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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 13:51:26
What medication or therapy have you used that maybe you were skeptical of but ended up being surprisingly effective for you?
Thanks!
Kaye
Posted by becksFLA on August 1, 2007, at 20:08:26
In reply to what drug has surprised you most?, posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 13:51:26
i think the fact there are no replies to this post speaks volumes...if you switch it around, such as a med that you expected to help you but was horrible, there would be tons. for me the biggest was xanax (xr). i was on a HUGE dose, and it literally didn't minimize my anxiety one bit.
Posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 23:26:13
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by becksFLA on August 1, 2007, at 20:08:26
Kind of sad huh?
I was surprised that Lyrica helped as much as it did. Even though it made me fluff up fast I stayed on it for a year. Pretty amazing.
Helped my sleep a whole lot and was a pretty good anti-depressant with few side effects. Did not feel toxic to my body.
Same thing with Ambien. I started it, not planning on takinking it long but it helped my sleep which sent the dominoes in the right direction for a change. I still take it and don't feel like it has any bad side-effects.
The EMSAM I am on has helped me exactly as i expected. No more, no less. It feels like the substrate I have needed. A solid base.
Dissappointments.....Any form of Ritalin (zombie effect) Dexedrine(not energizing)
Namenda has been apleasant surprise. Great anti-anxiety and does something really good for my sleep in a way that reminds me of Lyrica. I can forgo Ambien sometimes with Namenda. I would love to replace it altogether. It would be nice to drop some meds.
Thanks!
Kaye
Posted by Glydin on August 2, 2007, at 7:25:13
In reply to what drug has surprised you most?, posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 13:51:26
Lexapro... amazing effective for me beyond any expectations I had for it.
I don't usually post as: "Once bitten twice shy" when talking about success with meds - in the past, my posting about remission was not as well received as I would have hoped for, but sometimes I do feel the need to respond.... some of us do find remission and treatments which are successful.
Posted by BGB on August 2, 2007, at 12:38:52
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » KayeBaby, posted by Glydin on August 2, 2007, at 7:25:13
REMERON!
I was amazed at how well it helped me sleep and then curbed my anxiety the next day. It has also brightened my mood significantly.
Best of luck!
Posted by ClearSkies on August 2, 2007, at 13:04:26
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by BGB on August 2, 2007, at 12:38:52
> REMERON!
>
> I was amazed at how well it helped me sleep and then curbed my anxiety the next day. It has also brightened my mood significantly.
>
> Best of luck!That's really nice to read - I started taking this 3 weeks ago and am enjoying sleeping (though it's still a bit too much). I just went up to 30mg so I should be a bit more "with it".
ClearSkies
Posted by KayeBaby on August 2, 2007, at 13:51:24
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » KayeBaby, posted by Glydin on August 2, 2007, at 7:25:13
So you have had a remission from Lexepro?
Thats great!I'm assuming depression was your diagnosis?
How many drugs did you have to go through before you got to the one that works for you and how long have you been on it?Thanks for sharing!
I recieve the news of anyone's remisssion with great interest and congrats to you!Kaye
Posted by revaaron on August 2, 2007, at 13:51:47
In reply to what drug has surprised you most?, posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 13:51:26
I don't know if I was skeptical, but I guess I just didn't have any expectations... But, a combination of a B-100 complex and a tablespoon of Cod Liver oil provided almost drug-like feeling (in a good way) anti-anxiety and mild sedation efects. More effective than Xanax or Valium were, for me at least. I wasn't very rigorous with my testing, but it seemed like they had to be taken together at the same time- one or the other seperately didn't produce the same effects. It was enough relaxation to allow me to take a nap during the first few days I was trying out dexedrine, which otherwise had me pretty much unsleepable (while on it, never had insomnia problems at night, post dose). It was sort of a relaxed but not sedated feeling, analogous to L-theanine, though feeling like it. It'd help you sleep if you wanted to, but wouldn't *put* you to sleep, like high-dose Xanax or something.
A similar story, but not a good surprise, about another B-complex. It was one of those supplements with the co-op's name on it, generic u-print-n-stik-em labels added on by the co-op that you see at various health food stores, etc. It was called something like Stress-B-Gone, and it was basically a B complex with a few herbs added in, Skullcap, Passion Flower, maybe Hops and Valerian. It was meant to be taken during the day, and the numbers of the herbs were low, and in my experience, these companies put tiny amounts of herbs in to bring name recognition with little or no effect because of the tiny dose [1]. I took the normal dose, and a few hours later I was pretty whacked out, feeling sort of like DXM, to which I am very sensitive, and very sedated, but not in the good way I mentioned above. Yuck. Avoid those suckers!
[1] For instance, like with Sobe's "Energy" flavor of juice, which contains a whopping 16 mg of taurine. Or, in a hawthorn supplement I have which contains 50 mg of powdered garlic. Not an extract, just a match-head's worth of garlic powder. LAME!
Posted by Glydin on August 2, 2007, at 14:18:22
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by KayeBaby on August 2, 2007, at 13:51:24
> So you have had a remission from Lexepro?
> Thats great!~~~ Hi Kaye, thank you for your nice words. They are appreciated. Yes, I have been in remission for 2 1/2 years.
>
> I'm assuming depression was your diagnosis?~~~ Well, I denied depression for quite a while and was convinced various anxiety disorders (GAD, panic, agoraphobia... basically garden variety fear of and ruminations about EVERYTHING) were my only problem - I was wrong.
> How many drugs did you have to go through before you got to the one that works for you and how long have you been on it?
~~~ About seven, as well as I can recall. Prior to going on Lexapro, I was monotherapy on Klonopin for three years. Worked great for anxiety control but treating anxiety did not treat the HUGE quality of life issues I was still struggling with.
>
> Thanks for sharing!
> I recieve the news of anyone's remisssion with great interest and congrats to you!
>
> Kaye~~~ Again, Thank you very much and I wish you well also - keep fighting, it is well worth it !!
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2007, at 23:14:02
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » KayeBaby, posted by Glydin on August 2, 2007, at 14:18:22
Positive posts just what this board needs. I'm trying my darndest to follow in the footsteps of someone I know on the board. Love Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on August 3, 2007, at 8:58:04
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2007, at 23:14:02
> Positive posts just what this board needs. I'm trying my darndest to follow in the footsteps of someone I know on the board. Love Phillipa
~~~ Who?
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2007, at 21:48:51
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » Phillipa, posted by Glydin on August 3, 2007, at 8:58:04
Well you'll have to guess. Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on August 4, 2007, at 2:02:25
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2007, at 21:48:51
Zoloft, it's been the best AD I have ever taken so far. I've tried about 10 AD's and numerous other meds and I'm still very fond of valium
Posted by KayeBaby on August 4, 2007, at 11:36:47
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by cactus on August 4, 2007, at 2:02:25
I have never tried zoloft but out of all of the SSRI's I have known more people to be helped long-term by Zoloft than any other.
It seems like a really good Ad for those that respond well to SSRI's
Good to hear you are faring well!
Kaye
Posted by jparsell82 on August 4, 2007, at 16:54:12
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by BGB on August 2, 2007, at 12:38:52
Trivastal (piribedil) - a lot of cognitive benefits and some mood enhancement
Posted by rina on August 4, 2007, at 19:08:25
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by jparsell82 on August 4, 2007, at 16:54:12
The winner is!!!!!
Lexapro
Lamictal
AdderallXR
Topamax
TrazodoneThe all time loser with no chane of resucitation!!
DEPAKOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by rovers95 on August 5, 2007, at 10:42:39
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by KayeBaby on August 1, 2007, at 23:26:13
Ditto. Wot a waste of time xanax was for me!! Suprising how it works so wel for others though!!!
rover
Posted by Quintal on August 5, 2007, at 18:01:33
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most?, posted by jparsell82 on August 4, 2007, at 16:54:12
I'm very interested in piribedil. Could you describe your experience with it in more detail? Can you compare it to any other dopamine agonists?
Q
Posted by alloftheabove on August 10, 2007, at 23:48:40
In reply to Re: what drug has surprised you most? » jparsell82, posted by Quintal on August 5, 2007, at 18:01:33
Definitely Remeron; it's great for depression and wonderful for sleep.
Its major drawback is the unimaginable amount of weight you gain in a short period of time. I gained 30lbs in a month.
Greetings,
alloftheabove
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