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[Jenn0030]

Are there certain medications that I should avoid.  I live in a city that had NO docs with any knowledge of my condition (I went 16 years mis-diagnosed with epilepsy).  I am going in two weeks to my neurologist who is a very pill happy dooctor and I want to make sure that I don't agree to take any medications that are bad for me.  I have NCS and OI.  I did have my previous cardio tell me I had POTS so I should probably avoid any meds that are bad for this condition as well.  

Thanks  Jenn

[Jenn0030]

perfect...that was exactly what I was looking for.  I am going for something else, I don't think that it is related....

[supineallthetime]

Here's a list of things to be cautious with in regard to OI.  Note that some are also common treatments!  It is lifted from this article by Dr. Grubb:

http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/117/21/2814#TBL1189801

Alpha receptor blockers
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
Beta-blockers
Bromocriptine
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Ethanol
Ganglionic blocking agents
Hydralazine
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Nitrates
Opiates
Phenothiazines
Sidenafil citrate
Tricyclic antidepressants

[Heiferly]

Are you seeing the neuro for dysautonomia management or something else (i.e. what types of medications are you anticipating being prescribed and for what purpose)?  As noted by evo and supine above, there are pros and cons to different meds and very few drugs are strictly taboo or ideal for dysautonomia patients.  Many, myself included, take medications specifically to counteract the "cons" of other medications, for which the "pros" are sufficient enough to warrant such a delicate balancing act.  

Sorry to hear you're in a "dead zone" when it comes to dysautonomia specialists.  One of the best things you can do is to learn as much as you can yourself so that you can be an active part of your own treatment team.  You can find a selection of reading material here:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Further-Reading-on-Dysautonomia/show/696?cid=196

[supineallthetime]

Diuretics are to be avoided/minimized.  Mild diuretics like coffee can be worth the compromise for some... and if you stay on top of extra hydration you can counter them to some extent.  If a med helps enough, it might be worth trying to counter it's down side with yet another med.

There are meds known to exacerbate or cause orthostatic intolerance.  Ironically, SSRI's can do this, yet in autonomic dysfunction they often end up helping people a lot!

I'm afraid that there are no hard rules and depending on how much relief you get from the "first line" meds, you may end up trying out meds knowing they can just as well backfire as help.  From most accounts, a lot of the process is trial and error.

[evo123]

Go to the link below it gives a list of all meds used and gives their pros and cons.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Dysautonomia-Treatments/show/171?cid=196