Posted by Steve2 on August 1, 2000, at 23:32:40
In reply to Re: Edronax for Beginners, posted by AndrewB on August 1, 2000, at 9:45:40
Gezz, doesn't sound like the panacea that it once was proclaimed to be!
> I would just like to add that the real life experiences with Edronax (reboxetine) posted on ths board over time provide a valuable complement to the standard published information, of which there is plenty. So a search of the archives of this site would give you an idea about peoples' everyday responses to the med.
>
> Briefly, Edronax tends to be an effective arousal agent, significanlty improving the condition of people with low energy , lack of motivation towards action and muddled thinking. It appears that more often than not, it doesn't have an antidepressant effect. Edronax tends to hit people with side effects at first. These vary from person to person; constipation, anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, racing heart, urinary hesistancy, sexual dysfunction, etc. These problems tend to be transitory. The sexual dysfuntion in men though tends to stay though it does get somewhat better. Specifically, the quality of the erection is compromised. Also some people continue to be over-agitated with reboxetine. This problem can dealt with usually with the addition of a serotonergic agent (i.e SSRI) or possibly something else that is calming. The best way to deal with the transitory side effects is to go up slowly in dosage. A very conservative schedule would be 2 weeks at 4mgs., 2 weeks at 6mgs., and then on to 8mgs. If side effects become to severe, back down the dosage for a longer period of adjustment.
>
> A sub-population encounters severe anxiety and depression with reboxetine. You are forwarned.
>
> If you wnat to know beforehand whether reboxetine will work for you, you can take the fast acting Naphazoline eye drops. If you get a positive effect with Napholizine, I believe it should be much like the positive response you should expect to receive with reboxtine. Naphazoline won't, however, help you necessarily predict the negative responses and side effects you may get with reboxetine. The point is: if Naphozoline works for you, reboxetine may work for you. More info. on Naphazoline is below.
>
> AndrewB
> -----------------------------
>
> Naphazoline
>
> Reboxetine takes approximately 2 weeks, sometimes longer to take effect. This drug has been wonderful for many people, providing mental and physical arousal sometimes along with an antidepressant effect. However many people either don’t respond to the medicines or experience intolerable side effects.
>
> Naphazoline, when taken in the form of eye drops, offers a way to predict whether one will respond reboxetine and possibly other drugs that act mainly on the alpha 1 andrenergic receptor. Naphazoline eye drops are used to get redness out of the eyes by constricting the blood vessels.
>
> It acts in seconds to minutes. When it works, one’s tiredness, lack of mental clarity or mood should improve. Simply put a drop in each eye, as instructed below. Wait 10 minutes. If no effect is felt, add two more drops. Repeat if necessary. Watch your pulse. Your pulse should increase as the naph. takes effect. I suggest you not let your resting heart rate go above the low 90s. When naph.’s effects begin to wear off and you begin to ‘drag’ again, you will have to apply more drops to reinvigorate the effect. This may be once a day, for others it may be six or more times a day. For some the drops may be too strong. In this case simply dilute with normal sterile saline solution.
>
> Naphazoline is an alpha agonist with a short onset of action and a short half life. Basically, its action is through the same receptors as reboxetine but the onset of the arousal effect is much more rapid. I take reboxetine and the arousal effect I experience from it is about the same as I feel when I take Naphazoline.
>
> You can take Naphazoline on an ongoing basis though the label instructions advise against it. But in fact, some Chronic Fatigue Immune Disorder Syndrome (CFIDS) specialists have some of their patients taking these eye drops for years. My impression though is that most people will experience a rapid tolerance to its effects.
>
> Naphazoline can be purchased at the local drug store under a variety of tradenames such as Vasocon and Naphcon. A prescription is not required. I paid about $14 for 15mL in the US and about half that in Canada. Read the box before you buy. It should list as active ingredients Naphazoline Hydrochloride at an approximate strength of 0.01%. Naph. should contain no other active ingredients. Brands that have ‘A’s at the end of their trade names, such as VasoconA and NaphconA, contain an antihistamine also as an active ingredient. Do not buy these.
>
> It is my guess that people will experience some (but not all) of the same side effects on Naph. as they would with adrafinil or reboxetine. For example, if Naph. gives one agitation, anxiety, or sexual side effects, there is a good chance reboxetine or adrafinil will do the same. I think reboxetine though can give a person side effects that you wouldn’t get with either Naph. or adrafinil.
>
> Too much Naph. may cause headaches, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, sweating, rapid heart beat. Do not take it if you have high blood pressure or cardiac disease as the medicine will raise blood pressure and can induce arrythmias.
>
> Not everyone who takes the eye drops will see much of an effect with them. I believe only those with alpha andrenergic system hypofunction will experience improvement when taking naphazoline. Those who don’t see an improvement are unlikely to benefit from taking drugs like reboxetine. But those who do improve after taking the eye drops will, if I am right, also improve (side effects aside) on reboxetine. Here is the real value of naphazoline; it predicts whether you would benefit from a class of drugs. If it is able to do this, it will save a nonresponding person the ordeal of a failed drug trial and, on the other hand, point the responder in the direction of an effective medicine for them.
>
> Those with a PROPERLY functioning alpha andrenergic system will experience:
>
> +less redness in eyes
> +increased BP
> +possibly increased heart rate
> +At higher doses possibly headache or restlessness
>
> Those with a IMPROPERLY functioning alpha andrenergic system will experience:
>
> +improved mental clarity
> +less tiredness
> +possibly less anxiety
> +possibly improved mood
>
>
> MORE NAPHAZOLINE INFORMATION: (source: Mayo Clinic Health Oasis at www.mayohealth.org/usp/html/202389.htm)
>
> Medical Problems:
> The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ophthalmic naphazoline. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
>
> Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
> Heart disease or
> High blood pressure or
> Overactive thyroid-Use of ophthalmic naphazoline may make the condition worse
> Eye disease, infection, or injury- the symptoms of the condition may be confused with possible side effects of ophthalmic naphazoline
>
> To use:
> First, wash your hands. With the middle finger, apply pressure to the inside corner of the eye (and continue to apply pressure for 1 or 2 minutes after the medicine has been placed in the eye). Tilt the head back and with the index finger of the same hand, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed. To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.
>
> Side Effects of This Medicine:
> With overuse or long-term use: Increase in eye irritation
>
> Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body: Dizziness; headache; increased sweating; nausea; nervousness; weakness
>
> Symptoms of overdose: Decrease in body temperature; drowsiness; slow heartbeat; weakness (severe)
poster:Steve2
thread:41879
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000729/msgs/41975.html