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

Response:

Question:

Wish I had the material in front of me, but before moving we looked into an electrostatic filter for the air intake of our forced air system.  It was a permanent unit that required no cleaning and runs on 120 house current. How it works is to attract and then zap dust being carried through the intake (essentially a miniature incineration of dust).  Average cost was $600 Canadian depending on size.   I never saw it work but the fuel oil company (who are very good) gave me contacts of the couple of people who have used them in the area, and they report 1) a big improvement and 2) they feel their total system now reduces the dust problem in the house where previously it made it worse. We were convinced (but then we bought a new house and didn’t need it). Hope this posting doesn’t prompt an onslaught of SPAM. Bill. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For anyone who has asthma and a forced-air heating system, 1 month ago I had the entire system "power-vacuumed" for about 450 dollars (depends on number of ducts) and have had a very definite decrease in my symptoms, my need for albuteral/serevent and flovent (from 4-6 to 2 puffs per day). My previous heating filters would be pretty dirty (completely gray) after a month, the latest one is basically spotless after 4 weeks of use so I believe that the air in the house must be much cleaner. If you are in this situation you may want to give this a try. The cleaning company said it should be done every 4-7 years depending upon whether you have pets etc…It seems like a better guide is how long it takes the filter to get dirty.

Response:

Just wanted to add that if anyone uses a humidifer with their heating system, the possibility exists for water vapor to become trapped in the elbows of the pipes thus leading to the growth of mold when the system is not in use for a period of time or is shut off for the spring/summer. Jarrett I live in the country – lots of dirt, polle and grass clippings sucked into my outdoor air unit.  I get my ducts cleaned every 5 years.  It does make a tremendous difference!

Response:

Hit the send button too soon.  My point is if you use a humidifier pipes should be cleaned out on a more regular basis, say at the start of each heating season.  Also, de-lime the humidifier plates. Sorry about that, Jarrett Just wanted to add that if anyone uses a humidifer with their heating system, the possibility exists for water vapor to become trapped in the elbows of the pipes thus leading to the growth of mold when the system is not in use for a period of time or is shut off for the spring/summer. Jarrett I live in the country – lots of dirt, polle and grass clippings sucked into my outdoor air unit.  I get my ducts cleaned every 5 years.  It does make a tremendous difference!

Response:

I live in the country – lots of dirt, polle and grass clippings sucked into my outdoor air unit.  I get my ducts cleaned every 5 years.  It does make a tremendous difference!

Response:

We had our ducts cleaned before we turned the heat on in this house.  We moved in it in August and the house is 11 years old.  The former owners smoked and never had it done.  All I can say is that my 2 kids who get sick all the time were much more manageable this winter season.  I believe its a good investment.  We also bought a 3M electro-magnetic furnace filter and I think that has helped tremondously.  The dut is much less compared to when we had the regular furnace filter on. Gina

Response:

For anyone who has asthma and a forced-air heating system, 1 month ago I had the entire system "power-vacuumed" for about 450 dollars (depends on number of ducts) and have had a very definite decrease in my symptoms, my need for albuteral/serevent and flovent (from 4-6 to 2 puffs per day). My previous heating filters would be pretty dirty (completely gray) after a month, the latest one is basically spotless after 4 weeks of use so I believe that the air in the house must be much cleaner. If you are in this situation you may want to give this a try. The cleaning company said it should be done every 4-7 years depending upon whether you have pets etc…It seems like a better guide is how long it takes the filter to get dirty.

You can keep the system even cleaner by installing washable filters on your air return vents, and on your heater vents.  I use cheesecloth, so that they can all be removed weekly and tossed in the washer. Chris Owens

Response:

Question:

My experience is that, despite the oft insurer referenced literature saying that post people can step down to H2 blockers, very few of my patients successfully make the transition.

I was put on Biaxin-Prisolic and Pepto Bismal for a thirty day treatment to cure my H-Pylori and reduce my acid reflux with success. I was and am still on 800mg daily of Tagamet daily which so far has kept me under control.

Response:

Can I ask a sort of follow up question? I have asthma and reflux problems treated by prilosec. The question I have is "What is the long term effects of taking prilosec for a long time ( at least a year with no end in sight)?"

When Prilosec first came out there was a concern that long term administration may lead to B12 deficiency and possibly gastric cancer. Fortunately, after 20 or so years of use this seems to not be the case. It appears to be safe for long term use. — CBI, MD

Response:

My experience is that, despite the oft insurer referenced literature saying that post people can step down to H2 blockers, very few of my patients successfully make the transition. I was put on Biaxin-Prisolic and Pepto Bismal for a thirty day treatment to cure my H-Pylori and reduce my acid reflux with success. I was and am still on 800mg daily of Tagamet daily which so far has kept me under control.

Treating H. pylori in duodenal and many peptic ulcers seems to be beneficial. It is questionable whether it is worthwhile in gastritis. The current thinking is that treating it makes reflux worse as often as better. The theory is that the chronic inflammation of the stomach may cause lower acid secretion, thus helping the reflux. Unfortunately, it also slightly increases the risk of gastric cancer. I’m glad you got better. I would guess that either the stomach inflammation was causing as much of your symptoms as the GERD, that the acid blockade alone helped the reflux, or that you are one of the lucky ones who’s reflux was actually helped and not worsened by eradicating the H. pylori. — CBI, MD

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Since we’ve recently moved, I had to get a new PCP.  Yesterday he told me  that since I’d been taking Prilosec for three months, my reflux should be cured  and there would be no need to continue taking it.  The doctor did, BTW, also  add Singular to try to improve the control of my asthma. I’m wondering if it’s typical for others to only have to take Prilosec for three months No. There is some literature that the pharmacy plans love to quote when telling the docs to try to lower the intensity of acid suppression by switching to the cheaper H2 blockers like Zantac, Tagamet, or Pepcid after 8 weeks on a proton pump inhibitor (Prilosec). I have not heard anyone advocate just stopping the meds altogether. Even the insurers who pay for the meds do not suggest this. My experience is that, despite the oft insurer referenced literature saying that post people can step down to H2 blockers, very few of my patients successfully make the transition. or if stopping it is likely to cause me more problems with asthma than I have now. Yes. Should I get another opinion? You could either try it and go back and say "I told you so" if and when the symptoms worsen or you can get a second opinion. A third option would be to ask if you can just step down to a med like Zantac instead and then stop it if you continue to do well. I would be a little concerned that your new doc seems to be getting his continuing medical education from the drug rep and insurer literature and then getting it wrong at that.

Can I ask a sort of follow up question? I have asthma and reflux problems treated by prilosec. The question I have is "What is the long term effects of taking prilosec for a long time ( at least a year with no end in sight)?" J. Freedman,Jr

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diagnosed with asthma about a year ago, though I’ve likely had it for several years at least.  After a couple of pretty severe asthma attacks, I was put on Albuterol inhaler and Flovent.  I did pretty well for a few months, but started having increased problems in the past three months with constant wheezing, especially at night, requiring almost daily night-time use of my rescue inhaler. During that time, I was diagnosed via upper endoscopy as having reflux. Apparently I’ve actually had it for a long time because there was a lot of scarring at the junction between the esophagus and stomach.  I was put on Prilosec which did not only help the epigastric pain I’d been having, but seemed to help the shortness of breath I’d been having at night (though it hasn’t made it completely go away either). Since we’ve recently moved, I had to get a new PCP.  Yesterday he told me that since I’d been taking Prilosec for three months, my reflux should be cured and there would be no need to continue taking it.  The doctor did, BTW, also add Singular to try to improve the control of my asthma. I’m wondering if it’s typical for others to only have to take Prilosec for three months or if stopping it is likely to cause me more problems with asthma than I have now. Should I get another opinion? Sandra

I’ve been using prilosec for about three years now.  This year my insurance company (a colorful one) informed me that they would only allow me three months of prilosec and a non-sedating antihistamine.  The prilosec worked wonderfully, even a late-night pizza caused no discomfort.  However, my reflux hasn’t been cured.  This last winter, being out of work for four weeks after foot surgery, I discovered that my reflux had disappeared, I even ate a late-night pizza to test it and had no problems.  About four days before going back to work the reflux reappeared!  My conclusion was that it was stress related.  I’m also taking singulair and I believe it has been helpful also.  Although I’ve been getting allergy shots for three years now and feel they have helped as well.  It’s hard to put my finger on the exact cause for the reduction of my asthma.  I’ve weaned myself down to two puffs of serevent at night, the singulair, allergy shots and only rarely a puff or two of albuterol.  I have been trying to wean myself off of the prilosec, taking it only every second or third night.  I notice a bit of reflux but can control that fairly well with only an antacid.

Response:

I was diagnosed with asthma about a year ago, though I’ve likely had it for several years at least.  After a couple of pretty severe asthma attacks, I was put on Albuterol inhaler and Flovent.  I did pretty well for a few months, but started having increased problems in the past three months with constant wheezing, especially at night, requiring almost daily night-time use of my rescue inhaler.   During that time, I was diagnosed via upper endoscopy as having reflux. Apparently I’ve actually had it for a long time because there was a lot of scarring at the junction between the esophagus and stomach.  I was put on Prilosec which did not only help the epigastric pain I’d been having, but seemed to help the shortness of breath I’d been having at night (though it hasn’t made it completely go away either).   Since we’ve recently moved, I had to get a new PCP.  Yesterday he told me that since I’d been taking Prilosec for three months, my reflux should be cured and there would be no need to continue taking it.  The doctor did, BTW, also add Singular to try to improve the control of my asthma. I’m wondering if it’s typical for others to only have to take Prilosec for three months or if stopping it is likely to cause me more problems with asthma than I have now. Should I get another opinion? Sandra

Response:

Since we’ve recently moved, I had to get a new PCP.  Yesterday he told me that since I’d been taking Prilosec for three months, my reflux should be cured and there would be no need to continue taking it.  The doctor did, BTW, also add Singular to try to improve the control of my asthma. I’m wondering if it’s typical for others to only have to take Prilosec for three months

No. There is some literature that the pharmacy plans love to quote when telling the docs to try to lower the intensity of acid suppression by switching to the cheaper H2 blockers like Zantac, Tagamet, or Pepcid after 8 weeks on a proton pump inhibitor (Prilosec). I have not heard anyone advocate just stopping the meds altogether. Even the insurers who pay for the meds do not suggest this. My experience is that, despite the oft insurer referenced literature saying that post people can step down to H2 blockers, very few of my patients successfully make the transition. or if stopping it is likely to cause me more problems with asthma than I have now.

Yes. Should I get another opinion?

You could either try it and go back and say "I told you so" if and when the symptoms worsen or you can get a second opinion. A third option would be to ask if you can just step down to a med like Zantac instead and then stop it if you continue to do well. I would be a little concerned that your new doc seems to be getting his continuing medical education from the drug rep and insurer literature and then getting it wrong at that. — CBI, MD

Response:

Question:

Here’s where I am — after 10-plus years of sinus problems (which escalated to about 6 infections in the last 8-9 months), my family physician finally sent me to an ENT.  ENT sent me for CT scan and allergy testing.  CT scans showed cysts (first thought they were polyps, but the report says cysts) filling 2/3 of left maxillary and 1/2 (back half) of the left (largest) sphenoid.  There was also thickening in the sphenoid, bottom of left frontal and at the opening (well, where there’s *supposed* to be an opening) to the right maxillary.  Ethmoids were mostly clear with just a little cloudiness in some small areas.  Dx: chronic sinusitis.  Fortunately, I am not in the midst of an acute attack just now. The allergy testing, about which I briefly posted last week, was negative (except for the histamine control).  In addition, the IgG/A/M bloodwork that the allergist/immunologist sent me in for has, so far, come up negative — but that’s only the ‘M’ part.  The jury is still out on the IgG/A portions — the lab screwed up and forgot to test for these.  Had more blood drawn for this early this past week, and I should have the results this week before my visit to the ENT on this coming Thursday to talk about surgery. At the moment I am ‘managing’ the sinus problems with Claritan D (although the ENT says he may have me try a combo decongestant and mucus thinner instead, since the allergy testing was negative and I may not need the antihistamine part, and certainly don’t need the sleepiness it brings).  I’m also using Singulair and Nasonex and several OTC things — saline spray, Xlear (sp?), nasal irrigation (still working on the head positioning, Dr. Grossan — thanks for your suggestion!), papaya enzymes, etc., etc.  I drink lots of water and actively stay as far from any triggers (to the non-allergenic rhinitis that complicates things) as possible. I do know that when I had to go off the Claritan D before allergy testing that I started with the problems again.  Awful headaches — on the right side, and also in back of my eyes and head.  And even now, with all this care, I still have headaches at various times.  Some days, I still have lots of drainage.  I know that the small-to-almost-nonexistant opening into the right maxillary is definitely part of the problem.  A couple of weeks ago, the whole side of my face was throbbing — finally I heard a long, drawn-out "sqeeeeeeeeak" (loud — like someone had stepped on a dog toy or something — even my husband heard it) and the headache disappeared. So I know at least a portion of this is the dreaded vacuum effect. Unfortunately, all my manipulations cannot quarantee that I can open it at any given time — even after all my various methods are tried. Once the headache starts, I’m out for the count unless I get lucky. Sometimes it lasts for days (even through the night). I am so tired (fatigue has been my middle name for years), and I am about 95-percent decided on surgery sometime in early October.  I’ve done a lot of reading here and other places on the risks and rates of recovery, and I’ve read tons of post-surgery stories (both good and bad) and have spoken with people who have had FESS (and had good outcomes).  I’m putting together a list of questions for the ENT appointment.  I’ll be taking my husband along so that he can ask questions and listen to the answers as well.  I believe that the ENT wants to avoid too much work in the sphenoid since the nerves or arteries or whatever are so close to some of the thickened portion, but at this point he believes that getting rid of the cyst is possible.  He would also remove the cyst in the left maxillary and enlarge the opening to the right.  Fortunately I have a beautifully straight septum which requires no work whatsoever.  Thank heaven for small favors. Is there anything that, in the experience of those here, is important to ask at this meeting to discuss surgery or that you should have asked but didn’t?  Also, any suggestions on building up your body/health before surgery?  I start back to work in September after five years home with my son — but fortunately I’ll be working with my husband, and he’s pretty lenient (if he knows what’s good for him) about the time I need to take off to recover.  I sure would appreciate any input on this.

Response:

On 4 Aug 2001 15:32:52 -0700, studio…@net-magic.net (LSM) wrote:

 ….. Is there anything that, in the experience of those here, is important to ask at this meeting to discuss surgery or that you should have asked but didn’t?  Also, any suggestions on building up your body/health before surgery?  I start back to work in September after five years home with my son — but fortunately I’ll be working with my husband, and he’s pretty lenient (if he knows what’s good for him) about the time I need to take off to recover.  I sure would appreciate any input on this.

I think it is important to evaluate the experience and reputation of the otolaryngologist. I would look for someone whosr primary specialty has been sinus surgery for many years. A University may be one place to look.

Response:

Question:

: You could be having an allergic reaction to the medication.  This is : something you should report to both your doctor and pharmacist (IMO a : pharmacist tends to do a better job of keeping track of the : medications you shouldn’t take than a doctor does). : There should be no direct problem from abruptly stopping Accolate, : however Rule #2 for asthmatics is: Never stop taking a medication : without checking with a doctor (unless this is covered by an ‘Asthma : Action Plan’). Except in this case, there is the potential for not stopping to be life-threatening.  I believe that the rule is if you get an allergic reaction to some medication, especially things like antibiotics, that you stop the medication first and find a doctor next, the speed depending on how serious the reaction is. : You should try to find a walk-in clinic in your area and consult with : a doctor. I agree entirely, except that I think that it would be a good idea to stop taking the medication if you suspect that it is causing an allergic reaction, and then get your hands on a doctor ASAP. Cheers, Kin Hoong

Response:

If you break out in an itchy blotchy rash after each dose then you should clearly stop the drug. There is no danger inherent to stopping Accolate abruptly other than worsening asthma. If you don’t feel that you were responding tot he Accolate than this should not be a problem. Keep taking the Zyrtec, it may be the only thing stopping a more severe reaction. If your asthma worsens contact your doctor immediately. — Good Luck, CBI, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Folks, I need some information.  Both my pharmacist and physician are unavailable for another two weeks [the health center is closed for the XMas holidays]. I have been taking Accolate for just over 2 weeks now; to be honest, I haven’t noticed a significant change in my asthma that can definitely be attributed to the Accolate as opposed to just getting over the stupid virus that I have had; though being sick means judging how well the underlying asthma *itself* is doing has been a challenge [respiratory infections are an almost guaranteed flare-er of my asthma]. HOWEVER, that is not what concerns me.  Last night for the third time or so that I have taken my dose I have broken out in a blotch rash/hives and been *severely* itchy, especiall on my legs.  Last night I finally clued into the fact that I think the Accolate is what is causing it — it started within a half hour of taking it, and the only thing I had was it and some water; nothing else that I can think of could possible have triggered the reaction.  I could have handled the headache that many people get; this kind of itchiness is intolerable. So, I haven’t taken my dose this morning [I am pretending I forgot ], and I want to stop taking it.  But I need to know if it is safe to stop taking it abruptly or not.  So: IS IT SAFE??  I’ve been on 20mg twice a day since the 11th of December, and have rarely forgotten to take it. FWIW, I am also on Zyrtec [aka Reactine in Canada; and have been for about 5 years] 10mg/d, Pulmicort Turbuhaler 1600mcg/d [haven't come off the increased dose from being sick yet; have been on this dose basically since the week before the US Thanksgiving], and Bricanyl as required [in the last few days, not needed at all].  I have been on deltasone 3X in the last month and a half, most recently a 40mg/d X3d, 20mg/d X3d, 10mg/d X3 days taper regimine [finished under week ago]; I have a burst dose Rx for deltasone [40mg/d X 3 d] if I need to use it, which I am allowed to use. So, folks, is it safe to come off of the Accolate abruptly, and if so/not, what should I look for if anything if I do?  I am assuming my asthma may worsen some, but I think I can manage that ok [I am allowed to flex my medications to a certain degree]. Thanks for your help!! SW.

Response:

HOWEVER, that is not what concerns me.  Last night for the third time or so that I have taken my dose I have broken out in a blotch rash/hives and been *severely* itchy, especiall on my legs.  Last night I finally clued into the fact that I think the Accolate is what is causing it — it started within a half hour of taking it, and the only thing I had was it and some water; nothing else that I can think of could possible have triggered the reaction.  I could have handled the headache that many people get; this kind of itchiness is intolerable.

You could be having an allergic reaction to the medication.  This is something you should report to both your doctor and pharmacist (IMO a pharmacist tends to do a better job of keeping track of the medications you shouldn’t take than a doctor does). There should be no direct problem from abruptly stopping Accolate, however Rule #2 for asthmatics is: Never stop taking a medication without checking with a doctor (unless this is covered by an ‘Asthma Action Plan’). You should try to find a walk-in clinic in your area and consult with a doctor.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Folks, I need some information.  Both my pharmacist and physician are unavailable for another two weeks [the health center is closed for the XMas holidays]. I have been taking Accolate for just over 2 weeks now; to be honest, I haven’t noticed a significant change in my asthma that can definitely be attributed to the Accolate as opposed to just getting over the stupid virus that I have had; though being sick means judging how well the underlying asthma *itself* is doing has been a challenge [respiratory infections are an almost guaranteed flare-er of my asthma]. HOWEVER, that is not what concerns me.  Last night for the third time or so that I have taken my dose I have broken out in a blotch rash/hives and been *severely* itchy, especiall on my legs.  Last night I finally clued into the fact that I think the Accolate is what is causing it — it started within a half hour of taking it, and the only thing I had was it and some water; nothing else that I can think of could possible have triggered the reaction.  I could have handled the headache that many people get; this kind of itchiness is intolerable. So, I haven’t taken my dose this morning [I am pretending I forgot ], and I want to stop taking it.  But I need to know if it is safe to stop taking it abruptly or not.  So: IS IT SAFE??  I’ve been on 20mg twice a day since the 11th of December, and have rarely forgotten to take it. FWIW, I am also on Zyrtec [aka Reactine in Canada; and have been for about 5 years] 10mg/d, Pulmicort Turbuhaler 1600mcg/d [haven't come off the increased dose from being sick yet; have been on this dose basically since the week before the US Thanksgiving], and Bricanyl as required [in the last few days, not needed at all].  I have been on deltasone 3X in the last month and a half, most recently a 40mg/d X3d, 20mg/d X3d, 10mg/d X3 days taper regimine [finished under week ago]; I have a burst dose Rx for deltasone [40mg/d X 3 d] if I need to use it, which I am allowed to use. So, folks, is it safe to come off of the Accolate abruptly, and if so/not, what should I look for if anything if I do?  I am assuming my asthma may worsen some, but I think I can manage that ok [I am allowed to flex my medications to a certain degree]. SW.

First, I’m not a doctor, but a well informed asthmatic taking Singulair (sometimes), inhaled steroids (just switching from Vanceril DS to Pulmicort; etc. Antileukotrienes like Accolate and Singulair don’t help all asthmatics, maybe half or 2/3. Your main preventor drug is your inhaled steroids, Pulmicort; and 1600ug is a very High Dose. My advice would be to try stopping Accolate for a while; any drug that can cause an allergic reaction like you described could be dangerous; and if it doesn’t help why take it.[The nice thing about asthma drugs is you can tell whether or not they are working] You may want to try Accolate again after your exacerbation is under control; or try the better drug Singulair. Here’s the Prescribing Info on Accolate: http://www.accolateinfo.com/ http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/zafirlukast.htm zafirlukast Excerpt: "Contraindications: Zafirlukast is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive  to zafirlukast or any of its inactive ingredients." My personal experience with a similar drug Singulair is initially it increased my personal best peak flow by 10%. Later I noticed I seemed to have signs of fatigue, and it doesn’t seem to help at all during exacerbations. So now I take it about every other day. It seems to work best when my asthma is relatively well controlled. I have recently had to switch to a higher strength steroid inhaler (Pulmicort) I had hoped the antileukotriene would be a steroid sparing drug, but it doesn’t seem to be the case; tho I think it still helps. Ellis

Response:

Folks, I need some information.  Both my pharmacist and physician are unavailable for another two weeks [the health center is closed for the XMas holidays]. I have been taking Accolate for just over 2 weeks now; to be honest, I haven’t noticed a significant change in my asthma that can definitely be attributed to the Accolate as opposed to just getting over the stupid virus that I have had; though being sick means judging how well the underlying asthma *itself* is doing has been a challenge [respiratory infections are an almost guaranteed flare-er of my asthma]. HOWEVER, that is not what concerns me.  Last night for the third time or so that I have taken my dose I have broken out in a blotch rash/hives and been *severely* itchy, especiall on my legs.  Last night I finally clued into the fact that I think the Accolate is what is causing it — it started within a half hour of taking it, and the only thing I had was it and some water; nothing else that I can think of could possible have triggered the reaction.  I could have handled the headache that many people get; this kind of itchiness is intolerable. So, I haven’t taken my dose this morning [I am pretending I forgot ], and I want to stop taking it.  But I need to know if it is safe to stop taking it abruptly or not.  So: IS IT SAFE??  I’ve been on 20mg twice a day since the 11th of December, and have rarely forgotten to take it. FWIW, I am also on Zyrtec [aka Reactine in Canada; and have been for about 5 years] 10mg/d, Pulmicort Turbuhaler 1600mcg/d [haven't come off the increased dose from being sick yet; have been on this dose basically since the week before the US Thanksgiving], and Bricanyl as required [in the last few days, not needed at all].  I have been on deltasone 3X in the last month and a half, most recently a 40mg/d X3d, 20mg/d X3d, 10mg/d X3 days taper regimine [finished under week ago]; I have a burst dose Rx for deltasone [40mg/d X 3 d] if I need to use it, which I am allowed to use. So, folks, is it safe to come off of the Accolate abruptly, and if so/not, what should I look for if anything if I do?  I am assuming my asthma may worsen some, but I think I can manage that ok [I am allowed to flex my medications to a certain degree]. Thanks for your help!! SW.

Response:

Question:

Hi all!  Just came from Dr, now we have 2 inhalers (Flovent and Albuterol) plus ventolin to add to the albuterol nebulizer.  We also have the Steroids (Predinisone) for 5 days and another allergy medicine to try (Claritin didn’t help)…..     Thanks everyone who posted and emailed me, we have an action plan now and the Doctor talked to me for a long time today about what to look for – in order to know to take her to the ER, signs like some of the ones mentioned…     Finding the trigger I’m thinking will be next to impossible since she only gets it 2x per year, we are thinking it’s pollen or something seasonal.  I tried to respond via dejanews about the environment suggestions, it’s not showing up here now but anyway, the possibility of eliminating dust mold etc are pretty remote, if it’s the house, carpet, furniture…. Thanks again all, Kathleen | Hi Steve and Kathleen, | | I have a daughter 6 1/2 years of age and a son 4 years of age. Both have | had asthma since they were 3 months old. | | I have two nebulizers at home and I give the kids ventolin when they are | coughing.  They also have taken preventative medication Intal (didn’t work) | and Pulmicort.  They are now on 2 other preventative treatments Flixatide | (which is like Pulmicort) and Serevent (which is a preventative ventolin). | | I have them under the control of a pediatric respritory doctor who is | superb.  I can give my kids Ventolin every 1 – 2 hours.  My asthma plan is | they have 2 machines close together 1/2 hour apart.  Wait an 1hr give | another and wait an 1 hr and give another, if they don’t settle I take them | up to the hospital or start a 3 day course of prednisolone. | | Take a good close look at their chest.  If their chest is suken when you | lift their shirt then they need oxygen immediately. | | If she needs prednisolone, I feel she needs a preventative.  My children | have not been able to stop preventative medication for more than 3 months at | a time. | | Are you in Australia? | | LA

Response:

Barry is a salesman.  He sells air cleaners.

I am glad that you asked this question as it was the first thing I thought when I read the posting.

Response:

Hi ! First let me say that I can not help you but before you toss this you might be able to help me… I am a preschool teacher ( 4 and 5 year olds) and more of my students are being diagnosed with asthma.  One of my students was hospilatized theis weekend. ( he’s fine now but it got me thinking) I have taken courses in Health, Safety and Nutrition as well as CPR and First Aid and yet I too, do not know much about the early signs of a problem. I hope I would recognize a child in a severe condition and could respond accordingly but I’m not sure I could detect the early signs…. Can you help educate me? Can you share some information? Do you know of any helpful books or brochures. I would hate to think I could overlook sign until a distressful situation developed.   I probably won’t remember how I got to this board so can you respond in a

Response:

Tough call. If your child is mature enough to understand how to use a peak flow meter then I would get one. It is a little plastic device that they blow into as hard as they can. Asthmatics have a hard time getting air out of their lungs quickly. If there is an asthma attack it will show up on the peak flow. Have your child do three blows twice a day and record the results. Know what her best is. If she is 80-100% of her best, she is ok. If she is 60-80% of her best she is having some trouble, needs albuterol, but you don’t need to rush to the ER. Just see your doctor as quickly as possible. Under 60% then an ER visit is indicated. Remember, asthma is a desease of inflammation, not bronchoconstriction. Albuterol is a bronchodilator and steroids are antiinflammatories. Although you cannot overdose albuterol you may get to a point were it’s not effective anymore because you need that steroid. Also, is your child on a preventative medicine? I hope that helps. For more information on asthma you can check out my website at www.ibabydoc.com. No spam I just love being a pediatrician and helping children. Dr. Michael Bornstein, M.D. F.A.A.P. www.ibabydoc.com

Response:

My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?

The Expert Panel Report 2 has a figure classifying severity of asthma exacerbations [Fig 3-9]. Some of the symptoms for a severe exacerbation are: Breathlessness–while at rest Talks in words, rather than phrases or sentences. Agitated Repiratory rate often 30/min Wheeze–usually loud; throughout inhale & exhale Pulse–120/min Peak flow <50% personal best [a 5 yr old should be             able to use a peak flow meter] Note: The presence of several parameters, but not necessarily all, indicates the general classification of the exacerbation.  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??

Ask your doctor; albuterol is a fairly safe drug. Current asthma guidelines are to have an Action Plan to increase drugs when peak flow decreases or symptoms increase; typically a steroid inhaler is added or increased and albuterol used as needed, when peak flows drop below 80% personal best or symptoms increase. Such an Action Plan may help avoid the need to go on oral steroids like Pedipred or make a trip to ER. http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/treatmnt/updates/patient.htm Patient Asthma Action Plans Ellis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen

Response:

My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen I am not looking for treatment or medical gagets, just people who are familiar with this scenario — "If you think you are too small to be effective then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen I am not looking for treatment or medical gagets, just people who are familiar with this scenario — "If you think you are too small to be effective then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it.

This in no way remotely addresses the questions she was answering. I don’t understand you people.

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school.

That is assuming that there is an ‘environmental problem.’ Generally, in the case of asthma the problem will be allergy. Identifying the allergen in question is a must before you try to spend any money controlling things that usually are not causing problems. "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it. This in no way remotely addresses the questions she was answering. I don’t understand you people.

Barry is a salesman.  He sells air cleaners. PS  Barry, are you still selling Alpine products? "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

: : Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical : devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental : problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and : pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to : be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have : you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing : problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health : problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the : triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the : big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. : : That is assuming that there is an ‘environmental problem.’ : : Generally, in the case of asthma the problem will be allergy. : Identifying the allergen in question is a must before you try to spend : any money controlling things that usually are not causing problems. I do have asthma triggered by environmental problems and the air cleaners don’t help much if any. If you have an environmental trigger you get away from it or clean it up. At best a room sized air filter help me a very little bit. Cleaning the airconditioner ducts and sealing the leak between the cloths dryer and the return air and putting a decent filtering set helped a lot. The fabric softener in laundry products causes me problems if I get in in my lungs. I don’t use the crap on my cloths and we had changed for the one that caused me trouble but there was still enough in the  ducts to cause problems. I am not cured but I am a lot better. Before you spend money fixing problems find out what  triggers the asthma. An allergy test is a good start. Baring that some commons sense things that don’t cost anything are don’t run the vacuum while your child is in the house. Do it when she will be at school or a friends for a few hours. Make sure some fresh air gets in the house don’t live on recycled air. Wash the bed clothes in hot 150 degree water and dry them on high heat or dry them on a line in the sun shine. Both hard on dust mites. Keep the humidity between 30 and 50% if possible. Higher than this dust mites an molds are a problem lower than this air way irritation is a problem. Use ivory soap and avoid perfumed stuff for her in particular. They may or may not cause her a problem but they don’t help. Don’t use perfumed products when you can get a better cheaper plain product. Make your house smell clean by being clean not by deodorizers. Don’t use fabric softener on her clothes or bedding. It may not be a problem but it won’t help her asthma. One thing Barry is right on about is roof leaks and black slimy mold. If you have black slimy mold in the house you need to find out what it is and get rid of it. Some of them are very very bad news. They are also very rare. The seem to like to grow on the paper on sheet rock in the walls. Mildew is a lesser problem that should be dealt with by lowering the humidity until it is not much of a problem except at the corners of the bath tube and so on. Keeping molds out of carped bath rooms is hard to do. If you must have carpeted bathrooms make sure the shower curtain is tight and run the exhaust fan a lot and make sure the male members of the family have good aim. If you have animals move them outside or get rid of them. Don’t use a lot of Clorox or other cleaners that irritate the airways while she is in the house. Until you find the triggers or she grows enough that the asthma no longer causes attacks because the air ways get big enough the don’t close off you are running blind on trying to find relief by avoiding triggers. An allergist and pulmunolgist are your best bets for finding triggers and developing a plan to treat the asthma. Your daughter may be able to tell you what makes her feel bad. Sometimes they are right. — Gordon    W5RED

Response:

Question:

I remember day 5 thru 10 to be the worst. day 15 (sweating profusely, brain shocks,couldn’t eat, or drink coffee, drank huge amounts of water) , it was had  already tapered down. Day 30 I had brain shocks maybe once every 2-3 days, but other than that I was pretty normal Week 8 I was completely back to normal. BTW, if you sample a fair amount of posts, you’ll find that they are all in their first 2 weeks of withdrawal. After that not many people post anymore. That is an encouraging sign.

Response:

Uther, I hate to be harsh, but ultimately, it just doesn’t matter.

amen.  sux, tha truth. Take your new medicine and continue the taper.  It will end when it ends.  Sorry, but that’s it.

i hate bottom lines !  and unfortunately , Gary’s right.. you can’t rush a detox from that crap.

Response:

I’ll keep telling my brain shocks they don’t matter and maybe they’ll get bored and go bother someone else

thanks a HEAP !  i gottem now.. oh holy.. i just read the rest of yer post, Uther.. i don’t think there’s any addictive pharmacological properties in Effexor, unless it’s that red dye. probly more mental. want some REAL withdrawals?  eat xanax for a few and cold turkey THAT… you will commune with your life, as flashed before your eyes…. 24/7, i promise you.   ~tanya

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll keep telling my brain shocks they don’t matter and maybe they’ll get bored and go bother someone else thanks a HEAP !  i gottem now.. oh holy.. i just read the rest of yer post, Uther.. i don’t think there’s any addictive pharmacological properties in Effexor, unless it’s that red dye. probly more mental. want some REAL withdrawals?  eat xanax for a few and cold turkey THAT… you will commune with your life, as flashed before your eyes…. 24/7, i promise you.   ~tanya

Unfortunately Effexor is associated with withdrawal problems that can be just as bad as Xanax withdrawal. A way to get around it is switch to Prozac and then taper off of Prozac which is much easier to stop. Philip

Response:

The worst withdrawal I ever had was from quitting good old fashioned coffee cold turkey. I was in my 20’s and lived in a very rural area, was doing a pot of coffee a day. Big snowstorm showed up, out of coffee, no way to get to town to get my fix. Horrible headaches for 3 days, stomach cramps etc. I gave up coffee for awhile after that, went back to it, later decided to cut down, tapered slowly, no withdrawal. Now I do 1 mug of black coffee each morning, forgot it one morning and didn’t notice. I tapered xanax last summer, cut down by .25 mg every 3 days, no withdrawal, stopped it for nearly a month, then some serious shit happened in my life, a family member phoned screaming at me at 2 am  and I ran for the xanax bottle. Xanax not only keeps me sane, it keeps some people who have to be around me sane too. I don’t recommend quitting cold turkey for any substance. Withdrawals are hell. —-’Course – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – want some REAL withdrawals? eat xanax for a few and cold turkey THAT… you will commune with your life, as flashed before your eyes…. 24/7, i promise you. ~tanya —

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ll keep telling my brain shocks they don’t matter and maybe they’ll get bored and go bother someone else thanks a HEAP !  i gottem now.. oh holy.. i just read the rest of yer post, Uther.. i don’t think there’s any addictive pharmacological properties in Effexor, unless it’s that red dye. probly more mental. want some REAL withdrawals?  eat xanax for a few and cold turkey THAT… you will commune with your life, as flashed before your eyes…. 24/7, i promise you.   ~tanya Unfortunately Effexor is associated with withdrawal problems that can be just as bad as Xanax withdrawal. A way to get around it is switch to Prozac and then taper off of Prozac which is much easier to stop. Philip

I found withdrawing from Effexor extraordinarily difficult but necessary. Fortunately I had Xanax to help and the knowledge that I was starting a new AD. Despite the problems withdrawing, Effexor worked well for me for 5 years. Meryl

Response:

I found withdrawing from Effexor extraordinarily difficult but necessary. Fortunately I had Xanax to help and the knowledge that I was starting a new AD. Despite the problems withdrawing, Effexor worked well for me for 5 years. Meryl

Hi Meryl, how come you had to quit after 5 years?  I found it tough enough after 4 weeks Uthur

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I found withdrawing from Effexor extraordinarily difficult but necessary. Fortunately I had Xanax to help and the knowledge that I was starting a new AD. Despite the problems withdrawing, Effexor worked well for me for 5 years. Meryl Hi Meryl, how come you had to quit after 5 years?  I found it tough enough after 4 weeks Uthur

I developed adverse side effects. The worrying one was high blood pressure so I had to switch ADs. It was also pooping out as an antidepressant. I had climbed to 300 mg over the years but my depression was not controlled by the end. Meryl

Response:

Uther, I hate to be harsh, but ultimately, it just doesn’t matter.  Take your new medicine and continue the taper.  It will end when it ends.  Sorry, but that’s it. Gary

Thanks Gary, your philosophical approach is refreshing.  I’ll keep telling my brain shocks they don’t matter and maybe they’ll get bored and go bother someone else Uthur – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy friends, I’m currently going through the less than enjoyable process of coming off this strange old drug.  Here’s my situation: I was on 75mg Effexor XL a day for 4 weeks in total. I went from that to 37.5mg for 14 days. Then I went to 37.5mg every second day for about 10 days. 3 days ago I took my last dose. I felt pretty bad last night and again today.  My questions are these – when do you think the withdrawal will peak, and how long before it is completely gone?  I came off Celexa a year ago a bit too abruptly and had withdrawal for 10 weeks – I hope I won’t go through that again! All opinions are welcome.  Thanks. Uthur

Response:

Uther, I hate to be harsh, but ultimately, it just doesn’t matter.  Take your new medicine and continue the taper.  It will end when it ends.  Sorry, but that’s it. Gary

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Howdy friends, I’m currently going through the less than enjoyable process of coming off this strange old drug.  Here’s my situation: I was on 75mg Effexor XL a day for 4 weeks in total. I went from that to 37.5mg for 14 days. Then I went to 37.5mg every second day for about 10 days. 3 days ago I took my last dose. I felt pretty bad last night and again today.  My questions are these – when do you think the withdrawal will peak, and how long before it is completely gone?  I came off Celexa a year ago a bit too abruptly and had withdrawal for 10 weeks – I hope I won’t go through that again! All opinions are welcome.  Thanks. Uthur

Response:

Howdy friends, I’m currently going through the less than enjoyable process of coming off this strange old drug.  Here’s my situation: I was on 75mg Effexor XL a day for 4 weeks in total. I went from that to 37.5mg for 14 days. Then I went to 37.5mg every second day for about 10 days. 3 days ago I took my last dose. I felt pretty bad last night and again today.  My questions are these – when do you think the withdrawal will peak, and how long before it is completely gone?  I came off Celexa a year ago a bit too abruptly and had withdrawal for 10 weeks – I hope I won’t go through that again! All opinions are welcome.  Thanks. Uthur

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Question:

Thanks for the link, Matt…this really is just plain scary, though.  I also think that my doc was stupid to give me a pill that may cause insomnia…I do’nt sleep as it is. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My advice: Follow your doctor’s instructions. If you experience any troubling side effects, ask your doctor about them. You can also look up Zoloft at www.webmd.com. The site has lists of possible side effects, warnings, and advice on what to do if you experience a particular side effect. I have experienced many of the common (and some less common) side effects of Zoloft. Right now the side effects don’t bother me much, but when I took a higher dose the side effects were very troubling. I hope Zoloft will help you, without any serious side effects. Finding the right meds and the right dose can take time. Good luck.

Response:

i’m panicking, freaking out, experiencing fight or flight feelings without reason, whatever the hell you want to call it… drink your water and breathe, Angela…breathe…in and out…nice deep breaths. Reason #1 why I never take pills: fear of adverse reactions

My advice: Follow your doctor’s instructions. If you experience any troubling side effects, ask your doctor about them. You can also look up Zoloft at www.webmd.com. The site has lists of possible side effects, warnings, and advice on what to do if you experience a particular side effect. I have experienced many of the common (and some less common) side effects of Zoloft. Right now the side effects don’t bother me much, but when I took a higher dose the side effects were very troubling. I hope Zoloft will help you, without any serious side effects. Finding the right meds and the right dose can take time. Good luck.

Response:

Even if something happens, the overwhelming chances are that it won’t be anywhere near as bad as the other inconveniences in life we put up with, colds, flu, hangovers, infections, etc.  It’s a walk in the park compared to those.

I suppose. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bruce.

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Yeah…I’m just freaked.  I’m still a little bit worried, but not as badly as I was.  Thanks, bruce.

Even if something happens, the overwhelming chances are that it won’t be anywhere near as bad as the other inconveniences in life we put up with, colds, flu, hangovers, infections, etc.  It’s a walk in the park compared to those. Bruce.

Response:

Once my depression got bad enough, my fear was of NOT taking them. Bruce.

Yeah…I’m just freaked.  I’m still a little bit worried, but not as badly as I was.  Thanks, bruce. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Reason #1 why I never take pills: fear of adverse reactions

Once my depression got bad enough, my fear was of NOT taking them. Bruce.

Response:

Try to look at the odds of having an adverse reaction. I think you’ll find they are very very low. You have more danger from accidents and other things than from this medication.

Thanks, Stan.  I feel a little better now.  I talked to some people on the phone…not about this, but it dissipated my fear, distracted me from it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hugs Stan

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i’m panicking, freaking out, experiencing fight or flight feelings without reason, whatever the hell you want to call it… drink your water and breathe, Angela…breathe…in and out…nice deep breaths. Reason #1 why I never take pills: fear of adverse reactions

Try to look at the odds of having an adverse reaction. I think you’ll find they are very very low. You have more danger from accidents and other things than from this medication. Hugs Stan

Response:

i’m panicking, freaking out, experiencing fight or flight feelings without reason, whatever the hell you want to call it… drink your water and breathe, Angela…breathe…in and out…nice deep breaths. Reason #1 why I never take pills: fear of adverse reactions

Response:

Question:

Hi Charla, Thanks for the response.  Gradual is ok with me, so just getting past some of the things that would otherwise stress me out even while on xanax is an indication the Zoloft may be doing some good? I’m glad you didn’t mind my ‘oh so detailed’ rambling.  I was a great student in creative writing in highschool. little bear–who is feeling better just from writing that post last night; theraputic, it was  to get all my ducks in a row….especially after all of the crap about Zoloft hitting this board recently. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Little Bear, I can not translate sorry. But I find your spirit and strength unbeatable in the face of adversary. IME with Zoloft being the first and only AD Ive taken..I could evaluate it helping me in times of trouble..because I did not react as intensly to the stressors. eg. My husband gets layed off,we were living at my moms,a five month old at the time..Snow piling up outside as high as the fence it dawns on me something is working. I was  relaxed and accepting of the circumstance.. I think when you have found the right mg range with the right AD you gradually see results. For me it did not just happen it was a gradual.I did not know when it started working..I just started feeling better. BTW I like your detailed post..:-) Hope all gets better soon Charla — Being safe is about being seen and heard and allowed to be who you are and to speak your truth.                                    —Rachel Naomi Remen,M.D. Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed  LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED.  ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast.  I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT.  This was a joke indeed.  I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s.  Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily.  I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway.  I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with.  And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city.  I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called.  I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly.  I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later.  So, I had something to look forward to finally!  This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control.  I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing.  I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to.  Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!   Now, keep in mind, and you might remember I went on Wellbutrin to quit smoking (when hubby had pneumonia in July) and though I did quit smoking (HOORAY FOR ME!!!) the Wellbutrin just about did me in. I was a screaming, sweaty, panicky mess–24hrs a day for about 9wks I think. To be fair, for those of you who are new to this group, I was warned by some of our veterans about Wellbutrin and that it would not be a good choice for someone already suffering anxiety. But for a few reasons, I took it anyway, quit smoking and proved our experts to be experts.  I reacted word for word the way I was warned I would. It was awful but YMMV when it comes to meds. It just wasn’t right for me.  I was then put on Zoloft 50mgs daily and was still getting better in the back pain department.  I had no bad side effects from the Zoloft (some sweating and a little irritablity at first but was immediately better when I put down the Wellbutrin so it’s difficult to say whether it was getting off the W and on the Z or both.  Anyway, out of the blue during PT, it was discovered I have an internal impingement on my right shoulder.  Off to another specialist who says no more PT until he fixes my shoulder either with cortisone injections or simple surgery. H gave me a shot in the bursa? and my elbow was stuck to my waistline for a week. Right arm too….bummer.  The problem is that while I am away from ‘hands on’ PT, my back muscles go back into spasms and my neck tightens up and all of the progress I’ve made is fading quickly.  I am having a bit more difficulty getting in touch with the shoulder doc so no MRI has been scheduled yet and I’m hanging in limbo.  My PT is frustrated for obvious reasons–things were going so well. Let me be clear on something here: when I say my back got so much better, it is to say that the pain went from unbearable to bearable and I was able to move again and because of that progress, I was mentally more at ease (and I always believed the pain caused the anxiety since I could think of nothing else).  Anyway, during the Wellbutrin phase, I was up to the max xanax dose for me 2.5-3mgs daily. It was awful. With the Zoloft, so far 5-6wks? I am down to .25mgs 3/day. But I can feel the urge to take more while I go through the return of the back pain and watching all that progress go down the drain. I may need to go up another .25 each day–either that or chew my lips off, grit my teeth (Oh yeah, I had 3 crowns done last month-I consider dental work a setback just for existing!) or get angry all the time, etc.  See, I was so looking forward to the AD taking over for the xanax–I just knew that Zoloft was the answer.  I feel sorta good on it; I am cautiously optimistic. Now I don’t know what to expect or how I should proceed. I know I have bored you silly—-I don’t know why my posts are always so long.  I guess I don’t want to miss anything and then I read your posts that are so clear and concise and to the point……But I had so many points <BG I look forward to your observations regarding the Zoloft, how much better do you think I should expect to get. How do I know if it’s the right one for me, and isn’t it a bitch that just when I might be able to pull everything together, half of it falls apart. I’m not going to know if the Zoloft helps my anxiety until I have a normal, calm, regular period of time in my life to evaluate it. What I mean is, the thought of the back pain returning in it’s original form is enough to scare the crap out of me. And then there’s the holidays….OMG, don’t know if I am going to make it. Thanks everyone who took the time to read this in it’s entirety.  I look forward to any responses at all. little bear–who

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Response:

Hi Cheryl, I  have responded in length to other’s posts to this thread and I guess I’ve said all that can be said (hopefully, ASAP is secretely thinking). But thanks for sharing your coffee with me this morning and for your kind words. The "Jim Carrey on Acid:" cracked me up.  See, I can be cracked up. That hasn’t been true for months and months.  Thank you for your prayers, I believe they help–I really do. little bear-who needs a nap now (see you in 6mo) NOT :0} – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Little Bear,   I wish I could help you with the Zoloft issue…but I am on Remeron and I have been on Wellbutrin and it made me nuts!  Jim Carrey on Acid so to speak!  Anyway, your story brought tears to my eyes.  I can identify, being chronically ill myself.  I know the vicious vicious cycles it produces, the one illness festering into another into another.  I am on pain meds myself and the "false sense of well being" really hit me.  When I take them it’s the ONLY time I feel "normal."  Little Bear, you have been through so much and I think you have maintained your sense of self, humor and faith. Just know you are not alone…and I am here and we are all here for you. And I love long posts, I kick back with the old cup of coffee and feel like you are right in my living room.  God bless you, friend.  I will keep you in my prayers and mostly in my thoughts. Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed  LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED.  ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast.  I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT.  This was a joke indeed.  I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s.  Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily.  I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway.  I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with.  And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city.  I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called.  I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly.  I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later.  So, I had something to look forward to finally!  This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control.  I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing.  I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to.  Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!   Now, keep in mind, and you might remember I went on Wellbutrin to quit smoking (when hubby had pneumonia in July) and though I did quit smoking (HOORAY FOR ME!!!) the Wellbutrin just about did me in. I was a screaming, sweaty, panicky mess–24hrs a day for about 9wks I think. To be fair, for those of you who are new to this group, I was warned by some of our veterans about Wellbutrin and that it would not be a good choice for someone already suffering anxiety. But for a few reasons, I took it anyway, quit smoking and proved our experts to be experts.  I reacted word for word the way I was warned I would. It was awful but YMMV when it comes to meds. It just wasn’t right for me.  I was then put on Zoloft 50mgs daily and was still getting better in the back pain department.  I had no bad side effects from the Zoloft (some sweating and a little irritablity at first but was immediately better when I put down the Wellbutrin so it’s difficult to say whether it was getting off the W and on the Z or both.  Anyway, out of the blue during PT, it was discovered I have an internal impingement on my right shoulder.  Off to another specialist who says no more PT until he fixes my shoulder either with cortisone injections or simple surgery. H gave me a shot in the bursa? and my elbow was stuck to my waistline for a week. Right arm too….bummer.  The problem is that while I am away from ‘hands on’ PT, my back muscles go back into spasms and my neck tightens up and all of the progress I’ve made is fading quickly.  I am having a bit more difficulty getting in touch with the shoulder doc so no MRI has been scheduled yet and I’m hanging in limbo.  My PT is frustrated for obvious reasons–things were going so well. Let me be clear on something here: when I say my back got so much better, it is to say that the pain went from unbearable to bearable and I was able to move again and because of that progress, I was mentally more at ease (and I always believed the pain caused the anxiety since I could think of nothing else).  Anyway, during the Wellbutrin phase, I was up to the max xanax dose for me 2.5-3mgs daily.  It was awful. With the Zoloft, so far 5-6wks? I am down to .25mgs 3/day. But I can feel the urge to take more while I go through the return of the back pain and watching all that progress go down the drain. I may need to go up another .25 each day–either that or chew my lips off, grit my teeth (Oh yeah, I had 3 crowns done last month-I consider dental work a setback just for existing!) or get angry all the time, etc.  See, I was so looking forward to the AD taking over for the xanax–I just knew that Zoloft was the answer.  I feel sorta good on it; I am cautiously optimistic. Now I don’t know what to expect or how I should proceed. I know I have bored you silly—-I don’t know why my posts are always so long.  I guess I don’t want to miss anything and then I read your posts that are so clear and concise and to the point……But I had so many points <BG I look forward to your observations regarding the Zoloft, how much better do you think I should expect to get. How do I know if it’s the right one for me, and isn’t it a bitch that just when I might be able to pull everything together, half of it falls apart. I’m not going to know if the Zoloft helps my anxiety until I have a normal, calm, regular period of time in my life to evaluate it. What I mean is, the thought of the back pain returning in it’s original form is enough to scare the crap out of me. And then there’s the holidays….OMG, don’t know if I am going to make it. Thanks everyone who took the time to read this in it’s entirety.  I look forward to any

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Response:

Hi Chip, Good to hear from you!  First of all, don’t I know how complicated my situation is.  That is why it is so difficult to get a handle on any progress made and being terrified to let any of it go (the back thing). Let me itemize a bit. Smoking-easy as could be to stop, never had an urge since. Can take it or leave it for friends and family–would never preach. I always take my meds as prescribed. Never one for the other or vice versa. I do not drink alcohol at all anymore. I used to love it. Problem is, I take pain meds and xanax from the time I get up in the AM every four hours. I am on a pain mgt program so I don’t wait for the pain.  And I just happen to take the xanax at the same time. So if I were to lack one or the other, it would feel the same I’ve been living with the back and shoulder thing for 3yrs, it is better than it has ever been–and I’m mentally better for it, but I also fear a huge setback if this shoulder thing isn’t taken care of soon. I’m comfortable with all of my docs–no added anxiety there, though the shoulder guy could use a better bedside manner and might have warned me about the shoulder pain that resulted from the injection. Also, I would be less stressed if he would call back so we can get going on this. Ironically, my old insurance runs out end of Nov. and is currently paying 100% due I have met max out of pocket for year (boy, that says something doesn’t it?) Holiday season? Can’t avoid it, can I.  So I’ll just blow them away with gourmet stuffings and mouth watering desserts.  Nothing traditional–I need to occupy my mind and feed my ego <VBG.  I got through my husbands near fatal illness this summer without a scratch. You were all a tremendous help (for the 40th time). My husband is the kind of man who takes me as I am. The other morning (the shoulder morning) I walked into the bathroom when he was showering and said, "you know, I think you may want to trade me in on a newer model with a good warranty program, as it seems I’m falling apart a little more each day".  He said, "yeah, but if I recall, I got a lifetime guarantee when I married you". I bitch about him sometimes but he is head and shoulders above any other man I (personally know). And I love him dearly with never a doubt he feels the same way.  How do I rate my recovery?  Well, I feel real happiness for the first time in a long time. I get through situations normally considered difficult, with much more ease. I can go a bit longer between xanax doses. Yesterday I went 7 1/2 hrs (and though you may think they would, pain meds do not control anxiety at all!) And I no longer feel euphoria when taking my pain meds–that pleasant effect lasted a very short time……so I take them on the theory that if I don’t and my back flares up, we can undo much of what we have accomplished.  Much like the situation I face with the shoulder.  My PT is so upset–she could probably use about .25mgs Well Chip, you said all comments were welcome and I handed you a few to get started with but if I had to grade myself it would probably look something like this:  1996-F   1997-F  1998-F 1999 C+ / B- depending on the day–now that is just for my mental state and anxiety. Unfortunately, since my mental outlook depends so much on my physical health, it’s like a yo-yo.  Oh, yeah, nearly forgot–before the Zoloft, I had constant fears of having cancer or any one of 20 different horrible diseases. I tortured myself with thoughts of ‘who will take care of my family when I go’. That seems silly to me now, but it was very real believe me.  I also think the Zoloft has given me the gift of GAB as it works to control the gift of GAD. little bear Little Bear, I know for my recurrant depression and panic anxiety (with agoraphobia) I need a "cocktail" of meds including Klonopin 2 mg/day, Zoloft 150 mg/day, desipramine 50 mg/day, and p.r.n.  Xanax ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/day. It can take time to find the right mixture of meds to make you feel better. And that mixture can change from time to time as your body adjusts to the chronic administration of your meds. You have the additional problems of back and shoulder pain which makes your situation even more complex than mine. I would advise taking pain meds for pain, and anti-anxiety meds for anxiety. I.E. don’t take more Xanax because you have increased back or shoulder pain! (take pain meds) It’s difficult for me to judge how you are doing because you have introduded so many variables into your equation (panic anxiety, cig smoking, back and shoulder pain, fear of "terminal" illness, stress over husband’s illness this past summer,  multiple care providers, upcoming holiday season, etc). Plus, you are married to a man and I know how difficult we can be to live with sometimes! How would you translate your progress? How are you feeling these days? How do you think you are doing? All comments and observations are welcome!! You seem to be in good spirits. Chip my progress? Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED. ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast. I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT. This was a joke indeed. I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s. Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily. I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway. I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with. And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city. I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called. I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly. I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later. So, I had something to look forward to finally! This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control. I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing. I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to. Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!

Question:

Jeff writes  (lots snipped): "I’m not sure what to do. I think it’s time to try this but I’m nervous. Maybe I’m not really depressed. I’m not sick, am I? Disease? I don’t have any disease, I’m just kinda sad. Um, maybe I’m just tired or something." When I was in the hospital the first time (1983?) the first thing they did was give me  a blood test, which was supposed to show whether I was depressed or not.  All I could think, until the results came back, was "What if I’m _not_ depressed!  What if they won’t try to help me!  THEN what am I supposed to do?"  I smile at this, now, but I was so miserable then, and I was so tired of trying to figure it out by myself.   "See I’m worried that I’m making the "easy" move. That I’m giving up the fight." I didn’t take meds for about 11 years, after that first hospitalization. I did stay with my shrink for 3 years.  I fought all that time.  Fighting wore me out, and I finally gave in and tried Zoloft.  It was a big help, that first time around, but I stopped taking it and life almost immediately threw me a series of curve balls that I couldn’t hit back. Now I’m taking it again (31 days in, now) and I’m noticing this time how it helps me to fight, but without allowing me to stop.  I still have to use all of the resources I learned in therapy to keep going.  And life is still hard.  But it is a little easier with Zoloft than without.  I highly recommend it.   "And what about side effects?" Zoloft has never made me sleepy.  It seems to make me wake up faster, in fact.  Sometimes I get sorta edgy, but I’m not sure if that’s me or the med.  The most noticable side effect I’ve had is occasional diarhea, but I’d trade chronic depression for that anyday. "The truth is I do want to try this. I think it can work. I think that if it does work I might have the strength to fight back and put my life where I’d like it to be. I think that if I battle the biological agents of this disease I can learn to live with the psychology of  my world. (Of course I worry that I’m setting myself up for a fall.) I am kind of excited, because I feel like maybe I’m starting to help myself." Here is something you wrote to me when I first started posting here.  It might bear re-reading: "Right now I’m coming to terms with my depression. Instead of being one of the walking wounded, I’m trying to get better….To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if anyone wants to read what I say. I’m not sure if they’ll respond. But I’m going to do it anyway. Because I want to try to help myself." Since you wrote that, I have watched you go through your first therapy session, publish an article (which, BTW, I really enjoyed), and now you’re going on meds.  I am very, very proud of you.  You really ARE doing everything you can to help yourself, and I feel confident that you will win this fight.  Keep it up, and keep us posted. My one real piece of advice about Zoloft is to remember that it may seem to do _nothing_ for several weeks.  Hang in there during that time, even if you get sad or frustrated.   Cheering for Jeffrey, marijo

Response:

Jeff said: I’m not sure what to do. I think it’s time to try this but I’m nervous. Maybe I’m not really depressed. I’m not sick, am I? Disease? I don’t have any disease, I’m just kinda sad. Um, maybe I’m just tired or something. Maybe I should try meditating like my friend said. See I’m worried that I’m making the "easy" move.  That I’m giving up the fight.

Naturally you need to do what seems right to you, so this is not an attempt to "talk you into something", but just some insight from someone who "has been there".  OK?  (Not twisting your arm, and everyone is different, so your mileage may vary.) Five months ago I was pretty much a basket case.  I had been waging my own fight against depression, and I was losing the fight _big time_.  Wasn’t functioning well at work or at home, losing weight, couldn’t sleep, and just a wreck. I finally decided that this battle was not a "do it yourself" project, and went to see my GP.  He diagnosed depression, gave me a prescription for Zoloft, and referred me to a psychologist. Within a couple of weeks it was clear I was winning the battle I had been trying to fight for years (I am in my late 50’s) with no success. I was again functional, although maybe still a bit "fragile", and in a few more weeks it really was hard to remember how bad I felt for years.  Now, 5 months later, I no longer visit the therp and am easing down on my Zoloft.  I can only kick myself for waiting so long! It’s not a "miracle" cure….  just taking the pill will not work by itself, but it gave me that extra help that I needed.  I also used meditation, a lot of physical exercise, and the support of my family.  Also, the folks here at ASD were a big help, even if they didn’t know it since I have never posted here before, just lurked. Those areall tools I will continue to use, and hopefully I can go from here without medication, but I will not hesitate to go back to Zoloft if it seems I am "losing it". And what about side effects? Am I asking for more trouble than I’ve already got? And is Zoloft the right one? You guys say it makes you sleepy. She said the good thing about it is that it doesn’t make you sleepy. (I know everyone’s different)

In my case the side effects were minimal.  Didn’t make me sleepy, but did have an effect on my sex life.  No loss of desire or "ability" or enjoyment, but it just "takes longer". (At my age, everything takes longer! <grin) Are the side effects really that bad?

Not in my case. Does it matter if it beats back the depression?

Most of the side effects I’ve heard of would be much less painful than the depression. Just a final thought.  The meds do not work "overnight".  In my case it took a couple of weeks, and I’ve heard that it can take even longer before you really notice a dramatic change, although just  "finally doing something about it" will probably give you a better attitude. Hang in there! "I used to wish the universe were fair.  Then one day it hit me:  What if the universe were fair?  Then all the awful things that  happen to us in life, would happen because we deserved  them.  So now I take great pleasure in the general hostility  and unfairness of things." — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

Response:

Ok, so I finally got my Phych. appointment. We talked for a while and she ultimately reccomended that I give meds a shot. My therp also reccomends. She wants to go with Zoloft. She thinks that it has the least interactions and she’s had the most success with it. So she gave me the prescription.

When I was seeing a psych, that was what my scrip was; no side effects for me, wonderful mental clarity- I finally had a glimpse of what I believe a normally functional brain was like- for me it was like living in a parallel universe.  I know you’ve been hanging out here long enough to appreciate ‘YMMV’ if you’ve read many posts about ADs. Its entirely possibly Zoloft may do nothing for you, or you might have any one or several side effects, or a different AD might finally turn out to be effective for you, or none- but ya gotta start somewhere.  I know that after some recent experience with St. John’s wort, I’d go back to Zoloft in a flash if I could afford it.    I’m not sure what to do. I think it’s time to try this but I’m nervous.

Yup- I was nervous too, didn’t like the idea of taking something that was going to mess with my brain chemistry- but when I gave myself a chance to consider the alternative, which was sinking back into a suicidal place, unable to respond to talk therapy, it wasn’t really a hard choice for me.                Maybe I’m not really depressed. I’m not sick, am I? Disease? I don’t have any disease, I’m just kinda sad. Um, maybe I’m just tired or something. Maybe I should try meditating like my friend said.

Stop, stop- you’re making me grin & I’m s’posed to be depressed! Well, if you’re tired, try taking a nap- maybe you’ve tried that?  ;-) ; if you’re not really depressed (chemically), Zoloft most likely won’t have any effect on your mental state (unless it happens to be ineffective for you).  Unlikely that meditating would do any harm- for me it is calming, good for racing thoughts, confusion- but I’ve not noticed its made much of a dent in my depression.                                                                                                           See I’m worried that I’m making the "easy" move. That I’m giving up the fight.

I wonder about this with myself too.  But if you stay in therapy, commit yourself to keep working- & it seems that your therp should track how you’re doing.  I have noticed that some ppl experience an emotional "flatness"/ difficulty in accessing their feelings that could be a hindrance.  Or the meds could work great for you, so you just maintain on the meds & decide to loaf in or quit therapy- been there- eventually it caught up to me again.  I just think you have to keep those possibilities in mind & consult w/ your therp. And what about side effects? Am I asking for more trouble than I’ve already got? And is Zoloft the right one? You guys say it makes you sleepy. She said the good thing about it is that it doesn’t make you sleepy. (I know everyone’s different) Accckkkkkkk!    The truth is I do want to try this. I think it can work. I think that if it does work I might have the strength to fight back and put my life where I’d like it to be. I think that if I battle the biological agents of this disease I can learn to live with the psychology of  my world.

Exactly- that was my experience with meds and therapy                     (Of course I worry that I’m setting myself up for a fall.) I am kind of excited, because I feel like maybe I’m starting to help myself. Are the side effects really that bad? Does it matter if it beats back the depression?

Keep in mind when you read posts about side effects here or in Dejanews that ppl who experience the downside are much more motivated to write about that experience than those who have  a relatively easy experience (I’ve never written a post "WOW! Zoloft’s free of side effects!")  IOW, the sample is hopelessly skewed-  not to say that any one persons experience isn’t valid _for them_- or any 5 ppls experience. I think that as with so much in life- you just have to experience it- theory and other ppl’s words are no match for your doing it.  Chances are the right med (not necessarily Zoloft) is going to be a help.  If it doesn’t help, yeah, it could be disappointing.  Its a risk, but no way a foolish one.  Hope it works for you  :-) Take care,             FanMan You shall be free indeed when your days   are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief, But rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.  -K. Gibran

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Ok, so I finally got my Phych. appointment. We talked for a while and she ultimately reccomended that I give meds a shot. My therp also reccomends. She wants to go with Zoloft. She thinks that it has the least interactions and she’s had the most success with it. So she gave me the prescription.         I’m not sure what to do. I think it’s time to try this but I’m nervous. Maybe I’m not really depressed. I’m not sick, am I? Disease? I don’t have any disease, I’m just kinda sad. Um, maybe I’m just tired or something. Maybe I should try meditating like my friend said. See I’m worried that I’m making the "easy" move. That I’m giving up the fight. And what about side effects? Am I asking for more trouble than I’ve already got? And is Zoloft the right one? You guys say it makes you sleepy. She said the good thing about it is that it doesn’t make you sleepy. (I know everyone’s different) Accckkkkkkk!         The truth is I do want to try this. I think it can work. I think that if it does work I might have the strength to fight back and put my life where I’d like it to be. I think that if I battle the biological agents of this disease I can learn to live with the psychology of  my world. (Of course I worry that I’m setting myself up for a fall.) I am kind of excited, because I feel like maybe I’m starting to help myself. Are the side effects really that bad? Does it matter if it beats back the depression? I’d really like to here from some of you on this. You’ve been there. I’m going. And I’m scared.                         Thanks,                                         Jeff (who will be checking e-mail & asd in like                                       4 minutes for responses)                                         (and who probably expects too much) "I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way"-carl sandberg

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