Posted by Jennifer on June 15, 2000, at 0:55:16
In reply to Re: Scared, but I have to stop all meds!, posted by shellie on June 14, 2000, at 20:26:36
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> Shellie, yes I am on 90mg, and I did take 30mg on tuesday am, and I'm going to take 30mg again tonight (wed). I was going to go to 15 tomorrow, but maybe I'll take 15 in the morning and also check with my pdoc since I am able to see him tomorrow. That way I can still take more at bedtime. He's not going to be thrilled that I have to do this.
The panic attacks can vary, mostly because I use the xanax to control them if they break through while on Nardil. When I start feeling that weird flutter in my chest, I take the xanax. Depending on the situation, I can usually tell how much I'll need (ie 1.0mg at home, 2.0mg if I'm trapped somewhere and can't leave) If I don't have xanax with me, they last about 10 minutes, lighten up for a couple, then drive back down hard. I can't function at all. No stimulation by light or sound is best. They won't completely disappear without xanax, unless I can sleep. If it is a bad panic attack session, I can also tell, because the xanax will not make me drowsy at all. I have taken 6mg over 4 hours and been wide awake. Once I wasn't trapped, I went home and fell into a deep sleep and then they were gone. Benadryl has been a helpful emergency drug for helping to sleep, but again, this endocrinologist really wants nothing on board. I think I will look into massage. I usually am able to sleep well when my muscles are relaxed. That was a great idea! As far as my "life" in general, this is probably a very good time to do this. I'm home with my kids, and they are out for the summer. My oldest is 11 and understands what they need to do if I don't feel well. She is really good at keeping her sister quiet, calling dad to let him know what's up, and making sure nobody interrupts my quiet. She has been a godsend. So, I can put things off if needed. Extracurricular activities for the kids can always be missed. The house can be a mess. I don't have any work, homeschool, scouting, or other major things until the end of August. I think that's why I'm thinking that I will get through it, but I know how bad it feels, and I get scared thinking "is this the day they'll start?" Thanks again for all your advice. I should start to notice the decrease on Friday, and may slow it way down if the symptoms start. I'll update as I go. Jennifer
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> Hi Jennifer. You're on a fairly high dose of nardil if I understand correctly (90mg) so I would take it a little slower maybe.
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> I don't really have panic attacks like you describe. When I get anxious, I tend to dissociate and stop feeling connected to the earth--can't feel myself, etc. Then I do feel the secondary anxiety because I feel scared I'm so spacey. But I do take klonopine on a regular basis.
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> My depression plays a much bigger part in my life. Sort of like your panic attacks. At the worst (mostly preNardil, or sometimes premenstually) I do the same--curl up in bed and hope to sleep as much as I can. It used to last days for me--in the last few years, never more than a day until January when I started losing some of the effects of nardil. Most of the time I'll wake up feeling better. Do panic attacks run their course in a hour, several hours, or for example, what would be the longest?
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> It's difficult for me to trace back all the reactions to being off nardil because there were other variables involved. I went off to try other meds--I remember just sleeping much of the time for one of the trials (like three weeks), feeling sick from one, and also moving both my house and business during those months. So mostly I remember being very tired, then very very anxious, then crashing into depression. The first time I tried Nardil it took five weeks for it to help--when I went back on it, it seems like it was a lot shorter. I think we pumped it up pretty high before I lowered it and I think I took serzone with it. I think maybe I couldn't work at all for just a couple of weeks, but I have a lot of control over my schedule and wasn't working full time. I think the nardil will hang around in your system for a while, so by the time you do crash (if you do), it might be time to start on it again. Once I decided to go back on the nardil, it really helped to know it was just a matter of time until it would take effect. So even though I was in pain--I knew it would have an end. And after the nardil kicked in, it was even better, from the effect of being off of it.
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> I was thinking that if panic is your biggest fear, maybe you could do some alternative treatment like accupuncture or reiki, or something else during the time you're off of medication. Accupuncture did not help me with depression, but some people have had success with accupuncture and panic. My hardest thing was work--actually it still is when I feel depressed. The main thing is that you will get through it, and then it will be over. Just be really kind to yourself--treat yourself to a massage if that helps, hide under the covers, or do whatever you need to to get through it. shellie
poster:Jennifer
thread:37115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37342.html