Posted by thrud on September 3, 2001, at 1:15:57
In reply to Xanax and panic, experiences? , posted by Thrud on August 22, 2001, at 23:52:46
Hi Elizabeth and Rick.
I have learned that both of you are certainly very knowledgable about PAD, so I have further questions (please forgive me!).
When browsing another anxiety chat/info site (TAPIR) I came across a guy who had very similar PAD symptoms to me and whose mother was shizophrenic (like mine). Someone gave a response to his questions that blew me away. I am wondering if you guys are familiar with what he is saying and have anything more to add? I searched the sites he suggested but came up empty handed (I am such a retard when it comes to finding info!)
Thanks much.
Thrud
Baloo
Veteran User posted 09-02-2001 04:08 PM
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Dr. S. will correct me if I state something with which he disagrees...
There is one particular variety of panic disorder that runs in families with schizophrenia. In fact, a variety of studies have found that someone with a direct relative who has schizophrenia has equal chances of developing either panic disorder or schizophrenia.The schizo/panic variant seems to be one of the best responders to a gluten-free, casein-free diet. In fact, there is research going all the way back to the 1950's or 1960's claiming that some cases of schizophrenia go into complete remission on a diet completely free of grains and their derivatives. (It's not nearly as easy as it sounds, especially in the US, where almost every processed food, from hot dogs to breafast cereal to baked beans and so forth, has gluten or some derivative of gluten added to it.) That research was pooh-poohed for a long time (like almost all research advocating any kind of dietary measures against illness), but in the last few years, some researchers have shown why it would be so. Failure to manufacture a digestive enzyme or inhibition of the enzyme's effect causes people who have such a deficiency not to break down gliadin (a component of gluten) or casein (the characteristic protein of milk) to the level of amino acids. Instead, more complex proteins get absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, some of them are absorbed into the brain. Some of these proteins are chemical relatives of opium, and some of them are highly stimulating and even toxic. It has been demonstrated by autopsy that these proteins accumulate in specific brain areas of rats that correspond to the brain areas which "misfire" in human schizophrenia and autism. The earlier research on achieving remission from schizophrenia (and autism) through diet alone has also been successfully repeated in people whose blood has the chemical markers for the syndrome in question.
People with this form of panic disorder are among the worst candidates for treatment with antidepressants. In fact, they are one of two groups in which SSRI antidepressants (a different family from imipramine) are most likely to trigger psychotic episodes. Their central nervous system is already overactivated, and all antidepressants are activating to the central nervous system.
This doesn't require faith, it simply requires a doctor who knows what he's looking for. You can detect these proteins through urinary excretion of their metabolites for up to a year from the time symptoms begin to remit.
I would think you definitely need to get with a doctor is either familiar already with treating your variant of panic disorder or will look up the relevant information.
For information on the schizo/panic variant, go to MedScape and search on "schizopanic." For a starting point on the dietary connection, search something like PubMed for "RF Cade." Or go to www.celiac.com and poke around there. That site has much relevant information on the toxicity to some people of grain proteins, even relevant for people who don't have celiac disease.
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*Baloo*
Check out Medical and Psychological Models of Panic Disorder
and Panic Disorders: A Comprehensive OverviewIP: Logged
Baloo
Veteran User posted 09-02-2001 11:54 PM
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By the way, I myself fit this familial category, and your description of "drowning in mid-air" is an excellent description of my primary "panic" symptom.
I was also regurgitating quite a bit, even before the dysautonomic episodes began occurring, until I changed my diet.
poster:thrud
thread:76063
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/77499.html