Posted by Chloe on June 16, 2002, at 21:01:06
In reply to Re: Abstract on Doxepin for Scalp Pain » Chloe, posted by fachad on June 16, 2002, at 20:22:35
> It really does provide some validation to have a name for your suffering; it also makes you feel less alone if others have the same diagnosis.
>> Do you tell your pdoc about all the misery from side effects? It just seems like your side effect burden is too severe - does the benefit really offset all that suffering? Are there any other meds that might work and not be so intolerable?
Thanks for your concern, Fachad,
I told my pdoc, and she was really not much help. She had never really heard of such a thing from lithium. In fact, she thought I had lithium induced psoriasis and Rx'd this awful peanut oil+hyrdrocortisone. I was to wet my hair before bed, and add this oily, awful smelling gook to my scalp, don a plastic shower cap and go to bed. This was before I began tca's, so I didn't sleep a wink. And my head burned more! But I tried it for three nights...That was awful, and I really had scalp burn after that treatment of hydrocortizone on my head for 8 hours...Also, you should know that I was diagnosed major depression at age 12 and it's been a battle all my life trying to find meds that make life manageable so I can function. I am now 36. So I really have tried most all of the meds out there. I did the best on Li, mellaril, ritalin, and a smidge of an SSRI. But, in my 20's I had to stop the AP's due to TD in in my mouth, and life got considerably harder. My mood has never been as stable as it was on the AP's. My Dx is bp2 with "psychotic features".
Anyhow, last spring, I needed to change meds since I had had it with Tegretol (yuck) and depakote was making my hair run off my head. So I tried Lamictal, then Topamax, Trileptal, Zyprexa, Geodon, Seroquel, and they all bombed. So now I take a little of Neurontin, li, depakote, celexa, doxepin, and diazapam. This is the way my pdoc has chosen to handle the side effect problem. Just have subtherapeutic doses of lots of meds...
Probably more info than you needed. But I guess I have tried most everything available. And I take as much as I can of the meds that help without having unbearable scalp burn, or other side effects.
> Hope Doxepin works for you.
So far, I am very pleased with Doxepin. I am a little more tired during the day, but I am sure that will pass. It seems to have much less affect on mood at the same dose as ami. This is very good for me, since AD's tend to make me very irritable and ugly. I am so glad I persued your advise with my pdoc and finally got her to call in Dox. I wish she had done it months ago when I requested. Hey, better late than never!
Thanks Fachad. Hey, if you feel like sharing, what's your story?
Chloe
poster:Chloe
thread:108844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/110103.html