Posted by Chaston on March 19, 2001, at 10:10:01
In reply to Re: Which meds for ruminating thoughts?, posted by suzanne jones on March 19, 2001, at 4:43:42
> > Although taking Zoloft has begun to help me a lot with many aspect of my depression, I am still finding that I have problems with excessive worrying about certain things--not necessarily situational (I am also taking Depakote, and reducing Neurontin, so the latter could be partly responsible).
> > What are "ruminating thoughts," exactly?
> > I'm not compulsive, but in some ways, I may be obsessive, ao I am interested in knowing. In reading posts about using Zyprexa and similar meds, it sounds like some people have linkage between ruminating thoughts and depression as well as anxiety.
> > Anyway, I wish you the best of luck in finding the right combination, Margit.
> >
> > > I was wondering which meds would help with ruminating thoughts. Can't tolerate the SSRIs anymore. Paxil was a great help with that. Would Neurontin help with negative thoughts/ocd? I am currently on Nortriptyline and Xanax - suffering from PAD, depression, and mild OCD. I am terrified of med side effects and that is all I can think about all day. I am going crazy because the Nortrip has made my heart race and also dried out my mouth to the point that my tongue has cracks all over. All I do is imagine the worst, but I can't stop it. I also have acid reflux problems, which were agravated by the SSRIs. So my doc picked Nortrip (has the least anti-cholinergic side effects of the old ADs). Anti-cholinergic side effects make the reflux worse. I really could use some advise or experience somebody could share. I feel like I can't get out of this anymore and this feeling is boxing me in, which makes may inward ruminating thinking even worse. Thanks for any replies. They will be much appriciated.
>
> Dear Margit~I have been recovering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for 3 years now, a major symptom being ruminating thoughts. So horrible to be caught in a thought loop without breaks or an exit. Neurontin is my God-send. I am on large doses but I have no side effects. I don't feel 'doped' up, which is important to me as the mother of alot of small kids yet I can let stuff slide, and have even developed a decent sense of humor. Dark, sick a little, but hey, it makes me laugh and gets me through another day in the trenches. I am on the following:Neurontin-1200mg.3xs/day for a total of 3600mg;Paxil 60mg.for(depression and panic attacks) Clonidine 0.1mg. 3 tabs at bedtime for sleep and decreased nightmares as well as keeping me asleep which is a prob. May take Trazadone 150mg. prn to decrease nightmares and increase sleep time. I'm not crazy about them, only because they cause swelling in my nasal passages and so have to sleep with my mouth open all night. Now all these drugs are 'drying' which is ok..better than suicide..but sleeping with my mouth open and the resulting 'pharygeal cement syndrome'..I'd rather wake up with my swallowing and breathing skills intact. Clonidine by the way, an antihypertensive which slows down the autonomic nervous system wonderfully calms the whole system, slower breathing, calmer reaction to the thoughts, like suddenly I just don't get sucked into them. But the Neurontin for sure has stopped the same thoughts and emotions from firing and refiring in my weary brain. Hope this helps~suzanneFrom my experience, I agree that Neurontin has a lot of potential pluses, and very few minuses, (except its cost), especially when used as an add-on to an AD. It doesn't seem to have difficult to handle or "sneaky" side-effects--its action is short-term, but doesn't seem to have the rebound anxiety effect you might get with benzos when they wear off. Best of luck.
poster:Chaston
thread:56699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010319/msgs/56896.html