Posted by Vincent_QC on December 14, 2009, at 12:01:58
In reply to Re: SSRI with the less anxiety increase at first??? » Vincent_QC, posted by Reggie BoStar on December 13, 2009, at 23:54:43
> Vincent,
> Per Phillipa's suggestion, everyone seems to have unique experiences with the brain juices.
>
> Benzos are not an option for me because I'm an alcoholic. However, years ago I was put on Buspar (Buspiron) for anxiety following ECT treatments. Not only did it fix the anxiety without sedating me - it also marked the end of any anxiety-type reactions at any time while taking SSRIs and other AD's. For me Buspar has been the non-benzo solution for anxiety and remains one of the few meds I've ever taken that does what it's supposed to do with no side effects that I'm aware of.
>
> A word about Neurontin though: up until last summer I had been taking 2400 mg/day. I was taking it to reduce the number of migraines I was having and their severity, which worked very well; and also to lower the risk of seizures caused by the Wellbutrin I was taking.
>
> I had been complaining about constant fatigue for years. At least once or twice a month I would have 4-5 day sleeping marathons wherein I got out of bed only to go to the john, feed the cats, and drink a bottle of Ensure. Eventually another patient in a therapy meeting pointed out that Neurontin ran a pretty high risk of causing the fatigue I was experiencing.
>
> I talked it over with my Neurologist and we began a closely supervised reduction in Neurontin, gradually getting it down to the 1200mg/day dose I'm on now. It worked really well at reducing fatigue and lowering the number of sleep marathons I seem to need. Unfortunately I've found that I can't go much lower without bringing on terrible migraines. So that's where I'm sitting for now. My Neurologist suggested that maybe we can try reducing it slowly again after I've been on 1200mg for a longer time.
>
> I chimed in there for two reasons: to let you know that for me, Buspar fixed the kinds of anxiety problems you're describing; and that Neurontin, while it does work at reducing the frequency of my migraines and as a general pain killer for neuralgia-type problems, causes a huge amount of fatigue and sedation.
>
> That's my story at any rate. To repeat Phillipa yet again, everyone is different. It's taken many years of discouraging experimentation to get where I am, which is somewhat in control of my symptoms but not completely by a long shot. I still have a long ways to go and probably less time than I've already spent working on everything.
>
> You're sure to have better luck, because mine stinks in any kind of comparison test you could imagine.
>
> Have a good one,
> Reggie BoStar
Hi Reggie!
Hummm interresting... Buspar was the first med I was put on when I was 19yo... not only I had more panic attacks under it, but it was causing a lot of migraines on me so I was switched to the Paxil... who worked just by blocking the panic attack... not remove all the anxiety inside me... I remember that the agoraphobia was still there under the Paxil... but at the time, I didn't had GAD or SAD... those 2 DX started many years later...By the way, I was an alcoholic also and drug addict ... but it's now over... I don't feel the need or the craving for drugs or alcohol... since they trigger panic attacks on me!!! hehe I remember the last time I took a E pill... I thikn I had waves of extreme panic attacks for almost 8 hours in a row... after that experience I say : never again!!!
Another thing, for the Buspar, when you entering into the Benzoes meds addiction, I read a lot of studies about the fact that the chance to benefit from positive effects of the Buspar are lower...and one of is side-effect is the constant headache and migraine as well... so maybe your migraine is comming from the Buspar?
Anyway, for the Neurontin, I will not be sedated by it since I can take 4mg of Rivotril at the same time and don't feel any sedation from it! My brains are used to meds who slow down the neurons...
I was using Seroquel at bedtime to help me to sleep but I had to increase the dosage always and always... so I think my body develop a tolerance into the sedative effect of meds... whatever the process (Gaba or H1)...
I have an appointment with my Family Doctor today, I succeed to have one since someone cancel his appointment.
I will ask for the Zoloft... or the Effexor-xr... and the Neurontin for the pain in the head...
I was thinking at first about something like a beta blocker (Inderal) to lower my level of adrenaline... but I know it will make me depress overall... also, headache and migraine are side-effects of the beta blockers as well... since I remember very well the 3 months I was under the Inderal med... I had strong headache all the time and I was tired... not tired to sleep but tired physically... I was not able to do something physically...
So the goal is to find the good AD with the minimum increasement of anxiety at first, who will work on the panic disorder and the GAD... and find something to stop the constant migraine...
Did you see a difference in the frequency of your migraine from the decrease of 2400 mg of Neurontin to 1200 mg??? I know you wrote that under 1200mg you will have migraine... but at 1200mg is it ok for the migraine?
I think the lower dose will fit perfectly to me, since I already take benzos meds and don't want to add more cognitive problems on me... don't want to end my life in a car crash or something like that, just because I lack of attention... lol
Well thanks for your help !!! I appreciate it a lot!
Vincent ;-)
poster:Vincent_QC
thread:929106
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091206/msgs/929193.html