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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:34
I saw somewhere, I think maybe in Psychobabble Tips, that Benadryl is good for helping during medication withdrawals, especially from effexor. I assume it might be helpful with other meds.
I am withdrawing from 10mg prozac stopped 13 days ago. I am withdrawing from 10 years of 5mg zyprexa, 3 months of 2.5mg zyprexa, and now at 1.25mg. I hope to be all done in a couple days.
What does benadryl do? How does it help with withdrawals? What is its mechanism that makes it helpful? What can I expect from it?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Posted by TrishP on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:34
In reply to How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by blueberry on December 2, 2006, at 7:09:27
My doc says it helps with the shaky, sick feeling of akathesia. He tells me to take it to counteract the akathesia I get from Abilify.
It does help. Except that I already take Allegra for my allergies and taking Benedryl on top of that just makes my head too stopped up with antihistamines.
I tried taking only Benedryl, but it doesn't work as well for my allergies as Allegra.
I found taking Klonopin or Xanax helps with the withdrawl feelings as well. But if you are trying to get off of the meds, replacing them with Klonpin or Xanax might not make sense.
Posted by linkadge on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:34
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by TrishP on December 2, 2006, at 7:45:42
Antidepressant withdrawl is associated with a rebound in cholinergic activity. Benydryl is an anticholinergic agent in addition to an antihistamine.
Another property of benydryl is that (like some other older antihistamines) benydryl is actually a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Although of modest potency.
Anyhow, the combination of serotonin uptake inhibition, and anticholinergic activity can help buffer withdrawl.Linkadge
Posted by Crazy Horse on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:34
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by linkadge on December 2, 2006, at 8:21:33
I love learning things here. :) Interesting and good job Linkadge.
-Monte
Posted by Phillipa on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by Crazy Horse on December 2, 2006, at 8:50:45
Me too . I had no idea it affected serotonin. But blueberry why are you withdrawing from your meds? Love Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » Crazy Horse, posted by Phillipa on December 2, 2006, at 17:52:06
> Me too . I had no idea it affected serotonin. But blueberry why are you withdrawing from your meds? Love Phillipa
Because after 10 years they don't work anymore. They started to poop out during year 7. While I used to have no side effects, now I have incredibly debilitating side effects. It's like they have become poison and my body is saying no more of that stuff.
Posted by saturn on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by linkadge on December 2, 2006, at 8:21:33
> Anyhow, the combination of serotonin uptake inhibition, and anticholinergic activity can help buffer withdrawl.
>
> LinkadgeThat's good info to know, Link...thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » Phillipa, posted by blueberry on December 2, 2006, at 20:15:15
Blueberry does this mean there is only a limited time that a med will work for a person and then become toxic like you say. As bezos don't affect me the way they did a few years ago. Love Phillipa
Posted by LlurpsieBlossom on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by linkadge on December 2, 2006, at 8:21:33
> Antidepressant withdrawl is associated with a rebound in cholinergic activity. Benydryl is an anticholinergic agent in addition to an antihistamine.
>Ahh- THAT must be why my pdoc suggested doing a little experiment with 50 mg of benedryl to see if my "lump in throat" was actually seroquel-induced focal dystonia.
Thanks link!
p.s. lump in throat not dystonia. "just" anxiety ...
Posted by linkadge on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » linkadge, posted by LlurpsieBlossom on December 2, 2006, at 22:35:25
Did the benydryl do anything for this problem ?
Linkadge
Posted by LlurpsieBlossom on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » LlurpsieBlossom, posted by linkadge on December 3, 2006, at 9:23:35
hi link
unfortunately (fortunately?) the benedryl didn't help. It has been getting gradually better.I get that feeling occasionally now, and I'm still very confused about the temporal relation between that and anxiety/stress. Oh well. The body works in mysterious ways...
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061117/msgs/706342.html
sorry for the tangent, blueberry. I hope your withdrawal is proceeding smoothly.
-ll
Posted by linkadge on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » linkadge, posted by LlurpsieBlossom on December 3, 2006, at 10:02:53
Didn't realize who I was talking to. Didn't realize you had changed your name.
Linkadge
Posted by elanor roosevelt on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » LlurpsieBlossom, posted by linkadge on December 3, 2006, at 11:16:46
caution
if you are on maoi's you cannot take benadrylthere is a pdoc here who always prescribes benadryl to complement paxil
Posted by Karen44 on December 4, 2006, at 1:54:35
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work? » Phillipa, posted by blueberry on December 2, 2006, at 20:15:15
> > Me too . I had no idea it affected serotonin. But blueberry why are you withdrawing from your meds? Love Phillipa
>
> Because after 10 years they don't work anymore. They started to poop out during year 7. While I used to have no side effects, now I have incredibly debilitating side effects. It's like they have become poison and my body is saying no more of that stuff.
>
>Are you working with a doctor withdrawing from medications, or are you doing this on your own?
Karen44
Posted by rina on February 5, 2007, at 18:26:26
In reply to Re: How Does Benadryl Work?, posted by elanor roosevelt on December 3, 2006, at 13:54:46
> caution
> if you are on maoi's you cannot take benadryl
>
> there is a pdoc here who always prescribes benadryl to complement paxilOh wow!! The benedryl is working to combat the effexorxr withdrawals but now im scared. Are any ov my drugs no, no with benedryl? Lamictal, Abilify and occasional rital?
This is the end of the thread.
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