Posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 20:48:42
In reply to rip van winkle syndrome » karaS, posted by zeugma on October 4, 2004, at 18:11:58
Hi z,
Sorry it's taken me a while to answer you. I've had quite a busy week working at both a catering job and a temp job. It's so nice to have a day off finally.
> It wasn't like nortriptyline suddenly got me going. But as with your experience with doxepin, it sent my panic attacks packing, and I was able to slowly get the elements in place that would lead to progress after years of being hopelessly stalled. When you mention that doxepin worked for your panic attacks, it makes me wonder whether the TCA's aren't superior to SSRI's in terms of treating panic disorder. Le Doux (author of my textbook "Synaptic Self") is director of the Center for the Study of Fear and Anxiety at NYU, and yet in the index to his book, there is shockingly no mention of a structure long associated with anxiety disorders, the locus coeruleus (seat of CNS NE production). Norepinephrine has gotten a raw deal in popular culture, but more dismayingly, from distinguished professionals. Le Doux has interesting things to say about such phenomena as long term potentiation and the role of the hippocampus in memory, but considering that he is the author of "The Emotional Brain" and that his ostensible specialization is fear and anxiety, I do not consider him a thinker worth taking seriously for a moment, and in fact his contributions have a deleterious effect on the neurosciences. I get some basic information from him, but it is writers like Gerald Edelman ("A Universe of Consciousness") and J. Allan Hobson ("Dreaming as Delirium") whose ideas will outlast our time. Anyway...
I have not read any of the books you mention so I can't comment but I do think that TCAs are excellent for anxiety. The SSRIs seem to prevent anxiety attacks in me as well but the action of the TCAs (at least doxepin) felt more direct. I don't know how to explain it really but I think you're on to something there.
> I got my script for 30 mg Ritalin LA today. Like you, I am wary of making changes during a crucial time. So you have Tuesday off? for what it's worth, I can't rely on Ritalin for energy. Strattera is actually more energizing, and hopefully it will be the case that keeping it at a low dose will avoid its pitfalls. Best of luck tomorrow!
I haven't started the Cymbalta yet because I didn't want to have unexpected side effects while working. I'll start it this weekend. I hate starting new drugs. Can you tell?
How are you doing balancing the Strattera and Ritalin?
Kara
poster:karaS
thread:397388
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041007/msgs/400954.html