Posted by tnguy on October 23, 2003, at 18:42:10
In reply to Childhood abuse and Cortisol Levels, posted by Shawn. T. on July 13, 2002, at 15:25:40
It doesn't look as though this thread has been accessed in quite a while, but I am so happy to have stumbled across it. I hope info like this is always available and does not expire.
I have been having bouts of depression and anxiety for about 5 years. At first the Dr.s tried SSRIs and the problem got much worse. Finally, a PSY tried REMERON and things got better. I finally stopped taking it last April, because I felt strong enough, and to try and lose some of the weight Remeron caused me to gain.
Still, occasionally I will just out of the blue start experiencing anxiety severe enough to miss work. I didnt realize what the problem was until now. If I am prescribed Prednison for upper respiratory infection which I have about once or twice a year, I end up having unexplained bouts of panic. I think I see the connection now. I am going to have my PCP do a test for cortisol. I was just explaining to my Mom a couple of months ago how Remeron will sorta act like a light switch when I start having anxiety, to turn it off. I am pretty sure the cortisol is the problem, though no doctor I have seen has ever mentioned it. I hope that something can be determined for a conclusion. I have been having terrible headaches for the last 3 or 4 years, gradually my eyesite has gone from 20/20 to pretty bad (havent been tested yet, but bought reading glasses 3 times this year alone). I have been taking Xanax for the entire 5 years since the first episode, but it doesnt seem to stop the panic when it decides to make itself evident. It comes in a rush, usually in the morning, with shakes and sweating. I want to thank you all for the posts and links that have given me some hint of a cause, and I will follow up with my PCP for testing.
poster:tnguy
thread:111175
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031021/msgs/272432.html