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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rick on April 10, 2000, at 2:10:51
Hello all,
It's been awhile since I have posted, which has been a good thing in this instance, as I have been doing quite well. I started off on Paxil 20mg, Remeron 15 mg, and Ativan 0.5 mg. I have managed to wean myself off of the ativan, which I am very proud of myself for, as I have a tendency to become dependant on mood altering drugs.
Here's whats going on now...I developed a sore in my mouth 3 days ago, and thought nothing of it...just figured I went to sleep with something stuck in my teeth. The next day I developed a sore throat, which has lasted 3 days and shows no signs of going away. Then earlier tonite I developed a low grade fever, and then remembered that I read something about reporting "flu like symptoms" to your doctor while you are on Remeron. I certainly feel like I have the flu. The strange thing is that, these side effects began as soon as I started cutting my remeron in half, which was recommeded by someone I met on the net. Its benefits have been great, I no longer feel a NEED for ativan to take the edge off of my anxiety. But now these health concerns are worrying me...I put a call into my doctor tonite and will be seeing him tomorrow, hopefully for a white blood cell count...I feel like I have strept throat or something...it really hurts bad, but I will let you know how it goes tomorrow at the doctors. I read somewhere that serious implications concerning white blood count reduction and Remeron only exsist in something like 0.001% of all patients taking it...but I wanna be sure...if anyone has any other comments or resources for me to read up on this, I would surely appreciate it! Thanks to all...
Rick
Posted by Greg on April 10, 2000, at 14:44:55
In reply to Remeron Side Effects, posted by Rick on April 10, 2000, at 2:10:51
Rick,
There is a post about half the way up from yours called "Recurrent throat infections on Remeron?" You might get some good info from there. I take Remeron too, but I haven't had any negative effect from it (that I'm aware of). Good luck.Peace,
Greg> Hello all,
>
> It's been awhile since I have posted, which has been a good thing in this instance, as I have been doing quite well. I started off on Paxil 20mg, Remeron 15 mg, and Ativan 0.5 mg. I have managed to wean myself off of the ativan, which I am very proud of myself for, as I have a tendency to become dependant on mood altering drugs.
>
> Here's whats going on now...I developed a sore in my mouth 3 days ago, and thought nothing of it...just figured I went to sleep with something stuck in my teeth. The next day I developed a sore throat, which has lasted 3 days and shows no signs of going away. Then earlier tonite I developed a low grade fever, and then remembered that I read something about reporting "flu like symptoms" to your doctor while you are on Remeron. I certainly feel like I have the flu. The strange thing is that, these side effects began as soon as I started cutting my remeron in half, which was recommeded by someone I met on the net. Its benefits have been great, I no longer feel a NEED for ativan to take the edge off of my anxiety. But now these health concerns are worrying me...I put a call into my doctor tonite and will be seeing him tomorrow, hopefully for a white blood cell count...I feel like I have strept throat or something...it really hurts bad, but I will let you know how it goes tomorrow at the doctors. I read somewhere that serious implications concerning white blood count reduction and Remeron only exsist in something like 0.001% of all patients taking it...but I wanna be sure...if anyone has any other comments or resources for me to read up on this, I would surely appreciate it! Thanks to all...
>
> Rick
Posted by caroline on April 10, 2000, at 15:31:59
In reply to Re: Remeron Side Effects, posted by Greg on April 10, 2000, at 14:44:55
Rick,
I started the earlier thread on re-current sore throats - though what I actually have is recurring white lumps! They don't even hurt too much, but they did set alarm bells ringing and I wanted to find out more. What I have found is that Remeron is a close derivative of a much earlier psych med called Mianserin. This drug was indeed linked (in rare cases) to blood conditions, such as agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia etc (I found this info somewhere on the net, searching under mirtazapine, probably in one of Dr Bob's links - afraid I can't remember exactly where now). Anyway, it's maybe not such a worrying picture afterall because on further reading (David Healy 'The Anti-Depressant Era'), I found that the link had never really been proven and was a bit dubious, to say the least. This cheered me up somewhat.
Good luck with your search and I really hope your flu-like symptoms are at least nearly gone by the time you read this!
Take care
Caroline
Posted by caroline on April 10, 2000, at 15:40:50
In reply to Re: Remeron Side Effects, posted by Greg on April 10, 2000, at 14:44:55
Greg,
Just read your post in response to the remeron side-effects question. Could you possibly answer my question - how helpful you have found this drug? I only ask because I have been on it for a year now and although the sleep is great, it isn't helping my depression much. I'm currently on 30mg and am thinking of raising the dose.
Any information about your experience and/or advice would be very very welcome.
Best Wishes
Caroline
Posted by Rick on April 10, 2000, at 17:08:29
In reply to Re: Remeron Side Effects, posted by caroline on April 10, 2000, at 15:31:59
Thanx for posting. I went to the doctor today and he said that I have white lumps in my throat as well...he took a throat culture and is testing for strept...as well as a blood sample to test for white blood cells, which may be back as soon as tomorrow. I will let you know on both accounts, however, I am already starting to feel better...still a low grade fever, 99.4, but your findings have been encouraging to me...as I read the same about the possible blood conditions, and all the pharmacy documents have in large print, CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. Seems strange to worry people over a link that might not even exsist, huh? But I am hoping it's just a "bug", chances are it is.
Thanks again for posting everyone!
Rick
> Rick,
>
> I started the earlier thread on re-current sore throats - though what I actually have is recurring white lumps! They don't even hurt too much, but they did set alarm bells ringing and I wanted to find out more. What I have found is that Remeron is a close derivative of a much earlier psych med called Mianserin. This drug was indeed linked (in rare cases) to blood conditions, such as agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia etc (I found this info somewhere on the net, searching under mirtazapine, probably in one of Dr Bob's links - afraid I can't remember exactly where now). Anyway, it's maybe not such a worrying picture afterall because on further reading (David Healy 'The Anti-Depressant Era'), I found that the link had never really been proven and was a bit dubious, to say the least. This cheered me up somewhat.
>
> Good luck with your search and I really hope your flu-like symptoms are at least nearly gone by the time you read this!
>
> Take care
>
> Caroline
Posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:27:17
In reply to Re: Remeron Side Effects, posted by Rick on April 10, 2000, at 17:08:29
Greg,
How are you? Did you get your test results back? Are they OK? I really hope they are.
Hope to hear from you soon
Caroline
Posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:34:09
In reply to Re: Question for Greg (Remeron Side effects), posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:27:17
>Rick
>
> How are you? Did you get your test results back? Are they OK? I really hope they are.
>
> Hope to hear from you soon
>
> CarolineP.S. I've already sent out this post addressed to Greg by mistake - and I called you Greg! A thousand apologies. I haven't been sleeping too well recently and my brain has stopped listening to my instructions to it!
Posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:38:54
In reply to Re: Question for Greg (Remeron Side effects), posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:27:17
Greg,
Sorry, I have now re-posted that last mail to Rick (for whom it was intended). I haven't been sleeping too well recently and my head is no longer listening to the instructions I give it - hence, I got your names mixed up! Sorry.
I would like to know, though, whether you have found Remeron beneficial, if you wouldn't mind saying?
Yours with apologies,
Caroline
Posted by Rick E. on April 20, 2000, at 23:14:01
In reply to Re: Question for Rick (Remeron Side effects), posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:34:09
> >Rick
> >
> > How are you? Did you get your test results back? Are they OK? I really hope they are.
> >
> > Hope to hear from you soon
> >
> > Caroline
>
> P.S. I've already sent out this post addressed to Greg by mistake - and I called you Greg! A thousand apologies. I haven't been sleeping too well recently and my brain has stopped listening to my instructions to it!Caroline,
Thanks so much for asking...yes, my blood count came back good, though I don't know what it was. I tested positive for strept throat, which may explain the fever/sore throat I was experiencing, although I am not personally 100% convinced that Remeron did not play a part in my sore throat. I am also not convinced that Remeron is doing much of anything for me except give me a strange "psychotic" feeling that I don't like much. I say this because before I started cutting my 15 mg doses in half, I was experiencing horrible nightmares every night, and they have just about completely subsided now that I put myself on 7.5 mg.
For the strept throat I am taking amoxicillin 500 mg twice daily, and except for the horrible stomach aches, I don't think that it has interfered much with my pmeds. Although, strangely enough, I had the 2nd worst panic attack that I have ever had tonite, after almost a month of practically no anxiety. I had weaned myself off the ativan, and even stopped carrying it with me...and I got caught in a pittsburgh hospital with no pills and panicing like the world was ending. I was there to visit my girlfriend's mother...and 90 miles away from my pills...and of course, nobody there could do anything for me...my girlfriend even asked the nurse if there was any way I could get an ativan, and of course, the answer was no...so I suffered in the waiting room until they were ready to go...I guess I learned my lesson...will start carrying my pills with me everywhere I go...there is nothing worse, I have found out, then knowing that there is a way out of a panic attack, and not being able to get it...ugh, what a night...
Sorry for rambling so much, just feels like I am in good company when I am here at psycho-babble. Thanks for caring!
Rick E. (Since there appears to be another Rick posting here now!)
Posted by CarolAnn on April 21, 2000, at 8:07:25
In reply to Re: Question for Rick (Remeron Side effects), posted by Rick E. on April 20, 2000, at 23:14:01
My brother's name is Rick and his last initial is E. You don't happen to live anywhere near Orlando, FL and have a sister named CarolAnn? I don't really think you are my brother, but thought I'd check it out! Take Care! CarolAnn
Posted by Greg on April 21, 2000, at 11:41:49
In reply to Re: Greg, sorry, posted by caroline on April 20, 2000, at 14:38:54
Caroline,
I take the Remeron (along with Ambien) for sleep, I have real bad insomnia. It never did any good for my depression, just made me real sleepy. My doc says that the more you take the less sleepy it makes you, I find that taking 15mg instead of 30mg helps me sleep a little better, but not longer.Hope this helps,
Greg
> Greg,
>
> Sorry, I have now re-posted that last mail to Rick (for whom it was intended). I haven't been sleeping too well recently and my head is no longer listening to the instructions I give it - hence, I got your names mixed up! Sorry.
>
> I would like to know, though, whether you have found Remeron beneficial, if you wouldn't mind saying?
>
> Yours with apologies,
>
> Caroline
Posted by Rick E. on April 21, 2000, at 15:08:28
In reply to Re: Question for Rick E. (just curious), posted by CarolAnn on April 21, 2000, at 8:07:25
> My brother's name is Rick and his last initial is E. You don't happen to live anywhere near Orlando, FL and have a sister named CarolAnn? I don't really think you are my brother, but thought I'd check it out! Take Care! CarolAnn
CarolAnn,
No, I live in Pennsylvania...but right about now, I could use some Florida weather!!! Take care,
Rick E
Posted by Mr_JAK on January 3, 2001, at 15:18:38
In reply to Remeron Side Effects, posted by Rick on April 10, 2000, at 2:10:51
Some three weeks ago I had a breakdown and was diagnosed with clinical depression. Besides therapy I was taking Zoloft 50mg and Trazadone 50mg. I had to stop taking the zoloft because I began having this bad side effect. It felt like I was itching underneath my skin and it would go over me in waves all day / night long. Also I became rather hyper.
I started taking Remeron 30mg and Trazadone 50mg every night for the past week. When before, things that would enrage me now only irritate me. It seems like my emotions have been somewhat blunted and in effect I can now deal with the emotions more easily now. However here are the side effects of taking the two together.
1. Vivid dreaming (woke up last night kicking an imaginary attacker)
2. I still wake up ALOT tho sleep is more refreshing
3. I get this 'jumping out of my skin' at noises feeling. Its like my hearing is a bit more hyper and it startles me. heh
4. A kind of 'spacey' feeling all day long at work. Nothing to bad but it is noticeable to me.
5. My normal emotions are somewhat blunted meaning that I am more indifferent to things, though I am handling life a bit easier right now.
6. Have an increased appetite (remeron i guess) so anyone taking that can expect to gain a bit more weight
Last night however I became irrational and started crying so then decided to drive 80mph on a country back road on a 45mph speed limit. Luckily I came out ok and calmed down. Medication seems to be working better though.
Have been on medication only 3 weeks so far and that is what I have noticed. I will keep yas updated if anything else happens.
Mr_JAK
This is the end of the thread.
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