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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by highanxiety on December 10, 2002, at 11:20:44
I am seeing a neurologist next week because of my weird sensory reactions on a high dose remeron.
I want to ask her about beta-blockers and but also about anti-convulsants as an alternative to or to quell the weird sensory hell on remeron im going through now (in the past I had a seizure on nardil (not from eating the wrong food) and under surgery, so I must have a weird way of reacting to meds.. I also get migraines one or two times a month and have heard topomax is good as a prophelactic (sp). Is topomax well tolerated? I was thinking the beta-blocker though could cover both the anxiety and the migraine problem. Any thoughts on the matter, esp. topomax helping anxiety or making it worse, would be greatly appreciated! thanks again.
Posted by djmmm on December 10, 2002, at 12:53:42
In reply to has anybody with anxiety problems taken Topomax, posted by highanxiety on December 10, 2002, at 11:20:44
Topamax is a good drug. I took it for awhile, in combo with Neurontin, and then by itself (for a seizure disorder) along with Antidepressants.
Topamax is one of those meds that you need to start off slow, and build up slow...I did have some "word-finding" problems while taking Top. and at my highest dose (400mg) I experienced significant sexual problems, but FWIW, I dont know many who take that dose. I never noticed any real effects from Topamax (anti-anxiety or otherwise)
I have taken Inderal (a beta-blocker) and continue to take Inderal as needed. I think Beta-blockers are extremely effective anti-anxiety meds, and great for social phobia-- It prevents me from blushing, which for a social phobic, contributes to a lot of anxiety.
What "sensory reactions" are you experiencing?
Posted by highanxiety on December 10, 2002, at 13:31:47
In reply to Re: has anybody with anxiety problems taken Topomax, posted by djmmm on December 10, 2002, at 12:53:42
odors, good or bad, heat, lights, even staring at the computer screen, set off a panic-like reaction.I've even had to leave my own house after cooking something with a strong odor. I also have a tic disorder. When I started noticing this summer how frequent this was, I started writing them down, what would happen. Often the ticcing would start first, before the feelings of panic. Sometimes I would feel like I'm outside of my body or super out-of-it like 5 or so minutes before a whopper. They dont really last that long, but this hot & humid summer, whew, it was like a bbgun going off! So I told my dr. and she ordered a sleep-deprived eeg. So now I'm going to a neurologist next week, and want to know if there is explanation, and ask about alternative medications to treat this and my anxiety. I had these sensory problems before but NOTHING like on 75mg. remeron. I am very very slowly cutting back. But I really need to try something else. It sounds like topomax might be something I could ask about, including a beta-blocker.I dont like starting any drug at full dose anyway, too sensitive.
Posted by djmmm on December 10, 2002, at 17:28:36
In reply to Re: has anybody with anxiety problems taken Topoma, posted by highanxiety on December 10, 2002, at 13:31:47
It sounds like Epilepsy. In fact it sounds like what is called a simple-partial seizure. Depending on what part of the brian the seizure activity occurs, a simple-partial seizure can produce strange emotions, sounds, smells, etc.
Some people are set off by certain emotions (anger), smells, etc. They experience sensations like deja-vu, out of body like experiences, etc.
The fact that you have allready had a seizure while taking a medication is a strong indication that something is going on... I find it strange that you were not immediately put on an antiepileptic after the first seizure.
Your Doc will be able to evaluate your situation with an EEG
Posted by grrovymotion on December 10, 2002, at 21:42:08
In reply to Re: has anybody with anxiety problems taken Topoma, posted by djmmm on December 10, 2002, at 17:28:36
I want to state I too am on remeron, 30 mg. You said in one post you took 75mg- of course you probably meant 7.5, as thats way, way above the therapeutic dose. But I want to tell you my experiences with remeron: For the six months it made sleepy and sluggish. But slowly my energy level picked up, and my panic attacks grew and grew, until I went to see emergency room psychiatrist who stopped it dead cold with an anti-convulsant, neurontin. Topax is more effective for bi-polar people, from what I heard, than neurontin, but it's still a possibility if your problems are anxiety based, as it helped my panick attacks, to my surprise, but unfortunately does nothing for my Gad (generalized anxiety disorder, the cognitive component, worry).
Yes beta-blockers, particularly Inderal, I have a loved one is on it and it works for her quite well, it defitely works on the physical aspects of anxiety. But I would definitely check up on the epilepsy thing. Theres one kind of epilepsy that doesn't neccessarily result in a typical seizure. But truth is, you have not provided the kind of details that makes possible for anyone to say "Oh, you have that!" Thats why I would have blood tests done first, etc. Me, I'm still awaiting for an assessment with a psychiatrist. There are so many disorders out there. But from what I gather your panick symptoms are odd. I mean I suffer from agoraphobia, a fear of enclosed spaces, like planes for example, because theres no escape hatch. For some people its malls. The smells and odors, however could be a fear of something going wrong with your body, like a hyperchrondria. For example my arm went numb once, immediately I feared that it was the medication. Fear, usually come out of a feeling of losing control. I know I'm a timid, definitely not an impulsive person,and losing control over my body fuels panick. I also have ocd. So the control thing is there again. But taking remeron I noticed an improvement in concentration and energy over the long term. The reason is, though it boosts serotinin indirectly, not in ways that increases anxiety in the initial treatment stage like ssri's, still, over the long term it might, because you see it also boosts norepenphrine, usually a stimulating chemical thats been linked to panick attacks, from some articles Ive read. Because in panic theres an adrenaline rush. Though at 7.5, I would think it would be miniscule.
Posted by highanxiety on December 10, 2002, at 22:01:12
In reply to Re: has anybody with anxiety problems taken Topoma, posted by grrovymotion on December 10, 2002, at 21:42:08
two 30 mg pills one half of a 30 every night the past year and a half...
Thanks againor your responses. I am almost looking forward to getting some kind of explanation other than panic when they read my eeg (which was a sleep-deprived one), because "normal" panic doesnt cover it.
This is the end of the thread.
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