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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Best med to augment Prozac
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Best med to augment Prozac

by Mandy16, May 01, 2002 12:00AM
I have had major depression since 1991 with about 1-2 times a year of severe depresssion. I have tried many AD's but always went back to Prozac. I am now on 80mg of Prozac a day but continue with this hopeless, not interested in anything feeling. My dr. just prescribed neurontin and I would like to know if this has been used to augment prozac and what are possible side effects.  I also have a major sleep problem and rely on ambien frequently.  Will the neurontin work on the sleep issues?  Or what other meds would augment prozac?  I tried zyprexa but gained weight  I need something to help me get my energy and enthusiasm for life back.   I am in cognitive therapy also.  One other question--any experience with ambien taking every night for years?  Thank you
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., May 02, 2002 12:00AM
Neurontin is a good choice in your condition and may replace the ambiem.  Together they may make you too sleepy. Although ambiem is safe and quick acting and short lived in the system, there is still an over hang of lethargy during the day, and that may be causing some of the problem you are experiencing.
Member Comments (16)

by Peagee, May 01, 2002 12:00AM
To: Mandy
I guess you paid $19 dollars to post this question?    I hope the answer is worth it :)  In case you would like some free advice by eminent experts on Prozac, here are a few links you might be interested in:



http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~z67psc/Lawsuit.html

http://www.prozactruth.com/taper.htm

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/s312381.htm

http://www.uspharmacist.com/NewLook/DisplayArticle.cfm?item_num=94

http://members.aol.com/atracyphd/aftermat.htm

http://www.hotch.demon.co.uk/wc/sibut.htm   (a slimming SSRI)

http://www.outlookcities.com/psych/ATracyPhD.htm

http://www.outlookcities.com/psych/

http://www.drugawareness.org/Oldsite/tracyarticle.html

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/5111-005.htm#underlying%20problem

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/5100what.htm#981113

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/425ssritable.htm

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4554-01SKB.htm#Dear

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4390EU61.htm#DRUG

http://abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/2020_000825_SSRIwithdrawal_feature.html

http://www.drugawareness.org/Archives/4thQtr_2001/92501Psychiatrist.html

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4200JOGL.htm#Prozac%20Backlash

http://www.breggin.com/paxilcomplaint.html

http://society.guardian.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4316640,00.html

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/5016-112.htm

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4200ahyo.htm#A.H.%20Young

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4342SA98.htm#Dear%20Dr

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4200doan.htm#D.O. Antonuccio

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4200tjmo.htm#T.J.%20Moore

http://www.glenmullen.com/prozacBacklash.html

http://www.a-paxil-lawyer-source.com/html/paxil_general.html

http://www.a-paxil-lawyer-source.com/html/links.html

http://www.a-paxil-lawyer-source.com/html/paxil_media.html

http://www.glenmullen.com/reviews.html#globe

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,504775,00.html

http://www.classactionamerica.com/cases/case.asp?cid=1087

http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/antidepressant_information.htm

http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/zoloft/Australian%20Zoloft%20Ruling.htm

http://www.drugawareness.org/Archives/1stQtr_2001/022401Paxil.html

http://www.pharmapolitics.com/cbcnational.html

http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/August01/Healy.htm

http://www.backtolife.uk.com/news.htm

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/consumer/consumer.htm

http://www.pssg.org/

http://www.evildrugs.com/

http://www.pharmapolitics.com/cbcnational.html

http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/August01/Healy.htm

http://www.backtolife.uk.com/news.htm

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/43800005.htm#The%20real%20meat

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/4200IHIN.htm#I.%20Hindmarch

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2000/ncdeu058.cfm

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2000/ncdeu202.cfm

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2000/ncdeu140.cfm



Just copy and paste a line into your Address browser to get to the sites.



All the best.

Paula

by all names taken, May 01, 2002 12:00AM
To: Peagee
The mental health forum is free posting

family practice and dermatology are not

by Morenorm, May 02, 2002 12:00AM
To: Mandy16
I would strongly advise against checking out the links provided by Peagee. They are (at least the ones I am familiar with) anti-psychotropic medication sites filled with all sorts of propaganda which will only make you feel worse. I have read all the books by Dr. Breggin, heard all the arguments, and have even fought the withdrawal battles. I, and many others like myself, have determined that chemical imbalances ARE REAL and that the medications help. I have concluded that my quality of life is more important than being miserable trying to cope without the antidepressant and anxiolytic which my system require. Yes, there are side effects, but what drugs have no side effects? Life is too short, I take my medication as prescribed and am happy. You do whatever it takes to get to that point. Yes, I may be dependent on my benzodiazepine but what's the big deal. I know people who are dependent on asthma medications to breathe. Find what works for you and keep on living. Take the anti-medication advice with a grain of salt. Best of luck.

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Morenorm
LOL - you don't want someone else to check out the links?  Dr Tracy, Peter Breggin, David Healy, and many other eminent experts are all wrong?  WHY do you feel so strongly that Mandy should not judge for herself?  



As for 'free' - then why does 'Ask a question' on Mental Health page immediately come up with the $19 dollar charge warning???

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Mandy
Mandy - There is something very strange afoot when someone advises you NOT to look into a lot of evidence for yourself.  Peter Breggin is an eminent psychiatrist and has also been an EXPERT witness against GSK.  He is also a RESPECTED author.  There are many other respected, eminent authors and professionals in those links.



And there is no way of knowing what damage is done to neurotransmitters in the brain until AUTOPSY. There is NO real understanding of what mind-altering (psychotropic) drugs actually do, until AUTOPSY as EVEN THE DRUG COMPANIES admit in a roundabout way in their adverts ("MIGHT be caused by....") and their statements.



You go search and make your OWN mind up.  Its YOUR mind that counts here.  Not the minds of those who are prescribing the drug.  All the best :)  Paula



Morenorm - advising anyone not to research, not to seek knowledge, shows at best lack of rationale, at worst an agenda which includes 'closed' information tactics where people are seeking to understand issues, just like those tactics to date shown by GSK.  













by all names taken, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Peagee
I've posted new questions and have not ever seen the $19 charge thing in mental health. Why would it charge some and not others? Maybe administrators can answer.

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: All Names Taken
I haven't gone any further, but in this forum - when I go to ask a question I get this (copy/pasted) page immediately come up:



"Please Read the Following Carefully



A $19* membership fee is required to post a question in this forum (payable online using MasterCard or Visa).



Each membership or renewal entitles the member to:



Post 1 question in the forum



Receive the Med Help International Newsletter.



Receive advance notice of special programs and events.

  

By use of this site you agree to the following Terms and Conditions.



*So as to help as many people as we possibly can, Med Help will accept two "free" questions

per month from people who qualify under the US government 2002 Poverty Guidelines."



Seems odd if different fascias are coming up in different areas, maybe if I pressed the Continue button or something....  but it does say "this forum" in it, so didn't bother.



If it IS  free in one area and not another - that DOES seem strange too....  



Have a nice weekend :)

Paula

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: AllNamesTaken - Re $19 dollars....
Well, I've now been past the warning page on Ask a Question, and clicked on the Coninue Button anyway.  This is what I got...



"Credit Card Information



     Name:

    

Address:

  

City:

    

State:

   Select One AB AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NB NC ND NE NF NH NJ NM NS NV NWT NY OH OK ON OR PA PEI PQ RI SC SD SK TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY YUK ______ Africa Asia Europe South America other

Zip/Postal Code:

    

Country:

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Email Address:

  

(A credit card confirmation will be emailed back to you)

Amount:

$19 (US dollars)

Note: Click on the 'Continue' button below to connect to Verisign Payment Services to securely process your donation.  You will be returned to our  web site and will be allowed to post your question when the transaction is completed. The information above  will  be used only by Med Help International and its agents to process your donation.





(P.S. Your question will be posted in the forum using your nickname of: Peagee)"



I reckon that from THIS END at least, $19 is the price for getting one short answer to a question :}



by all names taken, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Peagee
Do you live in the US? I'm in Alabama

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Morenorm
In amongst those links you dismiss so lightly, you will find the following passage written by one of the brightest researchers in neurology/biochemistry.  She was one of the team who discovered the binding assay for drug receptors (she didn't make SSRIs, just discovered the process).  I am a little surprised that you feel that you have the intellectual superiority  to dismiss her fierce intelligence and her statement as mere 'propoganda'?  And it seem more than a little arrogant that you dismiss Peter Breggin by name and by implication, the other eminent experts also.



Here is the 'propoganda' extract of eminent neuroscientist, Dr Candace Pert - joint discoverer of that binding essay for drug receptors such as SSRIs without whose discovery you would have no psychotropic drug to defend:



" While the Mood Disorders Clinic defends these drugs, the developer of the serotonin binding process which made this whole group of serotonergic medications possible, Dr. Candace Pert, stated in TIME (October. 20), "I AM ALARMED AT THE MONSTER that Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Solomon Snyder and I created when we discovered the simple binding assay for drug receptors 25 years ago. Prozac and other antidepressant serotonin-receptor-active compounds may also cause cardiovascular problems in some susceptible people after long-term use, which has become common practice despite the lack of safety studies."



"The public is being misinformed about the precision of these selective serotonin-uptake inhibitors when the medical profession oversimplifies their action in the brain and ignores the body as if it exists merely to carry the head around! In short, these molecules of emotion regulate every aspect of our physiology. A new paradigm has evolved, with implications that life-style changes such as diet and exercise can offer profound, safe and natural mood elevation."



Can I suggest that you could seek to attain some understanding of what you actually read?  That way you would at least come up with a more persuasive statement.



Have a nice day.





by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: All Names Taken
Hi, nice to meet you :)  I've only ever 'met' one other person from Alabama, she's a lovely person and has become a good friend.  



I'm in Wales, UK.  Got to go offline very soon, its not far from midnight here, I just keep logging on to see if John-John's OK but am giving up in a minute :)  Will be going away for the weekend in the morning, so will maybe speak to you again Monday or Tuesday.  From this end of cyberspace, this site is a bit slow in posting messages - yours wasn't there when I posted the one following it, its hard to keep track when messages suddenly appear from before you post LOL.  



Hope you (and everyone else) has a good weekend :)

'Night

Paula

by Peagee, May 03, 2002 12:00AM
Apologies for 'stretching' the thread LOL...  It the copy/pasted credit information stuff, I should have put breaks in the countries listed but didn't realise it was all joined up together and so would make the board  a bit overwidth.  Sorry, my fault :)



Paula