Posted by Ritch on April 5, 2002, at 0:17:45
In reply to Re: This is starting to scare me.., posted by JohnX2 on April 4, 2002, at 17:16:20
> > I came across the concept of pathological laughing and crying in the context of the "pseudobulbar affect" in ALS and MS.
> > Supposedly this is also related to some interactions in the frontal lobe, although I don't know all the nitty gritty details.
Gee thanks John, for replying. I *really* don't think (and hope not) that I am an ALS or MS candidate. Although I *do* wonder about the Parkinson's stuff some. When I dug up all of those links it was rather hurried and the one about the hypothalamic tumors was neato because it got into the endocrine system and all of its hormones. It plays into my seasonal depressions big time. I never get the laugh..until ya..cry type *episodes* without medication help for the most part. I am just wondering: Why is it that teensy-tinsy doses of SSRI's have such a powerful effect and turn me into a total gigglebox standup comedian (depending on what time of year it is-neuroendocrine setting?), and then when I stop them I am all fatigued and humourless? Well.. that "sense of humor" link gave me a good clue. It says that our sense of humor is in the right frontal lobe. I conclude that SSRI's are triggering something in my right hemisphere somehow (or "switching" control or dominance of the left hemisphere to the right). Maybe that is why they are so effective for OCD-because they tend to diminish ruminative thinking (from the left). One interesting thing as well is the rap about frontal versus temporal lobe involvement in "pathological" laughter. Frontal lobe involvement tends to be mechanical, whereas temporal (right temporal) lobe involvement tends to contain mirth or an uncontrollable sense of funniness. Well, that is what happens with me. And..most hypomanic symptoms (elation) tends to arise from that area. In the link from France they found that the gelastic epileptiform activity of that teen was abolished with sodium valproate. Hmmm..
> >
> > I did find one medicine that was in clinical trials to treat this phenomina, but I don't know if it would help "gelastic epilepsy". This is a new one for me.
> >
> > The medicine i was looking at was Neurodex. (Maybe you've seen some posts I've made on it).
> >
> > http://www.avanir.com/product/product.php?ID=3
> >
> > I read through some of your links swiftly, where did you find information that dexedrine helps with "gelastic epilepsy" (or was this just your own observation). ?
> >
> > PS, I once did an EEG and it turned up nada.
> >
> > I wonder if Lamictal would help you (given its activity at the nmda receptor)? (SWAG)
> >
> > John
> >
> >
Thanks for the dextromethorphan links. That is very interesting. I used to have a chronic cough working in this factory a long time ago and took DXM tabs every so often-I don't remember anything *unpleasant* from taking them. I may retry that-my pharmacist is already starting to question me a bit lately-despite their pill-raking frenzied distraction.Lamictal... Well, I think it would be a great compliment to Neurontin and Klonopin (without the Depakote). I have to say that the last few days one of my coworkers has been starting to pick loose hairs off my shirt. I asked her what it was-and she said "Oh, just a hair". Well, here comes the Selenium and Zinc it looks like, or just run out of Depakote... and try some DXM? The only thing that doesn't keep me from bringing that one (Lamictal) up is the skin trips. I get an itchy reaction from about 1 out of 4 or 5 meds that I take. Plus I take allergy shots already for molds/dust, and see an immunologist every six months.
Dexedrine: There is an Ontario Epilepsy.org thing that mentioned that (I just remembered it at last!), also, the mentalhealth.com link didn't take you to the (old) dexedrine monograph on that site. If you click on the medications...dexedrine link you will see the indications include Parkinsonism, Epilepsy, and the ADHD stuff (minimal brain dysfunction I think). SSRi's make me laugh, Dexedrine and other pstims (Adderall), make me focused, serious, and relatively humorless. I think the dexedrine *turns on* the *left* frontal lobe and facilitates language processing. I notice when I go in a grocery store in the afternoon after I take a 2.5mg dose (and SAMe seems to do this some, too), my eyes are "clicking" or "snapping" across all of the *lexical* information (the letters, words, etc.) of the products on the shelves which are the topics of my attention. Otherwise, (taking an SSRI, i.e., with no stimulant), I walk in there and see a big panoramic rectangle of mosaic(ed) colors like a Joan Mirro thingie, and I have a hell of a time picking *anything* out of it. I have to hold a couple of fingers out in front of me and force my eyes to track the names that go flitting by as I move my fingers horizontally and scan the shelves to find someting -whew what a hassle!
ALso: I have noticed that my left hand tremor (that normally occurs when I take Depakote) has dissapeared now that I am taking dexedrine, SAMe, and flaxoil stuff.Nada on EEG's isn't exactly the last word. I thought the neuro I was seeing was filling me full of bull. But, he was doing this experimental BEAM mapping stuff (of which I had no clue about at the time). He was pushing me to do an ambulatory 24-hr EEG, and then an MRI. I never got to those, because I didn't want to PAY all of the difference he was charging me that the insurance wouldn't cover. I thought-well I am not falling asleep at the wheel and running into telephone poles, I have taken several anticonvulsants already and didn't get *miraculous* improvements on them, my Mom took a max dose of Dilantin for a couple of decades and lost all of her teeth and she still has OCD traits and just takes a sinus tablet now and then and seems to be fine----why get started on a bunch of meds when it likely won't make any difference anyways??? Well, I am on a combo of AED's now, and it *does* make a difference, so I guess I was full of crap.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:100774
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/101914.html