Posted by barbaracat on March 18, 2005, at 1:05:35
In reply to Re: Klono not nearly as effective as X? (Oth. Benz » mattw84, posted by cache-monkey on March 15, 2005, at 1:35:46
Dear C_Monkey,
I hope Depakote works for you. Unfortunately it did not for me. I have severe mixed-states bipolar depression, probably Bipolar I, and do well on lithium, as long as I can reasonably manage worry and stress. I'm also hypothyroid so my docs ocasionally insist on trying something besides lithium, but I always return to it. Depakote turned me into a drooling stumbling lethargic depressive which then escalated into mixed-states anyway. Not enough mood stabilization. Seroquel was a constant fog - a strong antihistamine effect which did nothing for me.Anyhoo, I definitely will take Xanax when the panic threatens, have never had a problem with dependence and can take it PRN. Klonopin does not have the same effect, just doesn't. Ativan is a good runner up, as is Valium. I like Gabapentin alot but it does lose efficacy quickly. I take a break from it and need only 300-600mg to produce a nice smooth feeling - for a couple days at least. When I need to really chill, I'll take 1/2 Ambien (usually take it only for sleep). But it sometimes leaves me feeling depressed when it wears off and memory impaired. Better than creepy anxiety, however.
What works best for me on a long-term basis are some nutritional remedies. The amino acid L-Taurine at 1000mg twice a day (up to 2000mg twice a day) has been very effective. It stabilizes electrical potential of smooth muscle and has antiseizure properties. Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, B6 and Folic Acid are necessary for me as well. Help relax the muscles and promote serotonin production.
Also worth a try is taking 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of sea salt in water or juice (I use cranberry juice). Tastes awful but works to alkalynize the blood pH and carbon dioxide/oxygen and electrolyte balance. These tend to be off during panic attacks and an acidic condition seems to go along with disregulated cortisol production. It's better to be slightly alkaline. I take this concoction on a regular basis before bed and feel it's helping to rebalance my system.
Be aware of your breathing too. Disordered breathing is guaranteed to bring on anxiety. Unfortunately, years of tension and armouring cause tightness in our chest and diaphragm and it's not easy to retrain the breath. There's a good website, www.breathing.com that's devoted to this topic. I got his material and it's pretty good. Stay in the present moment, as well as you can. What's happening in the right now is usually just fine and we forget this. And exercise. This is the best anti-anxiety agent going. We all know this, but it's so damn hard to stir the stumps.
Good luck, fellow mixed-stater. Such an interesting state it is. It ain't easy, but I'm finding my way through this with natural and conventional methods and if I can, anyone can. - BarbaraCat
poster:barbaracat
thread:470912
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050317/msgs/472342.html