having been there…persistence and patience, which is sometimes difficult for me (understatement), I have to force myself to put one foot in front of the other (literally that can be a challenge since I have Multiple Sclerosis Yours,

Response:

His goal is not realistic. To have no mood swings at all, you must be drugged into oblivion. A better goal is to have <manageable mood swings. I guess that is harder for the doctor to manage. Stand firm on this one! And good luck quitting the smokes. I just started Wellbutrin, I hope that will help me. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My pdoc and I disagree on what the result of the meds should be. He wants no mood swings, I want to actually be awake.

Response:

I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed  into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

Response:

They work for a while 3-4months and than they fail – a very vicious cycle. Been really depressed past few weeks – kind of dead just watching life pass me by.  If i wasn’t the single Mom of a 14yr old I throw in the bag.  Sometimes I feel like saying the hell with all the meds – since I cycle anyway when I am on them maybe I should just strap in and take the ride drugless.  I don’t know sorry for venting.

Response:

Has exercise helped? I’m attempting to quit smoking (notice the attempting), and I can tell you that as a rapid cycler myself, exercise has been my salvation. My pdoc and I disagree on what the result of the meds should be. He wants no mood swings, I want to actually be awake. Anyway, and then there is pms week, which I think serves as a reminder to me of why I’m on meds. So, when too much stress, I still freak out, but in spurts. Anyway, exercising helps that, to relieve my stress. Alex

Response:

You haven’t tried Neurontin or Lamictal, both of which have a good reputation with rapid cycling. There are some more that you haven’t tried, but I recommend you ask about N&L first. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I was diaganosed with  rapid cycling bipolar in Oct. of 98. And since then have been thru a list of different drugs that would shock any pharmasist. first synthroid because they thought it was a thyroid problem. then pamelor, tofranil,paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, effexor, remeron, buspar, mellarill, zyprexa, depakota, klonopin, tegretol, lithium, serzone, xanax all mixed  into diffirnent cocktails but none that has brought me any peace. i see a physiciatrist, a therapist, and a case manager at a community phsyciatric center. my family, bless their souls , have rode the roller coaster of my exsistance with unwaving strength. but now i am  search for others who understand in a way that they can’t, because only we know the battle that rages in our minds, the battle for our prescious(sp?) sanity. if you know of my battles please share with me. we all should  be allies against the demons that tear at our minds , and rip our lives away from us.

Response:

Question:

I have never experienced any sedation or gotten any "buzz" from Xanax, in fact it actually energizes me without making me "speedy", if that makes sense.

It does make sense, and that happens for me at low doses as well. How much have you taken at a time? I am totally screwed up with sleep and energy due to the fact that I work full time night shift and then watch my highly hyperactive toddler all day until 4 or 5 when my eldest daughter comes home to help. So I am always tired and yet cannot fall asleep..frustrating!

You have my sympathies! I often have trouble falling asleep due to pain, and I have problems with waking up in the middle of the night. I’m convinced this has had a deleterious effect on my mental functioning. :-/ -elizabeth

Response:

I have never experienced any sedation or gotten any "buzz" from Xanax, in fact it actually energizes me without making me "speedy", if that makes sense. It does make sense, and that happens for me at low doses as well. How much have you taken at a time?

  In the middle of an extreme panic attack I have once or twice taken 3 mgs at a time..and have taken 2 mgs at once for slightly less severe but still awful ones..Now though I never take more than 1mg at a time, I dont need to with the other meds, in fact dont take any sometimes cause I just plain old forget. May -elizabeth

– "Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"      -                Nietzsche

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Hi Diana,     If you have never seen a p-doc yet, who prescribed the meds? 25mg is a good starting dose for zoloft, this should keep the side affects bearable. Zoloft taken daily and xanax whenever needed has worked very well for me, but then again YMMV.  The p-doc you are going to see  should be very caring and understanding towards your feelings. One that could try to understand what it is like to feel the way we do. I know mine does. I wish you the best of luck and hope the zoloft works for you. Please keep us posted. steve

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Hello everyone haven’t posted lately but i am back, I finally made a appt with a psych doc today, my appointment if for next tuesday this is the first time for me, alittle nervous, can anyone give me any suggestions on what to look for with her to make sure she is the right one for me?  been having PA for 9 years now and finally being medicated for it .05mg of xanax and 25mg of zoloft is that a good combo? Thanks, Diana

Response:

The med combo is pretty standard, however that Zoloft dose is probably too low for any therapeutic benefit…although with all of the SSRI’s you must increase the dose gradually…and you can anticipate some increase in symptoms while you are going on any meds.  SSRI’s are more popular these days than TCA’s  because they effect fewer systems (less side effects) and are more site specific.  Xanax is a standard med to be used as needed., usually in combo with another med… however, I’ve been doing a lot of reading about a rebound effect … something I experience always, so I stopped.  In terms of your shrink… a good dr. should educate you about the disorder in addition to writing scripts for meds. Find out what percentage of her practice is anxiety patients.  Also, check out the Anxiety Disorder Assoc. web site for more ideas on getting a good shrink: www.adaa.org  GOOD LUCK!!  Keep us posted on the outcome.

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Steve, thanks for responding my family doc got me started on the meds and referred me to the psych doc.

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Hello everyone haven’t posted lately but i am back, I finally made a appt with a psych doc today, my appointment if for next tuesday this is the first time for me, alittle nervous, can anyone give me any suggestions on what to look for with her to make sure she is the right one for me?  been having PA for 9 years now and finally being medicated for it .05mg of xanax and 25mg of zoloft is that a good combo?

Zoloft (SSRI-antidepresant) and Xanax (benzo) make a good combo although our reactions to meds are very personal. One of the things to find out is whether your pdoc is a *benzophobe* (one who doesn’t prescribe benzos because of the alleged *addcition* problem). If she is, she’s not the right one for you. Also you should feel at ease with her. You should be listened to and treated like a responsible adult. You should be able to work on treatment together rather than the doc just telling you what to do. She should explain what she prescribes and proposes and why and then you should *agree* on what’s the right course to take. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks, Diana

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Hi Diana, The only words of advice I can give are not medicine -related. Don’t go into your appointment believing that your doctor can wave a magic wand, say all the right things and heal you. Yes, you can be healed but you will have to work hard. Also, do a lot of reading and decide what sort of therapy will work for you. (If I have to talk about my childhood one more time, I will scream!) Also, if you don’t feel comfortable with your doctor, say so Finally, if you trust your doctor, follow his/her advice. I know how big a step it is to go to a pdoc….good for you! You’re one step closer to feeling better.  Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Charley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello everyone haven’t posted lately but i am back, I finally made a appt with a psych doc today, my appointment if for next tuesday this is the first time for me, alittle nervous, can anyone give me any suggestions on what to look for with her to make sure she is the right one for me?  been having PA for 9 years now and finally being medicated for it .05mg of xanax and 25mg of zoloft is that a good combo? Thanks, Diana

Response:

Hey Diana!!  I’m on Zoloft, 100 mgs., and Xanax .25 mgs. as needed.  Be careful with the Zoloft…I didn’t have many side effects but it definitely increased my panic attacks in the beginning.  Hang in there…Zoloft has worked great for me.  I still have a few "muted" PAs but I can handle them much better now.  And the fact that I can drive to and from work and even make it to stores (close to home) by myself is amazing!!  I’m going up to 125 mgs. of Zoloft starting tomorrow on the advice of my pdoc…good luck and keep us all posted. Melissa

Response:

Hi, I take only zoloft 50 mgs. And it works well for me. Except around pms time when anxiety is high anyway. I feel some symtoms but they are very mild. It took 4 weeks to see the difference so give it awhile to work, the longer the better I feel.

Response:

One of the things to find out is whether your pdoc is a *benzophobe* (one who doesn’t prescribe benzos because of the alleged *addcition* problem). If she is, she’s not the right one for you.

I second this…even if I didn’t take benzos, I’d avoid benzophobic doctors just on principle! As everybody has said, Zoloft and Xanax is a good combination for panic disorder. 25mg is a starting dose of Zoloft, not a therapeutic dose; around 50mg, many people start to get some benefit, 100 is often enough, 200 is the high end (though you *can* go higher, this is the "official" recommended maximum). Doses of benzos are pretty individualized – are you taking it "as needed," or on some schedule? When I was using it for panic attacks, I needed 2mg to stop them (I didn’t take it all the time, just when I felt an attack coming on), but that’s just me. I actually don’t know how much other people use for this purpose – anyone? -elizabeth

Response:

Xanax is a standard med to be used as needed., usually in combo with another med… however, I’ve been doing a lot of reading about a rebound effect … something I experience always, so I stopped.

I’ve got a question about this: how many times a day were you taking it? I think that Xanax does not last equally long for everyone, so some people can get by taking twice a day but others need it four times a day. -elizabeth

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Xanax is a standard med to be used as needed., usually in combo with another med… however, I’ve been doing a lot of reading about a rebound effect … something I experience always, so I stopped. I’ve got a question about this: how many times a day were you taking it? I think that Xanax does not last equally long for everyone, so some people can get by taking twice a day but others need it four times a day. -elizabeth

 Personally I had trouble taking it PRN because my pas were often OOB (as in while sleeping or nothing at all) although after enough of them I developed pretty much a state of constant anticipatory anxiety ..I could literally think myself into a panic attack trying to figure out how to avoid them..enter agoraphobia..Anyhow when I finally got Xanax I found if I had a PA it would generally take me 1.5-2 mgs to stop it..and I had little success with twice a day dosage,so I decided to stop the PRN route, as that is almost sure to leave anyone like myself with lots of hours of anxiety, as Xanax lasts 4 to 5 hrs at most for me. I now take it regularly .05 mg to 1 mg every four hours while awake, and if I rememeber..I do skip doses lots of times without even noticing it since my other two meds are helping a good deal too I think. But I can’t imagine twice a day being a very good xanax dosing..I would think 3 times at least given its short action. I have had almost no…nada..zero PAs for 6 weeks or more *knock on wood*, and my anxiety level is low enough to live with..I am sorry I was talked out of Xanax for so long because its tailor made for me and allows me to live, like a ..well not normal..but like a person anyhow ;- May — "Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"      -                Nietzsche

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Personally I had trouble taking it PRN because my pas were often OOB (as in while sleeping or nothing at all) although after enough of them I developed pretty much a state of constant anticipatory anxiety

I pretty much *exclusively* had OOTB panic attacks; I can only think of one instance in which there’s been an apparent trigger (it was a couple months ago – anxiety about school, actually). However, I experience an aura that predicts panic pretty consistently. I’ve never had one in my sleep, but then again, I don’t sleep much. :-} Anyhow when I finally got Xanax I found if I had a PA it would generally take me 1.5-2 mgs to stop it..and I had little success with twice a day dosage,so I decided to stop the PRN route, as that is almost sure to leave anyone like myself with lots of hours of anxiety, as Xanax lasts 4 to 5 hrs at most for me.

Yowsers. It lasts a lot longer than that for me: if I take a large enough dose to be sedating, I can actually get a full night’s sleep (7-8 hours). Most people do need to take it at least 3 times a day, though. I now take it regularly .05 mg to 1 mg every four hours while awake, and if I rememeber..I do skip doses lots of times without even noticing it since my other two meds are helping a good deal too I think.

Every 4 hours? Wow. Do you wake up in the morning feeling cruddy? When I tried taking Buprenex by itself (without a regular antidepressant), I found that I would get nasty rebound depression if I missed a dose. I think that sort of thing (short-acting) is better if you have an antidepressant (or two to smooth things out. (Now I’m just using the Buprenex as a p.r.n.) -elizabeth

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Personally I had trouble taking it PRN because my pas were often OOB (as in while sleeping or nothing at all) although after enough of them I developed pretty much a state of constant anticipatory anxiety I pretty much *exclusively* had OOTB panic attacks; I can only think of one instance in which there’s been an apparent trigger (it was a couple months ago – anxiety about school, actually). However, I experience an aura that predicts panic pretty consistently. I’ve never had one in my sleep, but then again, I don’t sleep much. :-} Anyhow when I finally got Xanax I found if I had a PA it would generally take me 1.5-2 mgs to stop it..and I had little success with twice a day dosage,so I decided to stop the PRN route, as that is almost sure to leave anyone like myself with lots of hours of anxiety, as Xanax lasts 4 to 5 hrs at most for me. Yowsers. It lasts a lot longer than that for me: if I take a large enough dose to be sedating, I can actually get a full night’s sleep (7-8 hours).

 I have never experienced any sedation or gotten any "buzz" from Xanax, in fact it actually energizes me without making me "speedy", if that makes sense. I had awful drowsiness on Klonopin that never went any and I was not even on a full therapeutic dosage any of the three times I took it. I still do not sleep well and have Ambien that I take on occasion and find somewhat helpful, but If I take it more than two days in a row it seems to lose its effectiveness for me. I am totally screwed up with sleep and energy due to the fact that I work full time night shift and then watch my highly hyperactive toddler all day until 4 or 5 when my eldest daughter comes home to help. So I am always tired and yet cannot fall asleep..frustrating!  Most people do need to take it at least 3 times a day, though. I now take it regularly .05 mg to 1 mg every four hours while awake, and if I rememeber..I do skip doses lots of times without even noticing it since my other two meds are helping a good deal too I think. Every 4 hours? Wow. Do you wake up in the morning feeling cruddy?

I wake up feeling better than I ever have in my life; I no longer sleep through the alarm or take an hour to drag my butt out of it. As I said though (I think) I am also on Pamelor 50mgs and 20mgs of Prozac and I no longer necessarily take xanax every four hours..On days off at home I have forgotten to take any at all even, and then there are days where I know I am going to be better off to take it every 4 hours  before I *need* it after six…I have never had any aura at all for my OOB attacks and over the years I have accumulated a ton of triggers that I am now working on overcoming..the big one so far was not only to ride comfortably in a car but to drive myself..Now that the Pamelor/Prozac is kicking in, I am taking the xanax pretty much prn..I dont generally take more than 2 mgs total on any day now, and as I say I have never felt more competent or alive in my life =) When I tried taking Buprenex by itself (without a regular antidepressant), I found that I would get nasty rebound depression if I missed a dose. I think that sort of thing (short-acting) is better if you have an antidepressant (or two to smooth things out. (Now I’m just using the Buprenex as a p.r.n.) -elizabeth

May — "Believe me! The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously!"      -                Nietzsche

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