Posted by BarbaraCat on July 22, 2004, at 12:36:03
In reply to Re: NEURONTIN - sometimes, posted by ravenstorm on July 21, 2004, at 20:59:06
> Yeah, I really do have to get more testing done. My basic result was 2.85, but the doctor said that is normal and they look at me and see I am normal weight and say I can't possibly have a thyroid problem. I have to say, I really watch what I eat though.
**If a person has depression, .5 to 2.0 is considered optimal. If a person is bipolar or has anxiety disorder, it's 1.9 to avoid any hyper symptoms. But 2.85 isn't bad but it could be better. On the other hand, if you're not taking thyroid medication then it's probably good to not start if you don't really have to.
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> The final titration down of Paxil left me worse than I have ever been in my life. Much worse than I ever was before going on the drug. Now, I wonder if I will ever be well again.**I sometimes wonder how life would be if I hadn't been on SSRI's for such a high dose for so long. I think my receptors were damaged and I've heard this can be so. I keep taking fish oil because it helps to heal the cell membrane and do eveything else I can to give my healing capacity a hand. We turn over cells and create brand new brains ever 7 years or so and there's always hope. Who knows, maybe all this is to create stronger, more adaptive and more compassionate brains than we would have had if life had been easier. So keep up a healthy lifestyle and keep the faith.
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**If it's any consolation, Remeron was the easiest AD I've ever gotten off. It was a piece of cake compared to the others. Paxil and Effexor were the worst for me. I had to grit my teeth and kept telling myself the sideways swooshies and electrical zaps would someday end. The raw exposed nerve endings would someday be soothed. It took a few months for the immediate awfuls to subside. I think it takes a few years for the receptors to get the idea that they can come out and play and naturally up-regulate again.Something you might consider if you're having a real hard time coming off an SSRI/SNRI drug is to get a short-term prescription for Prozac. Prozac has the longest half-life of any of them and makes it easier to ease off slowly. It's the short half-life ones that are the pits. I've heard that taking it with orange juice makes it work better. Beats me why.
And if all else fails and you find you still need an antidepressant, consider St. John's Wort. I've been quite surprised at how effective it's been. I've been on a pharmaceutical grade for 6 weeks now. It's not perfect in that I still get down days and fibro flares, but given the alternatives, it's by far the best -- two thumbs up. - Barbara
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:365024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040719/msgs/368978.html