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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 med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 22:57:47
that lots of drugs/methods for dealing with mental issues involve suppressing normal brain function? I'm not saying it **HAS** to be that way but...why is it? Do you think it reflects some built-in idea within psychiatry that the brain must be disabled to be "fixed"? Kind of like the brain-damage-as-treatment ideas of the 30s-60s (arguably continuing somewhat into the present).
Posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 23:10:41
In reply to ever noticed..., posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 22:57:47
Do you think that a benzo is enough on it's own? Love Phillipa
Posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 23:17:40
In reply to Re: ever noticed... » med_empowered, posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 23:10:41
for some people, I think benzos can be enough to deal with depression/anxiety, especially if, like you, they respond well to benzos. If its not enough, then you could build on that, unless the benzo is causing problems (like making depression worse), in which case you'd want to taper and try something else....
Have you tried a benzo+buspar? Or maybe a benzo+low-dose antidepressant+buspar? It seems like you have a lot of anxiety, and I would imagine any successful combo would have to address that to be effective.
Posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 23:54:08
In reply to Re: ever noticed..., posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 23:17:40
Med I wish you would e-mail me. I've e-mailed you . Anyway about the buspar has it changed since around l0 years ago I took it with I think xanax and low dose paxil and luvox. I think l2.5 of luvox and 5mg of paxil. Now it's been 25mg of luvox and the 20mg of valium and .5 of xanax. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on November 14, 2006, at 10:03:22
In reply to ever noticed..., posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 22:57:47
Never understimate the power of
stupidity over malice.Squiggles
Posted by stargazer on November 15, 2006, at 1:49:22
In reply to Re: ever noticed... » med_empowered, posted by Squiggles on November 14, 2006, at 10:03:22
Yes,
I'm really noticing it this past week since I came off Cymbalta and can think again. I can't rememebr having this much mental energy in a really long time. Isn't it easier to sedate ones emotions with drugs to reduce anxiety? It quiets the brain and you forget you have any problems, although problems are necessary for us to use our brain effectively. If the meds shut down the brain, too well for too long, it's going casue brain atrophy...aka 'feeling "stupid' and that's when we go back to our docs to try another med, but often times the cycle just repeats itself, one med after another...
I hate to say it...but I start Emsam tomorrow...kick me if I start acting stupid ina week or so.
SG
Posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2006, at 19:03:58
In reply to Re: ever noticed..., posted by stargazer on November 15, 2006, at 1:49:22
How do you make a kick with the keyboard? Love phillipa
Posted by stargazer on November 16, 2006, at 7:04:52
In reply to Re: ever noticed... » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on November 15, 2006, at 19:03:58
KICK w keyboard?
L--o---o---oooooooooooooooooooooo
That doesn't really look right, it was fun to try though.
Posted by erik98225 on November 18, 2006, at 4:47:30
In reply to ever noticed..., posted by med_empowered on November 13, 2006, at 22:57:47
> that lots of drugs/methods for dealing with mental issues involve suppressing normal brain function? I'm not saying it **HAS** to be that way but...why is it? Do you think it reflects some built-in idea within psychiatry that the brain must be disabled to be "fixed"? Kind of like the brain-damage-as-treatment ideas of the 30s-60s (arguably continuing somewhat into the present).
Well, here goes. I have a BA degree in psychology and took quite a few 300 level courses dealing with neurochemicals and pharmacology.
I don't believe the meds we take cause brain damage (except antipsychotics, which DO give you Parkinsons Disease). It is more fair to say that they modify some aspect of neurotransmission. These drugs do not have a toxic effect to the brain. The brain is able to "undo" whatever the drug did (that's the withdrawal syndrome).
There are only three ways a drug can affect the brain: agonist (increases the neurotransmitter's effects), antagonist (blocks the neurotransmitter's effects), and inverse agonist (causes the OPPOSITE of the neurotransmitter's effects). The "feeling" you get from the drug depends on what it is doing to specific neurotransmitters.
To use a common example, SSRI (Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram, etc etc.) is a serotonin agonist -- it increases the effects of serotonin, which is a chemical that regulates your mood. Thus it is useful for the treatment of depression. But it also messes with some other chemicals -- agonizing, antagonizing, or inverse-agonizing them -- which is what causes the side effects. The main side effect is that it ruins your sex life.
As another example, benzodiazepine (Diazepam, Alprazolam, Clonazepam...) is a GABA agonist. GABA is the "calm down!" chemical, so these drugs are useful for anxiety disorders. However, it is possible to be TOO relaxed, which is what causes the drowsiness and depression often associated with benzos.
My personal opinion is that you should not take a drug if it doesn't help you. If it DOES help you, consider whether it helps you enough that the side effects are worth it. Except for the dopamine antagonists ("antipsychotics"), I have never heard of brain damage resulting from the use of mental health meds.
Erik
This is the end of the thread.
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