Posted by Elroy on November 20, 2005, at 16:39:26
In reply to Re: Remeron and Cortisol (Elroy), posted by tenifer on November 18, 2005, at 12:08:11
Dave,
How does this statement sound? Make sense to you (as relates to our situations)?
QUOTE:
The section on Thought, Mood and Behavior Disorders deserves special attention — not only for the benefits in these disorders themselves, but because of the resultant lessening of tension and stress associated with many other disorders.Soon after XXX’s introduction... reports started to appear in the medical literature of patients’ improvement in mood, concentration, cooperativeness and sense of well-being. By now, extensive published evidence form widely separated sources has established XXX’s usefulness for thought, mood and behavior disorders.
XXX has been shown to have a calming effect on the overactive brain. Symptoms of this condition are preoccupation, multiple thinking, and flashes and fragments of thoughts coming and going. XXX reduces this uncontrolled activity enabling more normal thinking processes to be restored. This effect is usually achieved within an hour, without sedation.
Anger and fear and related emotion are usually found in combination with the overactive brain.
Emotional states related to anger for which XXX is therapeutic are impatience, implusiveness, irritability, aggression, hostility, rage, and violence,
Emotional states related to fear for which XXX is therapeutic are worry, anxiety, guilt, pessimism and depression. Although excessive anger and fear states are decreased or eliminated by XXX, realistic reaction of anger and fear are not interfered with.
Sleep disturbances found in combination with the overactive brain fall into two general categories. The first and most frequent category is symptomatized by difficulty in falling asleep because of over-thinking, light sleep accompanied by unpleasant dreams and frequent nightmares, and insufficient sleep. A less frequent category is symptomatized by excessive, so-called avoidance sleep. Relief from both types of sleep disturbances is usually prompt with XXX.
XXX is effective with extremes of mood ranging from depression to the hyperexcitable state. These apparently disparate effects are observed in the overactive, impatient individual who is calmed by XXX, and the tired, energyless individual who has a return to normal energy levels.
Somatic symptoms frequently associated with thought, mood and behavior disorders are usually relieved by XXX within an hour. Among them are headaches, pain, stomach discomfort, dizziness, trembling, excessively cold or warm hands or feet, and shortness of breath. (And several other somatic symptoms involved with behavior disorder's - Elroy - see full listing below)
Stress. When the brain becomes overactive and the emotions of fear and anger appear, the body goes on alert, and a state of vigilance develops. For short periods this can be normal. But, if this is a chronic (or acute) condition, there is constant stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in the release of the chemicals of fight and flight (i.e., cortisol and the adrenaline hormones). A (very vicious) cycle is created, with the (hormone) chemicals keeping the brain overactive (anxiety) and the overactive brain stimulating release of yet more of the chemicals. A condition of severe anxiety develops. By correcting the overactive brain, XXX seems to break this cycle, causing a more normal state to return — and stress, commonly associated with a wide range of disorders, is diminished or eliminated. (Sounds like a process of re-setting the HPA Axis to normalize cortisol, etc., secretion, while eliminating anxiety / depression, no? - Elroy)
Basic mechanism studies are consistent with the clinical observations of the effectiveness of PHT. Of particular relevance are the studies in the section, Stabilization of Bioelectrical Activity. (See Basic Mechanisms of Action) They show that PHT, without affecting normal function, corrects hyperexcitability, as in post-tetanic potentiation or post-tetanic repetitive discharge. This would seem to be the mechanism by which PHT corrects the overactive brain.
END QUOTEFull range of somatic symptoms associated specifically with anxiety:
Emotional Symptoms:
Constant fears
Fear of Impending doom
Depression
Agoraphobia
Sudden Panic
Irritability
Social Nervousness
Feelings Like You Are Going Mad
Fear of Losing Control
Feeling Alone And Out Of Place
Believing That There Is No Hope Of Normality
Social Phobia
Disturbing Dreams And ThoughtsPhysical Symptoms:
Racing Heart
Chest Pain
Palpitations
Headaches
Sweating excessively
General Fatigue / Low Energy
Dizziness
Insomnia
Butterflies in the Stomach
Difficulty swallowing
Headache
Pain or blurring in the eyes
Ache or pain in the neck
Ache / pain in the shoulders, the back, or chest Aches or pains in arms and/or hands
Aches or pains in legs and/or feet (extremities)
Hands and/or feet cold or hot
Tingling sensations
“knots” or “butterflies” in stomach
Shortness of breath / Difficulty breathing
Trembling (physical)
Trembling feeling inside
Shaking or shivering
Pulse, or beat, or throb you can feel inside
Bowel Troubles
Nausea
Rapid gastric emptying
Indigestion, heartburn
Constipation or diarrhea
Skin rashes
Symptoms like 'flu'
Distorted vision
Tinnitus
Hormone problems
Symptoms of UTI / ProstatitisAmazing, but everyone of my symptoms is on that list. Obviously no one (unless, especially cursed) would have ALL of those somatic symptoms, but I find it interesting that none of my symptoms are not listed there.
Gives a lot of credibility to the thought that severe anxiety caused the hypercortisolism and all of my involved symptoms (to possibly include the stress-induced creation of the adrenal gland??) - and that possibly none - or few - of the symptoms were actually caused by the hypercortisolism...
Elroy
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> Elroy,
>
> I've been thinking of you brother.
> I thought I would stop in and see how you are doing.
> By now you should be starting to ween off the Remeron in preparation for your trip to the NIH.
>
> How are things going my friend?
> I hope and pray that everything is going smoothly and that your taper has had minimal withdrawal symptoms.
>
> I'll be praying for you Elroy.
> May God bless you and strengthen you,
>
> David
poster:Elroy
thread:124535
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051119/msgs/580658.html