![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rainbowlight on June 27, 2003, at 20:54:49
I know exactly what you mean about the dizziness. I have been on a few meds that made me feel like my head would explode, like someone was hanging me upside down. It was awful. Now that you mentioned it, I don't do well in the heat either. I realized today how cranky/depressed it makes me. Where I live it can get to 100 plus in the summer, I hate it. I want to move back near the ocean someday. The good news is that the pdoc gave me back the Restoril no problem (thank goodness!), the bad news is she isn't exactly sure what is causing the hairloss either. She suspected the Lamictal, HOWEVER, it never gave me a problem for almost 2 years. I went to get the pharmacists opinion. Said it could be the Lamictal, the Remeron, OR the weight loss/diet. Gee, they are big helps huh? LOL! Pdoc and I figured wait awhile, take the B12 complex 3X a day as suggested by the pharmacist, and see what happens. Neither one of us wants to mess with my meds again. I went through HELL trying to get them straight (I think YOU might remember some of my panic mode :) Just the THOUGHT of changing mood stabilizers scares the crap out of me. The pharmacist said to try to find Hibiscus oil, said if you rub it on the scalp it helps keep the hair from falling out, told pdoc, she suggested "I" try it to see how it goes, and then if it works she will give it a go! Told me I could be the guinea pig! We had a good laugh over that. Have you ever tried light therapy for the seasonal depression? I have heard it works wonders. At least you have your mood changes figured out. I know how frustrating it is not to know when they're coming. So your meds don't keep the depressions at bay huh? My med combo pretty much keeps the depression at bay. It totally amazes me though that I have a COMPLETELY different outlook on life by just adding 12.5 mgs. of Zoloft to my meds. It is truly a wonder drug for me.
Posted by Ritch on June 27, 2003, at 23:42:56
In reply to Ritch, posted by Rainbowlight on June 27, 2003, at 20:54:49
>....Have you ever tried light therapy for the seasonal depression? I have heard it works wonders. At least you have your mood changes figured out. I know how frustrating it is not to know when they're coming. So your meds don't keep the depressions at bay huh? My med combo pretty much keeps the depression at bay. It totally amazes me though that I have a COMPLETELY different outlook on life by just adding 12.5 mgs. of Zoloft to my meds. It is truly a wonder drug for me.
I've never tried the lamps. I *have* tried getting midday light exposure (outside) during the winter and it *did* help, so the lamps could be the trick. How much Lamictal are you on now?
Posted by Rainbowlight on June 29, 2003, at 0:13:52
In reply to Re: Ritch » Rainbowlight, posted by Ritch on June 27, 2003, at 23:42:56
I have read that if you have seasonal depression it helps to sit in direct sun for at least a half and hour a day. I have tried it and it does help. Perhaps sit on a park bench and relax facing the sun for a half hour or so would help (and help ya relax at the same time!). I have heard the lights are pretty expensive, a couple of hundred bucks for a desktop model, but I guess that would be a small price to pay if it helps with the depression huh? I take 100 mgs. Lamictal. The hairloss has seemed to increase with the addition of the Zoloft back. Went to my favorite healthfood store today where the employees are extensively trained and spoke to my favorite guy, he thinks the rapid weightloss is also to blame (same thing 2 doctors have told me now), he suggested upping the protein significantly, adding tons of vegetables, adding Omega-3 (3x a day) and recommended a shampoo customers rave about for hairloss. Also told me to only shampoo every 3 days and not to use conditioner or hairspray, UGH! I am a compulsive clean freak, no shampooing for 3 days! Eek! and no hairspray? I am gonna look like h*ll! LOL! But hey, if it saves my hair I guess it's worth it. Do you get tired alot easier on Benzos? I noticed my energy span on the Restoril is not as good as normal. But I am figuring it is worth it to feel good when I AM awake.
Posted by Ritch on June 29, 2003, at 11:25:55
In reply to Re: Ritch, posted by Rainbowlight on June 29, 2003, at 0:13:52
> I have read that if you have seasonal depression it helps to sit in direct sun for at least a half and hour a day. I have tried it and it does help. Perhaps sit on a park bench and relax facing the sun for a half hour or so would help (and help ya relax at the same time!). I have heard the lights are pretty expensive, a couple of hundred bucks for a desktop model, but I guess that would be a small price to pay if it helps with the depression huh? I take 100 mgs. Lamictal. The hairloss has seemed to increase with the addition of the Zoloft back. Went to my favorite healthfood store today where the employees are extensively trained and spoke to my favorite guy, he thinks the rapid weightloss is also to blame (same thing 2 doctors have told me now), he suggested upping the protein significantly, adding tons of vegetables, adding Omega-3 (3x a day) and recommended a shampoo customers rave about for hairloss. Also told me to only shampoo every 3 days and not to use conditioner or hairspray, UGH! I am a compulsive clean freak, no shampooing for 3 days! Eek! and no hairspray? I am gonna look like h*ll! LOL! But hey, if it saves my hair I guess it's worth it. Do you get tired alot easier on Benzos? I noticed my energy span on the Restoril is not as good as normal. But I am figuring it is worth it to feel good when I AM awake.
If it is a choice between panic and being tired-I'll take tired every time! Actually, I've felt better since I asked my pdoc for Keppra again to help me sleep. Anxiety is reduced a bunch too. I was sitting in a crowded waiting room waiting for an allergy shot the day I started taking it again and I was really uptight in that small room. I felt it kick in and all the anxiety just melted away... it was really weird. I've got some problem with GI upset, light level, and panic anxiety. After reading the post above about summer SAD-bright light sounds dangerous-BUT I really enjoyed being out in the middle of the day yesterday (dark sunglasses on though). The Keppra makes me feel a little like a rag-doll (listless), but the good part is my startle response is greatly attentuated. I want to do everything I can to avoid taking WB this summer. I might not be able to avoid that, but I am going to try. Don't want to feel wired, impatient, and irritable, just so I won't feel anergic, drained, disinterested in everything. Yuck! What a choice.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.