Question:

Tami, I don’t know what your office is like but if you have an office or workspace of your own perhaps your employer can install a window/wall air conditioner just for the space you are confined to. Then your area with stay cooler and less humid. I’m pretty certain that he can take some additonal tax write-offs under the ADA accomodations clauses and help both of you in the process. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

Response:

Problem for me is the constant change – going from hot humid outside to inside air conditioning and back.  Start having problems after going in and out serveral times.  Believe the sudden change doesn’t help my lungs at all! JEB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

Response:

Heat and humidity make it hard for anyone to breath and for asthmatics it’s worse.  Staying indoors with air-conditioning and drinking a lot of water is a good policy.  I work at home on "bad air" days when the  high humidity and or smog are high. I’m lucky that I can do my work from anywhere with a phone, computer and fax machine.  There are some days when I have to attend meetings etc., and then I take an air conditioned taxi or limo to the office to avoid being outdoors. In some jurisdictions there is legislation requiring reasonable accomodation of disabilities (e.g. Human Rights Codes), for example, installing wheelchair accessible washrooms.  In some cases, depending on the kind of work involved, arrangements for work at home on "bad air" days might be reasonable.  Some employers are happy to make this arrangement (with or without a statutory obligation) rather than have the employee book off sick since it allows for continued productivity.  Another possible accomodation arrangement is taxi fare to the office to avoid being outdoors to and from the office (assuming travel to the office is the problem and the office itself is air conditioned).

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

Response:

I am in the Midwest.. Wisconsin actually and the heat is killing me. I work down near the lake and the cooler air is not cool at all. I know how you feel. About work, I know how it goes. People think asthma is just some petty little excuse because we don’t want to work. Those people are ignorant. Luckily my job was a bit understanding when it came to me taking off for doctors. When I can, I work through my lunch. The bad part is that we have forced air conditioning and my asthma is worse at work. I was told to get some green plants but I don’t think that is going to do it. Unfortunately, with asthma, most of the time you don’t have a choice but to take off work. I feel for you but know that you are not alone. Shannon

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The totally bizarre thing about this is that some people seem to think we want to be ill!  When I developed asthma I had the most awful cough. However I found daytime TV boring so went to work.  We had a snotty young receptionist who accused me of deliberately coughing at her down the phone.  Now I realise it was unpleasant for those round me – but thankfully I resisted the urge to punch her face in.  In fact I was iller than I realised (due mostly to sleep deprivation) and the best thing anyone at work could have done was told me to go home and stay home until I was really well enough to work again.  And in my line of business I can work from home, though I’m not sure if we were so clued up on doing so at that time. Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami Would moving your desk help?  Get your doctor to write your boss a letter explaining the problem . . . this is covered by ADA and Workers Comp. Chris Owens — Surfer!

Response:

Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

Response:

Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?  

I have had a little more trouble than usual.  When I go outside for very long at all, I come inside feeling like I’m suffocating.  It’s not an attack, just stuffy.   I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.  

I used to have the same problem when I was working.  I eventually had to sit down with my boss and totally explain the situation to him and make him understand as best as I could.  Things got a little better after that, and my co-workers also understood more. my place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.

Can you relocate your desk further away from the doors?? What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

I had to end up taking an air purifier to work with me and putting it close to my desk area.  At first people thought it was weird, but eventually they ended up thank me, as their air was cleaned also.  It seems extreme, but I was determined not to let my work environment make me sick. Hope this helps! Take care! Ash http://www.angelfire.com/tn/Ashleigh1976/index.html

Response:

Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami

Would moving your desk help?  Get your doctor to write your boss a letter explaining the problem . . . this is covered by ADA and Workers Comp. Chris Owens

Response:

The totally bizarre thing about this is that some people seem to think we want to be ill!  When I developed asthma I had the most awful cough. However I found daytime TV boring so went to work.  We had a snotty young receptionist who accused me of deliberately coughing at her down the phone.  Now I realise it was unpleasant for those round me – but thankfully I resisted the urge to punch her face in.  In fact I was iller than I realised (due mostly to sleep deprivation) and the best thing anyone at work could have done was told me to go home and stay home until I was really well enough to work again.  And in my line of business I can work from home, though I’m not sure if we were so clued up on doing so at that time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is anyone else having trouble with the heat and humidity we are experiencing in the midwest this week and last?    I’m missing a lot of work because of the weather, I know my boss is not completely understanding the situation, and he’s getting a little digusted.   I just finished 2 weeks of prednisone, I take theodur, flovent 220, combivent, zyrtec, athsmacort  for my sinuses, and am taking augmenten again for yet another sinus infection.  My place of employment is air conditioned, but as the day goes on, and doors are constantly opened,  my lungs get tight, my face red, chest hurts, headache, you know the routine. coughing, wheezing,  tired.  Time to go home…What else can I do??  Any ideas??  Tami Would moving your desk help?  Get your doctor to write your boss a letter explaining the problem . . . this is covered by ADA and Workers Comp. Chris Owens

– Surfer!

Response:

Hi Blaine…. Check out www.aviationweather.com.  It has the latest surface analysis reports(SA’s) in ICAO format, and also translated (eg…"heavy rain, windy" just underneath something like 33030g45 RA+)… ed s.

Response:

Back when I used to be a Microsoft Flight Simulator junkie, I noticed you could call up the weather on ATIS.  Is their any place on the web that would give you the weather (text) for a particular U.S. Airport.  Also, I would imagine it’s in shorthand, so an interpretation guide might be helpful too Many thanks, Blaine Thompson

Response:

Hi Blaine…. Check out www.aviationweather.com.  It has the latest surface analysis reports(SA’s) in ICAO format, and also translated (eg…"heavy rain, windy" just underneath something like 33030g45 RA+)… ed s.

Response:

Back when I used to be a Microsoft Flight Simulator junkie, I noticed you could call up the weather on ATIS.  Is their any place on the web that would give you the weather (text) for a particular U.S. Airport.  Also, I would imagine it’s in shorthand, so an interpretation guide might be helpful too Many thanks, Blaine Thompson

Response:

Question:

Singulair is known to curb/assist in eczema and uticaria.

Would you provide me a source for this comment.  I have eczema on my hands and used Singulair until recently.  I’ll have to go back and check the dates but the flare of eczema may coincide with my discontinuing the Singulair.

Response:

Singulair is effective in patients who have an atopic component to their asthma. This atopy is more in align with the upper airways (rhinitis etc.) than a skin allergy, however, Singulair is known to curb/assist in eczema and uticaria. When comparing the two different anti-leukotreiens, as noted on the package inserts of Accolate, it is twice a day dosage, has limited safety profile of between 12 and 65yrs, there exists food and drug interactions, may not be taken one hour before food or before two hours after  food as food affects the bioavailabilty of the drug, interacts with warfarin, aspirin, theophylline, terfinadine and erethomicine. Singulair on the other hand is a once a day dosage, no food or drug interactions and a safety profile from 2yrs of age. The drug is currently being trialed in 6month old babies to two year old kids. Singulair has addressed my post-nasal drip, used to take Flixonase. You might find that your allergy is caused by something that your currentmeds do not address, but if I was you, I would try the Singulair, drop the Accolate. My opinion remains my own from personal experience. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have some Singulair at the house and have been thinking of taking that instead of Accolate but I doubt that would work. You don’t know until you try it, but has this been prescribed by your doctor?  You would be wise to do things in concert with him/her.  I’m also assuming your doctor is an allergist.  If not, get an allergist fast. You are also taking a lot of asthma medicine and you have a lot of "rhinitis" type symptoms (post-nasal drip, etc.).  Sounds like you want to address those, too (the asthma meds won’t do that, although Singulair might, but that’s another topic). You might want to consider allergy shots, if your allergist determines that indeed you have allergy problems.  They take a long time to build up, but if they work, they are great because you become "immune" to some degree to your allergens.  Very nice.  I speak from experience (took shots for over 10 years then stopped when symptoms were abated for several years). — — Lou Pecora   – My views are my own.

Response:

I suspect the Flovent, especially if you get worse as the dose goes up. Some of Flovent’s side effects are serioius and permanent. Read the warning paper that comes with it. Wheezing is a side effect of Flovent, ( big help). And I never had hives  before Flovent, (another side effect), I only used it for 3 weeks and I still get hives 20 months later.

Response:

I have some Singulair at the house and have been thinking of taking that instead of Accolate but I doubt that would work.

You don’t know until you try it, but has this been prescribed by your doctor?  You would be wise to do things in concert with him/her.  I’m also assuming your doctor is an allergist.  If not, get an allergist fast.   You are also taking a lot of asthma medicine and you have a lot of "rhinitis" type symptoms (post-nasal drip, etc.).  Sounds like you want to address those, too (the asthma meds won’t do that, although Singulair might, but that’s another topic).   You might want to consider allergy shots, if your allergist determines that indeed you have allergy problems.  They take a long time to build up, but if they work, they are great because you become "immune" to some degree to your allergens.  Very nice.  I speak from experience (took shots for over 10 years then stopped when symptoms were abated for several years). — — Lou Pecora   – My views are my own.

Response:

Hi Dana, Some things that might help.  Are your windows in the house closed. Do you keep your windows closed when traveling in the car?  This will keep the pollen out of the house and car.

For the house it might be a better idea to use a window fan with a pollen filter. I mean, what if she’s allergic to indoor things as well like mold spores and dust mite junk? — web: http://www.insecurities.org/jenwolf I keep my air conditioner on with the windows closed.  Of course it’s over 90 here.  If there is a dust mite problem or mold problem then those issues need to be addressed.  I live in a low humidity area so mold and dust mites aren’t that big of a deal here, but I do have my mattresses encased, etc. Also our house is 2 years old, and we are getting rid of the carpets and going to install laminate flooring to elimate other thousands of things that carpets hold. Anything I think will help with my ashtma and allergys I try to do.  Also I live on a farm and no kittys are allowed inside, along with the rest of the animals.  So no pet dander either. Kathy

Response:

Thanks everyone for the input. For the record, I always have the windows closed and the a/c on. Use a top of the line filter as well just for allergies. I have a air purifer in my bedroom. There are no pets in the house. I am extremely allergic to mold and grass pollen both of which have been at high levels in my area for the past 2 wks. I have not had any probs with my allergies or asthma since I developed sinusitus this past winter. I have developed a sinus infection as of this morning and have started on antibiotics. This mess in my nose is starting to flare up my asthma more and more and hope I don’t have to get back on prednisone. Just can’t handle how moody I get on it. I have to take a test this coming Sat. in order to apply to grad school so I am a bit freaked out to say the least. I really hope I start feeling better in the next few weeks. Dana

Response:

For the last couple of weeks my alllergies have really flared up.

Claritin has helped me.  There’s no interaction with my other meds but check with your dr *and* pharmicist. Ted

Response:

Talk to your doctor about adding pseudophedrine decongestant to help with sinuses (there’s a variation of Zyrtec called Zyrtec-D with a 12 hour dose of pseudophedrine included).  There may be reasons against your taking it. Good luck Liam

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the last couple of weeks my alllergies have really flared up. I take Nasonex and Zyrtec but lately they don’t seem to be doing a thing for me. My sinuses run down my throat especially at night to the point where my throat is raw. MY voice has deepened as well. Now my asthma is flaring up and I don’t know what to do. I take Accolate, Albuterol, Serevent and Flovent for my asthma. I upped my flovent due to increased inflammation. My doctor put me on prednisone for a wk last wk but as soon as I got off the allergies and asthma flared up again. I have some Singulair at the house and have been thinking of taking that instead of Accolate but I doubt that would work. Any suggestions? Dana

Response:

Any suggestions?

Check back with your Doctor and let him know of your problems without self medicating yourself.

Response:

Hi Dana, Some things that might help.  Are your windows in the house closed. Do you keep your windows closed when traveling in the car?  This will keep the pollen out of the house and car.

For the house it might be a better idea to use a window fan with a pollen filter. I mean, what if she’s allergic to indoor things as well like mold spores and dust mite junk? — web: http://www.insecurities.org/jenwolf

Response:

Hi Dana, Some things that might help.  Are your windows in the house closed.  Do you keep your windows closed when traveling in the car?  This will keep the pollen out of the house and car.  Are you rinsing out your nose with salt? Use pickling salt, as it is more pure and warm water with a syringe or water pic.  Do several times a day before you use the flonase.  I also gargle with the salt water mixture.  This helps the sore throat. Also when I am having a bad flare like this, I use the nebulizer instead of the albuterol inhaler.  I take hot showers for the steam to open up also. You could ask the doc for a steroid shot, as they last about 3 weeks. Hope this helps Kathy

Response:

For the last couple of weeks my alllergies have really flared up. I take Nasonex and Zyrtec but lately they don’t seem to be doing a thing for me. My sinuses run down my throat especially at night to the point where my throat is raw. MY voice has deepened as well. Now my asthma is flaring up and I don’t know what to do. I take Accolate, Albuterol, Serevent and Flovent for my asthma. I upped my flovent due to increased inflammation. My doctor put me on prednisone for a wk last wk but as soon as I got off the allergies and asthma flared up again. I have some Singulair at the house and have been thinking of taking that instead of Accolate but I doubt that would work. Any suggestions? Dana

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m new to this ng and am learning lots of new info about asthma. Recently mya sthma sent me to the ER and my doctor prescribed singulair for me.  It works really great.  The only problem is the price.  She gave me samples but if I want to continue taking it I need to get it from a pharmacy.  I can apply to get it paid for, which can be a pretty lengthy process, or I could go back to the clinic and get inhaled steroids for free or at least very cheap.  My question is shoul I go to the trouble of trying to get the singulair or go for the steroids.  I have had absolutely no side effects to the singulair and am wondering what side effects come with the steroids. Any info would be very helpful.  Thanks! Cathy

You should most definitely go through the trouble of getting the Singulair, since this medication is good preventive therapy.  It’s supposed to prevent or lessen attacks, not rescue you when you have them.  By the same token, inhaled steroids, while of some use for preventive therapy, are still necessary for rescue, even with Singulair.  My doctor has prescribed both for me during the summer, and during the winter I use Azmacort as well. I’ve long since forgotten what potential side effects come from using inhaled steroids, but I can tell you they’ve never created any problems for me. Sam

Response:

I’m new to this ng and am learning lots of new info about asthma.  Recently mya sthma sent me to the ER and my doctor prescribed singulair for me.  It works really great.  The only problem is the price.  She gave me samples but if I want to continue taking it I need to get it from a pharmacy.  I can apply to get it paid for, which can be a pretty lengthy process, or I could go back to the clinic and get inhaled steroids for free or at least very cheap.  My question is shoul I go to the trouble of trying to get the singulair or go for the steroids.  I have had absolutely no side effects to the singulair and am wondering what side effects come with the steroids. Any info would be very helpful.  Thanks! Cathy

Response:

I’m new to this ng and am learning lots of new info about asthma.  Recently mya sthma sent me to the ER and my doctor prescribed singulair for me.  It works really great.  The only problem is the price.  She gave me samples but if I want to continue taking it I need to get it from a pharmacy.  I can apply to get it paid for, which can be a pretty lengthy process, or I could go back to the clinic and get inhaled steroids for free or at least very cheap.  My question is shoul I go to the trouble of trying to get the singulair or go for the steroids.  I have had absolutely no side effects to the singulair and am wondering what side effects come with the steroids. Any info would be very helpful.  Thanks!

If you have a medicine that works, don’t mess with it; apply for the reimbursement. Chris Owens

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lines: 5 NNTP-Posting-Host: 1cust250.tnt2.cleveland3.oh.da.uu.net (67.211.27.250) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: fu-berlin.de 1012549143 41704991 67.211.27.250 (16 [33645]) X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.79 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U) X-Accept-Language: en Xref: uni-berlin.de alt.support.depression.manic:194315 x-no-archive: yes I take 400mg of Lamictal daily and 3600mg of Neurontin, along with 8mg daily of Klonopin and 200mg Wellbutrin SR.

Response:

hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated

 4800 mg of Neurontin have been RX for some people. Therpeuric dose is subjective based on your response. Peace, Lynda

Response:

My drug list says you can go to 3200 mg of Neurontin.  I take 1600. I don’t know about Lamictal because I was afraid to take it after they told me about Stephens-Johnson syndrome.  Look it up on the Internet. — Val in Boise

Response:

I am currently at 1500 mg a day of neurontin and I will soon be going up to 1800 mg.   For now I will level off at that point and see how I do.  Do any of you on neurontin find that it makes you sleepy and if so how do you deal with this?  (when you can not sleep such as at work)  I seem to do better when I keep my doses evenly spaced throughout the day however my pdoc says I could take it all at once at bedtime if it made me too sleepy.  This seems like a lot to take at once to me. Bonnie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

hello – I space mine out during the day… 6 a.m., 1 p.m., 8 p.m., but I am never tired….maybe it is the Effexor I am also taking. — regards, Compucat

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am currently at 1500 mg a day of neurontin and I will soon be going up to 1800 mg.   For now I will level off at that point and see how I do.  Do any of you on neurontin find that it makes you sleepy and if so how do you deal with this?  (when you can not sleep such as at work)  I seem to do better when I keep my doses evenly spaced throughout the day however my pdoc says I could take it all at once at bedtime if it made me too sleepy.  This seems like a lot to take at once to me. Bonnie hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

Hi Compucat, I seem to do better when I space mine similar to that as well.  I have noticed that I get particularly sleepy if I don’t keep moving or stay busy in some manner.  How is the Effexor working for depression for you?  That is one that has been recommended to me that I have not yet tried. Bonnie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hello – I space mine out during the day… 6 a.m., 1 p.m., 8 p.m., but I am never tired….maybe it is the Effexor I am also taking. — regards, Compucat I am currently at 1500 mg a day of neurontin and I will soon be going up to 1800 mg.   For now I will level off at that point and see how I do.  Do any of you on neurontin find that it makes you sleepy and if so how do you deal with this?  (when you can not sleep such as at work)  I seem to do better when I keep my doses evenly spaced throughout the day however my pdoc says I could take it all at once at bedtime if it made me too sleepy.  This seems like a lot to take at once to me. Bonnie hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

heh… the reason i have had the good fortune to find myself back among you charming sirs and madams is because i recently lost my job due to drowsiness… or… falling asleep at work….  thing is, i can’t tell if it was more due to the Valporate or the Effexor … any ideas ? i found that both of them made me drowsy at one time.. though that my have been when i first started i *need* to figure out which med is the culprit so i can stop taking it, but i just can’t tell… i mean when i am out of work, running around, doing my own thing, i am fine …. ug… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Compucat, I seem to do better when I space mine similar to that as well.  I have noticed that I get particularly sleepy if I don’t keep moving or stay busy in some manner.  How is the Effexor working for depression for you?  That is one that has been recommended to me that I have not yet tried. Bonnie hello – I space mine out during the day… 6 a.m., 1 p.m., 8 p.m., but I am never tired….maybe it is the Effexor I am also taking. — regards, Compucat I am currently at 1500 mg a day of neurontin and I will soon be going up  to 1800 mg.   For now I will level off at that point and see how I do.  Do  any of you on neurontin find that it makes you sleepy and if so how do you  deal with this?  (when you can not sleep such as at work)  I seem to do  better when I keep my doses evenly spaced throughout the day however my pdoc  says  I could take it all at once at bedtime if it made me too sleepy.  This  seems like a lot to take at once to me. Bonnie hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated

Response:

hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

hi… I am taking 2400 mg. of Gabapentin along with 187.5 mg. of Effexor. – regards, Compucat

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

hi Bonnie.. I was visiting my pdoc today after having 2 crashes last week and really high anxiety that has resulted in no sleep of any consequence for almost a month. So for now, I will be taking 75 mg. of Effexor in the a.m. and 75 mg. again at noon. That is a slight drop in my total for the day by 37.5 mg. as we try to find where the best dose is for me.We may have gone a touch high on the Effexor. My Gabapentin dose will stay the same – 2400 mg. a day, this time only split up twice. The depression has lifted, I can feel that, but I am not out of the woodwork. That said, my body/mind has always proved to be rather treatment resistant. It has been about a month and a half on this combination of drugs. I really feel they are my answer and I want to work to get the right balance for me. I  previously took Prozac for 10 years – no side effects – then gradually had to start increasing the dose up to 60 mg. a day, and then it just died on me. I have been having some side effects, but are they Effexor side effects or Gabapentin side effects or both?: – cannot sleep – extremely decreased appetite – jittery – blurred/double vision (this is gone now) – tremors (they feel like little electrical jolts Bonnie, please remember that you may have some of these or none at all. Remember, we were not all made at the Chrysler plant in Detroit on Monday morning. We all will react differently. Look at my 10 years with Prozac – we are talking no side effects at all. It was a delight for me. Maybe that will be you with Effexor. Do some reading about it on the web medical sights and see if you feel comfortable with considering it. I am hearing very good things about it and good successes. hugs, — regards, Compucat

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Compucat, I seem to do better when I space mine similar to that as well.  I have noticed that I get particularly sleepy if I don’t keep moving or stay busy in some manner.  How is the Effexor working for depression for you?  That is one that has been recommended to me that I have not yet tried. Bonnie hello – I space mine out during the day… 6 a.m., 1 p.m., 8 p.m., but I am never tired….maybe it is the Effexor I am also taking. — regards, Compucat I am currently at 1500 mg a day of neurontin and I will soon be going up to 1800 mg.   For now I will level off at that point and see how I do. Do any of you on neurontin find that it makes you sleepy and if so how do you deal with this?  (when you can not sleep such as at work)  I seem to do better when I keep my doses evenly spaced throughout the day however my pdoc says I could take it all at once at bedtime if it made me too sleepy.  This seems like a lot to take at once to me. Bonnie hi i was wondering what dosages some people were taking for lamotragine and gabapentin… esp. those who have had to go to the high end of the useful range …. also any info on how to discover one’s therapeutic dosage would be greatly appreciated thanks cybercafe

Response:

Question:

Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. — Harry Krause We ought to make the pie higher. -GW Bush

Response:

Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut.

That’s what you get with affirmative action. You might show a bit more sensibility and patience. Perhaps you’d benefit from diversity training? — Skipper

Response:

That’s what you get with affirmative action.

Absolutely unbelievable. That’s a troll, right? Chuck Gould Float and let float.

Response:

Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut.

Or perhaps he’s got his eyes and ears open open, but keeping his mouth shut…Unlike Harry, whose mouth is the only thing he keeps open.

Response:

Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. That’s what you get with affirmative action. You might show a bit more sensibility and patience. Perhaps you’d benefit from diversity training? — Skipper

There are and were plenty of quality minority judges who could have been raised to Associate Justice. Instead, we got a dimwit. A judge Bush likes. — Harry Krause I think he needs to stand up and say if he thought the president were wrong on policy and issues, he ought to say where. -GW Bush

Response:

Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep

out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering

both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate

Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. — Harry Krause

Thomas has always remained silent during oral arguments.  True in this hearing. true in all other hearings.   To make a negative assumption on that fact alone is ridiculous. To insult him is juvenile.

Response:

Nothing wrong with responding to

a troll with another troll is there?<< — Steve If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone.

Response:

Nothing wrong with responding to a troll with another troll is there?<< — Steve If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone.

You republithugs are really into violence… — Harry Krause The only things that I can tell you is that every case I have reviewed I have been comfortable with the innocence or guilt of the person that I’ve looked at. I do not believe we’ve put a guilty … I mean innocent person to death in the state of Texas. -GW Bush

Response:

There are and were plenty of quality minority judges who could have been raised to Associate Justice. Instead, we got a dimwit. A judge Bush likes.

And we have another justice who apparently rides to court on her broom. — Skipper

Response:

Nothing wrong with responding to a troll with another troll is there? If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone.

Which bar admitted you, sweetie? — Skipper

Response:

First of all Harry, stop being such a racist, bigoted pig. Just because Justice Thomas doesn’t meet your (and most libs) idea of what an African-American should be(beholden to the new Massa-the Demonrat party) does not give you the right to utter such garbage. Secondly, you are not worthy to serve as the wiping device for Justice Thomas’ gluteal cleft. Ted – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. — Harry Krause We ought to make the pie higher. -GW Bush

Response:

Peggie, Ouch, I have never seen Harry get to you like this.  The thing that amazes me about this is how biased everyone sees the issues, based upon their party affiliations, including Chuck Gould who normally tries to avoid off topic wars. I do have to admit that I am the only person who is really completely unbiased, and I know Bush should win.  ;) — Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. Or perhaps he’s got his eyes and ears open open, but keeping his mouth shut…Unlike Harry, whose mouth is the only thing he keeps open.

Response:

I obviously have too much time on my hands these days…’cuz I never got into off topic discussions before either! Peggie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Peggie, Ouch, I have never seen Harry get to you like this.  The thing that amazes me about this is how biased everyone sees the issues, based upon their party affiliations, including Chuck Gould who normally tries to avoid off topic wars. I do have to admit that I am the only person who is really completely unbiased, and I know Bush should win.  ;) — Jim Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. Or perhaps he’s got his eyes and ears open open, but keeping his mouth shut…Unlike Harry, whose mouth is the only thing he keeps open.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I obviously have too much time on my hands these days…’cuz I never got into off topic discussions before either! Peggie Peggie, Ouch, I have never seen Harry get to you like this.  The thing that amazes me about this is how biased everyone sees the issues, based upon their party affiliations, including Chuck Gould who normally tries to avoid off topic wars. I do have to admit that I am the only person who is really completely unbiased, and I know Bush should win.  ;) — Jim Not a peep out of Thomas this time, not a peep out of him last time. Every other justice is in the fray, peppering both sides with questions. Thomas, of course, is the kind of Associate Justice Dubya Dumb likes…he’s got his eyes, ears and mouth shut. Or perhaps he’s got his eyes and ears open open, but keeping his mouth shut…Unlike Harry, whose mouth is the only thing he keeps open.

What a delight to be insulted by the rec.boats Queen of Head. — Harry Krause We’ll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers. -GW Bush

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <SNIP That’s why GWB works out in the gym every day.  If it comes down to it, he’s ready to kick some Gore booty. BillS Are you kidding? Dubya Dumb is a short little twerp and because of his years of drug and booze abuse, his reflexes are shot, too. He does twitch nicely. — Harry Krause The short wirey guys are the ones you gotta watch out for.  They get in close because you’re overconfident and the next thing you know they’re punching you in the kidneys and head buttin’ your sternum.  When you try to grab em they’ll dart between you legs, kick you behind the knee and you’re down before you know it. Gore is too big and slow with one eye always on the camera while he’s thinking to himself;  "did you guys get the shot?  Is this a cool pose or what?"  It would be like Jackie Chan against Steven Segal. BillS

I was thinking more along the lines of Sugar Ray Leonard versus Lennox Lewis. — Harry Krause This is still a dangerous world. It’s a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mential losses. -GW Bush

Response:

Dubya Dumb is a short little twerp and because of his years

of drug and booze abuse, his reflexes are shot, too. He does twitch nicely.<< — Lu Powell Maybe he has Benign Essential Tremor.  It’s harmless, and doesn’t progress into anything serious.

Response:

<SNIP That’s why GWB works out in the gym every day.  If it comes down to it, he’s ready to kick some Gore booty. BillS Are you kidding? Dubya Dumb is a short little twerp and because of his years of drug and booze abuse, his reflexes are shot, too. He does twitch nicely. — Harry Krause

The short wirey guys are the ones you gotta watch out for.  They get in close because you’re overconfident and the next thing you know they’re punching you in the kidneys and head buttin’ your sternum.  When you try to grab em they’ll dart between you legs, kick you behind the knee and you’re down before you know it. Gore is too big and slow with one eye always on the camera while he’s thinking to himself;  "did you guys get the shot?  Is this a cool pose or what?"  It would be like Jackie Chan against Steven Segal. BillS —

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nothing wrong with responding to a troll with another troll is there?<< — Steve If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone. You republithugs are really into violence… That’s why GWB works out in the gym every day.  If it comes down to it, he’s ready to kick some Gore booty. BillS

Are you kidding? Dubya Dumb is a short little twerp and because of his years of drug and booze abuse, his reflexes are shot, too. He does twitch nicely. — Harry Krause When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were, he said. It was us vs. them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they’re there. -GW Bush

Response:

Poor Hairy. Must be terribly frustrating, being perfect in such an imperfect world…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nothing wrong with responding to a troll with another troll is there?<< — Steve If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone. You republithugs are really into violence… That’s why GWB works out in the gym every day.  If it comes down to it, he’s ready to kick some Gore booty. BillS

Are you kidding? Dubya Dumb is a short little twerp and because of his years of drug and booze abuse, his reflexes are shot, too. He does twitch nicely. — Harry Krause When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were, he said. It was us vs. them, and it was clear who them was. Today, we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they’re there. -GW Bush

Response:

Nothing wrong with responding to a troll with another troll is there?<< — Steve If only they would go off together and beat each other to death and leave the rest of us alone. You republithugs are really into violence…

That’s why GWB works out in the gym every day.  If it comes down to it, he’s ready to kick some Gore booty. BillS —

Response:

I obviously have too much time on my hands these days…’cuz I never got

into off topic discussions before either! << — Peggie Obviously your boat is winterized.  That makes all of us a little crazy.

Response:

Nope…I haven’t winterized but once in 15 years. Had the boat out on Saturday, in fact. However, I am about to be boatless for the first time in at least 15 years…I’ve accepted an offer on her. Saturday was actually the sea trial…survey is scheduled for Wednesday. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I obviously have too much time on my hands these days…’cuz I never got into off topic discussions before either! << — Peggie Obviously your boat is winterized.  That makes all of us a little crazy.

Response:

I am about to be boatless for the first time in at least 15 years.<< —

Peggie OK, then that’s what’s making you crazy, not winterizing!

Response:

I am about to be boatless for the first time in at least 15 years.<< — Peggie OK, then that’s what’s making you crazy, not winterizing!

No…I just haven’t quite figured out what to do with myself, now that I don’t have to work 14 hours a day.

Response:

No…I just haven’t quite figured out what to do with myself, now that I don’t have to work 14 hours a day. …buy a boat?

I HAVE a boat…at least until the sale closes. A friend at work boat a repo at auction, and had a great deal of fun getting it back into good condition.

Peter, I spent the last 4 years turning a boat I bought in non-running and unihabitable condition into the boat you now see on her website. In fact, when he was done, he was sort of bored — their wasn’t enough to do.

Which is at least one of the reasons I’ve sold it. He sold it, and is looking for another.

Imagine how bored he’d be if he he no longer goes to work every day either.   However, I’m just in transition…exploring opportunities. This too shall pass. Peggie http://www.solitairef32.homestead.com/

Response:

Question:

hi im new to this group  i hope you all will forgive me for lurking for a few weeks        im very new to all of this  my children got me this webtv & ms just came in my life uninvited a yr ago it has taken awhile to learn how to post & have the nerve to join my concern is in the prozac w/ anyone one of the ms meds  i also havent had the nerve to try the meds  after reading about avonex lately  i feel i am not to smart w/ that thought im sure ive said plenty for the first time      hope to hear from any & all                        thanks karen aka vagrammy

Response:

On Tue, 10 Oct 2000 22:30:08 -0400 (EDT), vagra…@webtv.net (Karen Nelson) wrote:

it has taken awhile to learn how to post & have the nerve to join my concern is in the prozac w/ anyone one of the ms meds  i also havent had the nerve to try the meds  after reading about avonex lately

Welcome aboard, Karen!  Sorry it took MS to get you posting, though. I do not take any of the ABC drugs (I do not qualify), so I cannot say anything useful about taking one of them with prozac.  Your doctor is the best one to give advice about that. I will point out that recent research indicates that the sooner you start taking one of the ABC drugs, the better.  Try to see a neurologist who specialises in MS and let him be your guide about which one to take. — Perth, Ontario, Canada http://www.superaje.com/~jcarter

Response:

Welcome Karen! I am sorry for you to have to join this group under the circumstances.  I take Rebif,(an interferon) as well as Effexor, an antidepressant and clonzepam for mild clonus and to help me sleep.  I get my bloodwork done every three months, and all is fine.  I guess all these medications I’m on aren’t killing me.  Actually, I feel pretty good right now.  I used to be one person who hated taking any kind of prescription drug.  Needless to say, I feel that they definitely have improved the quality of my life.  So! Thats a positive! Sincerely Diana Karen Nelson <vagra…@webtv.net

wrote in message

news:17863-39E3D0B0-109@storefull-621.iap.bryant.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

hi im new to this group  i hope you all will forgive me for lurking for a few weeks        im very new to all of this  my children got me this webtv & ms just came in my life uninvited a yr ago it has taken awhile to learn how to post & have the nerve to join my concern is in the prozac w/ anyone one of the ms meds  i also havent had the nerve to try the meds  after reading about avonex lately  i feel i am not to smart w/ that thought im sure ive said plenty for the first time      hope to hear from any & all                        thanks karen aka vagrammy

Response:

Diana- I take 25 mg of Elavil each evening before bed. Cheryl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Linda Anchell wrote:

Hello Diana,         I am on Parnate (Tranylcypromine). It is an old MAOI drug. I changed for a year to Aurorix (Moclobemide) which *seemed* to be good, but then I really *did* get depresses a couple of months ago when things became too much, and I realised that I didn’t have the energy that Parnate had given me. Now I am back to Parnate and very happy with it. My fatigue now seems to be more to do with pushing the limits rather than accepting them!         I know of a friend who was prescribed an SSRI for pain too… Anti depressants do lots of things apart from fiddling with your mood…. I will be interested to see the responses that you get. (and depression or similar symptoms come in lots of different kinds, so there will be a variety of drugs to use….)                         Linda On Sun, 08 Oct 2000 02:19:27 GMT, "Diana Calder" <d.r.calder@home wrote: Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana http://www.ozemail.com.au/~lindafrd/

Response:

Hi Diana: I take Tofranil 25 mg three times a day. At night time I take two 50mg of Desyrel another antidepresent to help me sleep since I declined sleeping pills. Yes, depression is here to stay, but I don’t let it control me, I control it! God Bless Millie

Response:

Hi, all! I am taking 20mg Paxil (sometimes 40mg) and Avonex. I was a very depressed and eventually, suicidal teenager, until almost right before i was dxed with MS last Nov. (I will be 22 next March.) I am now on Paxil. When I first started taking it, I could feel this weird numbness come over me. It helps me ignore the little things that would normally eat at me if I weren’t taking it, so that’s good. Smoking pot can make me extremely depressed, and sometimes suicidal, by the way. Yet, it usually doesn’t stop me! I am doing the Avonex thing once a week, I do it between 6 and 8 pm, so usually I sleep through most of the effects, but if I don’t sleep, I get on a very long crying jag, re-inacting some of the most suicidal feelings I have ever felt, everything that Paxil helps me ignore/rationalize comes right back. Sometimes I wonder if that horrible stiffness and muscle ache from the Avonex will be how I will feel all the time, one day? Biogen sent me a bottle of Tylenol once. I went and bought a big bottle of tylenolPM last week. I stay away from anything herbal, but I love tea and now I’ve discovered Internatioal Coffees’ VIENNA CHOCOLATE mmmmm Sorry for ramling so much!! It’s almost 3AM…   : ) Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

In article <8rs45o$jo…@nnrp1.deja.com

,

  Michael Baugh <mba…@my-deja.com

wrote: Anyone using St. John’s Wort?

Yes, I use St. John’s Wort. Two 300 mg capsules a day seems to ward off any depression. I’ve gone without – depression returns. This minimal dosage seems to work just fine and my Neuro approves. Noratoo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In article <ETaE5.2144$r6.1203…@den-news1.rmi.net

,

>   "Suzanne Lennon" <lenn…@doitnow.com> wrote: > > The psychiatrist has tried several drugs, and is struggling to come > up with > > something that Iam not alergic to.  Wellbutrin was fantastic, but I > > developed a rash within twoweeks.  Effexor at 75 mg was fine, but at > 75 + > > 37.5 caused (I thought) mild seizure-type tingling throughout my > body.  Now, > > I am on 75 mg Effexor and 20 mg Desaprimine, which works pretty well,

but not as well as the other too.  Also, the "seizures" have started again, only onmy left side, and emanating from the spot in my thigh that has always tingled and "spasm’d".  I am beginning to think that it is MS

related

rather than drugrelated.  If the neuro confirms this, I will probably go back to Effexor, at a higher dosage. Suzanne Diana Calder <d.r.calder@home wrote in message news:PQQD5.420473$8u4.4933426@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot

.

Diana Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

I’m on Serzone. I’m still depressed BUT it’s because of this care home/prison I’m living in. I’ve always been a moody person. But Serzone/Paxil don’t do as much good as the pot I used to smoke. Gawd, I miss that! ;-}  "T" Diana Calder wrote:

Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana

— David "T"-Thoshinsky 1550 Sutter St., Apt.416 San Francisco, CA  94109 415-345-9364 "I have great faith in fools – my friends call it self-confidence." – Edgar Allen Poe —  ” Learn that the advantage lieth not in possessing good things, but in the knowing the use of them.” Akhenaton? (c. B.C. 1375) — "I’m going Nucking Futs" — Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday  a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day ~ Sanskrit Proverb ~

Response:

Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana

Response:

Hi Diana, I am on prozac (fluoxitine). I take 20 mg/day, unless I really feel ‘down’ – then I take 40 mg/day. It works for me. In article <PQQD5.420473$8u4.4933…@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com

, "Diana

Calder" <d.r.calder@home

wrote: Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.

{snip}

Diana

— Take care James (#11)

Response:

The psychiatrist has tried several drugs, and is struggling to come up with something that Iam not alergic to.  Wellbutrin was fantastic, but I developed a rash within twoweeks.  Effexor at 75 mg was fine, but at 75 + 37.5 caused (I thought) mild seizure-type tingling throughout my body.  Now, I am on 75 mg Effexor and 20 mg Desaprimine, which works pretty well, but not as well as the other too.  Also, the "seizures" have started again, only onmy left side, and emanating from the spot in my thigh that has always tingled and "spasm’d".  I am beginning to think that it is MS related rather than drugrelated.  If the neuro confirms this, I will probably go back to Effexor, at a higher dosage. Suzanne Diana Calder <d.r.calder@home

wrote in message

news:PQQD5.420473$8u4.4933426@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana

Response:

Anyone using St. John’s Wort? In article <ETaE5.2144$r6.1203…@den-news1.rmi.net

,

  "Suzanne Lennon" <lenn…@doitnow.com

wrote:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

The psychiatrist has tried several drugs, and is struggling to come

up with

something that Iam not alergic to.  Wellbutrin was fantastic, but I developed a rash within twoweeks.  Effexor at 75 mg was fine, but at

75 +

37.5 caused (I thought) mild seizure-type tingling throughout my

body.  Now,

I am on 75 mg Effexor and 20 mg Desaprimine, which works pretty well,

but

not as well as the other too.  Also, the "seizures" have started

again, only

onmy left side, and emanating from the spot in my thigh that has

always

tingled and "spasm’d".  I am beginning to think that it is MS related

rather

than drugrelated.  If the neuro confirms this, I will probably go

back to

Effexor, at a higher dosage. Suzanne Diana Calder <d.r.calder@home wrote in message news:PQQD5.420473$8u4.4933426@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which

ones? and

are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went

on it

when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel

depressed.  I

am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

Michael Baugh wrote:

Anyone using St. John’s Wort?

For a fair time, I was.  I gradually tapered off it, and on bad days I’d make a pot of "espresso" from SJW (I buy it bulk, at $2 an ounce (that’s 30 100mg capsules worth), and take half of an Effexor tablet with a whole pot of thrice-brewed SJW espresso (brew a pot, pour it back in and brew again, do this once more and the resulting brew, while bitter as all Hades, has darned near everything estracted from the SJW). This regimin would put me straight to sleep, and I’d sleep most of a day, but when I woke up, I was no longer suicidal.  After a while, I no longer needed this at all…  then, I tried taking Avonex, and for almost 2 months I was back in the sewer again.  Once I stopped the Avonex, things returned to normal. Love and Light, Jeannette

Response:

Hi! Before I went on prescription antidepressants, I took St. Johns Wort for almost two years.  Gradually, I found that the effects of the St. Johns Wort did not work anymore.  I am starting to wonder if these interferons are the drugs that are causing all the depression in the first place? Diana Michael Baugh <mba…@my-deja.com

wrote in message

news:8rs45o$jok$1@nnrp1.deja.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Anyone using St. John’s Wort? > In article <ETaE5.2144$r6.1203…@den-news1.rmi.net>, >   "Suzanne Lennon" <lenn…@doitnow.com> wrote: > > The psychiatrist has tried several drugs, and is struggling to come > up with > > something that Iam not alergic to.  Wellbutrin was fantastic, but I > > developed a rash within twoweeks.  Effexor at 75 mg was fine, but at > 75 + > > 37.5 caused (I thought) mild seizure-type tingling throughout my > body.  Now, > > I am on 75 mg Effexor and 20 mg Desaprimine, which works pretty well, > but > > not as well as the other too.  Also, the "seizures" have started > again, only > > onmy left side, and emanating from the spot in my thigh that has > always > > tingled and "spasm’d".  I am beginning to think that it is MS related > rather > > than drugrelated.  If the neuro confirms this, I will probably go > back to > > Effexor, at a higher dosage. > > Suzanne > > Diana Calder <d.r.calder@home

wrote in message

> > news:PQQD5.420473$8u4.4933426@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… > > > Hi All! > > > Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which > ones? and > > > are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went > on it > > > when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel > depressed.  I > > > am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . > > > Diana > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

Response:

i take Celexa 20 mg in the a.m. and Neurontin 100 mg a.m. and noon and 300 mg at bedtime.  my neuro sarted me on the neurontin but my shrink upped it as she says it also helps as a mood stabilizer.  kathy v.

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Hello Diana,         I am on Parnate (Tranylcypromine). It is an old MAOI drug. I changed for a year to Aurorix (Moclobemide) which *seemed* to be good, but then I really *did* get depresses a couple of months ago when things became too much, and I realised that I didn’t have the energy that Parnate had given me. Now I am back to Parnate and very happy with it. My fatigue now seems to be more to do with pushing the limits rather than accepting them!         I know of a friend who was prescribed an SSRI for pain too… Anti depressants do lots of things apart from fiddling with your mood…. I will be interested to see the responses that you get. (and depression or similar symptoms come in lots of different kinds, so there will be a variety of drugs to use….)                         Linda On Sun, 08 Oct 2000 02:19:27 GMT, "Diana Calder" <d.r.calder@home

wrote: Hi All! Just wanted to know how many of us are on antidepressants, which ones? and are they effective.  I myself am on effexor, 150 mg a day.  I went on it when I started betaseron because the interferon maid me feel depressed.  I am on Rebif now and still taking effexor.  I think it helps a lot . Diana

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~lindafrd/

Response:

On Tue, 10 Oct 2000 04:23:07 GMT, "Diana Calder" <d.r.calder@home

wrote: Hi! Before I went on prescription antidepressants, I took St. Johns Wort for almost two years.  Gradually, I found that the effects of the St. Johns Wort did not work anymore.  I am starting to wonder if these interferons are the drugs that are causing all the depression in the first place?

No Diana,         I was first prescibed the Parnate in September 1995, well before the interferons (do you mean the drug ones like Betaferon?) were in use. And I am not on any of the ABC drugs. But I know it is a side effect of Betaseron. A girlfriend of mine attempted suicide while on that.   But I suspect there is a very wide range of symptoms of MS that are affected by neurotransmitters and the kind of thing that anti depressants work on. It is just psychoneuropharmacology! <g

I luvvv using that word!  doing things to our brain that

the MS has messed up…. sometimes the symptoms come out like depression. (and sometimes we really are depressed!) We are such a diverse mob! a question that I have about effects gradually wearing off, is, Is this a sign of "addiction"? I know that Parnate is said to be addictive, whereas Aurorix is said not to be…. The Parnate wore off, so I changed for a while. Now it is working again.                                         Linda http://www.ozemail.com.au/~lindafrd/

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Question:

    A friend of mine had it, though only at night, and his physician prescribed him Benadryl and it worked. This has been quite a few years ago though. Rick

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Is it possible to develop RLS as a side effect of Zoloft? Ever since my gp upped my dose to 150mg I can’t seem to keep my feet still. I’m constantly moving my feet around, even when I sleep. And I don’t like doing it but I can’t seem to help it. Mary — "I want to walk and not run.  I want to skip and not fall.  I want to look at the horizon  and not see a building standing tall." – Dixie Chicks

Hi Edward, I have RLS occassionally, an irresistable urge to keep moving my legs, usually dorsiflexion of the feet. While clonazepam seems to be the treatment of choice, I don’t see why it would be better than any other benzo. There are many, many treatments for RLS, as is often the case when no one treatment is that successful. Chip p.s. cutting back on the caffeine (coffee) may help Hi group: has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome" i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome" RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night. It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private. Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

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I have just looked up information about restless leg syndrome this morning. I checked the sleepmed site and National Sleep Foundation. Apparently, there is a correlation with B-12 deficiancy and rls. I had restless legs last year and before.I started to improve my eating,exercising and I started taking vitamins and minerals related to stress and anxiety. I started taking the B complex with a B12 and I have not had any problems with restless legs for about a year now! It is a vitamin, that I buy at WalMart. I would give it a try as it will not hurt you nor interfer with prescriptions. Facts About Restless Legs What is Restless Legs Syndrome? If you have restless legs syndrome (RLS), or are a physician seeing a patient with RLS, you’ll probably recognize these symptoms: An urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, usually described as a creeping or crawling feeling, but sometimes as a tingling, cramping, burning or just plain pain. Some patients have no definite sensation, except for the need to move. (The arms may also be affected, but that’s much less common.) The need to move the legs to relieve the discomfort, by stretching or bending, rubbing the legs, tossing or turning in bed, or getting up and pacing the floor. Moving usually offers some temporary relief of symptoms. A definite worsening of the discomfort when lying down, especially when you’re trying to fall asleep at night, or during other forms of inactivity, including just sitting. A tendency to experience the most discomfort late in the day and at night. Sleep disturbances are common with RLS, primarily because of the difficulty it causes in getting to sleep. If leg twitching or jerking is also present, a related disorder called periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) may be the cause. With PLMS, the leg movements may be severe enough to awaken you (see the PLMS fact sheet). In RLS, PLMS-like sypmtoms can sometimes occur during wakefulness, as well as in sleep. How common is RLS? Restless leg syndrome may affect as much as 2-5 percent of the population, with varying degrees of intensity. What causes RLS? The cause of RLS is still unknown. Some cases are inherited and more than one family member may be affected. Some cases have been associated with nerve damage in the legs due to diabetes, kidney problems or alcoholism. RLS can also be a side effect of a pinched nerve root from arthritis in the lower back (sciatica). Is RLS serious? RLS is not considered medically serious. However, the symptoms can range anywhere from bothersome to incapacitating. Fluctuations in severity are common, and occasionally the symptoms may disappear for periods of time. RLS can begin at any age, but the symptoms tend to worsen over the years and become more severe in middle-to-old age. Pregnancy or hormonal changes may temporarily worsen RLS symptoms. Stress, diet or other environmental factors may play a role for some people. Can RLS be treated? Most cases of RLS respond well to medical treatment. There are three main classes of medication that have been shown to be effective in treating both RLS and PLMS. Benzodiazepines – This class includes such drugs as diazepam (Valium),clonazepam (Klonopin), temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion). L-Dopa – This class enhances a brain chemical known as dopamine. It includes such drugs as L-Dopa with carbidopa (Sinement), pergolide (Permax) and bromocriptine (Parlodel). Opiates – This class generally is reserved for the more severe symptoms. It includes codeine (active ingredient in Tylenol #3), oxycodone (active ingredient in Percocet), propoxyphene (Darvon) and methadone (in very severe cases only). All of these medicatons are available by prescription only and should only be taken while under the care of a licensed physician. Where do I go for help? Seek professional medical advice. You may wish to begin by consulting your family physician or by making an appointment for an evaluation at an accredited sleep disorders center in your area. For a listing of accredited centers, contact: The National Sleep Foundation, 1522 K St., NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20005. Phone (202) 347-3471 or fax (202) 347- 3472. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Margrove writes (in re: RLS): a true case of restless leg is not anxiety based at all. It is usually caused from being overtired or overworked in a physical sense. The nuerons of the muscles are still firing to one level or another in a hyperactive way-you can notice it most when you are overtired. Some are helped by adding a dose of niacin or niacinamide a b vitimin around 100mg to their diet-others a nice physical workout 3x per week does the trick. There are vascular problems that can mimic this benign condition so if you have pain or numness coldness or severe cramping of the calf muscles have your doc check it out. Some folks are also helped by increased calcium and magnesium but ask a doc first. LM

Hi Margrove! Just wanted to say thanks for this info…we had a pt. at the clinic where I med. assisted in the early 80’s with RLS, and I felt so bad for him, since there wasn’t much known about the cause, tx, etc. Now I’ll have something to refer to if I encounter someone w/ the problem again… Very interesting & helpful, as always! Love, Char*) P.S. FWIW, I am forever wiggling a foot or moving a leg while sitting down…I always figured it was a "nervous habit", which certainly wouldn’t be far-fetched for a PD Type A personality like me:P

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Is it possible to develop RLS as a side effect of Zoloft? Ever since my gp upped my dose to 150mg I can’t seem to keep my feet still. I’m constantly moving my feet around, even when I sleep. And I don’t like doing it but I can’t seem to help it. Mary Yes. Zoloft (and all SSRIs) can induce or exacerbate movement disorders, one of which is RLS. An increase in my Zoloft dose once resulted in a worsening of my RLS, and this got better after a reduction in Zoloft dose. A later increase in Zoloft dose did not cause a worsening of my RLS. A temporary reduction in Zoloft dose may resolve this problem for you. Good luck. Chip

Response:

Hi Edward, I have RLS occassionally, an irresistable urge to keep moving my legs, usually dorsiflexion of the feet. While clonazepam seems to be the treatment of choice, I don’t see why it would be better than any other benzo. There are many, many treatments for RLS, as is often the case when no one treatment is that successful. Chip p.s. cutting back on the caffeine (coffee) may help Hi group: has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome" i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome" RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night. It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private. Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

Response:

Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night.  It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

Response:

I think everyone I know has that!  (And they’re normies?) bw – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night. It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

– bw Before you buy.

Response:

It’s common knowledge that Edward Fadden said: Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night.  It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

Yes, I have experienced it.  Didn’t know it was a "syndrome" though! But it can really be irritating.  If it happens in bed, it can keep me awake for hours.  I hate it! Huggs, Cathy

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I have "periodic limb movement syndrome" which is different in the effect that my limbs will twitch or jolt out uncontrollably; not too much of a pain, I’m pretty used to it; and it isn’t that noticable unless it’s noghttime.  Right before I fall asleep my legs jolt big time!  I’ve pretty much learned to pay no mind to it.  It’s as subconscience as breathing to me, now. Kerrie

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night.  It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

a true case of restless leg is not anxiety based at all. It is usually caused from being overtired or overworked in a physical sense. The nuerons of the muscles are still firing to one level or another in a hyperactive way-you can notice it most when you are overtired. Some are helped by adding a dose of niacin or niacinamide a b vitimin around 100mg to their diet-others a nice physical workout 3x per week does the trick. There are vascular problems that can mimic this benign condition so if you have pain or numness coldness or severe cramping of the calf muscles have your doc check it out. Some folks are also helped by increased calcium and magnesium but ask a doc first. LM

Response:

My pdoc who has been diagnosed with this syndrome treats it by taking a very low dosage of Klonopin before bed, since that is when it is most bothersome. However I have heard that some people can gain relief through vitamins, but I really do not know much about that, since this is not something I have done much research into. Good Luck! d

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night.  It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information.

Response:

I have Fibromyalgia and I also get the restless leg syndrome.  Mine happens whenever it takes a notion. Hope that helps.. Buffie —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think everyone I know has that!  (And they’re normies?) bw Hi group:  has anyone ever heard of "restless leg syndrome"  i have always thought this condition / experience was related to anxiety, however, now i have read that it is a separate "syndrome"  RLS is defined as the need to constantly move a leg, it is usually apparent in the evening/night. It is also worse when forced to sit still as in riding in a car, airplane, or sitting in a cinema. Has anyone experienced this and/or been successfully treated for it (there is no cure). Thanks again group for your responses, but please do not email me, I use my email for work as well as private.  Post your answers here on the newsgroup. Again, thank you for all your helpful information. — bw Before you buy.

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Question:

Things have been a bit better lately.  I’ve had less to think about, and therefore less stray thoughts, which is nice. Its funny, when I started taking Zoloft, I looked up on the CVS website drug interaction checker whether or not caffiene interacts with it, and it said it didn’t.  However, it was nice enough to inform me that caffeine interacts with food!  DUH!!!  :) Jason

Glad to hear that you’re doing better.  I’m not doing better–my anxiety and agitation levels are still pretty extreme, so I’m going to try decreasing my dose to 100 mg for a few days (though I need to remember to call my psychiatrist tomorrow to tell her what I’ve decided to do ) to see if it makes a difference. persephone — "It’s a common error among mortals active in organized religion to place devotion to historical propositions and to organizations above devotion to life-shaping principles." –Allen R. Barlow Before you buy.

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I haven’t told her yet because it only just recently started increasing to the point where I noticed it, but I meet with her in about a week, and I’ll mention it to her then.  It probably won’t make much of a difference because the Zoloft doesn’t seem to be working too well, and so she’ll probably put me on another AD soon unless it does start working.  Thanks! persephone << question about Zoloft What you describe is an occasional side effect of many AD meds. Have you told your doctor? Be well. Bob

– "It’s a common error among mortals active in organized religion to place devotion to historical propositions and to organizations above devotion to life-shaping principles." –Allen R. Barlow Before you buy.

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Things have been a bit better lately.  I’ve had less to think about, and therefore less stray thoughts, which is nice. Its funny, when I started taking Zoloft, I looked up on the CVS website drug interaction checker whether or not caffiene interacts with it, and it said it didn’t.  However, it was nice enough to inform me that caffeine interacts with food!  DUH!!!  :) Jason – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sorry.  :(  Maybe you should talk to your pdoc about the agitation. She might be willing to try another med that’s not an SSRI.  If the Zoloft is really working for you, you might want to try to give up the caffiene, though I realize this is much easier said than done.  If I had to give up ice cream, I’m not sure what I would do… persephone Ack! No! I didn’t see the post about caffiene and Zoloft.  If I have to give up my Mt. Dew to have to take this stuff, I’ll be more depressed than I was before I started it! Jason — "It’s a common error among mortals active in organized religion to place devotion to historical propositions and to organizations above devotion to life-shaping principles." –Allen R. Barlow Before you buy.

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<< question about Zoloft What you describe is an occasional side effect of many AD meds. Have you told your doctor? Be well. Bob

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I’m sorry.  :(  Maybe you should talk to your pdoc about the agitation. She might be willing to try another med that’s not an SSRI.  If the Zoloft is really working for you, you might want to try to give up the caffiene, though I realize this is much easier said than done.  If I had to give up ice cream, I’m not sure what I would do… persephone Ack! No! I didn’t see the post about caffiene and Zoloft.  If I have to give up my Mt. Dew to have to take this stuff, I’ll be more depressed than I was before I started it! Jason

– "It’s a common error among mortals active in organized religion to place devotion to historical propositions and to organizations above devotion to life-shaping principles." –Allen R. Barlow Before you buy.

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Ack! No! I didn’t see the post about caffiene and Zoloft.  If I have to give up my Mt. Dew to have to take this stuff, I’ll be more depressed than I was before I started it! Jason – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for the response, Jason.  Glad to know I’m not alone.  By the way, did you see the thread where ali mentioned that caffiene interacts with SSRIs and increases agitation?  It might be something to keep in mind.  Take care. persephone Hiya, I’m actually on Zoloft right now too, and I have the same problem unfortunately.  It usually happens at night, which makes sleep nigh impossible.  Its been really bothersome.  I’ve started taking it earlier in the day (I used to take it at 5:30pm every day), but it hasn’t seemed to help yet. Jason Okay, I’m going to take the plunge and post again… I have a question about Zoloft.  I’m currently on Zoloft, and since I started taking it, there are periods during the day where I have a lot of agitated, restless energy and my mind does nothing but race.  And, these periods get more frequent every time my medication is upped. Have people experienced this particular side effect on Zoloft, or do you think it’s just part of the depression? (I have a friend with depression who’s not on any medication who gets this way sometimes). Before you buy. — "It

Question:

Hey, I took 10mg of Valium last night and got a normal night’s sleep!  At least I think I did.  Slept all the way through, no psycho dreams, no problems whatsoever, just a tiny bit of grogginess this morning.  I’m hoping that using a little pharmy assist just for sleep for the next 3 or 4 days will see me all the way through the rest of Effexor withdrawal. I’m hoping that I am *not* just putting it off, but my doc tells me I have no reason to worry about that.  Otherwise, some dizziness once up and about, but that is nothing compared to the wild nights of yesteryear.  I may be OK now.  Whew.

Good, now stop being such a bitch around here and get the stupid block off your email. I’ve missed you. Mary Beth "Real friends let friends drive naked."

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Hey, I took 10mg of Valium last night and got a normal night’s sleep!  At least I think I did.  Slept all the way through, no psycho dreams, no problems whatsoever, just a tiny bit of grogginess this morning.  I’m hoping that using a little pharmy assist just for sleep for the next 3 or 4 days will see me all the way through the rest of Effexor withdrawal. I’m hoping that I am *not* just putting it off, but my doc tells me I have no reason to worry about that.  Otherwise, some dizziness once up and about, but that is nothing compared to the wild nights of yesteryear.  I may be OK now.  Whew.

Mark, Glad to hear that you found something to help you get through this. Hopefully, you’ve been through the worst of it. chuck

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Hey, I took 10mg of Valium last night and got a normal night’s sleep!  At least I think I did.  Slept all the way through, no psycho dreams, no problems whatsoever, just a tiny bit of grogginess this morning.

Glad to hear that, Mark.  I hope you don’t have to stay on the Valium for more than a few days also.   I think I remember you (?) saying something about trying to drink lots of water to help clear out your system.  I was also wondering if getting out for walks and fresh air helps get the Effexor out of one’s system more quickly. (I really don’t know, but it seems like it might.) Btw, I have to tell you about a dream I had about you (nothing like your nightmares, thankfully), but it was kind of funny, and I think you’ll appreciate the humor in it.   Dream:  I was typing a response to one of your posts, BUT the catch was that I was totally blind (or blindfolded?) and had to spend hours replacing my hands on the "base keys" to keep my place.  Then, I would forget whether I had backspaced to correct errors (and I remembered thinking…geez this can’t have typos in it!) and, I could never re-read anything I typed.  I’m generally a good typist so this was a very frustrating dream.   It seemed like it did go on for hours.  hehehe…  I guess my posts do sometimes too. I was going to tell you about this the next day, but that was the same day that you posted a goodbye to asd message.  Weird.   Take it easy, Mark.  Hopefully you’ll keep posting (and I’ll try not to be too blind in any of my responses) <g Leah

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Question:

says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I’ve been takin valium (as needed ) to try to endure panic attacks. : This, however, does not let me enjoy the outdoor activities I used to : love.  My doctor thinks I should give anti-depressants a try.  Has : anyone ever used this drug and if so, does it help the "thought : process" or take away any of the "fear" or avoidance of certain : places?  I would appreciate any info on this drug. : I was just put on Zoloft in February, 96 for panic disorder. It was a : gradually increasing dosage because of my sensitivity to these types : of drugs (Prozac, Effexor etc.) Meanwhile I am still doing 2 mg./daily : of Xanax. I am up to 50mg. of Zoloft now and its been 8 weeks. I do : notice a slight difference in my mood and attitude. The game plan is : to wean me off the Xanax and increase the Zoloft until I am Xanax : free. I don’t completely buy this yet because the Zoloft still makes : me feel speedy and uncomfortable. I don’t know if it will eventually : help me although my shrink says give it time. In the end, only YOU : know what’s right for your body. Incidentally, I was on Valium for : many years but switched to Xanax. It’s a lot safer. I was diagnosed with depression last october and was immediately put on Zoloft.  After on it for a few months I realized that my anxiety was almost completely gone.  My depression, however, started coming back to what it was before Zoloft.  I recently stopped it to take Manerix and my anxiety came back full force and I started having severe panic attacks.   For me, Zoloft was amazing for anxiety but everyone’s different. —

My experiences are quite similar vto Paula’s.  I have been on Zoloft for over a year, and it is the best med I have used for PD.  I have previously been on Ativan, Xanax, Tofrenil (made me sleep 20 hrs a day), Elavil, Thorazine, Stelozine, Valium and a host of others. -Scott

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: I’ve been takin valium (as needed ) to try to endure panic attacks. : This, however, does not let me enjoy the outdoor activities I used to : love.  My doctor thinks I should give anti-depressants a try.  Has : anyone ever used this drug and if so, does it help the "thought : process" or take away any of the "fear" or avoidance of certain : places?  I would appreciate any info on this drug. : I was just put on Zoloft in February, 96 for panic disorder. It was a : gradually increasing dosage because of my sensitivity to these types : of drugs (Prozac, Effexor etc.) Meanwhile I am still doing 2 mg./daily : of Xanax. I am up to 50mg. of Zoloft now and its been 8 weeks. I do : notice a slight difference in my mood and attitude. The game plan is : to wean me off the Xanax and increase the Zoloft until I am Xanax : free. I don’t completely buy this yet because the Zoloft still makes : me feel speedy and uncomfortable. I don’t know if it will eventually : help me although my shrink says give it time. In the end, only YOU : know what’s right for your body. Incidentally, I was on Valium for : many years but switched to Xanax. It’s a lot safer. I was diagnosed with depression last october and was immediately put on Zoloft.  After on it for a few months I realized that my anxiety was almost completely gone.  My depression, however, started coming back to what it was before Zoloft.  I recently stopped it to take Manerix and my anxiety came back full force and I started having severe panic attacks.   For me, Zoloft was amazing for anxiety but everyone’s different. — | Owner of Absolutely Nothing in Mount Pearl, NF | above are not those of   | | Musician at heart, nobody by trade, writer of  | the writer, James Oakley,| | garbage, student at Cabot College in St. John’s| but are those of the     | | Newfoundland, Canada.  My telephone number only| voices in his head, Larry|

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I’ve been takin valium (as needed ) to try to endure panic attacks. This, however, does not let me enjoy the outdoor activities I used to love.  My doctor thinks I should give anti-depressants a try.  Has anyone ever used this drug and if so, does it help the "thought process" or take away any of the "fear" or avoidance of certain places?  I would appreciate any info on this drug.

I was just put on Zoloft in February, 96 for panic disorder. It was a gradually increasing dosage because of my sensitivity to these types of drugs (Prozac, Effexor etc.) Meanwhile I am still doing 2 mg./daily of Xanax. I am up to 50mg. of Zoloft now and its been 8 weeks. I do notice a slight difference in my mood and attitude. The game plan is to wean me off the Xanax and increase the Zoloft until I am Xanax free. I don’t completely buy this yet because the Zoloft still makes me feel speedy and uncomfortable. I don’t know if it will eventually help me although my shrink says give it time. In the end, only YOU know what’s right for your body. Incidentally, I was on Valium for many years but switched to Xanax. It’s a lot safer.

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I’ve been takin valium (as needed ) to try to endure panic attacks. This, however, does not let me enjoy the outdoor activities I used to love.  My doctor thinks I should give anti-depressants a try.  Has anyone ever used this drug and if so, does it help the "thought process" or take away any of the "fear" or avoidance of certain places?  I would appreciate any info on this drug.

I have used Zoloft for a little over 2 years, was drug free for a year and a half, and now have been on Zoloft again for a little over a year. I took Valium for about 5 years, and it wrecked me.  The Zoloft works very, very well for me. -Scott

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I’ve been takin valium (as needed ) to try to endure panic attacks. This, however, does not let me enjoy the outdoor activities I used to love.  My doctor thinks I should give anti-depressants a try.  Has anyone ever used this drug and if so, does it help the "thought process" or take away any of the "fear" or avoidance of certain places?  I would appreciate any info on this drug.

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