Posted by Green Willow on March 12, 2005, at 18:10:15
In reply to Can a lightbox cause this?, posted by KaraS on March 11, 2005, at 16:05:28
Kara,
I developed atrial fibrillation while only on 10 mg. of doxepin, so I do know that it can cause heart problems. After discontinuing doxepin I have not had many episodes. 1 hour or more of lightbox therapy seems like too much. 45 min. - 1 hour is recommended during the first 1 - 2 weeks, and after that I think the recommended time is about 20 - 30 mins. I have heard that the light box should be used much earlier in the morning than you are using it to really be beneficial, like before the sun gets too high and when your body tempature is still low from sleeping, but I don't know any specifics on that. Recently I was using the box about 20 minutes per morning and I experienced a sort of manic feeling, which has not been so noticeable since I shortened the length of time. Now I have shortened the time to about 5 - 7 minutes, and I notice that I feel the positive effects within that time. I am interested in what will happen if you make some changes. Green Willow
> I've been using a lightbox steadily for about 3 weeks now. I haven't seen any benefit yet but I'm recently experiencing some symptoms and I wonder if the lightbox could be responsible. I'm experiencing a fluttering feeling in my chest - like maybe my heart is skipping a beat now and then. Very scary. It could just be anxiety or from the doxepin (even though I'm only taking 25 mg.). The other thing I'm experiencing is irritability. I have been quite depressed lately but not nearly as irritable as I am now. Is there a chance that either of these things might be caused by the lightbox? Could I be using it too much? I'm using it about an hour a day, sometimes a little more.
>
> Thanks,
> Kara
>
poster:Green Willow
thread:469760
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050225/msgs/470187.html