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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 13:57:00
I am currently unmedicated. My doctor wants me to first go for an EEG, and if the EEG result is clear, then she wants me to try Cymbalta 60mg/day for 1 month, after which we might augment with a low dose of an AP (she thinks Seroquel).
Problem is, the EEG is scheduled only for 11 March. Then I have to wait a few days for the neurologist to send his report to my pdoc. So I'll only be able to commence Cymbalta in about 2.5 weeks from now, assuming the EEG is clear, which I anticipate it will be.
My pdoc was very specific that she first wanted me to go for the EEG before I begin the Cymbalta.
Why?2.5 weeks seems like an eternity at the moment. I don't know if I can wait that long. I wish I could start the Cymbalta tomorrow already.
Posted by Phillipa on February 29, 2008, at 14:02:56
In reply to Can meds interfere with EEG readings?, posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 13:57:00
Jamal was going to ask you the same thing why? The EEG or the waiting? Love Phillipa
Posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 14:06:45
In reply to Can meds interfere with EEG readings?, posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 13:57:00
If it helps, my diagnosis is:
*mild* depression + GAD + obsessive compulsive *tendencies*.
She says I do not have borderline personality disorder. She says my self-injury (I bite myself) is OCD related, not BPD related. She says I'm mainly a cluster C personality.
Does Cymbalta, or Cymbalta + Seroquel, sound reasonable under these circumstances?
The reason she wants me to go for an EEG is to rule out a possible temporal lobe disturbance, owing to *episodic* severe depression + feelings of worthlessness + anxiety + anger + rage + dissociation (episodes last about 1 hour).
Posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 14:10:01
In reply to Re: Can meds interfere with EEG readings? » Jamal Spelling, posted by Phillipa on February 29, 2008, at 14:02:56
> Jamal was going to ask you the same thing why? The EEG or the waiting? Love Phillipa
If I understand your question correctly, what I meant was I wonder why she wants me to be unmedicated when I do the EEG, and only start the Cymbalta once I've done the EEG.
Surely medicated people have EEGs all the time?
Posted by Phillipa on February 29, 2008, at 14:17:03
In reply to Re: Can meds interfere with EEG readings? » Phillipa, posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 14:10:01
I was googling EEG and cymbalta when you were posting only think saw was withdrawal and problems with cymbalta and some bipolar stuff. I took it have no idea why. Must be a seach? Maybe Lar will come on. Phillipa
Posted by 10derHeart on February 29, 2008, at 15:22:10
In reply to Can meds interfere with EEG readings?, posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 13:57:00
http://neurodevelopmentcenter.com/index.php?id=97
Particularly the last paragraph - talks about wanting a "clean" picture of the brain, I think for comparison of the readings to a database of known results in people with certain disorders. If I've read this correctly.
Interesting article. I vaguely knew they were using EEG this way, but not really the steps, or process. Sounds like a helpful tool, and Lord knows we need as many of those to help with MI dx/tx as we can get.
Hope this helps :-)
Posted by Dopamine123 on February 29, 2008, at 16:28:52
In reply to Maybe this explains her intention... » Jamal Spelling, posted by 10derHeart on February 29, 2008, at 15:22:10
I'm pretty sure that drugs can affect your EEG. I know they can sometimes actually even detect which drug you are on. They have more sophisticated methods of analyzing the EEG readout nowadays. So I would think that's probably why they want you to be clean of any medication.
Posted by yxibow on March 1, 2008, at 23:40:38
In reply to Can meds interfere with EEG readings?, posted by Jamal Spelling on February 29, 2008, at 13:57:00
> I am currently unmedicated. My doctor wants me to first go for an EEG, and if the EEG result is clear, then she wants me to try Cymbalta 60mg/day for 1 month, after which we might augment with a low dose of an AP (she thinks Seroquel).
>
> Problem is, the EEG is scheduled only for 11 March. Then I have to wait a few days for the neurologist to send his report to my pdoc. So I'll only be able to commence Cymbalta in about 2.5 weeks from now, assuming the EEG is clear, which I anticipate it will be.
>
> My pdoc was very specific that she first wanted me to go for the EEG before I begin the Cymbalta.
>
> Why?
>
> 2.5 weeks seems like an eternity at the moment. I don't know if I can wait that long. I wish I could start the Cymbalta tomorrow already.
Yes, but... I know, 2.5 weeks is awfully an eternity for severe depression and for seeing a doctor again. I have counted days on things in the past but that wasn't helpful really, it served a disservice to my psyche.If you are medication free then the EEG should be a priority.
Mainly CNS depressants affect EEGs more, such as AEDs (e.g. Depakote, Neurontin) and definately benzodiazepines.
-- hold in there, and try not to think too much of the time but do something practical and life affirming in the meantime
-- best wishes
Posted by Jamal Spelling on March 2, 2008, at 5:35:13
In reply to Re: Can meds interfere with EEG readings? » Jamal Spelling, posted by yxibow on March 1, 2008, at 23:40:38
This is the end of the thread.
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