Question:

i notice that when i do NYC races in central park (freddiemac 5K most recently) i become terribly asthmatic after about a mile.  i don’t have this problem in the NJ suburbs where i live and run other races. i am on asthma medications (serevent, flovent and nasonex.) and these do a good job for me. wondering if it’s the air quality in central park. -rei

Response:

wondering if it’s the air quality in central park.

It could very well be. I would think the ground level pollution is higher in NYC (more concentration of cars) than in the suburbs…particularly in the warmer months. For example, I used to have chronic bronchitus when I lived in the city.  When I moved to NJ the problem cleared up. Johanna "forever young" Young

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Question:

Hi  i always rinse and brush. But i also take        acidophilus,and plain yogurt as it contains live cultures  .it really help and it cut down on fungas . Pricilla.

Response:

I am still trying to figure out how to get rid of the sore throat I have had for the past three years. I would love to get rid of the discomfort, but I have pretty much accepted that I am stuck with it. I have a problem with post nasal drip. I would certainly be open to suggestions for a remedy. Pam

Response:

Brush your teeth after each use – You, your throat, and Dentist will all be happier! Tim Washington State

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers: I know that someone has probably already asked this first question, so hopefully you won’t get too bored and will be kind enough to answer if you can.  :-) Are any of you using flovent and finding that you have a problem with sore throats?  I know that this medication can cause yeast infections (if I remember correctly, anyway).  I used to use the aerosol version (the "puffer" version), but my throat was so bad with that stuff that I started using the diskus version.  I rinse regularly, but obviously it isn’t enough.  I figure I probably just don’t have the lung power to suck all that stuff down, and so some of it just sits there and does mean things.  :-)  Does anyone know of some nice home remedy to deal with the soreness?  It’s starting to get sore again, and I don’t want to go off the medication since things have been getting worse lately (and not to mention the fact that people keep giving me heck for going off the medication). I’ve got another question just out of curiosity.  Has anyone had a chest xray done, and then been told that you have granulomas and calcification?  I was told that I have that in my lungs, and that it’s something that can happen to people who have had asthma for a long time (I’ve had problems for most of my life).  I thought it was strange – I thought people only got stuff like that from having things like TB, pneumonia, and whatever else I don’t know about.  I guess asthma is one of the things I didn’t know about.  So now I’m curious to see if other long time asthma sufferers have the same kind of thing going on. Thanks for reading! Vicky

Response:

Brush your teeth after each use – You, your throat, and Dentist will all be happier!

Interesting suggestion.  Now that I think about it, I always brush my teeth first and then use the inhaler.  (don’t know why)  Maybe I’ll start reversing the procedure to see if that helps.  Thanks! Vicky

Response:

That is what I do. — CBI, M.D.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Brush your teeth after each use – You, your throat, and Dentist will all be happier! Interesting suggestion.  Now that I think about it, I always brush my teeth first and then use the inhaler.  (don’t know why)  Maybe I’ll start reversing the procedure to see if that helps.  Thanks! Vicky

Response:

My mom started using Flovent and Serevent last week because she was coughing and wheezing something AWFUL. The inhalers really helped with that. Now she’s hoarse, VERY hoarse. I read that that’s a common side effect of Flovent. While it certainly beats  not being able to take a breath without coughing, etc., it’s still uncomfortable for her. Are there some natural things she could try that DOESN’T involve any more medication? I already told her to rinse her mouth after she finishes the inhaler sessions. (This doesn’t eradicate the good effects of them, does it?) Susan

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I had sore throat and hoarseness (even though I did the mouth rinsing) until I read a posting in this group to always use a spacer.  Soon after I started doing that consistently, the problem disappeared.

Response:

I use Flovent 110. I do not  use the puffer supplied with the Flovent; I use a spacer instead.  Also I rinse my mouth thoroughly after use.  Consequently I never experienced either a sore throat or a yeast infection. Israel Weber

Response:

I use Flovent 110. I do not  use the puffer supplied with the Flovent; I use a spacer instead.  Also I rinse my mouth thoroughly after use.  Consequently I never experienced either a sore throat or a yeast infection. Israel Weber

Wow, those of you who don’t get sore throats are very lucky.  I rinse as much as possible,  and I still get sore throats.  I’ve got a bit of a useless immune system, though, so maybe that makes a difference. Anyway, I just bought some unpasteurized yogurt, so we’ll see if that helps.  It at least feels very soothing!  I have read and also heard from some people that this kind of yogurt helps restore proper balance to certain types of naturally occuring things (such as yeast).  I’m trying to avoid drugging myself for the sore throats because this is an ongoing problem, and the last thing I want is drug resistant yeast infections. Vicky

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You didn’t mention if you were using an extender (Aerochamber) with the aerosol version of Flovent.  I had persistent hoarseness & sore throat until I started using an extender.  Personally, I’ve  found that the diskus versions are harder to use–the powder clings to the nasopharynx instead of going into the airways.  You still need to rinse thoroughly with an extender to prevent thrush… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers: I know that someone has probably already asked this first question, so hopefully you won’t get too bored and will be kind enough to answer if you can.  :-) Are any of you using flovent and finding that you have a problem with sore throats?  I know that this medication can cause yeast infections (if I remember correctly, anyway).  I used to use the aerosol version (the "puffer" version), but my throat was so bad with that stuff that I started using the diskus version.  I rinse regularly, but obviously it isn’t enough.  I figure I probably just don’t have the lung power to suck all that stuff down, and so some of it just sits there and does mean things.  :-)  Does anyone know of some nice home remedy to deal with the soreness?  It’s starting to get sore again, and I don’t want to go off the medication since things have been getting worse lately (and not to mention the fact that people keep giving me heck for going off the medication). I’ve got another question just out of curiosity.  Has anyone had a chest xray done, and then been told that you have granulomas and calcification?  I was told that I have that in my lungs, and that it’s something that can happen to people who have had asthma for a long time (I’ve had problems for most of my life).  I thought it was strange – I thought people only got stuff like that from having things like TB, pneumonia, and whatever else I don’t know about.  I guess asthma is one of the things I didn’t know about.  So now I’m curious to see if other long time asthma sufferers have the same kind of thing going on. Thanks for reading! Vicky For me, the yeast infection manifested itself as a sore throat. I just thought I had a particularly persistent sore throat. A specialist looked as part of a unrelated exam and told me it was a yeast infection and perscribed stuff for it ( cleared up a case of athletes foot too). I’d get it checked out. Jerry Freedman,Jr — Creation took 6 days because God didn’t have an installed base Before you buy.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dear Readers: I know that someone has probably already asked this first question, so hopefully you won’t get too bored and will be kind enough to answer if you can.  :-) Are any of you using flovent and finding that you have a problem with sore throats?  I know that this medication can cause yeast infections (if I remember correctly, anyway).  I used to use the aerosol version (the "puffer" version), but my throat was so bad with that stuff that I started using the diskus version.  I rinse regularly, but obviously it isn’t enough.  I figure I probably just don’t have the lung power to suck all that stuff down, and so some of it just sits there and does mean things.  :-)  Does anyone know of some nice home remedy to deal with the soreness?  It’s starting to get sore again, and I don’t want to go off the medication since things have been getting worse lately (and not to mention the fact that people keep giving me heck for going off the medication). I’ve got another question just out of curiosity.  Has anyone had a chest xray done, and then been told that you have granulomas and calcification?  I was told that I have that in my lungs, and that it’s something that can happen to people who have had asthma for a long time (I’ve had problems for most of my life).  I thought it was strange – I thought people only got stuff like that from having things like TB, pneumonia, and whatever else I don’t know about.  I guess asthma is one of the things I didn’t know about.  So now I’m curious to see if other long time asthma sufferers have the same kind of thing going on. Thanks for reading! Vicky

For me, the yeast infection manifested itself as a sore throat. I just thought I had a particularly persistent sore throat. A specialist looked as part of a unrelated exam and told me it was a yeast infection and perscribed stuff for it ( cleared up a case of athletes foot too). I’d get it checked out. Jerry Freedman,Jr — Creation took 6 days because God didn’t have an installed base Before you buy.

Response:

Dear Readers: I know that someone has probably already asked this first question, so hopefully you won’t get too bored and will be kind enough to answer if you can.  :-) Are any of you using flovent and finding that you have a problem with sore throats?  I know that this medication can cause yeast infections (if I remember correctly, anyway).  I used to use the aerosol version (the "puffer" version), but my throat was so bad with that stuff that I started using the diskus version.  I rinse regularly, but obviously it isn’t enough.  I figure I probably just don’t have the lung power to suck all that stuff down, and so some of it just sits there and does mean things.  :-)  Does anyone know of some nice home remedy to deal with the soreness?  It’s starting to get sore again, and I don’t want to go off the medication since things have been getting worse lately (and not to mention the fact that people keep giving me heck for going off the medication). I’ve got another question just out of curiosity.  Has anyone had a chest xray done, and then been told that you have granulomas and calcification?  I was told that I have that in my lungs, and that it’s something that can happen to people who have had asthma for a long time (I’ve had problems for most of my life).  I thought it was strange – I thought people only got stuff like that from having things like TB, pneumonia, and whatever else I don’t know about.  I guess asthma is one of the things I didn’t know about.  So now I’m curious to see if other long time asthma sufferers have the same kind of thing going on. Thanks for reading! Vicky

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Question:

Theoretically the canisters should last 30 days, but I find them running low quicker than that.  So with Advair you wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Right 28 days with a counter which reduces after each dose,

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there is a major advantage in patient compliance having only one product to use instead of two. Another advantage is that the dose is adjustable. – it comes in low and high doses. It seems that the attractive package does make it more patient compliant, as soon as he recovers from the sticker shock. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.TinnitusRelief.net http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic516.htm

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My doctor told me the Advair was more expensive.   Is it really true that the Servent/Flovent is more expensive?  And, I’m talking about the real cost, not the fact that I’d have one copay instead of two. Another factor is, for me, I don’t get

Advair is more expensive versus one inhaler but if you add the Flovent inhaler and the Serevent inhaler they will be less.

Response:

 The final question is cost: does your health insurance cover Advair.

It should as you save around $30.00 by using the advair rather then the Flovent and Serevent separately.I would think if you presented this to the insurance people they would appreciate you trying to save them money.

Response:

 The final question is cost: does your health insurance cover Advair. It should as you save around $30.00 by using the advair rather then the Flovent and Serevent separately.I would think if you presented this to the insurance people they would appreciate you trying to save them money.

My doctor told me the Advair was more expensive.   Is it really true that the Servent/Flovent is more expensive?  And, I’m talking about the real cost, not the fact that I’d have one copay instead of two. Another factor is, for me, I don’t get the 120 doses per canister of Serevent and Flovent.  Theoretically the canisters should last 30 days, but I find them running low quicker than that.  So with Advair you wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Response:

Is there something about combining Flovent and Serevent into one package that is more effective than taking them separately?

There are two advantages. 1) The delivery system takes less kill/practice and since MDI technique is notoriously horrible it is hoped that the delivery will be better. 2) Cost. The Advair discuss is priced less than the two inhalers separately and if you pay by the copay it will probably be only one instead of two. — CBI, MD "Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." -Andre Gide

Response:

My doctor told me the Advair was more expensive.   Is it really true that the Servent/Flovent is more expensive?  And, I’m talking about the real cost, not the fact that I’d have one copay instead of two.

All prices are AWP (average wholesale price). Induhvidual indusurers may make special deals. That said: Advair is more expensive that either Flovent or Serevent alone but less expensive than both. Since the Pulmicort Turbuhaler has three months worth of medicine in each device it is less expensive than Flovent and the combo od Pulmicort and Serevent is about the same as Advair. Oc course, if it cuts two co-pays to one it is cheaper for you regardless of AWP. In my experience the only insurers that won’t pay for Advair also don’t pay for Serevent. Another factor is, for me, I don’t get the 120 doses per canister of Serevent and Flovent.  Theoretically the canisters should last 30 days, but I find them running low quicker than that.  So with Advair you wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Correct. Since it has a numerical counter and a delivery device that does not rely on gas pressures you would not have to guess exactly when it will run out either. — CBI, MD

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Why all this hype about Advair?  All it is, is a combination of Flovent’s active ingredient + Serevent’s active ingredient, in a funny new package. Is there something about combining Flovent and Serevent into one package that is more effective than taking them separately? — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Advair cuts down on number of inhalers used: from two to one. Also  the

delivery system is different: Advair uses a powder and Flovent is a mdi. If you have problems with an mdi, then, on that basis, the switch to advair could be indicated. The problem with Advair is that during an exacerbation you cannot vary the Advair dosage, you will have to supplement with Flovent in whatever strength is required. In terms of efficacy, from personal experience, I find no difference and this is supported by my pulmonologist.  The final question is cost: does your health insurance cover Advair. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Why all this hype about Advair?  All it is, is a combination of Flovent’s active ingredient + Serevent’s active ingredient, in a funny new package. Is there something about combining Flovent and Serevent into one package that is more effective than taking them separately?

According to my Pulmologist the powder form is more effective in getting into your lungs and does a better job.

Response:

Only a couple of differences. — It’s a dry powder inhaler, so no propellant to react to. — It’s one puff twice daily, not 2 each twice daily (i.e., 1 not 4, twice daily)  Helps compliance — There’s a counter on the device.  Helps keep track of when to replace. There were studies about it being more effective than just flovent, but I haven’t seen anything about it being better than the pair of medications prescribed separately.  Other than what’s listed above, it would appear to be a compliance issue.  I prefer it since I cough after taking the 4 puffs, but not after taking advair.  YMMV. Liam

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My pulmonologist wants to try switching me from Flovent to Advair. And I’ve heard so many other asthma and COPD patients praising Advair. Why all this hype about Advair?  All it is, is a combination of Flovent’s active ingredient + Serevent’s active ingredient, in a funny new package. Is there something about combining Flovent and Serevent into one package that is more effective than taking them separately? — Steven D. Litvintchouk

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My pulmonologist wants to try switching me from Flovent to Advair. And I’ve heard so many other asthma and COPD patients praising Advair. Why all this hype about Advair?  All it is, is a combination of Flovent’s active ingredient + Serevent’s active ingredient, in a funny new package. Is there something about combining Flovent and Serevent into one package that is more effective than taking them separately? — Steven D. Litvintchouk                  

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Question:

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

Response:

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

Response:

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

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

Response:

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

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Question:

Wishing you the best as you stop the effexor.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers ((((Di)))) JimD — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.

Now stop right there young lady!  Who says we have assigned times when we should be helping others here?  I think we can all get what we can and give when we can.  No one should feel obliged!  When it happens, it happens!  (Besides, I haven’t even had the time to say hi to the new people and I don’t want to look bad.)  ;-) Hi new people!  :-)    I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}}

Wishing you the best with the med change! ((((Di)))) Tono — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Thanks so much Jim.  I really appreciate it.  :-) Hugs, Di

Wishing you the best as you stop the effexor.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers ((((Di)))) JimD

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

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks. Now stop right there young lady!  Who says we have assigned times when we should be helping others here?  I think we can all get what we can and give when we can.  No one should feel obliged!  When it happens, it happens!  (Besides, I haven’t even had the time to say hi to the new people and I don’t want to look bad.)  ;-)

Thanks Tono!  :-)  You are right. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi new people!  :-)    I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Wishing you the best with the med change!

Thanks again Tono.  So far, so good. ((((Di)))) Tono

Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Thanks so much Elise.  I hope the weeks go by fast.  :-) Hugs, Di

Hi, Di, Wishing you much success with the med change.

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

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di Hi Di — Glad to hear you’re nearly rid of the nausea. I hope you feel better with every passing hour. I’ll be interested to hear how you like your new drug combination. Love Deirdre

Thanks so much Deirdre.  I’ll be so grateful when I’m off this crap.  So far, so good with Inderal and Compazine.  It took 10 mgs. of Compazine and 1 mg. of Ativan for the nausea to go away, most of the way.  Took another Ativan a little while ago. Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di

Hi Di. I’m not sure why these two drugs are contraindicated but I’m sure it’s no big deal if your doc recommended both  I can pretty much guarantee you will feel less nausea after quitting Effexor – it is a very nauseating drug! If you are going through effexor withdrawal and you start taking Remeron be careful – both could make you eat like a horse.  I just quit Lexapro (another slightly nauseating drug IMO) and I am eating like crazy.  Be well! — _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi, Di, Wishing you much success with the med change.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

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

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di

Hi Di — Glad to hear you’re nearly rid of the nausea. I hope you feel better with every passing hour. I’ll be interested to hear how you like your new drug combination. Love Deirdre — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that. I already sent you the email about the interaction, Di. Which isn’t clinically significant IMO. And taking the two together is not contraindicated. BTW benzos can be used for nausea. Occasionally I will take a Xanax for an upset stomach and find it very effective. Hope you feel better soon (((Di))) Chip

Thanks so much Chip.  I always appreciate it.  The Ativan helped and I took another one.  :-) Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di Hi Di. I’m not sure why these two drugs are contraindicated but I’m sure it’s no big deal if your doc recommended both  I can pretty much guarantee you will feel less nausea after quitting Effexor – it is a very nauseating drug! If you are going through effexor withdrawal and you start taking Remeron be careful – both could make you eat like a horse.  I just quit Lexapro (another slightly nauseating drug IMO) and I am eating like crazy.  Be well! — _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE

Thanks so much TJ.  You are soooooo right.  This is the worst med I’ve ever been on!  I’m not starting Remeron until I’m completely off Effexor.  I don’t mind the weight gain.  I need it.  LOL Hugs, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea.  I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.  Not too sure what it means.  Maybe that if I take Compazine the Inderal won’t work as well for migraines?  Well, as long as it doesn’t make me feel sicker I will take it.  I’m sure the nausea will pass once I’m off Effexor.  Just wanted to share and I hope everyone has an anxiety-free day. {{{{{ASAPM}}}}} Love, Di — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Hi Everyone! I haven’t been really helping anyone lately, but I hope to as soon as I can get on Remeron which will be in a few more weeks.  I’m still weaning off of Effexor XR which has been giving me nausea for quite a while.  Yesterday I saw my GP and I have Inderal now for migraine prevention instead of Sibelium.  He also gave me a script for generic Compazine for the nausea. I read on Google that Inderal and Compazine are contraindicated or something like that.

I already sent you the email about the interaction, Di. Which isn’t clinically significant IMO. And taking the two together is not contraindicated. BTW benzos can be used for nausea. Occasionally I will take a Xanax for an upset stomach and find it very effective. Hope you feel better soon (((Di))) Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm

Response:

Question:

Thanks for the man-hating comments. I’m sure others appreciate it too.

Response:

You did a great job speaking for all of us. Thanks hon.

yer welcome,  and i’m usually so quiet’n demure… it WAS’ah stretch. xoxoxoxox ~t

Response:

It takes alot to offend US here. Sounds like this is not the group for you friend. And benzos don’t make you high.

My first and last cigarette made me feel high. All benzo’s ever did was ease my anxiety… I WANT my money back ! ! ! They help with anxiety and PANIC attacks.

Not sure if ARPASH (alt.recovery.panic-anxiety.self-help) is still around but as stated in their FAQ "We do not discuss or compare medications". So this may be the group for a_Friend.

Response:

That may prove to be the case, mama. However, I do have some concern about the amount of prescribing and medical information by non-practitioners. I believe it is against the law in most states and provinces to operate as a physican. And I certainly think it is an ethical issue for professionals to be advising others on the appropriate use of medications in an on-line forum. However, "benzos don’t make you high". ROFL. They are one of the most abused substances that phsycians prescribe for that reason. Nice try, no cigar. De Nile is more than just a river in Egypt, Ms. New Oleans.

Response:

Thanks vanessa, Despite any information in the charter for this group, prescribing and advising online may be a legal issue of acting as a doctor. For those who are practitioners, there is an ethical issue of providing medical advice to any patient without appropriate examination and history. Laws vary from one jurisdiction to the next as I recall. I hope the behaviour is addressed.

Response:

Thanks vanessa, Despite any information in the charter for this group, prescribing and advising online may be a legal issue of acting as a doctor. For those who are practitioners, there is an ethical issue of providing medical advice to any patient without appropriate examination and history. Laws vary from one jurisdiction to the next as I recall.

People here merely offer their opinions and share their experiences re medication. In what country/ies are you referring to about the legality of medical advice?

Response:

Thanks vanessa, Despite any information in the charter for this group, prescribing and advising online may be a legal issue of acting as a doctor.

#1, EINSTEIN:  nobody’s prescibing medication and there’s no legalities connected with these rooms… tha best yer gonna do’s tha "exit" door and it’s in that lil box in tha upper left hand corner of this square yer lookin ‘ in.. PUSH IT, QUICK ! For those who are practitioners, there is an ethical issue of providing medical advice to any patient without appropriate examination and history.

#2, MR. MENZA:  WHO does that?  post an example.. and NOT out’ah context.. but just ta make ya right’n give ya grounds ta participate in’ah litigious arena: EVERYONE ::POPPAHCOUPLAHBLUEZ:: IMMEDIATELY, I PRESCRIBE XANAX BLUES OR BARS FOR ALL OF AMERICA !  I AM NOW THA PRESIDENT OF THA WORLD’N THERE’LL BE’AH XANAX IN EVERY POT ! (this is especially attractive for tha stoners of america.) Laws vary from one jurisdiction to the next as I recall.

why you gotta keep on with tha rhetoric… "as i recall" is assumed, we can figger that out.  you just like typin? I hope the behaviour is addressed.

3913 SE 26 Del City, OK  73115 there.. yer dreams came true.. it CAN happen ta you.. (you been wishin’ upon stars?  cuz yer hazin’ muh groove, dude.. GET OFF’AH MUH CLOUD !) hey hey hee hee ! ~tanya

Response:

Oh, Tanya: "#1, EINSTEIN:  nobody’s prescibing medication and there’s no legalities connected with these rooms… tha best yer gonna do’s tha "exit" door and it’s in that lil box in tha upper left hand corner of this square yer lookin ‘ in.. PUSH IT, QUICK !" Of course, there are legal issues. Medical practitioners are governed by the ethics and requirements of their licensing colleges as well as the local laws. I would type more slowly, but I don’t think it would help your comprehension. *winks*

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We disagree, Marie. Each post that I have opened entails some dilemma over the ingestion of some chemical. Frankly, I had enough of the chemicals that will ultimately harm my liver, or my kidneys, or some other necessary system for life. The treatments are worse than the ailments in my view. i see they skipped all them vital organs and went due north’n right SKRAIT for yer last vestige of’ah brain cell.  that was mighty generous, in retrospect, doncha think? Now, what I did find interesting was your reply. Interestingly, in merely posing an alternative perspective, you had assumed that I was speaking aobut herbs, or oils, or some other external cure. We are the only species that I know of that has direct and immediate control over our experiential existence. "immediate control"?  ROFLMAOOOOOO !!!! "immediate control".. now THERE’s a concept.  even if control WAS a possibility, i don’t think you’d have it considerin’ tha option/possibility of sumbody dosin’ ya right quick’n makin’ their own experiment… (it’s called "choice", a_fried) and we excersise tha right to that choice… WELCOME TO AMERICA !!! please take yer seat in tha "i try ta look so enFUCKINlightened but just can’t seem to succeed" corner.  happy ta have ya here, yer truly a treasured addition to our country, as ya make us all look like Einstein, by comparison… whad’ah magnanimous gesture ! As to any "failed" attempts, I am curious thoough on what you were expecting ‘them’ to deliver? this ain’t even my question and i can answer that, it’s rocket science, ::lookin’ at tha room topic in case i missed sumthin:: …and another contribution (as aforementioned) to tha world… yer tha poster child for "true humanitarian" !!!!!!! ~ya guessed it !   ~tanya

I gotta admit, I had to look up at the room topic, too…..making sure that I wasn’t missing something here. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

TROLL

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We disagree, Marie.

Response:

You did a great job speaking for all of us. Thanks hon.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves. amen.  perhaps you ARE in the wrong forum, as we are all REAL anxiety/panic sufferers. yes… medication is a viable and available alternative to the impact of…… a sudden meteoric rise in heartbeat, off the charts, stroke level blood pressure, KNOWING your heart is beating so hard that you are dying at any moment, the humiliation and embarrassment that goes along with "knowing somehow in your head" that this isn’t real, the inability to treat it as "not real", as it’s not possible… ~~THAT knowledge in itself is overwhelming~~ being unable to indulge the coherent awareness/reality of that which we have no control or power over, trying every possible verbosity to explain to others (those of us that are ‘out of the closet’ with our disorder, as THAT is a feat in itself,) the phenomenon manifested and internalized as extremely visible to the world, knowing we cannot IGNORE what is happening in lieu of our intellectual mind set as the current "reality" supercedes this, especially in a public arena, enduring embarrassment of major proportions, having fear as our closest cohort in life, fear of attacks, fear of …including fear that the possibility of having our next prescription denied exists, our "fear" is always by our side, dependable, ever present, persistent if nothing else. to KNOW the world is staring directly at us with judgment as we die die considering the moment of exiting a door from home, for some, a major accomplishment, after 30 years, having missed out on their kid’s first home run, all home runs, the crowning of their daughter as homecoming queen, graduations, family functions, holidays spent alone, enslaving the whole family to the dictation of needs via this disorder, subjecting your children and husband to a life of ‘excuses for mom’s absence’, and the list goes on, to be aware that our goal of "management" is the only thing that separates us from the world in which we dwell and the one possible, to know we are by far not the only victims of this suffering, our friends and family are just as victimized, the burden of guilt …. guilt as we are inflicting our own discomfort on those that love us, a horrific cross to bear, understanding that understanding is not something they do well, and not a thing we can gift them… we don’t understand it ourselves. we are FAR from stupid  the creativity we employ to "not be noticed" or even "found out" dictates a creativity, an intelligence level not to be ignored, even an awareness level that is not to be reckoned with. go to the "diabetes support" forum and suggest the participants get the HELL off their meds, pills or insulin. go to the "new mothers in crisis support" forum and suggest they take their 3 month premature baby out of the incubator and out of the hands of … as you so eloquently phrased it "medsanddocs" and of course, remove the oxygen, (nothin’ like’ah good dose of oxygen for a good high). YES, medication is a source of relief and suffering.   YOU BET YOUR ASS IT IS!!!!  and when the shit hits the proverbial fan, and YOUR son is suffering from a pain beknownst, the magnitude, the intensity, to him and only him… let’s see where the shit lands then. let’s see what tune you’re singing when a simple pill administered provides him relief… or would you be so bold as to jerk that opportunity out of the reach of his little hands as tears of angst and pain are opted for by YOU as you parcipitate his horror, his nightmare… what a ghastly thought, even punctuated by the possibility that it is probable in your case, as you have shown your selfish agenda in all to vivid color. one thing you have apparently, in all your wisdom and judgment NOW noticed… is that not ONE of us on medication speaks of a "high"… as not one of us is fortunate enough to experience such a "pleasurable" byproduct of our medication.  THAT would be a minor payoff, muh boy… and i DO mean minor. YOUR memory, i’m sure, serves you well.  that smacks of a past of benzo abuse that created a "high" for you…. WELLLLLLLLLLLLL,  let me tell you something.  it does NOT create a high for us, and i can speak for everyone in this group.  WHY?  we’re WAY too busy depending on that little blue pill for our next breath, to subside our DESPERATE FEAR that is inexplicable, to just give us one more chance to live, while praying to our own personal God to please… please.. just give us one more chance, to PLEASE make this go away and even making promises to this God that we will NEVER have another attack if the gift of one more chance is offered, a promise absurd, and borne of despair. as you have come here to prove, (ineffectively, i might add), that you are in an enlightened arena of panic/anxiety sufferers that have overcome by the grace of what you perceive as a ’superior thought process’… you have proven not only the contradiction of this "superior thinking" as the dichotomy lies within your own words, consistently, but that you are a narcissist of major proportions with the discernment abilities of a fruit fly. you wouldn’t know support from pantyhose.  (or maybe i speak from an unenlightened position on that one, who knows)… and support is not always in the form of advice, medication technicalities, but also laughter, humor, chiding, acceptance… acceptance that we may find one another intolerable on a day to day basis and it COULD be due to anxiety, personal issues, (which we put on the table freely, son) or issues that have nothing to do with our behavior towards another here. we convene not so much for solutions, but for cohesion. cohering, and a comfort zone.. one which dictates that we do not have to be onstage for a few minutes of our lives proving we’re "ok" to the nonaccepting masses. yeah, i’m speaking for everyone, which is NOT my right, i will claim all of the above as my OWN …  and feel certain that i have touched upon things others feel. ..and i’ll be seein’ YOU in the "men suffering from lorena bobbit syndrome support" forum, sans a prosthesis, of course, that might make your life a little too easy.. and i’ll be happy to lend you my own balls, as you have none… looks like your ENTIRE 3 PIECE SUITE FELL VICTIM !!!!!! …. and in closing?  live it up…. life in your solo arena will serve you well, i’m sure. ~tanya p.s. your attempt at intellect is futile. intellect is not mutually exclusive of sensibility, rationale, and consistency.. just the opposite, in fact.  do yourself a favor and do NOT try that again, it does NOT become you.

Response:

It takes alot to offend US here. Sounds like this is not the group for you friend. And benzos don’t make you high. They help with anxiety and PANIC attacks.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves.

Response:

We disagree, Marie. Each post that I have opened entails some dilemma over the ingestion of some chemical. Frankly, I had enough of the chemicals that will ultimately harm my liver, or my kidneys, or some other necessary system for life. The treatments are worse than the ailments in my view.

i see they skipped all them vital organs and went due north’n right SKRAIT for yer last vestige of’ah brain cell.  that was mighty generous, in retrospect, doncha think? Now, what I did find interesting was your reply. Interestingly, in merely posing an alternative perspective, you had assumed that I was speaking aobut herbs, or oils, or some other external cure. We are the only species that I know of that has direct and immediate control over our experiential existence.

"immediate control"?  ROFLMAOOOOOO !!!! "immediate control".. now THERE’s a concept.  even if control WAS a possibility, i don’t think you’d have it considerin’ tha option/possibility of sumbody dosin’ ya right quick’n makin’ their own experiment… (it’s called "choice", a_fried) and we excersise tha right to that choice… WELCOME TO AMERICA !!! please take yer seat in tha "i try ta look so enFUCKINlightened but just can’t seem to succeed" corner.  happy ta have ya here, yer truly a treasured addition to our country, as ya make us all look like Einstein, by comparison… whad’ah magnanimous gesture ! As to any "failed" attempts, I am curious thoough on what you were expecting ‘them’ to deliver?

this ain’t even my question and i can answer that, it’s rocket science, ::lookin’ at tha room topic in case i missed sumthin:: …and another contribution (as aforementioned) to tha world… yer tha poster child for "true humanitarian" !!!!!!! ~ya guessed it !   ~tanya

Response:

If Im on 100mg Zoloft do I have to take the entire pill at once? It seems as if I have a sharp increase in anxiety issues about 12-14 hours after taking the drug. Does anyone out there split their dose up twice a day, does it work? Also I dont understand if zoloft takes 6 weeks to work and stays in your system for so long how can I feel immediate results (hours)? Is it all in my head?

Response:

If Im on 100mg Zoloft do I have to take the entire pill at once? It seems as if I have a sharp increase in anxiety issues about 12-14 hours after taking the drug. Does anyone out there split their dose up twice a day, does it work? Also I dont understand if zoloft takes 6 weeks to work and stays in your system for so long how can I feel immediate results (hours)? Is it all in my head?

Ask your Doctor!!!!!!

Response:

I’m on 100mg of Zoloft and take it at night. Sometimes I’ll break it in half since I know the lower the dosage the better. I find that the 100mg gives me more anxiety so that’s usually when I’ll go a few days of 50mg….

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If Im on 100mg Zoloft do I have to take the entire pill at once? It seems as if I have a sharp increase in anxiety issues about 12-14 hours after taking the drug. Does anyone out there split their dose up twice a day, does it work? Also I dont understand if zoloft takes 6 weeks to work and stays in your system for so long how can I feel immediate results (hours)? Is it all in my head? I was on Zoloft for a number of years up until the beginning of 2003.  I used to take 100mg a day most of the time.  However, sometimes during the winter I would start to feel a little worse, so I would take  1 1/2, I would just break the Zoloft.  Other times, especially late spring/summer I would be feeling pretty well so I would only take 1/2 a day. Ask your doctor if he/she thinks it would be OK to take a lower amount of Zoloft.  How long have you been taking it?  Some SSRI’s can make you feel a little worse for a week or two until as your body adjusts.  An there is the possibility that Zoloft may not be right for you.  For example, I just started taking Paxil CR today.  I won’t be taking it again tomorrow.  I just didn’t feel right.  I had tried Paxil a few years ago and only used it for two day and after today, I now remember why I stopped : ) Don’t hesitate to talk to your doc about it, that is what they are there for. Best, JimD

Response:

As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves.

Response:

As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering.

Actually I find folks in this group the most med-resistant and med-phobic of them all. Prescription meds are stronger and work much more effectively than lavendar oils and tea leaves. The natural route is for your garden variety anxiety. I tried the natural route (needles, herbs, and therapy) for three months and wasted time and money and got my condition worsened. The naturopaths promise healing and "no side effects," but they failed to deliver and, ironically, referred me to the PDocs. The PDocs don’t make promises about anything being free of side effects. Currently they are delivering far more for these folks and for me.

Response:

As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves.

Response:

As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves.

For many medication is and may remain necessary. Anxiety disorders are most often biological/genetic as well as psychological (*learned behaviour*). CBT is the first choice therapy and taking meds without CBT is not the best treatment. Philip

Response:

We disagree, Marie. Each post that I have opened entails some dilemma over the ingestion of some chemical. Frankly, I had enough of the chemicals that will ultimately harm my liver, or my kidneys, or some other necessary system for life. The treatments are worse than the ailments in my view. Now, what I did find interesting was your reply. Interestingly, in merely posing an alternative perspective, you had assumed that I was speaking aobut herbs, or oils, or some other external cure. We are the only species that I know of that has direct and immediate control over our experiential existence. As to any "failed" attempts, I am curious thoough on what you were expecting ‘them’ to deliver?

Response:

As a group, it seems everyone here is pretty dedicated to prescription medication as a source of relief for suffering. Sorry for any offence, but I found the name of this group mislead. alt.support.medsanddocs is more the case. Nothing like a good benzo for a good high…if memory serves.

amen.  perhaps you ARE in the wrong forum, as we are all REAL anxiety/panic sufferers. yes… medication is a viable and available alternative to the impact of…… a sudden meteoric rise in heartbeat, off the charts, stroke level blood pressure, KNOWING your heart is beating so hard that you are dying at any moment, the humiliation and embarrassment that goes along with "knowing somehow in your head" that this isn’t real, the inability to treat it as "not real", as it’s not possible… ~~THAT knowledge in itself is overwhelming~~ being unable to indulge the coherent awareness/reality of that which we have no control or power over, trying every possible verbosity to explain to others (those of us that are ‘out of the closet’ with our disorder, as THAT is a feat in itself,) the phenomenon manifested and internalized as extremely visible to the world, knowing we cannot IGNORE what is happening in lieu of our intellectual mind set as the current "reality" supercedes this, especially in a public arena, enduring embarrassment of major proportions, having fear as our closest cohort in life, fear of attacks, fear of …including fear that the possibility of having our next prescription denied exists, our "fear" is always by our side, dependable, ever present, persistent if nothing else. to KNOW the world is staring directly at us with judgment as we die die considering the moment of exiting a door from home, for some, a major accomplishment, after 30 years, having missed out on their kid’s first home run, all home runs, the crowning of their daughter as homecoming queen, graduations, family functions, holidays spent alone, enslaving the whole family to the dictation of needs via this disorder, subjecting your children and husband to a life of ‘excuses for mom’s absence’, and the list goes on, to be aware that our goal of "management" is the only thing that separates us from the world in which we dwell and the one possible, to know we are by far not the only victims of this suffering, our friends and family are just as victimized, the burden of guilt …. guilt as we are inflicting our own discomfort on those that love us, a horrific cross to bear, understanding that understanding is not something they do well, and not a thing we can gift them… we don’t understand it ourselves. we are FAR from stupid  the creativity we employ to "not be noticed" or even "found out" dictates a creativity, an intelligence level not to be ignored, even an awareness level that is not to be reckoned with. go to the "diabetes support" forum and suggest the participants get the HELL off their meds, pills or insulin. go to the "new mothers in crisis support" forum and suggest they take their 3 month premature baby out of the incubator and out of the hands of … as you so eloquently phrased it "medsanddocs" and of course, remove the oxygen, (nothin’ like’ah good dose of oxygen for a good high). YES, medication is a source of relief and suffering.   YOU BET YOUR ASS IT IS!!!!  and when the shit hits the proverbial fan, and YOUR son is suffering from a pain beknownst, the magnitude, the intensity, to him and only him… let’s see where the shit lands then. let’s see what tune you’re singing when a simple pill administered provides him relief… or would you be so bold as to jerk that opportunity out of the reach of his little hands as tears of angst and pain are opted for by YOU as you parcipitate his horror, his nightmare… what a ghastly thought, even punctuated by the possibility that it is probable in your case, as you have shown your selfish agenda in all to vivid color. one thing you have apparently, in all your wisdom and judgment NOW noticed… is that not ONE of us on medication speaks of a "high"… as not one of us is fortunate enough to experience such a "pleasurable" byproduct of our medication.  THAT would be a minor payoff, muh boy… and i DO mean minor. YOUR memory, i’m sure, serves you well.  that smacks of a past of benzo abuse that created a "high" for you…. WELLLLLLLLLLLLL,  let me tell you something.  it does NOT create a high for us, and i can speak for everyone in this group.  WHY?  we’re WAY too busy depending on that little blue pill for our next breath, to subside our DESPERATE FEAR that is inexplicable, to just give us one more chance to live, while praying to our own personal God to please… please.. just give us one more chance, to PLEASE make this go away and even making promises to this God that we will NEVER have another attack if the gift of one more chance is offered, a promise absurd, and borne of despair. as you have come here to prove, (ineffectively, i might add), that you are in an enlightened arena of panic/anxiety sufferers that have overcome by the grace of what you perceive as a ’superior thought process’… you have proven not only the contradiction of this "superior thinking" as the dichotomy lies within your own words, consistently, but that you are a narcissist of major proportions with the discernment abilities of a fruit fly. you wouldn’t know support from pantyhose.  (or maybe i speak from an unenlightened position on that one, who knows)… and support is not always in the form of advice, medication technicalities, but also laughter, humor, chiding, acceptance… acceptance that we may find one another intolerable on a day to day basis and it COULD be due to anxiety, personal issues, (which we put on the table freely, son) or issues that have nothing to do with our behavior towards another here. we convene not so much for solutions, but for cohesion. cohering, and a comfort zone.. one which dictates that we do not have to be onstage for a few minutes of our lives proving we’re "ok" to the nonaccepting masses. yeah, i’m speaking for everyone, which is NOT my right, i will claim all of the above as my OWN …  and feel certain that i have touched upon things others feel. ..and i’ll be seein’ YOU in the "men suffering from lorena bobbit syndrome support" forum, sans a prosthesis, of course, that might make your life a little too easy.. and i’ll be happy to lend you my own balls, as you have none… looks like your ENTIRE 3 PIECE SUITE FELL VICTIM !!!!!! …. and in closing?  live it up…. life in your solo arena will serve you well, i’m sure. ~tanya p.s. your attempt at intellect is futile. intellect is not mutually exclusive of sensibility, rationale, and consistency.. just the opposite, in fact.  do yourself a favor and do NOT try that again, it does NOT become you.

Response:

Question:

Does anyone know of a good med or combination of meds for social anxiety and depression.  I was on paxil for 6 months and gained 50 lbs and felt like I was on sleeping pills.  It worked great except for the unbearable side effects. Zoloft made me aggressive and mean.  Serzone made me confused and not able to think straight at work.  I’m on wellbutrin now with ativan, but the wellbutrin makes me too anxious.  Anyone have any suggestions that have worked for them? The main things is that I cannot gain any more weight!

Response:

Perhaps try adding in a little Celexa to what you’re already on?   I haven’t used it, but from what I hear, once you get used to it, it seems to be the most side effect free SSRI, and many report weight management okay with it.  –Frel. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does anyone know of a good med or combination of meds for social anxiety and depression.

Response:

Does anyone know of a good med or combination of meds for social anxiety and depression.  I was on paxil for 6 months and gained 50 lbs and felt like I was on sleeping pills.  It worked great except for the unbearable side effects. Zoloft made me aggressive and mean.  Serzone made me confused and not able to think straight at work.  I’m on wellbutrin now with ativan, but the wellbutrin makes me too anxious.  Anyone have any suggestions that have worked for them? The main things is that I cannot gain any more weight!

Dear Babydoll, It is almost impossible for anyone to "know" what med or med combo will work for you without the side-effects you are trying so hard to avoid. That is the unfortunate part of meds, you just don`t know what will work unless you go on them, it is all trial and error. There is one thing that is quite effective for Social anxiety and it has no side-effects , and that is cognitive behavioral therapy. Take care Jackie ~*~I am the master in my fate; I am the captain of my soul~*~

Response:

Question:

Hi, The best meds against BPD/Depression are supposedly the MAOi’s. However, they tend to cause weight gain (Parnate less than Nardil). There are *some* foods you can’t eat while on them, but they are not your typical binge foods (you can’t eat aged cheese and drink red wine, for example, but chocolate is out, too).  But if you have weight issues, you might want to avoid meds that might lead to weight gain. As to your bulimia: Prozac at higher doses is approved as a treatment against bulimia (I am a recovering bulimic and on 60mg Prozac).  There has been one study done decades back on the TCA’s isipramine/desipramine and their effect on preventing binges: for me that is completely true!  For most people they lead to weight gain. Total opposite for me.  I am on only 100mg of desipramine as Prozac raises the plasma level of all TCA’s.  And one of the best drugs against bingeing is Topamax, an anti-convulsant, which is right now undergoing clinical trials to be approved as mood stabilizer (it kicks ass as a mood stabilizer) and there are some trials going on at some universities (I forgot where), where they are testing it’s effectiveness as an anti-bingeing drug.  I haven’t even had the thought/urge/desire to binge while on it.  I don’t think I physically could binge while on Topamax, it’s hard to describe.  I am on 200mg. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about replacing the mini dose ofRisperdal with Topamax (start out slowly – 25mg once a day, then after a few days 25mg twice a day etc., or it will knock you out).  It should calm you down and relieve anxiety and freaky thinking as well as Risperdal.  You might not even need the Trazodone anymore. For me, the tricyclic/Prozac combo has been the only thing to lift me out of my depression.  It’s worth asking about it.  Do you have prescription drug insurance?  If not, e-mail me if you go on Prozac or Topamax, ok?  I might have some info for you… All the best, Elgin — "Come what come may time and hour runs through the roughest day." Shakespeare, Macbeth. — "Come what come may time and hour runs through the roughest day." Shakespeare, Macbeth. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

If you are still in your active phase of bulimia, Wellbutrin is highly unindicated, as it will increase your risk for seizures by quite a bit (bulimia, of course, increases your risk for seizures, too, as I hope you know).  If you try Wellbutrin, are in recovery from bulimia and are on an anti-convulsant/mood-stabilizer there should be no problem… Elgin In article <39B9DE4A.C75B6…@home.com

,

  Heather <h…@home.com

wrote:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Effexor should work at least a little.  I know what you mean about feeling like a pharmacy.  I’m on Effexor XR (150 mg twice a day), clozapine (1.5 mg three times a day), Olanzapine (7.5 mg twice a day) and up until a week ago, I was also on Ritalin slow release 20 mg a day.  After I had a seizure last week ( first time I had one & in Superstore of all places…how embarassing!!!)  Anyway, they took me

off

the Ritalin since then & now I can’t concentrate worth shit!  I can relate to what you’re feeling with nothing working, I feel the same

way,

& I’ve been on almost every drug possible over the last 10 years.

Have

you tried Wellbutrin?  If it’s weight you’re worried about, it does

help

to suppress your appetite & is somewhat of a stimulant to your system, talk to your doc first to see if it’s right for you.  It’s worth a

shot.

Good Luck to you. Heather marcel…@my-deja.com wrote: I’m on 225 mg of effexor for depression, 1.5 mg Risperdal for

anxiety

and mood swings, 150 mg. Trazadone for insomnia. I feel like a

pharmacy.

unfortunately none of it seems to be workig at an optimal level. I

am

still hideously depressed and moody as all hell. My anxiety is down, but I still have occassional panic attacks. The only thing tha is working as well as it could is the Trazadone–that stuff puts me

OUT.

 I’ve heard that tricyclic, or maybe it was MAIO type anti-

depressants

are actually more effective on people with BPD than the newer generations like Prozac or Effexor. Does anyone know anything about this. Unfortunately, I know I can’t take an MAIO because i’m bulimic nad prone to impulsive eating binges, and there are many things you can’t eat on them.  All I know, though, is that my anti-depressant

is

NOT working, and i’ve given it a fair trail–nearly 2 months.  IT seems like I will be in emotional pain forever, with no relief. Also, my bulimic symptoms are not improving. Does anyone know of amedication that will target that? –marcella Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

— "Come what come may time and hour runs through the roughest day." Shakespeare, Macbeth. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

Effexor should work at least a little.  I know what you mean about feeling like a pharmacy.  I’m on Effexor XR (150 mg twice a day), clozapine (1.5 mg three times a day), Olanzapine (7.5 mg twice a day) and up until a week ago, I was also on Ritalin slow release 20 mg a day.  After I had a seizure last week ( first time I had one & in Superstore of all places…how embarassing!!!)  Anyway, they took me off the Ritalin since then & now I can’t concentrate worth shit!  I can relate to what you’re feeling with nothing working, I feel the same way, & I’ve been on almost every drug possible over the last 10 years.  Have you tried Wellbutrin?  If it’s weight you’re worried about, it does help to suppress your appetite & is somewhat of a stimulant to your system, talk to your doc first to see if it’s right for you.  It’s worth a shot. Good Luck to you. Heather – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -marcel…@my-deja.com wrote:

I’m on 225 mg of effexor for depression, 1.5 mg Risperdal for anxiety and mood swings, 150 mg. Trazadone for insomnia. I feel like a pharmacy. unfortunately none of it seems to be workig at an optimal level. I am still hideously depressed and moody as all hell. My anxiety is down, but I still have occassional panic attacks. The only thing tha is working as well as it could is the Trazadone–that stuff puts me OUT.  I’ve heard that tricyclic, or maybe it was MAIO type anti-depressants are actually more effective on people with BPD than the newer generations like Prozac or Effexor. Does anyone know anything about this. Unfortunately, I know I can’t take an MAIO because i’m bulimic nad prone to impulsive eating binges, and there are many things you can’t eat on them.  All I know, though, is that my anti-depressant is NOT working, and i’ve given it a fair trail–nearly 2 months.  IT seems like I will be in emotional pain forever, with no relief. Also, my bulimic symptoms are not improving. Does anyone know of amedication that will target that? –marcella Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

I’m on 225 mg of effexor for depression, 1.5 mg Risperdal for anxiety and mood swings, 150 mg. Trazadone for insomnia. I feel like a pharmacy. unfortunately none of it seems to be workig at an optimal level. I am still hideously depressed and moody as all hell. My anxiety is down, but I still have occassional panic attacks. The only thing tha is working as well as it could is the Trazadone–that stuff puts me OUT.  I’ve heard that tricyclic, or maybe it was MAIO type anti-depressants are actually more effective on people with BPD than the newer generations like Prozac or Effexor. Does anyone know anything about this. Unfortunately, I know I can’t take an MAIO because i’m bulimic nad prone to impulsive eating binges, and there are many things you can’t eat on them.  All I know, though, is that my anti-depressant is NOT working, and i’ve given it a fair trail–nearly 2 months.  IT seems like I will be in emotional pain forever, with no relief. Also, my bulimic symptoms are not improving. Does anyone know of amedication that will target that? –marcella Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

1. Is there an easy way to discontinue Paxil? the withdrawal symptoms are horrible! 2. What is the safest anti-depressant in terms of not causing weight gain?? (I suffered a lot with Effexor and Paxil, think about something else!) Thanks! S. "Some measure their lives by days and years,       Others by heart throbs, passion and tears;  But the surest measure under the sun,       Is what in your lifetime for others you have done."

Response:

1. Is there an easy way to discontinue Paxil? the withdrawal symptoms are horrible! 2. What is the safest anti-depressant in terms of not causing weight gain?? (I suffered a lot with Effexor and Paxil, think about something else!) Thanks! S.

I have come to the conclusion that everyone responds differently to these meds and it’s hard to base what will work for you on something that worked for someone else. I gained weight on paxil, about 20lbs in three months. I stopped the paxil and immediately started prozac.  After about seven months and a little more weight gain, I stopped the prozac because it wasn’t working well enough.  Then I went to zoloft, which also caused a little weight gain, and was not very effective.  Getting off zoloft was awful for me, I had to continue taking it while I started wellbutrine.  This combo was fairly effective, but really made me tired, too tired to exercise. Then I went on effexor, which worked so well for me.  I wasn’t tired, I didn’t gain weight, it worked fast and for over a year.  I just recently had a major crash, and my doctor added celexa and upped the effexor to 375mg.  The celexa stopped the suicidal ideation within three days.  That was great, I don’t know how it will work in the long run, but so far I’m not hungry or extremely tired.  Of course I wasn’t hungry before the celexa so I don’t know if this is still of symptom of the depression or an effect of the med. Good Luck, Kait * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1. Is there an easy way to discontinue Paxil? the withdrawal symptoms are horrible! 2. What is the safest anti-depressant in terms of not causing weight gain?? (I suffered a lot with Effexor and Paxil, think about something else!) Thanks! S. I have come to the conclusion that everyone responds differently to these meds and it’s hard to base what will work for you on something that worked for someone else. I gained weight on paxil, about 20lbs in three months. I stopped the paxil and immediately started prozac.  After about seven months and a little more weight gain, I stopped the prozac because it wasn’t working well enough.  Then I went to zoloft, which also caused a little weight gain, and was not very effective.  Getting off zoloft was awful for me, I had to continue taking it while I started wellbutrine.  This combo was fairly effective, but really made me tired, too tired to exercise. Then I went on effexor, which worked so well for me.  I wasn’t tired, I didn’t gain weight, it worked fast and for over a year.  I just recently had a major crash, and my doctor added celexa and upped the effexor to 375mg.  The celexa stopped the suicidal ideation within three days.  That was great, I don’t know how it will work in the long run, but so far I’m not hungry or extremely tired.  Of course I wasn’t hungry before the celexa so I don’t know if this is still of symptom of the depression or an effect of the med. Good Luck, Kait

Would you happen to know what Effexor is called in the UK? Brian

Response:

1. Is there an easy way to discontinue Paxil? the withdrawal symptoms are horrible!

Twice almost cold turkey, back on 20 mg again. Couldn’t stand the withdrawal. Third time, chahnged it to Prozac (also 20 mg), and went down with the dose very gradually. Not biting the capsules in half, but simply forgetting about taking it. Once every day, then every other day, now I take it only when the time is rough. Don’t know if it can help you, but this is like, my only experience….. DG

Response:

Would you happen to know what Effexor is called in the UK?

Yes. (Tempting, but I suppose I could answer the question you didn’t ask as well, and say it’s venlafaxine, brand-named Efexor (Yes, only one ‘f’ over here, presumably there’s a effin shortage.).) —          The opinions given above may be mine. They might also            just be what I feel like saying right now, okay?

Response:

2. What is the safest anti-depressant in terms of not causing weight gain?? (I suffered a lot with Effexor and Paxil, think about something else!)

I, too, think that everyone responds very differently. The only med I’ve taken that caused me to gain weight was Celexa, and even then it was minimal. I’ve been on Zoloft, Effexor, Prozac, Serzone, you name it — currently taking a combination that includes Wellbutrin and Luvox. I’ve lost more weight than I’ve gained, actually. … Ask your doc about this, though, b/c I know that some meds are not associated w/weight gain. There’s no reason you should have to suffer from something *else*. Hope you feel better.

Response:

Question:

I’m wondering if anyone else has had my experience or has any advice. I’ve tried many different AD’s and none of them seems to work.  I’ve tried Prozac, twice, the second time at 40 mg/day; Elavil; Buspar (anti-anxiety drug); a couple of tri-cyclics which gave me too many side effects (Imiprimane and Desipramine [sp?]); Trazodone; and St. John’s  Wort.  I’ve tried each of these for a good amount of time, 2 or more months, except the side-effect ones, which I stopped after a few days because of the side effects. The only thing that ever really helps me is therapy and talking to friends.  I talked to an experienced psychiatrist about this once and he said that some people just don’t respond to AD’s.  I have been extremely annoyed at this whole process during the 2-3 years I’ve been involved in trying all these things.  I haven’t had any insurance and the costs, to say the least, have been excessive.  At the dosage I was on, Prozac and Buspar were $120 per month each!  Plus doctor visit charges.  The thing that annoys me is that I wish I had known that none of them would work BEFORE I spent all that money and time and effort. This also disturbs me when I think about all the other people out there who are desperately trying AD’s to help themselves.  Most of them are helped by AD’s, but some aren’t (I couldn’t be the only one, could I?).  Because the whole process of finding an AD for a patient is so hit-and-miss ("Well, we don’t know if this will help you, but try it and see" is something I’ve heard TOO MANY TIMES), one can easily end up spending lots of money before the doctors realize that nothing is going to work. One thing about my history that may be different from many people’s is that I’ve been depressed most of my life, since the age of 9, because of severe early childhood abuse.  This may mean that my depression is more post-traumatic stress than biochemical.  I don’t know much about the theory of biochemistry causing depression, so I may be getting this wrong, I don’t know. One side note about the St. John’s Wort:  at least it was cheap!  And it did feel good to know I was taking something more natural and less likely to cause negative side effects. Any comments, anyone? –Carol

Response:

Carol, What dosage of SJW did you take? I have found that 5 or 6 300 mg standard capsules morning and evening is what I need. That is 3600 mg per day. I have no side effects from that dosage. I also found that some brands just don’t work. (the Pharmasave house brand, in particular) I use Webber (it’s the cheapest and comes bundled with gincko or a stress herb) If you wish to try larger doses you should build up over two or three days at least. I think it would be safe to go as far as 6000 mg per day if necessary, from what I have read, although I have never needed to go that high. I tried Zoloft and didn’t like the side effects. Peter B. Legere – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m wondering if anyone else has had my experience or has any advice. One side note about the St. John’s Wort:  at least it was cheap!  And it did feel good to know I was taking something more natural and less likely to cause negative side effects. Any comments, anyone? –Carol

Response:

Dear Carol: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve tried many different AD’s and none of them seems to work.  I’ve tried Prozac, twice, the second time at 40 mg/day; Elavil; Buspar (anti-anxiety drug); a couple of tri-cyclics which gave me too many side effects (Imiprimane and Desipramine [sp?]); Trazodone; and St. John’s  Wort.  I’ve tried each of these for a good amount of time, 2 or more months, except the side-effect ones, which I stopped after a few days because of the side effects. The only thing that ever really helps me is therapy and talking to friends.  I talked to an experienced psychiatrist about this once and he said that some people just don’t respond to AD’s.  I have been extremely annoyed at this whole process during the 2-3 years I’ve been involved in trying all these things.  I haven’t had any insurance and the costs, to say the least, have been excessive.  At the dosage I was on, Prozac and Buspar were $120 per month each!  Plus doctor visit charges.  The thing that annoys me is that I wish I had known that none of them would work BEFORE I spent all that money and time and effort.

It’s unfortunate, but, at the current state of the art, there’s no way to predict the likely success or failure of meds on any one individual nor, for sure, which one, if any, will work.  There’s a lot more success with ‘which one’ than ‘whether any’.  There’s considerable research ongoing in both, and other areas, of dealing with clinical depression. While there are meds you’ve not tried and combinations thereof, it’s understandable that you’d be reluctant to spend more money in this way. Somewhere between 20% and 25% of depressives don’t respond to the current antidepressants at all.  Often those who want to give up on a particular antidepressant because of some side effects, if persuaded to stick it out, find the side effects diminish and the drug take effect properly.  Of those depressives refractory to medication, about half respond positively to ECT. This also disturbs me when I think about all the other people out there who are desperately trying AD’s to help themselves.  Most of them are helped by AD’s, but some aren’t (I couldn’t be the only one, could I?).  Because the whole process of finding an AD for a patient is so hit-and-miss ("Well, we don’t know if this will help you, but try it and see" is something I’ve heard TOO MANY TIMES), one can easily end up spending lots of money before the doctors realize that nothing is going to work.

That is, unfortunately, the case.  I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, just that our knowledge isn’t yet sufficiently great to avoid this. The downside of not trying, of course, is depression and its side effects. If one tries, more than 80% of the time appropriate treatment works. One thing about my history that may be different from many people’s is that I’ve been depressed most of my life, since the age of 9, because of severe early childhood abuse.  This may mean that my depression is more post-traumatic stress than biochemical.  I don’t know much about the theory of biochemistry causing depression, so I may be getting this wrong, I don’t know.

While you may have it right, that shouldn’t seriously affect the choice of meds although it would raise the importance of talk therapy as well. One side note about the St. John’s Wort:  at least it was cheap!  And it did feel good to know I was taking something more natural and less likely to cause negative side effects.

This business of ‘natural’ is, IMHO, highly over rated. There have been no good clinical trials of St. John’s Wort in this country.  The only ones of which I’m aware were in Germany and have been challenged on many counts.  It’s method of action is unclear and there have been far more reports of failure than of success with it here.  When one purchases it one cannot be sure, from purchase to purchase, of the amount of active ingredient one is getting.  Not only that, optimal dosages have yet to be determined. Any comments, anyone?

If you were to ask what I’d do now, if I were you, I suspect that, since I don’t know where you are located and thus can’t be more specific, I’d call the nearest _teaching_ hospital and ask for a referral to a really good psychopharmacologist (biopsychiatrist).  I’d lay out the story in as much detail as possible for hir and see what (s)he says. Best of luck, Peter

[ Nafdi 1K ]

The National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc. maintains "800" lines which, presently through a recorded message, provide callers with the symptoms of depression and manic depression and inform them of how to receive a packet of additional information from NAFDI.  This additional information includes a referral list, by state, of doctors and support groups as well as a bibliography, our brochure and additional relevant articles.  The number to call, toll-free, is 1-800-245-4306. If you are familiar with the symptoms of depression and manic depression and prefer not to listen to the recording, you may write to us, The National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc. (or NAFDI) at Post Office Box 2257, New York, NY 10116-2257 and request the information.  Please enclose a self-addressed envelope of business size or larger with $1.01 of U.S. postage affixed (for U.S. addresses).  As we are a not-for-profit organization, if you can afford it, please enclose a contribution of $5 or more.  If you can’t afford that, please let us know and we’ll be happy to send you exactly the same material at no charge. You may also visit us at our web page <http://www.depression.org. In any case, we wish you good luck!

Response:

Hi Are you located in a large city?  I go to a non-for-profit organization of doctors and therapists and the costs are much less.  Maybe there’s one listed in your phone book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Carol, What dosage of SJW did you take? I have found that 5 or 6 300 mg standard capsules morning and evening is what I need. That is 3600 mg per day. I have no side effects from that dosage. I also found that some brands just don’t work. (the Pharmasave house brand, in particular) I use Webber (it’s the cheapest and comes bundled with gincko or a stress herb) If you wish to try larger doses you should build up over two or three days at least. I think it would be safe to go as far as 6000 mg per day if necessary, from what I have read, although I have never needed to go that high. I tried Zoloft and didn’t like the side effects. Peter B. Legere I’m wondering if anyone else has had my experience or has any advice. One side note about the St. John’s Wort:  at least it was cheap!  And it did feel good to know I was taking something more natural and less likely to cause negative side effects. Any comments, anyone? –Carol

Response:

Hi, I am new to this group. I started taking AD’s about 4 months ago. I take 1000mg  of luvox and have been lucky with the side effects, only one I have that bothers me a little is the reduced libido <s Anyway I went back to my dr and told him I didn’t think they were helping so he said well try going off them and see what happens, well apparently they were working : )  So I went back on. Then I read about St. JW and tried that with the Luvox then read you shouldn’t take both, so went off luvox and am presently just taking sjw 1000mg a day and so far its been better than taking nothing, but was wondering about dosage and such, and whether anyone out there takes both the sjw and the  ad drugs together. I had a minor breakdown the other day and ended up on the floor bawling my eyes out and finally saying out loud that I need help. This was after my 3 kids were gone all weekend and home again for around 2 hours and I couldn’t take it, I totally lost it. So I finally called a family services place that will send someone to talk to you and you kids etc., and just making the call I actually felt better than I had in ages. Oops went a little off the track…. <s What I am wondering is, if any one has any information about sjw and combining it with regular ad drugs and if they have had any luck with just the sjw etc…..or maybe I should just try a different ad drug, im not sure. This is all very new to me although in retrospect its been there quite some time. If the info on SJW is redundant feel free to email me directly. Thank you for any info : ) Lorraine – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Carol, What dosage of SJW did you take? I have found that 5 or 6 300 mg standard capsules morning and evening is what I need. That is 3600 mg per day. I have no side effects from that dosage.

Response:

I’m wondering if anyone else has had my experience or has any advice. I’ve tried many different AD’s and none of them seems to work.  I’ve <snip Any comments, anyone? –Carol

Well…..I’ve tried eight AD’s …..First was zoloft..did that for 8 months, and for a time added trazodone along with it.  It worked so-so…. Next was paxil…did that for about 3 months.  I didn’t have energy to do much of anything.  The withdrawl was 2 weeks of misery.   Next I went without anything for about 2 months.  Signed up for a 10 week self esteem class which used a workbook on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  I felt worse about myself at the end than I did when I started.   Then I tried prozac for 4 months….helped some (any improvement was better than I was).  Started having significant side effects after the dose went beyond 50mg.  Started feeling more depressed as the dose increased. Started effexor…almost stopped it cuz I felt so yucky, but I think it was due to coming off the prozac.  Effexor worked real well for me for about 15 months. **SOAP BOX TIME** I really don’t think that doctors who work in the field of prescribing antidepressant medications fully appreciate how powerful these drugs are, and how strongly they affect the body.  My doctor, for instance, tends to believe that you can just taper a person (me) off one drug for a week or so and add a new drug at the same time or immediately thereafter, and everything will be hunky dory.  WRONG!!!!  As far as I am concerned, there is always some sort of withdrawl the body goes through when stopping one antidepressant, even if you start another at the same time.  I have gone through this a number of times, and I hope I have been instrumental in helping my doctor learn more about this.  Still, there is that transition period where my life sucks even more when I have changed meds. **END OF SOAP BOX** anyway, coming off the prozac made it seem like the effexor was giving me a bad reaction at first, but I hung in and after about a week things were ok.   After about 15 months, I was feeling sort of down, more depressed than I had been in a while.  I was also feeling "chemicalized" and kind of wanted to stop.  My pdoc was gonna have me start serzone, but I tapered off the effexor (again with a two week withdrawl). So, I then went 3 months taking St. John’s Wort.  It helped some, but I gradually sank down badly again, and when work took a stressful turn, I went down fast. Then I took serzone for 4 months.  It is supposed to make most people a little drowsy, but it had the opposite effect on me.  I felt wired.  It leveled out a bit over time, but during this period I did not sleep very soundly.  It was just moderately effective for the depression. At the beginning of february I started remeron.  Again, in changing meds, I had the usual nausea and stuff associated with withdrawl, but man o man that remeron!! It was like Night of the Living Dead!!  I slept HARD for the 3 weeks I took that stuff.  Supposedly the higher the dose, the more that symptom goes away, but I was still a space cadet even after increasing the dose. So I practically begged my pdoc to let me go back on effexor, which I started again this week.  Right now I’m going through the remeron withdrawls, nausea, diarhea and such, but I feel human again. **THEORY** I believe in my case, having taken antidepressants off and on now for over 3 years, that whatever my depression is, drugs only help it to a moderate degree.  It has been my experience that continually increasing the dosage yields diminishing returns.  It does appear, at least at this time in my life, that I need the help of the antidepressants to handle life.  I am working in other ways on "handling life," and perhaps someday I will obtain some results that will make it unnecessary to take antidepressants. I really don’t know.   But, I think I do best if I take the lowest dose that gives any decent effect. And, I am beginning to believe that my system needs a periodic chemical free period.  So my plan at this point is to take the lowest dose of effexor that will stabilize my mood, which from past experience I think is either 150mg or 225mg.  I think that I will also try to go about a month a year chemical free. I guess to summarize, at least maybe to summarize to myself, it takes a long period of trial and error to find out what works and what doesnt.  The hard part is to somehow hang in there while going through all the ups and downs. Best wishes, Patrick *** To reply by email, remove the zzz from my email address ***

Response:

Patrick, Sounds to me that you are playing Russin Rolette. If you had Diabetis, would you go off your insulin for a month every year? Biocemical depression, is a medical condition. The medication change the chemicals in you brain. You only fall deeper each time you start to treat yourself instead of following your pdoc’s advice.                    Please talk to your doc, about your conserns.                                     Penny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m wondering if anyone else has had my experience or has any advice. I’ve tried many different AD’s and none of them seems to work.  I’ve <snip Any comments, anyone? –Carol Well…..I’ve tried eight AD’s …..First was zoloft..did that for 8 months, and for a time added trazodone along with it.  It worked so-so…. Next was paxil…did that for about 3 months.  I didn’t have energy to do much of anything.  The withdrawl was 2 weeks of misery.   Next I went without anything for about 2 months.  Signed up for a 10 week self esteem class which used a workbook on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  I felt worse about myself at the end than I did when I started.   Then I tried prozac for 4 months….helped some (any improvement was better than I was).  Started having significant side effects after the dose went beyond 50mg.  Started feeling more depressed as the dose increased. Started effexor…almost stopped it cuz I felt so yucky, but I think it was due to coming off the prozac.  Effexor worked real well for me for about 15 months. **SOAP BOX TIME** I really don’t think that doctors who work in the field of prescribing antidepressant medications fully appreciate how powerful these drugs are, and how strongly they affect the body.  My doctor, for instance, tends to believe that you can just taper a person (me) off one drug for a week or so and add a new drug at the same time or immediately thereafter, and everything will be hunky dory.  WRONG!!!!  As far as I am concerned, there is always some sort of withdrawl the body goes through when stopping one antidepressant, even if you start another at the same time.  I have gone through this a number of times, and I hope I have been instrumental in helping my doctor learn more about this.  Still, there is that transition period where my life sucks even more when I have changed meds. **END OF SOAP BOX** anyway, coming off the prozac made it seem like the effexor was giving me a bad reaction at first, but I hung in and after about a week things were ok.   After about 15 months, I was feeling sort of down, more depressed than I had been in a while.  I was also feeling "chemicalized" and kind of wanted to stop.  My pdoc was gonna have me start serzone, but I tapered off the effexor (again with a two week withdrawl). So, I then went 3 months taking St. John’s Wort.  It helped some, but I gradually sank down badly again, and when work took a stressful turn, I went down fast. Then I took serzone for 4 months.  It is supposed to make most people a little drowsy, but it had the opposite effect on me.  I felt wired.  It leveled out a bit over time, but during this period I did not sleep very soundly.  It was just moderately effective for the depression. At the beginning of february I started remeron.  Again, in changing meds, I had the usual nausea and stuff associated with withdrawl, but man o man that remeron!! It was like Night of the Living Dead!!  I slept HARD for the 3 weeks I took that stuff.  Supposedly the higher the dose, the more that symptom goes away, but I was still a space cadet even after increasing the dose. So I practically begged my pdoc to let me go back on effexor, which I started again this week.  Right now I’m going through the remeron withdrawls, nausea, diarhea and such, but I feel human again. **THEORY** I believe in my case, having taken antidepressants off and on now for over 3 years, that whatever my depression is, drugs only help it to a moderate degree.  It has been my experience that continually increasing the dosage yields diminishing returns.  It does appear, at least at this time in my life, that I need the help of the antidepressants to handle life.  I am working in other ways on "handling life," and perhaps someday I will obtain some results that will make it unnecessary to take antidepressants. I really don’t know.   But, I think I do best if I take the lowest dose that gives any decent effect. And, I am beginning to believe that my system needs a periodic chemical free period.  So my plan at this point is to take the lowest dose of effexor that will stabilize my mood, which from past experience I think is either 150mg or 225mg.  I think that I will also try to go about a month a year chemical free. I guess to summarize, at least maybe to summarize to myself, it takes a long period of trial and error to find out what works and what doesnt.  The hard part is to somehow hang in there while going through all the ups and downs. Best wishes, Patrick *** To reply by email, remove the zzz from my email address ***

Response:

What happened with the prozac? SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) "Extract" Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are newer antidepressants which often treat the symptoms of depression more effectively than TCAs and for many people, produce less troublesome side effects. Besides treating depression, SSRIs are sometimes used to treat the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Luvox