Showing posts with label Effexor XR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Effexor XR. Show all posts

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Chapter 46: Meridian Tapping

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The side effects caused by antidepressants are worse than being depressed.
Antidepressants cause suicidal thoughts instead of improving them.
Antidepressants cause over 40,000 deaths a year.
High doses of antidepressants can cause heart problems.
You don't need an antidepressant, just "buck up" or "fight it off."
Some antidepressants are so expensive you won't be able to afford them.
Depression is not a chemical imbalance in the brain.
The low serotonin theory in depression is not based on scientific proof.
Antidepressants cause abnormal brain states, not cure them.
Only about 15 percent of people treated with an antidepressant begin to feel better.

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Have you heard or read the previous statements?  Which statements are true?  For some of them it depends on the person.

Well. . .this is my truth. The first part of 2010 I had tried 15 different drug combinations for depression symptoms, and I was not getting better.  Treatment resistant depression is miserable and I did not want suicide to be the result.  I went to the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California in March of 2010.  My blog is a history of my journey to feeling good again.  I feel good now.

Much more than medication has been involved in my healing, but this is the medication I am on now:  Neurontin, 300 mg, 4 times per day
          Luvox, 50 mg in the morning, 75 mg in the afternoon
          Effexor XR, 131.25 in the morning. (Yes, this dosage requires me to half a 37.5 
          capsule, but this is the dosage where I feel the best.)
  
I feel good.  If you have read my blog you know I want to go to Dr. Mark Hyman's UltraWellness Center in Lennox, MA, but I can not afford it yet. 

The next skill I want to add to my arsenal for fighting depression is a type of energy therapy, Meridian Tapping Techniques.  There are different kinds, but Meridian Tapping Techniques repair blockages or disturbances in the body's energy system created by negative emotions.  Tapping is done on some of the meridian points used in acupuncture. 

I am now reading the book, Discover the Power of Meridian Tapping - A Revolutionary Method for Stress-Free Living, by Patricia Carrington, Ph. D.  I have already watched the DVD, The Tapping Solution - The Revolution Starts Within.  I believe there is power in meridian tapping.  I am still learning, but I have tried it, like it, and feel it is effective.  This is one more skill I want to add to my "escape from depression" library. 

Quote from Nicolas Ortner, Creator/Producer of the Film The Tapping Solution. 

"Tapping can change the way you feel, release pain in your body and help you let go of limiting beliefs, old hurts and traumas in a matter of minutes.  Use it!  A life of joy, happiness and abundance is waiting for you and it may be just a few 'taps' away!"

This video is The Tapping Solution Trailer.  It will help prepare you to watch the DVD.  Watch the DVD if you can - even if you are skeptical.  It could be one more tool that helps you fight depression. 




Get more information about The Tapping Solution DVD and book, Discover the Power of Meridian Tapping at:  http://www.thetappingsolution.com/


This video is a Demo of the Meridian Tapping Points.  It is narrated by Patricia Carrington, Ph. D., author of the book, Discover the Power of Meridian Tapping.  You will learn the 9 basic tapping points.



Below is information on Dr. Bruce Lipton, taken from http://www.brucelipton.com/about-bruce/.   There are also two videos where he is interviewed about The Tapping Solution.  He talks about the scientific reasons why tapping is effective.  If you are interested in a scientific explanation, you will enjoy the videos.

"Dr. Lipton began his scientific career as a cell biologist. He received his Ph. D. Degree from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville before joining the Department of Anatomy at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine in 1973. Dr. Lipton’s research on muscular dystrophy, studies employing cloned human stem cells, focused upon the molecular mechanisms controlling cell behavior. An experimental tissue transplantation technique developed by Dr. Lipton and colleague Dr. Ed Schultz and published in the journal Science was subsequently employed as a novel form of human genetic engineering.

In 1982, Dr. Lipton began examining the principles of quantum physics and how they might be integrated into his understanding of the cell’s information processing systems. He produced breakthrough studies on the cell membrane, which revealed that this outer layer of the cell was an organic homologue of a computer chip, the cell’s equivalent of a brain. His research at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, between 1987 and 1992, revealed that the environment, operating though the membrane, controlled the behavior and physiology of the cell, turning genes on and off. His discoveries, which ran counter to the established scientific view that life is controlled by the genes, presaged one of today’s most important fields of study, the science of epigenetics. Two major scientific publications derived from these studies defined the molecular pathways connecting the mind and body. Many subsequent papers by other researchers have since validated his concepts and ideas." http://www.brucelipton.com/










Do you think this therapy is valid?  Try it and see what you think.  Please leave me a comment on how effective it was for you.  After I become more skilled at tapping and have used it for awhile I am planning on posting a blog chapter about my results.

Dr. Patricia Carrington is a clinical psychologist, published author, and one of the pioneers in the rapidly growing field of Meridian Tapping.  She is the author of, Discover the Power of Meridian Tapping.  Dr. Carrington said the following quote on the inside cover of her book.

"This book teaches you a remarkable new healing technique based on the ancient art of acupuncture combined with modern psychology.  In these pages, you will learn the story of Meridian Tapping, discover how and why it works, see compelling evidence of its effectiveness, and read numerous true stories that show you how to use it for deep-seated anxieties, pain, addictions, traumas, and a host of other distressing conditions."


Monday, April 11, 2011

Chapter 42: FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

I would definitely describe the symptoms of depression as darkness.  To bring the light back in to my body and life has taken all of the following:

Trip to the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California:  a higher level of education to diagnose and treat my specific psychiatric disorders.  The SPECT brain scans provided information to help in prescribing medication that had the highest chance of being effective for me.

Chapter 1: Depression, Amen Clinics, Amino Acids
Chapter 2: Back to School, Father Died


Medications 

Generic Luvox:  50 mg morning 75 mg afternoon
Effexor XR:  112.5 mg morning
Generic Neurontin:  300 mg 4 times per day


Effexor XR 

Chapter 15: Clonazepam The Beast, Effexor XR 
Chapter 16: Effexor XR, Live My Life In The Now 
Chapter 19: Effexor XR, Enlightened Relationships 
Chapter 25: Effexor XR, $260.59 or $160.80 Every Month 
Chapter 35: FEELING SOME RELIEF, Antidepressant Medications 


Getting Off The Drug Clonazepam 

Chapter 12: I Hate Clonazepam, Supplements 
Chapter 15: Clonazepam The Beast, Effexor XR 


Supplements

Chapter 10: Detailed Treatment Plan 
Chapter 12: I Hate Clonazepam, Supplements 
Chapter 32: 6,000 mg Of Fish Oil A Day 


Fish Oil, Omega 3 Fatty Acids 6,000 mg Per Day 

Chapter 32: 6,000 mg Of Fish Oil A Day 


Raised My Vitamin D Level from 20 to 45, then to 72  

Chapter 29: Do you know what your Vitamin D level is?


Depression is a Disease  

Chapter 23: Angry At The Disease 
Chapter 24: Effexor XR, Please "Kick In" Soon
Chapter 31: Don't Stop Believing
Chapter 36: Blood Type & Diet, Healing Depression Symptoms 


Exercise & Endorphins

Chapter 33: Endorphins - Natural Morphine 


Reading the Books, The Power of Now, and A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle.  Changing my thinking and living in the Now.

Chapter 5: A New Earth, Changing The Way I Think 
Chapter 6: Ego, Pain-Body, Live In The Present 
Chapter 14: Normal Day, The Power of Now  
Chapter 16: Effexor XR, Live My Life In The Now  
Chapter 18: "Fulfillment, Peace, Life in all its Fullness." 
Chapter 39: The Constant Chatter In My Mind Is Not Me 
Chapter 40: EGO 
Chapter 41: PAIN-BODY


Enlightened Relationships 

Chapter 19: Effexor XR, Enlightened Relationships  


Reading the Book, The UltraMind Solution, by Mark Hyman, M.D.  This led to food sensitivity testing and diet changes.

Chapter 7: Keys To UltraWellness, Food Sensitivity 
Chapter 12: I Hate Clonazepam, Supplements 
Chapter 21: Healing A "Broken Brain" 


The Link Between Inflammation and Depression 

Chapter 37: Treat INFLAMMATION Ease DEPRESSION?
Chapter 38: Depression and Inflammation ARE Linked 


Mercury Toxicity 

Chapter 26: Is Mercury Toxicity Causing Depression?
Chapter 27: Has the Mercury I Have Been Exposed to Caused Toxicity?




Saturday, January 15, 2011

Chapter 35: FEELING SOME RELIEF! Antidepressant Medications

It has been 9 months since I went to the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California.  It has taken this long to make all of the medication changes recommended by my doctor at the clinic.  I am starting to feel better, FEELING SOME RELIEF!  I have an atypical depression that needed to be treated in layers.  The anxiety symptoms needed to be treated first, and I talk more about this in Chapter 9 of my blog.  There is a detailed treatment plan from the Amen Clinic in Chapter 10.

I am now taking 150 mg of Effexor XR in the morning with breakfast.  I have come down from 300 mg because I was not feeling any improvement of depression symptoms, and side effects were not going away.  The higher dose was causing insomnia and anxiety, flushing several times a day, and constipation.  These are the only side effects I have experienced with Effexor XR, and they are just about gone on 150 mg.



 




 


I am also taking generic Luvox, fluvoxamine.  I take 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg in the afternoon.  I was already on this drug when I went to the Amen Clinic and my brain scans showed it was helping to quiet the activity in the deep limbic system; but it was not completely effective.  Depression symptoms originate in the deep limbic system.  I am using fluvoxamine for depression, and I do not have any side effects strong enough to notice.  I have been on fluvoxamine for over a year, and a pharmacist told me the brand Luvox is no longer made. The extended-release capsule is a new medication.

Information on generic Luvox, fluvoxamine from:  PubMed Health - Fluvoxamine

 

Why is this medication prescribed?

Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over) and social anxiety disorder (extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life). Fluvoxamine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

 

How should this medicine be used?

Fluvoxamine comes as a tablet and an extended-release capsule to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken either once daily at bedtime or twice daily, once in the morning and once at bedtime. The extended-release capsule is usually taken, with or without food , once daily at bedtime. Swallow the extended-release capsules whole; do not crush or chew them.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of fluvoxamine and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every week, depending on how well the medication works for you and the side effects you experience.  It may take several weeks or longer for you to feel the full benefit of fluvoxamine. Continue to take fluvoxamine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking fluvoxamine without talking to your doctor.

If you suddenly stop taking fluvoxamine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability; agitation; dizziness; extreme worry; uneasiness; confusion; headache; tiredness; mood changes; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; or pain, burning, numbness, tingling or 'electric shock' sensations in the hands or feet. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.

 

Other uses for this medicine

*Fluvoxamine is also sometimes used to treat depression. Talk with your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.  This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

What side effects can this medication cause?

Fluvoxamine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:  drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, dry mouth, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, indigestion, gas, change in taste, decreased appetite, weight loss, nervousness, weakness, unsteadiness, and changes in sex drive or ability.


I am taking generic Neurontin, gabapentin, to help calm the activity in the basal ganglia where anxiety begins.  I take a 300 mg capsule four times a day,1,200 mg total.  Neurontin is an anticonvulsant medication the Amen Clinic has found to be effective for anxiety.  I started on this drug as soon as I got home from the clinic to help me get off the drug clonazepam.  I have written quite a bit about clonazepam in Chapter 12 - I Hate Clonazepam and Chapter 15 - Clonazepam The Beast.  (I have been off The Beast for 7 months! =)  My doctor at the clinic chose gabapentin for me because of its low side effect profile, but you will see there are many side effects listed for this drug in the following article.  I did not experience any of these side effects.

Information on generic Neurontin, gabapentin from: PubMed Health - Gabapentin

 

Why is this medication prescribed?

Gabapentin is used to help control certain types of seizures in patients who have epilepsy. Gabapentin is also used to relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN; the burning, stabbing pain or aches that may last for months or years after an attack of shingles). Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. Gabapentin treats seizures by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Gabapentin relieves the pain of PHN by changing the way the body senses pain.

 

How should this medicine be used?

Gabapentin comes as a capsule, a tablet, and an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken with a full glass of water (8 ounces [240 milliliters]) three times a day. Gabapentin may be taken with or without food. Take this medication at evenly spaced times throughout the day and night; do not let more than 12 hours pass between doses.

If your doctor tells you to take one-half of a tablet as part of your dose, carefully split the tablet along the score mark. Use the other half-tablet as part of your next dose. Properly throw away any half-tablets that you have not used within several days of breaking them.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of gabapentin and gradually increase your dose as needed to treat your condition. If you are taking gabapentin to treat PHN, tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during your treatment.

 

Other uses for this medicine

Gabapentin is also sometimes used to relieve the pain of diabetic neuropathy (numbness or tingling due to nerve damage in people who have diabetes), and to treat and prevent hot flashes (sudden strong feelings of heat and sweating) in women who are being treated for breast cancer or who have experienced menopause (''change of life'', the end of monthly menstrual periods). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.  This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
   

What side effects can this medication cause?

Gabapentin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:  drowsiness, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, shaking of a part of your body you cannot control, double or blurred vision, unsteadiness, anxiety, memory problems, strange or unusual thoughts, unwanted eye movements, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, back or joint pain, fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms, ear pain, and red, itchy eyes.

My favorite website to learn about medications is Crazy Meds! The Good, The Bad, and The Funny.  It will tell you about uses, pros and cons, effects, side effects, and stuff your doctor usually won't tell you.  "Crazy Meds Suck Donkey Dong"  If that quote is offensive to you, you may not like this site.

I hope you are FEELING SOME RELIEF from your antidepressant medication, or will be soon!!



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Chapter 32: 6,000mg Of Fish Oil A Day

The groundbreaking omega-3 antidepression diet and brain program, The Omega-3 Connection, by Andrew L. Stoll, M.D. 

This is an excellent book.  Reading it has kept me motivated to be consistent in taking fish oil.  Quoted from the front flap of the book:

"In his groundbreaking research, Stoll found that omega-3 fatty acids, already known for their importance in preventing heart disease, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, play a crucial role in mental health---regulating and enhancing mood, sharpening memory, and even aiding concentration and learning.  And these remarkable substances, so essential to our health, are found abundantly in common fish oils and other sources.

The bad news is that even though omega-3 fatty acids have played a critical role in our evolutionary past, these extraordinary substances have been depleted by our Western diet and lifestyle, and the resulting nutritional imbalance seems to have led to a sharp rise in heart disease and depression.  By contrast, in Japan and other countries where fish consumption is high, both heart disease and depression rates are low."

Andrew L. Stoll, M.D., is Director of the Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital in Boston and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, as well as the recipient of the 1999 Klerman Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression for the studies described in this book.  He is the author of dozens of academic papers.  This is his first book for the general public.


Part of my depression treatment plan from the Amen Clinic is to take 6,000mg of fish oil every day.  I was taking 2,000mg before I went to the clinic.  This is what I learned about omega-3 fatty acids from the Amen Clinic:

"The brain is 60% fat.  All of our 100 billion nerve cells are lined in essential fatty acids.  Low levels of omega three fatty acids have been found in ADD, depression and dementia.  Omega- 3 fatty acids (found in fish and flax seed oil) taken at a dosage of 2,000 to 6,000mg daily can be a beneficial augmentation for mood stabilization.  High quality fish oil is usually best as it has higher levels than flax seed oil to boost the levels of  omega-3 fatty acids in the brain.  We often recommend NeuroEPA for people who have more ADD type issues, and NeurOmega for people who have more mood or overfocused issues.

Research in the last few years has revealed that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood, and may help us maintain a healthy mental status in later years.  Researchers speculate that a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, found in fish oil, may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood in part because DHA is a main component of the synaptic membranes in the brain.  Researchers in another study found that people with a healthy emotional balance and positive mental outlook tended to have higher levels of DHA in their red blood cells.  A Danish team of researchers compared the diets of 5,386 healthy older individuals and found that the more fish in a person's diet, the longer the person was able to maintain a healthy mental status.  Here are sources of good and bad dietary fat.

Good fat sourcesanchovies, avocados, Brazil nuts, canola oil, cashews, flax seed oil, green leafy vegetables, herring, lean meats, olive oil, peanut oil, Pistachio nuts, salmon, sardines, soybean oil, trout, tuna, walnuts, whitefish.

Bad fat sources:  bacon, butter, cheese (regular fat) cream sauces, donuts, fried foods, such as potatoes/onion rings, ice cream, lamb chops, margarine, potato chips (fried), processed foods, steak and whole milk."

In the video below, Dr. Mark Hyman talks about getting healthy omega-3 fatty acids without adding mercury poisoning from eating fish.

Can Healthy Omega 3 Fatty Acids Give You Mercury Poisoning


 


Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Dietary Sources of Essential Fats EPA, DHA, and ALA

Aug 28, 2009 Jennifer Murray

The three most nutritionally beneficial omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Research suggests these omega-3 fatty acids are better absorbed by the body when obtained from food rather than omega-3 supplements. Although fatty fish is known as the best source of omega-3s, there are many other foods that contain these health boosting fatty acids. 

 

Food Sources of EPA and DHA

EPA and DHA omega-3s are mainly found in fish, especially cold-water, high-fat varieties such as:
  • Albacore tuna
  • Sardines
  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Atlantic herring
  • Swordfish
  • Lake trout

 

Sources of Alpha-linolenic Acid 

Since the body cannot make ALA, this fatty acid must be consumed in the diet.  Approximately 35 percent of ALA found in food is converted to EPA and DHA.  Good sources of ALA include:

  • Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil
  • Soybeans and soybean oil
  • Walnuts
  • Brazil nuts
  • Soy nuts
  • Olive oil
  • Hemp seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds

Read more at Suite101: Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Dietary Sources of Essential Fats EPA, DHA and ALA http://www.suite101.com/content/foods-rich-in-omega3-fatty-acids-a143527#ixzz15xxALUjT


I have been taking 6,000mg of fish oil since I returned from the Amen Clinic on March 14, 2010. This is the fish oil I take; it is recommended by Mark Hyman, M.D.

Metagenics, EPA-DHA Extra Strength Enteric Coated: Serving 2 capsules
2/breakfast  2/lunch  2/dinner
EPA 600 mg, DHA 400 mg sardine, anchovy, herring.


I am hoping the fish oil I have been taking will be part of the puzzle of healing the depression and ADHD symptoms I am experiencing.  After I lowered the dose of Effexor XR to 225mg, the depression symptoms increased.  I am now back on 300mg of Effexor XR, and have raised the dose of Luvox up to 50mg in the morning and 50mg in the afternoon.  

Previously, 300mg of Effexor XR was causing insomnia because of too much norepinephrine; and 50mg of Luvox was not giving me enough calming serotonin to create a balance.  I will see if 100mg of Luvox will give me enough serotonin to equalize the two neurotransmitters.  I am so ready for this to happen! =)



Saturday, October 30, 2010

Chapter 30: Don't Stop Believing

This made me feel good this week!

"Steve Perry and 43,000 Friends NEVER 'Stop Believing' in the Giants - NLCS Game 5" 

You may remember the rock band Journey.  They were playing one of their songs, "Don't Stop Believin'", during the Giants National League Championship Series, Game 5 on 10/21/10.  One of the cameras caught Steve Perry, lead singer, standing up in the crowd singing his own song.  Awesome!

"Gotta love Steve Perry leading a packed house @ AT&T Park, San Francisco"

  


Steve Perry and Journey Performing "Don't Stop Believin'" In Concert
(I'm trying to find out where and when.)


This song, first featured on Journey's Escape album, was written by 
Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon; all members of Journey.

Don't Stop Believin'
- Journey
1981

Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

{Refrain}
Strangers, waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

{Refrain}

Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people


Popularity:
The song reached #8 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also peaked at #62 on the UK singles chart. The song also has appeared in a number of film and television series, including The Wedding Singer, Monster, Shrek The Halls, The Comebacks and Scrubs.


Journey

Journey live in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 16, 2008.
Background information
Origin San Francisco, California
Genres Rock, hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, jazz-fusion, AOR
Years active 1973–1987; 1995–present
Labels Columbia, Frontiers, Sanctuary
Associated acts Santana, The Babys, Steve Perry, Hardline, Bad English, The Storm, Vital Information, The Zoo
Website JourneyMusic.com
Members
Neal Schon
Ross Valory
Jonathan Cain
Deen Castronovo
Arnel Pineda



Update on my treatment plan from the Amen Clinic:

After being on 300 mg of Effexor XR for 5 weeks a new side effect started, insomnia.  In the past, the side effects would start 3-4 days after raising the dose.  After a week of not sleeping well I was exhausted.  There had not been any other changes in my life that would have caused lack of sleep, so I lowered the dose of Effexor XR to 262.5 mg.  

I talked to my psychiatrist here at home and got his guidance on this decision.  This is the plan we decided on.  I stayed on 262.5 mg for 4 days and still could not sleep, so I lowered the dose to 225 mg.  Gradually, I started to sleep again and about 4 days later I was sleeping well.  The depression symptoms have not increased, but they have not decreased as I have been hoping and waiting for.

I have not been able to lower the dose of Luvox below 50 mg per day.  If I did, the depression symptoms became worse.  So I have increased the dose of Luvox to 75 mg a day, 25 mg in the morning, 25 mg in the afternoon, and 25 mg in the evening.  I will increase the dose to 100 mg a day if the depression symptoms do not improve.

So now I am taking 300 mg of Neurontin 4 times a day, 225 mg of Effexor XR once in the morning, 75 mg of Luvox 3 times a day, and the supplements and vitamins/minerals I have been taking for many months.  There are some days I feel good, but it does not stay consistent.  I am hoping all of the things I have been doing to heal are going to come together and work, soon!

DON'T STOP BELIEVING




Saturday, October 9, 2010

Chapter 28: Heavy Metals Testing is Extremely Controversial!

This video makes me laugh!  Laughing makes me feel better.

Switzerland's finance minister collapsed into a fit of giggles as he tried to read the unintelligible bureaucratic language in his report while answering a parliamentary question about imports of cured meats. 



Update on my treatment plan from the Amen Clinic:

It has taken seven months to make the needed medication changes in my treatment plan from the Amen Clinic.  I have been on 300 mg of Effexor XR for two weeks and still taking 300 mg of Neurontin 4 times per day.  I have been off the beast clonazepam since May 7, 2010, and still taking supplements.  

I have been talking to my psychiatrist at the Amen Clinic about every 4-6 weeks by phone.  He has recommended I stay on 300 mg of Effexor XR for 8-12 weeks before we decide to increase the dosage.  He has found increasing the dose causes more side effects, without being more effective on the depression symptoms.  

I am having short periods of time I feel a little better.  I am hoping the depression symptoms will improve as this dose of Effexor XR gets into my body.  The thought that it might not help is frightening!


Mercury Toxicity

I thought I wanted to be tested to see if I have mercury poisoning.  The whole issue of metal poisoning and testing is extremely controversial.  There is a blood test panel for heavy metals; it is approximately $105.00.  Medical insurance will pay for this test if it has the code for Alzheimer's or dementia, but usually will not cover this test if it is being done for depression.  This test would probably be recommended by a medical doctor.

Dr. Mark Hyman (The UltraMind Solution) is a Functional Medicine M.D., and his experience has shown that the blood test will be positive if the heavy metal exposure has been recent.  If the exposure has been over a long period of time the metal will accumulate in tissues and bones.  Taking a chelating agent will pull the toxins out of tissue and bone, then a 24-hour urine sample is taken, and the amount of toxins your body excretes will be measured.  This test is usually done by Functional Medicine doctors or doctors trained in detoxification.  Removal of dental mercury or silver fillings should be performed by a biological dentist.  Go to www.iaomt.org to find a biological dentist.

The chelating agents or drugs used to test for and and treat heavy metal toxicity are DMPS and DMSA.  There is a lot of information online about these drugs being toxic themselves.  I have decided I would not feel comfortable using a chelating agent unless I could go to Lenox, Massachusetts and be treated by Dr. Hyman himself or one his colleague's.  I am going to Dr. Hyman's website (www.ultrawellness.com) and see if there is more information about heavy metals testing, or if I can ask a question about it.

The GSTM1 gene is a key gene necessary for the detoxification of mercury and many other 21st Century poisons.  About half of the population in the United States is missing this gene.  Mercury poisoning is more common in people with the apo E4 gene.  About 20% of the population has this gene.  I wonder if it would be better to test for these genes first?  (How much would it cost to have genetic testing?)

I will include some information about heavy metals testing, and some websites if you would like to read more about this subject.  Some people believe the available tests are either inaccurate or will make you sicker than you already are!


Research Article

Diagnostic chelation challenge with DMSA: a biomarker of long-term mercury exposure?

H Frumkin, C C Manning, P L Williams, A Sanders, B B Taylor, M Pierce, L Elon, and V S Hertzberg

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. medhf@sph.emory.edu

Abstract
Chelation challenge testing has been used to assess the body burden of various metals. The best-known example is EDTA challenge in lead-exposed individuals. This study assessed diagnostic chelation challenge with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) as a measure of mercury body burden among mercury-exposed workers. Former employees at a chloralkali plant, for whom detailed exposure histories were available (n = 119), and unexposed controls (n = 101) completed 24-hr urine collections before and after the administration of two doses of DMSA, 10 mg/kg. The urinary response to DMSA was measured as both the absolute change and the relative change in mercury excretion. The average 24-hr mercury excretion was 4.3 microg/24 hr before chelation, and 7.8 microg/24 hr after chelation.

There was no association between past occupational mercury exposure and the urinary excretion of mercury either before or after DMSA administration. There was also no association between urinary mercury excretion and the number of dental amalgam surfaces, in contrast to recent published results. We believe the most likely reason that DMSA chelation challenge failed to reflect past mercury exposure was the elapsed time (several years) since the exposure had ended. These results provide normative values for urinary mercury excretion both before and after DMSA challenge, and suggest that DMSA chelation challenge is not useful as a biomarker of past mercury exposure.

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (77K).


ARTICLES: IAOMT Medicine  (A new test to determine mercury toxicity.)




Urinary Porphyrin Profile: A Quantitative and Qualitative Laboratory
Indicator of Mercury Toxicity   John Wilson, MD

http://www.iaomt.com/articles/category_view.asp?intReleaseID=277&month=6&year=2007&catid=35

Did "Doctor's Data" know of "false positives" from mercury tests? (Doctor's Data Incorporated is a lab that is the subject of litigation.)

 

Topic: Heavy Metal Toxicity and Detoxification  (Good information on heavy metal testing and treatment.)

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=175751934758&topic=12151

 

Heavy Metal Detoxification in the Treatment of ASD (ASD=Autism)

http://www.developmentalspectrums.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142:heavy-metal-detoxification-in-the-treatment-of-asd&catid=71:detoxification&Itemid=238 

 

MERCURY DETOXIFICATION   The Truth About DMPS  (Reports from people who have become very ill after taking DMPS.)

http://www.dmpsbackfire.com/default.shtml

 

Added on Sunday, October 10, 2010

I looked on Dr. Mark Hyman's website for answers to some of my questions on mercury toxicity.  If you are interested go to, www.ultrawellness.com, click on blog, look on the left side at blog topics (after scrolling down for awhile), click on mercury toxicity.  There is so much information the blogs are divided into sections.

I am still considering mercury poisoning testing, but I would only feel comfortable doing it under the supervision of a well qualified Functional Medicine doctor.



Friday, September 17, 2010

Chapter 25: Effexor XR, $260.59 or $160.80 Every Month

If you take the drug Effexor XR and you do not have medical insurance to help pay for the medication, this will be the cost.  These prices are taken from the pharmacy at Costco.com.  

Name                                                                       Quantity (number of capsules)
(manufacturer)                                                            30                60                90

VENLAFAXINE HCL ER 37.5 MG                            $121.69       $234.14       $344.48
CAP (TEVA) Generic Alternative

EFFEXOR XR 37.5 MG                                           $133.40       $261.50       $389.61

VENLAFAXINE HCL ER 75 MG                               $131.98        $258.88      $385.47 
CAP (TEVA) Generic Alternative

EFFEXOR XR 75 MG                                              $145.41       $238.18       $474.00
CAPSULE (WYETH)

VENLAFAXINE HCL ER 150 MG                             $139.86        $274.52       $410.70
CAP (TEVA) Generic Alternative

EFFEXOR XR 150 MG                                             $156.82        $260.59       $525.79
CAPSULE (WYETH)

My medical insurance has a $5,000.00 deductible, does not have a copay, and gives us a small discount on prescription drugs.  To help save money I buy my Effexor XR from Canada Pharmacy at http://www.canadapharmacy.com.  These are the prices of Effexor XR from Canada Pharmacy.

Generic 37.5 mg       90 capsules       $20.00 

Brand 37.5 mg          28 capsules       $45.00
Brand 37.5 mg          84 capsules       $125.00

Generic 75 mg          30 capsules       $45.00
Generic 75 mg          90 capsules       $120.00

Brand 75 mg             28 capsules        $60.00
Brand 75 mg             84 capsules        $147.00

Generic 150 mg        90 capsules       $86.00

Brand 150 mg           28 capsules        $80.00
Brand 150 mg           84 capsules        $225.00

I will be increasing the dose of Effexor XR from 262 mg to 300 mg next Tuesday morning.  I want to figure out the difference in price from Costco Pharmacy and Canada Pharmacy.  My doctor has recommended I stay on 300 mg for 8-12 weeks before we decide to increase the dose again.

Costco:  60 capsules would be a 30 day supply so the cost would be $260.59
60 capsules for $260.59 are $4.34 per pill
90 capsules for $525.79 are $5.84 per pill

Canada Pharmacy:  It would be less expensive to buy 84, 150 mg capsules for $225.00.  Each pill is approximately $2.68 each:  $2.68 X 60=$160.80
28, 150 mg capsules would be $2.86 per pill

So I will save about $100.00 buying Effexor XR from Canada Pharmacy, but it is still expensive to be on a drug that is $160.80 every month.  It will be even more expensive if I need to raise the dose.  When I purchase my medication I miss the years we had a small copay for prescription drugs, but I don't miss the high premiums we paid for medical/pharmacy coverage for our small business.

To get started on Effexor XR I bought 21, 37.5 capsules from a prescription at Walgreen's pharmacy.  Retail price was $111.69, my medical insurance gave me a $22.17 discount, so the cost was $89.52.  Retail price for one pill is $5.32.  The discounted price for one pill is $4.26.

I needed more 37.5 capsules so I bought 40 from the prescription at Walgreen's.  Retail price was $209.29, my medical insurance discount was $41.94, so the final cost was $167.35.  This time retail price for one pill was $5.23, and the discounted price was $4.18.

The following editorial discusses the "indirect" costs of mental disorders.  I thought it was interesting.  If you would like to read the whole article go to:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/6/66 

Editorial 
Assessing the Economic Costs of Serious Mental Illness 
Thomas R. Insel, M.D.

"What do mental disorders cost the nation? The costs of health care are considered one of the greatest challenges in U.S. public policy (2). In 2006, health care costs reached 16% of the nation’s gross domestic product, on a path to reach 20% by 2016 (3). While mental disorders contribute to these costs at an estimated 6.2% of the nation’s spending on health care (4), the full economic costs of mental disorders are not captured by an analysis of health care costs. Unlike other medical disorders, the costs of mental disorders are more "indirect" than "direct." The costs of care (e.g., medication, clinic visits, or hospitalization) are direct costs. Indirect costs are incurred through reduced labor supply, public income support payments, reduced educational attainment, and costs associated with other consequences such as incarceration or homelessness. Another kind of indirect cost results from the high rate of medical complications associated with serious mental illness, leading to high rates of emergency room care, high prevalence of pulmonary disease (persons with serious mental illness smoke 44% of all cigarettes in the United States), and early mortality (a loss of 13 to 32 years) (5). While indirect costs have been challenging to quantify, they are critical for informing public policy. Once we assess the key components of the economic burden of mental disorders, we can have a more informed discussion about what should be invested to prevent and treat these illnesses."

Am J Psychiatry 165:663-665, June 2008
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08030366