Posted by kid47 on July 16, 2001, at 12:44:27
In reply to Re: Medication induced depression-need opinions » kid47, posted by Mitch on July 15, 2001, at 11:33:44
Thanx for the responses. My anxiety induced hyper-vigilance dictates I impart a little more info. As standard procedure for a big baby back in 1953(I weighed 10lbs. + & I don't think my mother ever forgave me), my Thymus gland was irradiated in the mistaken belief it could prevent SIDS. 2 mos before my freak out I was having diffuculty swallowing & the feeling of something caught in my throat. This could be attributed to anxiety or the fact I suffer with acid reflux(GERD) but a battery of tests including a sonogram of my thyroid gland & Endoscope found nothing. I have read lots of info on this problem & despite several attempts at tx I still suffer with this. I have a sister who also had the radiation as a new born & she has had immuno related problems off & on most of her life. She has also been treated for depression. I'm not sure where I'm going with this but I have 3 other older siblings who did not have radiation of the Thymus & they are fine. Is this just the ravings of some lunatic (I also believe there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll) or is there some identifiable pathology going on. The docs all just attribute it to insanity. (They may be right!!!) Any thoughts? TIA
kid
> kid47,
>
> That is a fascinating story. I am diagnosed BPII and I am very sensitive to steroids. I wonder if you were taking steroids at the time you were hospitalized for the depression/anxiety? In my case I was having systemic reaction to molds causing hives. Had to go to ER and was given a MAX dose of prednisone for four days-it stopped the hives right away BUT it set off a really nasty mixed depression/agitation episode that took MONTHS to settle down. I doubt if the Benadryl set off much of it-but the steroids definitely. It could have definitely triggered a first bipolar episode for you. That is so odd though for your age at 47. I am 41, but have been plagued with mood problems since I was 12.
> I wonder if you have an underlying medical condition that has not been found out yet that is causing it and you truly aren't BP??
>
> Mitch
>
> > Hello. In August of 1999, at the age of 46, I had what was called a severe immuno-response (allergic reaction I guess) after eating a large amount of catfish. I had never had a problem with fish before but had to be hospitalized after eating this particular catfish. My entire body swelled up & my blood pressure was dangerously high. I was not given the standard treatment of epinepherine because of the high blood pressure, but was instead given Mega amounts of IV Benadryl & some other drug to lower blood pressure. After being released from the hospital I was told to continue oral Benadryl @ 4 times the normal insert suggested dosage!!! I was also started on a steroid pack.(Starting at like 6 pills a day, then reducing dose by 1 or 2 pills a day till I finished the pack in about a week) During that time I had what I now realize was a panic attack. I was told it was probably just a reaction to the meds & to reduce the Benadryl by half. After 10 days I was allowed to stop medication. I never felt quite "right" after this expeience & on Christmas of that same year I was hospitalized with severe depression & anxiety. Later this dx was changed (incorrectly I think)to Bipolar II. Previous to these events I had never had a severe physical or mental illness. I have read that benadryl & steroids can both effect brain chemistry. Any thoughts on this? Possibly a combination of the meds & the trauma of the allergic reaction triggered my mental breakdown? Any input to these theories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry about the length . Thanx In Advance
> >
> > kid
> >
> > PS- I wasn't sure which board to post this on so redirect it if necessary Dr. B
poster:kid47
thread:69997
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010714/msgs/70321.html