Steroid alternative

[timeline]

hi, everyone!

This is going to sound strange.  I've suffered from depression and anxiety for a number of years.  Within the last year, I've noticed an increased feeling of fear and dread.  I wondered I was bipolar, and the mania stage manifested itself by this feeling of terror I couldn't shake.

Well, I was about to consult with my doctor about my increasing panic, and as luck would have it, I picked up some poison ivy.  My doctor prescribed a course of steroids, and the second day into it - no more fear.  No more terror.  No more panic.  I'm on day three and feel great.

Has anyone ever heard of steroids having this effect?  I expected to feel more agitated, and instead I just feel confident and happy.  Is there any chance I might have a testosterone deficiency?  Should I ask my doctor about taking a steroid regularly?

I'm really not sure what to do from here.  I feel like I must be onto something, because I feel so *normal*, but I'm sure it will end when the steroid treatment is finished.

Any ideas?  Thanks so much!

[atricianne]

I have been on steroids for 19 months now.I have a bad horomone problem.The only thing i responded to was prednisone.From what I have been told when you come off steroids you can get the mental problems back.I was told not to miss mine at all.I have lost a lot of weight on it, my blood pressure is down to normal(after30 years).From what the endochronologist told me there are problems with taking it for a long time.I have blood work every 6 months to see if my dose is still working.I do not have addisons or cushing's disease.I secrete very high levels of aldostrone.I might also add I am 62 years old.

[numbercruncher]

http://medicine.wustl.edu/~wumpa/outlook/winter2000/panic.html#start  This is the study that is being done on Neurontin for panic disorder.  I would love to try neurotin, but I don't know if it can be taken with Klonopin. Were you on Klonopin when you started the Neurotin?

[OneScaredBuckeye]

If you stayed on steroids indefinitely it would harm you in other ways anyway.

I had shingles in August and I was on Neurontin (gabapentin) for the nerve pain.  Neurontin has a relatively benign side effect profile.  I noticed my symptoms were much, much better on Neurontin.  My doctor has said that I can stay on it if I want to.

You might want to give it a try, however it take a few weeks to really know.  It's mostly for seizures, but I think it works well for me because it slows down nerve impulses.  I've read of people who suffered from panic for twenty years or more and Neurontin controlled all the panic and terror.  With the benign side effect profile, it's worth a try.

Good luck.

[timeline]

wow.... bad crash after the steroids finished.  I went from happy and confident to thinking people were giving me the stink-eye and my usual alternating depression/terror routine.  the steroids were giving me throat trouble, so I don't think that's going to be an answer.  

*sigh*..... back to the Dr.!

[numbercruncher]

Gaba receptors in the brain. I was just reading about neurosteroids and their role with the gaba receptors. Recent research has indicated that the benzos some of us take, fit into the gaba receptors and make us feel calm.  Progesterone has the same efffect on me.  It is also a neurosteroid that women and men both have.  I have this research very interesting.  

Keep us posted.

nc

[bbaggins]

All I can say is mention what you said to your doctor and he may be able to put you on something similar that would help. You could also have bloodwork done to check for a deficiency. HTH!