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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 Jan Rose on February 8, 2008, at 11:46:02
I have suffered from profound Depression/Anxiety and PMS/PMDD symptoms for more that 30 years. Depression symptoms : you all know what these are. PMS symptoms : painful swelling/inflammation, high level of irritability, anger, fatigue, anxiety, depression. This lasts for 2 weeks out of 4 weeks every month.
I have tried every drug and non drug treatment known: SSRI, tricyclics, anti-psychotics, anti-seizure. Due to inability or unwillingness to tolerate every known side effect I gave up and used non-medical treatments to heal. Using neuro-feeback (Zengar system), exercise and nutrition, I can keep my serious depression under control and be fairly pleasant.
However every 2 weeks I still have to face the PMS demon in my body and brain. Until ----> I got a sinus infection and my Dr put me on AlleRX. It gave me an immediate relief of all PMS symptoms and my social anxiety to boot. Its a miracle. AlleRx comes in AM and PM tabs. I am sure it is the PM tab that is the miracle worker. The AM tab while helping my sinuses dries up my mouth like sand paper and appears to have no strong effect on my mental state.
The AlleRx PM tab contains: Chlorpheniramine/Methscopolamine. Not sure which of these is the miracle worker or if the synergy is the thing. I take ½ tab before bed time. Side effects: mild morning fatigue and dry mouth. Benefits: I feel 10 years younger, my thinking and focus has cleared up. All swelling/inflammation disappeared. I have a big smile on my face and I want to say hello to everyone I meet.
It turns out that Chlorpheniramine has good anitdpressant properties.
http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/PIIS030698770500647X/abstractMethscopolamine apparently blocks Growth Hormone release at night. In fact it will stop milk production in lambs. Could this be stopping the PMS symptoms?
http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/7/1901One plan is to use this for two weeks out of every four. Only during PMS time. During the other times, I feel using the non-medical treatments discussed above will be fine. I am not sure how cycling on and off will work but I believe this will work fine as AlleRx is not meant to be taken continuously.
Another strategy might be to use the Chlorpheniramine/Methscopolamine during PMS and then just Chlorpheniramine during other times of my monthly cycle. There is concern about dry mouth and the effect on dental health and other parts of the body.
Best of luck,
Jan
Posted by Phillipa on February 8, 2008, at 12:41:16
In reply to Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/PMS/PMDD, posted by Jan Rose on February 8, 2008, at 11:46:02
Well that's interesting thanks for the info. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on February 8, 2008, at 12:42:56
In reply to Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/PMS/PMDD, posted by Jan Rose on February 8, 2008, at 11:46:02
Oh by the way welcome to babble and see that you are new great to have someone like you with med knowledge join us. Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on February 9, 2008, at 18:00:08
In reply to Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/PMS/PMDD, posted by Jan Rose on February 8, 2008, at 11:46:02
That's a very nice story. Thanks for sharing. Feels good to feel good, yeah? Very cool.
This looks like it could be a good example of how something outside the brain causes mood problems that are not helped much by psych drugs. Mood problems do have roots in places other than the brain. Chronic inflammation, allergic reactions, and hormonal imbalances are among them. One can tinker with serotonin, norepinephrine, gaba, dopamine, calcium channels, etc etc for decades at a time and get nowhere. Reduce the inflammation and feel profound relief overnight.
This is just one example of the many things that could be a fault with many of us here that can't seem to find our way with psych drugs. The problem though is that to test and explore all the possibilities is in itself quite exhausting and expensive, so we settle for the easier option of taking a prescription for a psych drug, regardless that 20 of them already haven't helped. Oh well.
Posted by stargazer2 on February 10, 2008, at 13:03:12
In reply to Re: Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/PMS/PMDD, posted by bleauberry on February 9, 2008, at 18:00:08
Congratulations on your discovery and in finding the hypothesis as to why that medication works. After 30 years (You sound like me)you are well deserving of finding something that alleviates your symptoms.
Is this a new discovery for You? Good luck with long term results. Does a psych MD follow you? If so, what does he think about this?
Stargazer
Posted by chiron on February 10, 2008, at 23:12:22
In reply to Re: Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/JR, posted by stargazer2 on February 10, 2008, at 13:03:12
Very interesting. Hormones definitely factor into my mood problems. Did you go through trying different types of birth control pills in your quest? I am trying to get mine "balanced", but it sure is taking a while.
Is your mood improved in the morning even though you are more tired? I am more depressed when I wake up, which I guess is common, but I wonder why the hell that is.
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2008, at 23:36:23
In reply to Re: Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/JR, posted by chiron on February 10, 2008, at 23:12:22
Me too more depressed in the am but isn't that a specific form of depression? I forget which one guess the benzos give me Alzheimers well if I forget then I'll forget I'm anxious and sometimes depressed. I'll run around and have fun!!!!! Love Phillipa
Posted by Jan Rose on February 11, 2008, at 7:51:52
In reply to Re: Profound relief from Depression /Anxiety/JR » chiron, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2008, at 23:36:23
Hi Thanks for your posts. I wanted to update. To recap I have been on AlleRx for a sinus issue. The AlleRx is two components an AM (pseudoephedrine/ methscopolamine) and a PM (chlorpheniramine/methscopolamine). I am trying to determine which of these components are creating the positive effects.
Is it the PM medicine alone or does the AM give it a kick? Originally I thought it was the PM but I am not 100%. I did buy the over the counter parts (OTC) of these meds (pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine). I want to test the OTC parts and see if they give an effect. I did try the Chlorpheniramine alone at night and I did not feel the desired effect. In fact I was sooo irritable the next day it was scary. Was that from coming down off the methscopolamine? So the methscopolamine seems to be an important component but is it working alone or in synergy with the chlorpheniramine?
Last two nights I did the 1/2 PM pill (contains both chlorpheniramine/methscopolamine). And no AM pill. Here is what I feel this morning. (I am no longer in the PMS phase of my cycle.)
1) Incredibly well rested. (I never feel well rested). I do not feel fatigued in the least.
2) No dry mouth
3) I woke up feeling organized and ready for life. (I never feel this on Mondays)
4) Organized. I got everything done incl kid out the door in a record amount of time with a record minimum of chaos this morning.
5) I feel happy. (Again I never feel this on Mondays)
6) I do feel a little uncomfortably edgy. Does the AM pill take the edge off? Or does the OTC component (pseudoephedrine) of the AM Pill do this? Or does just being awake for a couple hours moving around do this?
7) No fear of dealing with life. Usually there is fear that keeps me from being friendly and out there.
7) While happy and organized, I do not feel the sense of peace and wonder and control that I had earlier. Again does the AM pill help with this? I am starting to get used to feeling better? Or does just moving around in the morning do this? Or do I need to be on the PM pill consistently for a few days?What is most remarkable, other than the PMS reduction, is how well organized my brain is on the PM pill. I realize now how a life time of my disorganized brain has kept me from realizing my potential. I feel ready to take on the world and to move forward in a way that I have never been cable of due to fear and disorganization.
Posted by Cydnie on October 5, 2011, at 12:32:20
In reply to Re: Profound relief from... Follow Up, posted by Jan Rose on February 11, 2008, at 7:51:52
I know this is an old post, but looked up AlleRX and found out about both chlorpheniramine and methscopolamine and I can see why it worked for the OP! From wiki: "chlorphenamine has been shown to work as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor or SNRI" so it makes sense if and SNRI works for someone as an antidepressant, than this one might work!
This one I didn't totally understand, but someone else might: "Methscopolamine, a methylated derivative of scopolamine, is a muscarinic antagonist structurally similar to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Its mechanism of action involves blocking the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors".
I've been desperate to find something that would work well for my PMS, and haven't had any luck with any conventional meds yet. I liked the idea of taking care of my allergies and my mood at once, but what I loved most was that Jan wrote she woke up organized, refreshed, and happy! I don't remember the last time I felt any of those things ALL day, let alone when I woke up!
This is the end of the thread.
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