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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Caitlin on August 17, 2003, at 5:22:53
Hi,
I've been suffering from panic disorder for the last few years. Things got out of control and I'm now seeing a psychiatrist who put me on Prozac but i have side effects.
I have heard of SAM-e. Its good for depression. Anyone knows if it works for Panic disorders ??
Can SAM-e be used with Prozac ?
My psych has no experience with SAM-e so he couldnt answer my questions.
Hope somebody can help.
Thks !
Posted by McPac on August 17, 2003, at 14:01:56
In reply to SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by Caitlin on August 17, 2003, at 5:22:53
"Can SAM-e be used with Prozac ?"
>>>>>>>>>Yes, I can think of NO reason why you couldn't take SAM-e w/ Prozac. Post your question to Larry Hoover on this board (he's the MAN!)
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 18, 2003, at 7:38:48
In reply to SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by Caitlin on August 17, 2003, at 5:22:53
> Hi,
>
> I've been suffering from panic disorder for the last few years. Things got out of control and I'm now seeing a psychiatrist who put me on Prozac but i have side effects.
>
> I have heard of SAM-e. Its good for depression. Anyone knows if it works for Panic disorders ??The only reasonably reliable source I can find says that it is useful, but only at "the lowest possible dose", suggesting that it may well make the problem worse.
> Can SAM-e be used with Prozac ?
Only under medical supervision. You need an objective observer to help assess the possibility of adverse interactions. One source suggests that serotonin syndrome is possible, but I think would be pretty unlikely. You're hoping for a positive interaction, of course, and that may well occur, too. You'd need to add the SAMe at low dose, and titrate upwards slowly (under supervision).
> My psych has no experience with SAM-e so he couldnt answer my questions.
>
> Hope somebody can help.
>
> Thks !I don't have an intimate understanding of panic disorder. My comments are about the drugs themselves.
Lar
Posted by Viridis on August 18, 2003, at 13:42:37
In reply to SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by Caitlin on August 17, 2003, at 5:22:53
Is the Prozac really helping? I ask because I've taken it several times, sometimes for months and at various doses, and always found that it intensified the anxiety. My pdoc considers Prozac the most anxiety-inducing of the SSRIs, and generally avoids it for nervous types. Everyone's different, but if you are having problems with it, you might discuss alternatives with your pdoc.
I've also taken Sam-e (but not with Prozac), and it seemed to have a mild antidepressant effect, although it was so subtle that it may just have been my imagination. I now take 750 mg TMG (trimethylglycine = anhydrous betaine, NOT betaine HCl). It's part of the pathway that leads to Sam-e production, is much cheaper, and is safer in terms of the potential for homocysteine buildup, which can be a concern re: cardiovascular problems etc. It seems to help out a bit.
This is just my experience, but for anxiety --especially panic disorder -- benzodiazepines such as Klonopin and Xanax are the most reliable meds with the fewest side effects.
Posted by Caitlin on August 18, 2003, at 21:47:55
In reply to Re: SAM-E for panic disorder ?? » Caitlin, posted by Viridis on August 18, 2003, at 13:42:37
Thanks for your replies.
I was given prozac with xanax. Have to take both together if not I'd get very agitated. I guess prozac was effective because as my panic got worse, I started getting depressed coz i feel like i'm losing myself and life is not worth living anymore.
prozac helps me go about my life, and gets me sociable and chatty again. however it killed my sex life and made me nauseous ...
i tried remeron and it totally sedated me and i ended up falling down stairs and cutting myself accidentally with the knife.
Posted by McPac on August 18, 2003, at 23:12:33
In reply to Re: SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by Caitlin on August 18, 2003, at 21:47:55
Prozac caused INCREDIBLE anger/agitation in me (THE worst of ALL meds....I can TOTALLY understand how Prozac caused some to go on MAJOR rampages....you'd have to FEEL that degree of agitation/rage, THEN you would understand!.....also, Dr. Heller talks frequently about using Buspar in cases where MEDS cause increased anxiety and anger (Can't believe that nobody here ever mentions this); he claims the buspar works well in blocking that unwanted effect....in folks w/ PTSD however, he says that the added buspar can then CAUSE worsened anxiety in THOSE folks and THEN he prescribes low-dose Remeron to counter that unwanted buspar effect for THAT person..fwiw
Posted by El on August 21, 2003, at 18:32:56
In reply to Re: SAM-E for panic disorder ?? » Caitlin, posted by Larry Hoover on August 18, 2003, at 7:38:48
i have just recently been diagnosed with a panic disorder and my doc had me try paxil which gave me a two day long anxiety attack and now i am trying lexapro which seems to be heading in that direction as well. so if anyone has any better advice so that i don't feel lightheaded constantly and immense pressure on my temples PLEASE help. it would be appreciated.
Posted by Viridis on August 22, 2003, at 2:20:02
In reply to Re: SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by El on August 21, 2003, at 18:32:56
Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin (clonazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) are the most reliable medications for panic disorder, have few lasting side effects for most people, are very cheap, and have a long record of safety. You just have to find a doctor who hasn't been brainwashed into thinking of them as "addictive" and so on.
On average, the antidepressants (like Paxil, Effexor, etc.) that many doctors push for anxiety are harder to withdraw from than benzos and are much more likely to cause major side effects (including worsened anxiety!). But they are still under patent, and so are heavily marketed. As they go off-patent and the new generation of antidepressant and antianxiety drugs appears, I expect that many doctors will shy away from these too.
For now, at least, benzos are the "gold standard" for severe anxiety problems.
Posted by marsha982340 on August 30, 2008, at 10:07:24
In reply to SAM-E for panic disorder ??, posted by Caitlin on August 17, 2003, at 5:22:53
i'm sure it's different for everyone, so if it's safe with prozac, then you may want to try, but here's my experience:
i've been off paxil for a few weeks now. and i've been doing wonderfully! i'm happy about it. but i heard about sam-e and thought i'd try it for an extra boost.
i took my first one yesterday, and this morning i have awful panic like i haven't in a long time (even coming off the paxil). i can't say 100% it's the sam-e, but upon googling i saw that someone else said it triggered panic in them as well.
so, if safe, try and see if i helps or hurts at first. but i recommend exercise (especially calming yoga stretches), diet (certain foods trigger anxiety or have chemicals to help calm you), and things like journaling. if you do find you still need medication, at least do these things along with the meds. they make a world of difference! for me they've been awakening my true self and i feel happier and healthier than i have in years. :)
the best to you.
> Hi,
>
> I've been suffering from panic disorder for the last few years. Things got out of control and I'm now seeing a psychiatrist who put me on Prozac but i have side effects.
>
> I have heard of SAM-e. Its good for depression. Anyone knows if it works for Panic disorders ??
>
> Can SAM-e be used with Prozac ?
>
> My psych has no experience with SAM-e so he couldnt answer my questions.
>
> Hope somebody can help.
>
> Thks !
This is the end of the thread.
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