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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 17:09:23
Well we had some fun with my other Threads but now it's time to get down to business. How come I have become this helpless creature that can't go anywhere alone, work, let my husband go out alone. Why am I so scared? Everytime I go to do something live visit my daughter a big red STOP sign appears. I've been taking the valium and expected to feel better and I even went back on Luvox. The only thing luvox has done for me is lower my Blood pressure. Seriously it was 77/48 yesterday. Last night I cut the dose in half and it was up to 96/70something. After lifting machine weights it was 106/73. Do you think I'm not really depressed or really anxious but just think I am ? I just don't know what my problem is. This really is a medication question because maybe I need something else instead of benzos and AD's Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 18:10:50
In reply to I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 17:09:23
I'm curious, Phillipa, what would you like to hear?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 18:46:45
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 18:10:50
It's not a matter of what I'd like to hear. I'm just confused as to why I can't function like I used to. Is it age, burn-out, laziness? I just can't feem to figure it out. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on June 21, 2005, at 19:12:28
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 18:46:45
Has counselling ever been able to give you some ideas about how to tackle your problems ??
Linkadge
Posted by jay on June 21, 2005, at 19:16:08
In reply to I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 17:09:23
Hi Phillipa:
I empathize with your situation. As I recall, Luvox has a fairly short half-life, and is often prescribed 2x a day. Do you take it like this, now? If not, that *may* be your difficulty...but I am just taking a shot in the dark.
Best,
Jay
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 19:45:37
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by jay on June 21, 2005, at 19:16:08
No and you're right I've only been taking it once a day. But in the past I used to have such intense anxiety attacks. Now I just feel blah! Link there is one counsellor where we live and he is wierd. He kept saying "LUCKY DUCKY". So I tried another one who works with my pdoc and she just told me to read a book. I want someone to lay out a plan of action for me to follow and have to report back each week. I think we need to live where there are more medical centers and counsellors. I've always needed a leader. Like in Yoga I couldn't hold the pose unless someone was there saying when to stop. Greg needs to find a job and i really would like to go back to psych nursing. I loved it. I think the longer you're away from something the harder it is to go back. Methods change. And can I get another job after 8yrs of not working. All these things go round and round in my mind each day. I imagine myself doing these things. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by rjlockhart98 on June 21, 2005, at 19:53:34
In reply to I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 17:09:23
Posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 19:56:20
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 18:46:45
> It's not a matter of what I'd like to hear. I'm just confused as to why I can't function like I used to. Is it age, burn-out, laziness? I just can't feem to figure it out. Fondly, Phillipa
From your intial post along this thread, I get the impression that you might respond well to tricyclics. Have you ever tried one?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 20:07:36
In reply to I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 17:09:23
Hi Phillipa.
I see from your post along another thread that you have difficulties sleeping and feel wired on tricyclics.
Which ones have you tried?
How did you go about titrating dosage and how long did you stay on them for before discontinuing them?
When I first tried TCAs, I had difficulties sleeping and felt strange during the day - wired. Within a few weeks, though, this was transformed into an antidepressant response.
Keep thinking. You are not lazy. Burned out, maybe, but who wouldn't be having to deal with anxiety and depression on a daily basis?
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 20:37:21
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 19:56:20
Well I know when I first graduated from nursing school before the SSRI's I had a good pdoc in Ct. He prescribed ludiomil. He said to take it at night. Don't remember the dose but he said it wasn't a large one. I remember being kinda in a haze like half asleep all night long. I was in good shape then and only took .5ativan each day. I had to be at work the next day and felt like I was in a haze all day. When I got home I flushed them down the toilet and didn't take it again. And when i first had my panic attacks I was given what was called an upper-downer by the pdoc. I took it and cried and walked around the block with my ex-husband all night. I never took that one again. I wish I could remember what it was but I had no medical knowledge then and I don't. The only AD I ever took that gave a dramaticlly positive response was prozac when it first came out. It was only available in 20mg capsules then. lst day felt great wallpapered the foyer, 2nd day was anxious, 3rd day panic attacks that took 3 days of xanax to feel okay again. The pdoc was so upset with me because he said please take it you had such a remarkable response to it. Just take it every three days. But I was scared. The new pdoc I have now said she would give it to me. Maybe I should have tried it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 20:57:42
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 20:37:21
I think you should give tricyclics another shot. I would recommend either desipramine or nortriptyline. Expect that you will feel kind of weird at first. You and I both know that, at the very best, it will take 2-3 weeks before a true antidepressant effect emerges. Ludiomil is not a drug that most people would consider first-line. More like last-line. Don't neglect the TCAs. They are powerful and effective drugs. Just be aware of the possible side effects and that many of them mitigate over time. It is probably a good sign that you should feel wired and insomniac. I wish these drugs still had those effects on me. Perhaps I wouldn't be so treatment-resistant. TCAs don't seem to poop-out as often as SSRIs.
Good luck.
Be well.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 21:21:53
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by SLS on June 21, 2005, at 20:57:42
Thank-you Scott for taking me seriously. Because I am serious. I am getting older and time is running out. Wouldn't it be nice to be here to see all the medical advances that will benefit the younger Babblers. Someday there will be a blood test. Already they're doing gene tests. When I was a kid they didn't have a dx for ADD or ADHD. Kids were just unable to sit still and got disciplined and had to stay back a year in school and repeat a grade.Fondly, Phillipa.
PS I hope trileptal is the drug for you!
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 22:30:38
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 21:21:53
Scott, How come you keep your Babblemail off? Maybe you can Babble me and you will let me on your site. If I'm not mistaken you need permission to enter. Scott's Kingdom. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 22, 2005, at 7:21:07
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2005, at 22:30:38
> Scott, How come you keep your Babblemail off? Maybe you can Babble me and you will let me on your site. If I'm not mistaken you need permission to enter. Scott's Kingdom. Fondly, Phillipa
One of the major reasons that I don't activate my babble-mail is that I would not be able to keep up with the volume. The last few days, I have been posting a little more, perhaps because I am feeling better. However, I can usually only read and respond to a handful of posts. When I don't respond to a post directed to me, I often disappoint the poster by not replying. I wouldn't want that to happen using Babble-mail with several times the volume.
You can have a look at my website from here.
http://home.att.net/~sl.schofield/
There is no restriction for entrance. It is really pretty silly, actually. I think you will be disappointed, but I hope you find something there to put a smile on your face. Don't forget to look at the Halloween page.
Regarding my first reply along your thread, I was taking you seriously from the start. I was just curious to see what your expectations were. It would have given a clue as to what you feel you are missing. It helps others focus their attention to details that can be addressed more specifically.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2005, at 18:48:46
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by SLS on June 22, 2005, at 7:21:07
Thanks Scott, For someone who is depressed you really have a sense of humor. It must have taken a great deal of work to put this together. Thanks for sharing! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by theo on June 23, 2005, at 12:48:14
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill, posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2005, at 18:48:46
How is the Luvox working for you? What dose are you currently taking?
Posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2005, at 18:12:32
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » Phillipa, posted by theo on June 23, 2005, at 12:48:14
Actually I don't think I'm going to take anymore. I had been cutting down due to falling asleep earlier and earlier at night. You would think when you have problems sleeping this would be great. But I wake-up around 5 and my husband hasn't even been to bed yet. So now who has the insomnia? I thought I might go back on the low dose zoloft just to see what happens. Fondly, Phillipa. Oh I took 25mg last night. I had gone up to l00mg.
Posted by 4WD on June 23, 2005, at 23:02:24
In reply to Re: I Really Wish There Were A Magic Pill » theo, posted by Phillipa on June 23, 2005, at 18:12:32
> Actually I don't think I'm going to take anymore. I had been cutting down due to falling asleep earlier and earlier at night. You would think when you have problems sleeping this would be great. But I wake-up around 5 and my husband hasn't even been to bed yet. So now who has the insomnia? I thought I might go back on the low dose zoloft just to see what happens. Fondly, Phillipa. Oh I took 25mg last night. I had gone up to l00mg.
Phillipa! If the Luvox is helping you to fall asleep, keep taking it! If your husband is still up at 5am, that's his deal. All this is, of course if the Luvox is also helping with your depression and anxiety. But if you've found something that treats your insomnia, I'd stick with it if I could. And I'm keeping it in mind for myself if my insomnia ever comes back.
Marsha
This is the end of the thread.
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