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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1381 to 1405 of 8406. Go back in thread:
Posted by Rich B on November 25, 2002, at 14:06:58
In reply to Re: wow...amen to alan on this » pharmrep, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 12:06:58
I have been on Lexapro for 5 days (including today) for Anxiety. So far, it has done nothing for the anxiety. If anything, it has made it worse. I grind my teeth allot and when I am working on something, I do it very intensely and the anxiety is even worse than it was before. When I am not doing much, am often tired. The tiredness is on and off and I get very tired early in the evening. I have not had insomnia, but when I get up at night to go to the bathroom, I have a hard time getting back to sleep. I have dry mouth and this very light constant headache in the back of my head. This is caused by a tightness in my neck and the back of my head that I believe Lexepro is causing. Can anyone shed some light on my situation? I know I need to give it more time, and I plan on it, but so far, it doesn’t look to good. I am trying to work on my anxiety problem (GAD) through therapy and I was hoping this medication would help bring me down a little and relax. Its hard to work on when the physical systems act as this counterproductive force holding me back.
Thanks ahead of time.
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 14:18:07
In reply to 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects, posted by Rich B on November 25, 2002, at 14:06:58
I'm sorry, i forget your diagnosis;
I think that after 5 days anxiety is common
with some drugs (bet this is an SSRI), and
it won't improve. If you could look at a
class that is pacifying, e.g. my friend is
taking Serzone and it is very good for her
in that respect...Here is a neat "hippy" analysis of drugs,
categorizing them in a phenomenalistic way
that might help:Squiggles
Posted by neptune on November 25, 2002, at 14:23:41
In reply to anybody have withdrawal s/e with paxil or effexor?, posted by pharmrep on November 20, 2002, at 19:40:28
It is about to kill me. I just went from 150mg a day of Effexor to Lexapro. The first 14 days were a horror movie, about a C level movie. I went one effexor per day and one lexapro for 3 days, and then all to Lexzpro. I was very sick, did not throw up but could not stay out of the bathroom, immodium may help, I just did not try it because I was taking enough stuff. I have no energy, and my mood is very bleek. I have been in bed for the past 6 days with a brutal "cold". I didn't know my head could hurt so much. This is my first day out. So, I still don't know if I will be able to take the lexapro, or have to fall back to the effexor. I have severe stomach problems anyway, But Effexor seemed to work fine on the stomach, not much on Depression, and before that was tofranil, did not have any stomach problems for about 10 years, and before that I had problems with my stomach for 27 years.
I am just gritting my teeth.
Neptune
Let me know how you do. O.K.
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 14:25:27
In reply to 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects, posted by Rich B on November 25, 2002, at 14:06:58
> I have been on Lexapro for 5 days (including today) for Anxiety. So far, it has done nothing for the anxiety. If anything, it has made it worse. I grind my teeth allot and when I am working on something, I do it very intensely and the anxiety is even worse than it was before. When I am not doing much, am often tired. The tiredness is on and off and I get very tired early in the evening. I have not had insomnia, but when I get up at night to go to the bathroom, I have a hard time getting back to sleep. I have dry mouth and this very light constant headache in the back of my head. This is caused by a tightness in my neck and the back of my head that I believe Lexepro is causing. Can anyone shed some light on my situation? I know I need to give it more time, and I plan on it, but so far, it doesn’t look to good. I am trying to work on my anxiety problem (GAD) through therapy and I was hoping this medication would help bring me down a little and relax. Its hard to work on when the physical systems act as this counterproductive force holding me back.
> Thanks ahead of time.
>
=========================================
Many docs include a "start - up" benzo like ativan or xanax to counteract the start-up side effects of AD's....especially when you are doing this very important "head" work with a psychologist or other type of therapy.Has your doctor offered you bzd monotherapy on an equal footing with the AD - considering your DX?
If not, why? I always find the answers to this kind of question very interesting.
Alan
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 14:35:42
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Rich B, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 14:18:07
> I'm sorry, i forget your diagnosis;
> I think that after 5 days anxiety is common
> with some drugs (bet this is an SSRI), and
> it won't improve. If you could look at a
> class that is pacifying, e.g. my friend is
> taking Serzone and it is very good for her
> in that respect...
>
> Here is a neat "hippy" analysis of drugs,
> categorizing them in a phenomenalistic way
> that might help:
>
> http://www.biopsychiatry.com/
>
> Squiggles
==============================================
From the site:"The so-called minor tranquillisers, the benzodiazepines such as....
"....benzodiazepines in current use tend to induce dependence, dull consciousness and impair the intellect. So there's not much chance of radical life-enrichment here."
And ssri's don't simililarly induce dependence, ie. have a dependence/withdrawl phenomenon?
Bzds dull consciousness and impair intellect? What? As opposed to the disorder itself?
Well, so much for the reliability of that site - at least generally speaking re: bzds.
"Radical life enrichment" isn't what is being talked about I don't think.
Alan
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 14:45:16
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 14:35:42
Alan,
Would I be too intrusive if i asked
what company you represent, and if that
is too bold, if you wear a suit and tie?Squiggles
Posted by ayuda on November 25, 2002, at 15:17:42
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 14:35:42
Alan --
I agree with you that the information is outdated. I have been on Ativan for more than a year for my insomnia, and I am neither addicted to it (in fact, I avoid using it whenever even remotely possible), nor has it impaired my life or intellect. In fact, in getting a good night's sleep, I can think clearer during the day. And not to keep harping on it, but I'm a grad student in an analytical field, and I think someone (a professor, myself, another grad student) would have noticed if I wasn't mentally sharp -- and I have been razor sharp. Literally!
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 15:51:21
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Alan, posted by ayuda on November 25, 2002, at 15:17:42
Taking a benzo once in a while is like
having a drink with the boys every Friday
night. But taking every day, is like night
is like drinking every night -- eventually
you will have to take it every night. And
taking some benzos ( maybe not Ativan ) now
and then chronically, will have an addictive
effect.You guys should take a look at Ray Nimmo's site;
not everyone testimonial there is a rabid
rant.Squiggles
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 17:01:12
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » ayuda, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 15:51:21
> Taking a benzo once in a while is like
> having a drink with the boys every Friday
> night. But taking every day, is like night
> is like drinking every night -- eventually
> you will have to take it every night. And
> taking some benzos ( maybe not Ativan ) now
> and then chronically, will have an addictive
> effect.
>
> You guys should take a look at Ray Nimmo's site;
> not everyone testimonial there is a rabid
> rant.
>
> Squiggles
=============================================Once again we're back full circle to 2 issues.
1)The relying on extrapolation for the general population based on one's own personal experience qualifying one as being in possesion of the truth (benzo.org).
2)The differentiation between "addiction" and sustained medical dependence:
http://panicdisorder.about.com/library/weekly/aa031997.htm
I am not associated with any pharm. co. and I'm not a MHCP.
In fact if you have read between the lines of my many posts at PB (or taken them at face value for that matter), I have as skeptical an eye on the industry/profession as anyone I've seen post here...since I've learned through my own blood sweat and tears having been the victim of various commercially driven psychotropics by commercially driven doctors for my anxiety disorder.
Alan
Posted by ayuda on November 25, 2002, at 17:04:10
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » ayuda, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 15:51:21
I'm not saying that you are ranting, I'm just saying that that information is not always true. I was taking the Ativan every night for months. However, when I am not experiencing sleeping problems, I have no problem not taking it. All summer I was mostly fine, I rarely took it, even though it was on my nightstand. Even though I am having sleep problems now, I don't feel like taking it, so I don't. And now that my doctor has given me Trazodone, I don't need the Ativan I still have, and I'm not tempted to take it. In the meantime, all I'm saying is that I am not a zombie, not dulled by the med, and don't feel that my quality of life is lessened because of it. You can't generalize about any med, people experience different things. If I never take another Ativan that's no big deal. If I never take another anything that's no big deal to me. The kind of information that Alan repeated from that website may make someone scared to take a med they need and can tolerate, when the things they say aren't true for everyone. I'm not attacking anyone personally, all I'm saying is that everyone has to be careful with *all* info you get on the web, it's not unbiased. And I think that's what Alan meant, too, that we have to be careful.
> Taking a benzo once in a while is like
> having a drink with the boys every Friday
> night. But taking every day, is like night
> is like drinking every night -- eventually
> you will have to take it every night. And
> taking some benzos ( maybe not Ativan ) now
> and then chronically, will have an addictive
> effect.
>
> You guys should take a look at Ray Nimmo's site;
> not everyone testimonial there is a rabid
> rant.
>
> Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 17:23:34
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 17:01:12
Thanks for posting the URL - are you the pretty
girl working on this ABOUT issue, or with her?
Anyway, i find ABOUT very helpful on a practical
level - i don't use it that much on account of
my Linus set up which seems to block when i try
to go there.The Benzo group represents more than one person -
i think it is a substantial portion of the
population. And as we have discussed before,
the Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, as well
as the Canadian Minister of Health, have declared
benzos to be addicting and added a black box warning.
The Minister has raised its "dangerous drug risk"
level up a notch on account of these reports and
activism from the Benzo group and Adverse Effect
Reports.The question is not whether or not they are addicting
i think, as can the addiction be managed by doctors
so as to continue taking the drug without unbearable
effects.For my part, i have no objections to addiction at
all - but I DO have grave concerns about withdrawal;
and i believe it was a miracle that i survived the
Klonopin addiction.What can i say -- you are probably writing from
a journalists' perspective and may have a more
objective view. But i have read stories from
the Support Coalition International group and the
Benzo group and know people personally, who have
been destroyed by some of these drugs, perphas
inadvertently. And their tale is enough to move
the coldest statitistician.Scientific knowledge is an intellectual
power and weapon against disease, but
its effect on people should be recognized
with a human heart.Squiggles
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 17:39:31
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Squiggles, posted by ayuda on November 25, 2002, at 17:04:10
>"...that website may make someone scared to take >a med they need and can tolerate, when the >things they say aren't true for everyone..."
ayuda
================================================
Well to put it a bit more accurately one perhaps may say, "when the things that they say are NOT so for an extremely large majority of the population."There ought to be a boiler plate post that goes up every time one of these radical, exaggerate risk, take-things-out-of-context-and-perspective websites go up implicit with statements that they are in sole possesion of "the truth".
Alan
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 18:10:15
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Alan, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 17:23:34
> Thanks for posting the URL - are you the pretty
> girl working on this ABOUT issue, or with her?
> Anyway, i find ABOUT very helpful on a practical
> level - i don't use it that much on account of
> my Linus set up which seems to block when i try
> to go there.
>
> The Benzo group represents more than one person -
> i think it is a substantial portion of the
> population. And as we have discussed before,
> the Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, as well
> as the Canadian Minister of Health, have declared
> benzos to be addicting and added a black box warning.
> The Minister has raised its "dangerous drug risk"
> level up a notch on account of these reports and
> activism from the Benzo group and Adverse Effect
> Reports.
>
> The question is not whether or not they are addicting
> i think, as can the addiction be managed by doctors
> so as to continue taking the drug without unbearable
> effects.
>
> For my part, i have no objections to addiction at
> all - but I DO have grave concerns about withdrawal;
> and i believe it was a miracle that i survived the
> Klonopin addiction.
>
> What can i say -- you are probably writing from
> a journalists' perspective and may have a more
> objective view. But i have read stories from
> the Support Coalition International group and the
> Benzo group and know people personally, who have
> been destroyed by some of these drugs, perphas
> inadvertently. And their tale is enough to move
> the coldest statitistician.
>
> Scientific knowledge is an intellectual
> power and weapon against disease, but
> its effect on people should be recognized
> with a human heart.
>
> Squiggles
=============================================The reasons for most problems with the understanding about the prescription of bzds are related to misprescribing and, most importantly, mismanagement. This is clearly pointed out in the World Health Organisation's report on "The Rational Use of Benzodazapines". There is no report that I know of that bzds are harmful to anywhere but to the smallest minority of patients that my doctor and I are aware of. Do you know of such a credible report?
Also, a doctor that doesn't even make the distinction between "addiction" and sustained medical dependency does not understand the fundamentals of addiction and is putting a patient at risk by mistakenly putting them into "detox" centers when it is not necessary...especially in the cases of chronic anxiety where a medicine is working.
The Canadian authorities lack of distinction based on the seeming political clout of an overtly political organisation such as benzo.org (if what is said about the extent of their influence is true, but I doubt it) seems to be simply stating the obvious - but where on the pill bottle is there room for the distinction between addiction and sustained medical dependence going to go? That's the pervue of the prescribing doctor and consumer groups and advocates of consumer power and knowledge to keep the big pharm co's from using the word "addiction" as a pejorative to then turn around and promote their new ad's as non-addictive or non-habit forming or some other such nonsense.
I agree that one person having a bad reaction to a drug is one too many.
I also am of the opinion that exaggerating risk taking away freedom of choice for the patient is equally if not more harmful - denying them the very medication that has a good chance of helping them without them even knowing about it. This is especially true in the case of anxiety disorders as I described in a post earlier where the dependence/withdrawal aspect of medical dependence on either bzds or AD's is a wash - and doubly so considering that stastistics don't apply in individual cases.
Considering all of this, it makes the benzo.org group outlook seem even more out of perspective.
Alan
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 18:18:48
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Alan, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 17:23:34
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010618/msgs/67768.html
This link is quite informative about the importance of making the distinction between "addiction" and medical dependence.
Kudos to her.
Has anyone heard from elizabeth lately?
Alan
Posted by Mr.Scott on November 25, 2002, at 18:59:49
In reply to Re: PoppyCock!, posted by pharmrep on November 25, 2002, at 2:18:28
Oh it's delicious...No doubt!
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 19:55:14
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 18:10:15
I'm not sure if you have actually gone there,
so here is the link of some "credible" reports;
for government reports the Canadian and British
sites have more House of Commons debates.I think that anyone is free to take any
drug they like as long as it is legal.
However, these drugs can give you a very
surprising cluster of effects after taking
them for a long time. Perhaps that is worth
reporting to the public. And once something
is read, the person can take the information
or leave it -- just as they can take the information
you present on ABOUT or leave it, or any other
place for that matter on the net. Education
along with your doctor's advice and your own
experience, may assist in making a rational
decision about what is and is not the case.Squiggles
Posted by Mr.Scott on November 25, 2002, at 20:26:07
In reply to Re: Fiery Rhetoric/bottom » Mr.Scott, posted by pharmrep on November 25, 2002, at 2:27:13
I don't know you. Therefore I cannot comment on you specifically. Besides it wouldn't be appropriate to be directly antagonistic on this venue anyways.
My goal here is to provide patients like myself with a sense of enlightenment having had 12 years of pertinent experience as a patient and 4 years being employed in the pharmaceutical industry. Patients receiving care whether it is meds or therapy should be aware that ultimately they have control over how they are treated. Patients or consumers of mental healthcare need to be extremely well informed and vigilant to ensure they receive top shelf care and attention whether it is addressing side-effects, covering particular issues in therapy, or whatever. My hostility as it may come across comes from having repeatedly dealt with professionals who had agendas in mind other than my needs. Not only did I suffer, but I got worse and stuck with the bill. The current mental health system demands self empowerment and education perhaps like few other things do.
I apologize if my saltiness offended you, but be reassured that my role in pharma is very much akin to yours.
Scott
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:35:39
In reply to Re: 5 Days on Lexepro = Efficacy side effects » Alan, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 19:55:14
> I'm not sure if you have actually gone there,
> so here is the link of some "credible" reports;
> for government reports the Canadian and British
> sites have more House of Commons debates.
> I think that anyone is free to take any
> drug they like as long as it is legal.
> However, these drugs can give you a very
> surprising cluster of effects after taking
> them for a long time. Perhaps that is worth
> reporting to the public. And once something
> is read, the person can take the information
> or leave it -- just as they can take the information
> you present on ABOUT or leave it, or any other
> place for that matter on the net. Education
> along with your doctor's advice and your own
> experience, may assist in making a rational
> decision about what is and is not the case.
>
> Squiggles
================================================I've been there, conversed with Ray, Rand and others associated with the site. I still see no credible scientific evidence to the broad sweeping claims that seem terribly tabloid.
"Can", "possibly", "perhaps", "tend to", etc appear more often than not and simply can not be considered as evidence that there is somthing inherently evil about bzds - equating them more often than not carelessly with narcotics and other illicit drugs...the implication being clear:
If you're taking these drugs full time, you are already similar if not equated with being a "drug addict".Misleading and poppycock.
Anecdotal evidence or personal experience is neither scientific or helpfully informative unless it is placed in context and perspective. Unfortunately, the average joe that visits a site such as this is unaware of this other half of the truth. There may be cases of those truly hurt by the drug somewhere in the site if one digs deep enough, but cluttered with so much hyperbole, how is the average person going to ferret those supposedly helful and informative cases out?
The Canadian political debate is just that. Political.
With sites such as these, I don't see any meaningful benefit from fanning flames of perhaps's and maybes' in assessing cost/benefit ratios to the already med phobic anxiety sufferer.
I personally very happy that mine and most other HCP's don't consult sites such as this for *COMPREHENSIVE* information.
More rational and contextual dialogue seems to be contained in comprehensive oversight reports by prestigious assemblages in the least commercially and politically motivated groups such as the World Health Organisation and similar bodies.
What else can be said?
Alan
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 20:36:41
In reply to Re: Fiery Rhetoric/bottom » pharmrep, posted by Mr.Scott on November 25, 2002, at 20:26:07
I think there are two issues here
and they should be kept apart. They
should be kept apart for a very good
reason; if they become causally linked
the accusation of responsibility comes up.If that happens, the result is that the
"pharm rep" will blame the doctors, and
if it is the doctor speaking, will blame
the "pharms", and if is the "user" like
me, well, i'll just be undulating back
and forth ad infinitum, not really knowing
who is wrong or right.So, issue one: Drugs and their side effects
regardless of the variability of prescription
and assuming they are prescribed as advised
by the pharms;Issue two: the doctors and how they handle
the drugs; they may follow the advise to the
letter or not.But to speak of these two issues en masse without
statistical backing, is really an invalid
way of arguing.Squiggles
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:39:37
In reply to Re: Fiery Rhetoric/bottom » pharmrep, posted by Mr.Scott on November 25, 2002, at 20:26:07
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 20:47:17
In reply to Re: BZD.org » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:35:39
Well then you have not seen the articles
under "Doctors and Experts" - click on that
and you will see the papers by Dr. Ashton,
and other doctors - those are medical reports
not the forums.Squiggles
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:54:03
In reply to Re: Fiery Rhetoric/bottom » Mr.Scott, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 20:36:41
> I think there are two issues here
> and they should be kept apart. They
> should be kept apart for a very good
> reason; if they become causally linked
> the accusation of responsibility comes up.
>
> If that happens, the result is that the
> "pharm rep" will blame the doctors, and
> if it is the doctor speaking, will blame
> the "pharms", and if is the "user" like
> me, well, i'll just be undulating back
> and forth ad infinitum, not really knowing
> who is wrong or right.
>
> Squiggles
==============================================This IS the one problem that I do have with a pharmrep "getting back to us" about what their docs tell them, etc. There is a disconnect and lack of oversight that is kind of like "I'll go see what the manager says about your offer" when dealing with a car dealership (no offense intended - respectfully, it's that kind of SYSTEM that troubles me, not something personally speaking about a pharmrep).
That "disconnect" or middleman approach is what can lead to mistrust of information that otherwise may perhaps be useful.
To ask those of us that have been through the wringer about this issue, the "trust me" would feel like it came up a little short...simply based on a mistrust of the commercially driven aspects of the industry that have directly effected us and that which we read about so often.
Alan
Posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:58:06
In reply to Re: BZD.org » Alan, posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 20:47:17
> Well then you have not seen the articles
> under "Doctors and Experts" - click on that
> and you will see the papers by Dr. Ashton,
> and other doctors - those are medical reports
> not the forums.
>
> Squiggles
==========================================I certainly have...and been an observer of their content. All of this has been addressed in my latest post about proportion, context, and other observations in other posts about Ashton et all.
Alan
Posted by ayuda on November 25, 2002, at 21:09:48
In reply to Re: PoppyCock! » pharmrep, posted by Mr.Scott on November 25, 2002, at 18:59:49
> Oh it's delicious...No doubt!
You are pure evil. All I've been thinking about since your last post on this subject is caramel popcorn, except that 'tis the season for tri-flavor popcorn tins, and then I got to thinking about the cheese popcorn. But I was still okay, until I realized that even the buttered popcorn in those tins are good, and especially when mixed with the cheese popcorn.
So now I am munching on a tin-full of flavored popcorn, thanks to you. I hope all the calories go to your thighs instead of mine.
Posted by Squiggles on November 25, 2002, at 21:10:47
In reply to Re: BZD.org » Squiggles, posted by Alan on November 25, 2002, at 20:58:06
I must have been away while you were
doing your research. Are there posts
on Dr. Bob's about these articles and
how they were evaluated by you or others;I confess that while i was at Benzoland,
some things seemed secret, and the hierarchy
of the moderators something that not all
the commoners had access to; but that was
my impression. One person has totally
disappeared; he was a lawyer and a moderator
and the person with whom i wrote the FAQ;
I wonder if he died - sincerely, there was
a report of a death of a Scientologist around
the time he disappeared.It's a bit cloak and dagger and that has
shed suspicion on the very crucial aspect
of the group -- the nature of the benzos and
their effects -- this is not a good thing, as
there is good evidence to support the fact that
they are addictive.But when i recently saw Ray Nimmo's photograph
in the papers and his lawyer's report, and the
various reviews in "The Guardian", i thought
i must be wrong about a lot of things.Still, if you ever saw the Google posts i sent
(converstations with Ian at alt.support.anxiety.panic),
you will see that he made some very dark and
mysterious accusations about identities of people
and motives.The whole thing seems like a mystery film and i have not
come to the ending yet.Squiggles
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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