Hi Eric,
I take 20 mg of Paxil daily. I found out that complex carbohydrates are
used by the body to build serotonin so I eat a lot of them. I began to
exercise regularly and that helps the medicine to work better. I also
found an extract from an African plant called 5-HTP (hydroxytrophan) that,
according to the encyclopedia of natural medicine (or some name like that,
I forget) is more effective than Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft. I was speaking
to a wholestic pharmacist who recommeded it and went on to say that the
5-HTP turned into melotonin when taken at night to help one sleep and into
serotonin during the day to help with the moods. My RN didn't object to
the 5-HTP but wouldn't replace the Paxil. Given the fact that I don't have
PD, these steps may or may not work for you. I do know that I'm sleeping
much better and am not dealing with the very opressive lows any more.
Does this help?
Take care,
Jeff
At 11:40 AM 7/6/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Jeff:
>As another sufferer to clinical depression I want to thank you for sharing
>your succeses with us. What are you taking for meds? I take Paxil and
>Zypexia once a day and have noticed an improvement after about 3 weeks on
>the medications. Since I also have PD it is sometimes difficult for me to
>sort out the symptons for both diseases.
>-- Eric
>
>----------
>>From: Jeff Jones <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
>>Subject: CD Follow up
>>Date: Mon, Jul 6, 1998, 9:21 AM
>>
>
>>Good day List Members,
>>
>> A group of time ago I shared the fact that my not-so-finely tuned
body had
>>embraced Clinical Depression (CD). A number of you wrote to me to share
>>thoughts. This is a follow up to share where my own wonderful self is
today.
>>
>> The anti-depressant is now working 100% so the chemical imbalance
that is
>>CD has now been corrected. I am currently dealing with normal mood swings
>>rather than the intensely negative moods brought on by the lack of
>>serotonin in my body. I am slowly replacing self-destructive paradigms
>>closely held for many years. These are paradigms that affected my self
>>worth and my ability to socialize with others.
>>
>> In the midst of the climb out of the morass of CD, I started
looking at
>>me. This was something that I had not done in the past because I didn't
>>like what I saw. I knew that something had to change and the only thing I
>>could possibly change was me so I looked. I began to discover things
>>inherently me and, amazingly enough, began to like what I saw. I spent
>>much time dwelling on these things because the mind can only think of one
>>thing at a time and if I filled it with things good and pure, things
>>negative and destructive had no place to rest. This was a difficult
>>process but I knew that the expected result was worth the effort.
>>
>> Today, I am no longer dealing with a chemical imbalance. Early
on, I
>>began exercising and now wear a size 34 pant rather than the size 38 I was
>>wearing when this wonderfulness started. My wind is much better and, when
>>riding my bicycle, I have no problem riding 50 to 60 miles. Those with
>>whom I regularly ride can no longer keep up with me. BTW, I'm 52 years
>>old. Pretty cool. I started yoga classes and am really liking the fact
>>that I have greater flexibility and breathe better. For years I have
>>wanted to learn to play the fiddle (blue grass) so I've begun to take
>>violin lessons and am doing well.
>>
>> At work, folks were very worried and have been great. They are more
>>concerned with my health than with doing lotsa stuff that can wait. I work
>>for EDS (Electronic Data Systems) and am part of a geographically dispersed
>>team tasked with developing project management and systems engineering
>>processes for folks across 30 to 50 different solution centers across the
>>U.S. and Canada. I have to get my technical fix at home developing windows
>>applications with Visual Basic.
>>
>> I am busy and doing all the right things. I am doing well enough
that I
>>don't need to see my therapist regularly any longer. The bottom line is
>>that CD is eminently treatable and anyone suspecting that they are
>>suffering from this very insidious disease can get help. If any of you
>>suspect that you are embracing this wonderfulness, please let me know and I
>>can send you more information to help you assess the possibility. This
>>holds for loved ones (or those you don't like very much for that matter
>>:-}) ) as well.
>>
>>Take care,
>>Jeff Jones
>>[log in to unmask]
>
