Posted by Tenifer on September 1, 2005, at 11:38:37
In reply to A case of HPA Axis dysregulation? (long), posted by Tenifer on August 31, 2005, at 14:34:16
Hi Lunesta, thanks for reading my rather lengthy post and for putting together such a detailed response. You have given me a lot of information that i wasn't aware of.
I've taken Klonopin and yes, it does help but it is quite sedating. But, as you are everyone else knows, its addictive. I really don't want to compound my problem by sowing the seeds for a bigger headache down the road. In fact, thats the fear that keeps me from trying different meds. Withdrawal from these drugs is something that I dread and drug company coverups and deceptions don't give me any great confidence in their safety over the long term.
I've found L-Theanine (Suntheanine) to be okay but it is rather mild. I've taken 400mg at a time but maybe I should try more. As for the Neurontin, my psychiatrist says he gets some pretty good results using it and that some of his patients even get off benzos by switching to Neurontin. I just need more information on the withdrawal effects of this agent before i will be comfortable trying it (if I can ever be comfortable trying a pharmaceutical agent).
As far as Lexapro goes, given my poor performance with Paxil and Effexor I'm not sure that the SSRI class of meds will work out for me. I think that, should I decide to explore the antidepressant route again, that my next stop would be the TCA because of their long history and better understood long-term effects.
I didn't know that desipramine regrows brain areas involved in stress. Would you (or anyone) have any references or links to abstracts available on this? I will be certain to ask my PDoc about this at our next meeting.
The Remeron actually seems like a good fit but I'm afraid to try anything that messes with my HPA Axis function given that the Medrol (prednisone) completely fouled that up on me.
And yes, I am currently supplementing with a chelated Magnesium Glycinate to the point that I am giving myself diarrhea but I plan to stick with it, especially if I go on a TCA since this effect may help with the side effect of constipation.
The information on the ketogenic diet is something else I had not heard before. That will be the subject of some research (probably when I finish this post). Thank you for adding to my knowledgebase. :)
At the present I have raised my dose of St. John's Wort to 1350mg day and have started taking L-Tryptophan supplements (500mg in morning and 500mg before bed). I'll see how that goes for a while. I really want to exhaust every non-pharmaceutical therapy I can before returning to the synthetics. I'm also doing CBT and am actively (and sometimes dramatically) doing away with chronic stressors that have been bothering me for years. Hopefully all of these approaches will synergize to get me back to where I was before ingesting that poisonous creation.
Thanks again for the helpful post Lunesta. I wasn't sure anyone would bother what with my long post and all. I am indebted to you. :)
poster:Tenifer
thread:549243
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050901/msgs/549647.html