Stress Management Archives

Medicational Side Effects

Hi Again Dr. Stoll :-)

Recently I was prescribed two medications which were developed for use by those with epilepsy. One is Gabitril 2mg b.i.d. and the other is Trileptal, once at night, forget the dose right now. The doctor stated that one is for anxiety and the other to 'slow down' my mind. He stated my Fight or Flight reflex is overstimulated and I am suffering from the equivalent of jet lag. He also prescribed Ambien to help me sleep (2mg I think), along with 25mg daily of Zoloft.

I have a medication appointment this coming week but I am curious to hear what you think. The idea of taking this epileptic medication makes me very nervous and uneasy. The one medication was not available at pharmacies here, they had to order it and it also cost a lot more (even with a copay), than a standard anxiety medication such as Paxil. The medications were prescribed due to a problem I was having where I felt as though I were losing my mind. A friend's hubby died and somehow it caused me to begin worrying about my own spouse. But instead of worrying about him dying, it got transformed into him having an affair. Even though I knew he wasn't, I continued to have these fears and felt paranoid about him even leaving our home. As long as he was here with me I was fine. The minute he left, all the fears and doubts drove me nuts. I had fits of anger and crying. My ex-primary physician told me I had reason to doubt. He gave me an addictive drug called Clonipen which I tossed in the trash (the prescription I mean, never filled). I saw a psychiatrist a week later and also my GYN, thinking it could be caused by menopause because I recalled my Mother acting strange when she doesn't take her Estrogen (hysterectomy induced menopause)...I have no family members to ask about these symptoms as both older women had hysterectomies.

My questions then, as there are several, pertain to this problem, diagnosis and medications prescribed.

Are these medications addictive?
Does one have to take them forever?
Does it hurt to take these drugs when I don't have epilepsy?
Does this diagnostic finding seem creditable?
Could these symptoms have been caused by menopausal hormonal changes?

My psychiatrist appears to be a very smart man, I didn't tell him much before he formed an opinion and when I asked him to tell me what he thought, he did so, and then explained it to my husband at my request. He said I could not help having these thoughts. But I am wondering, how is it that we can have thoughts from our own brain without being able to stop them? His explanation made a lot of sense and as soon as I learned I wasn't losing my mind I felt a lot better. Even with this medication I still have had three episodes of doubts but have been able to control them with no more anger or crying spells, no more feeling out of control.

May I please have your opinion and yes, I realize that this is not the same as actually going to a physician in person :) but I like to gather information as much as possible in an effort to help myself. I do not like taking medications, especially ones which may end up being addictive because I hate depending on a drug for my well-being.

Thank you!

Follow Ups:

• Do you mind if I ask you something? Straw 10:55:24 4/15/02 (0)
• Re: Medicational Side Effects (Archive in stress.) Walt Stoll 07:51:56 4/14/02 (0)

In Reply to: Medicational Side Effects posted by MorpheusTwo on April 13, 2002 at 08:48:56:

Hi, Morpheus.

In MY opinion your doc has not bothered to read any of the research (Selye) about chronic stress-effect storage in the hypothalamus for the past 50 years. This basic research is finally driving most of the advances in medicine today.

Start by reading the home page articles about stress and skiled relaxtion. Then progress to reading Dr Pelletier's Book "Mind as Slayer, Mind as Healer".

In the meantime get started on a good program of SR and all of your problems will be resolved within 6-12 months.

See the glossary for any unfamiliar terms and read the testimonials from those who have followed this advice.

In MY opinion, this is a damaging and simplistic approach to your problem!

Walt

In Reply to: Medicational Side Effects posted by MorpheusTwo on April 13, 2002 at 08:48:56:

Sorry to butt in here, please follow Dr. Stoll's advice.

Do you mind if I ask you how many carbonated beverages you drink per day? (diet coke, coke, ddp, sprite, etc.)

Thanks.

Straw