Acupuncture to Treat Post-Prozac Side Effects

[Guest guest]

Hi Glenn, sorry to hear that you are having so many problems getting your

health back. You have made the biggest step, taking your health into your own

hands and going 'natural'.

 

If you have had such good results with acupuncturist for the urinating

problem but not with the memory, then perhaps acupuncture is not going to work

in

that area at all. I have known a couple of people who had the procedure that

you were recommended and they both had permanent post op problems that they said

were far worse than the original problem so I know that you have done the

right thing there.

 

I would recommend that you take ginkgo biloba for the memory, anything that

stimulates blood flow to the brain is going to help you. <A

HREF= " http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/31393/31474/312418.html?d=dm\

tICNNews " >

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/31393/31474/312418.html?d=dmtICNNe\

ws</A>

 

If you still feel that you need something to replace the Prozac but find that

St J W is no good for you, have you tried Melissa? (Lemon Balm). <A

HREF= " http://www.algy.com/anxiety/ " >

http://www.algy.com/anxiety/</A>

 

I do hope that this helps a little and I am sure that others will be sending

pretty good info your way.

 

marianne

 

 

> Hi All,

>

> My name's Glenn. I took Prozac and BuSpar (an antianxiety agent)

> for 6 years, but stopped them 2 years ago b/c of their side effects

> (difficulty in eliminating water, severe memory loss). I've been

> off them completely for the last 2 years, but these side effects

> remain. I'm unemployed with just a temp job but no benefits in a

> lousy economy, and I've been in this pickle for the last year.

>

> I saw 2 urologists who said I don't have an enlarged prostate or

> cancer, and ea. recommended a cystoscopy (where they thread a tube

> up you). I'd have to be awake for this procedure, for a variety of

> reasons...so, I've been seeing an acupuncturist.

>

> I've had 5 treatments, and could eliminate fluids easily after the

> first treatment! It really was immediate. My foggy memory has

> begun to clear, but I'm not back to my pre-Prozac self. I've

> adhered to my no dairy, no sugar or coffee (etc.) diet religiously,

> but want results overnight. Has anyone experienced a similar problem

> like this, known someone who has, or could you let me know about how

> long it will take for acupuncture to " cure " me completely? My

> visits are $60 ea., and money is a bit tight, so you can imagine how

> quickly I'd like to see results! :-)

>

> The acupuncturist (a lady, if it matters) doesn't seem to specialize

> in selling herbs, but said I have an imbalance in my Liver and Heart

> functions, and recommended I eat fennel,nutmeg, or cloves with ea.

> meal to help stimulate these organs.

>

> Maybe I'm neglecting some other form of therapy that could work

> together with the acupuncture or alone? Any suggestions?

>

> (For the record, I tried St. John's Wort, Luvox, and Serzone, but

> the Prozac was the best for me. SJW does work, but it wasn't an

> mind-altering as the Prozac. I think that Dr. Glenmullen's

> book " Prozac Backlash " said it all: That Prozac does stimulate the

> serotonin system, but it throws off the other neurotransmitters to

> give facial tics, sexual side effects, etc. The drug companies

> don't seem concerned by this, and go out of their way to cover it

> up, believe it or not.)

>

> Any suggestions or words of wisdom you could impart? Any

> information you can provide would be great. Many thanks.

>

>

>

> Glenn

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Glenn, I found this article in my archives that was from JoAnn and thought

perhaps it would be helpful for you.

 

Marianne

 

Before You decide to take Any Anti-Depressant...

Part 1: Depression? - The importance of adequate nutrition!

 

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

 

Why use a harmful prescription drug if you can battle depression

with the right food?

 

Since the earliest civilisations, the link between mental health,

emotional states and diet, food and drink have been recognised, yet

this is seldom taken into consideration by conventional medical

practitioners today as prescriptions for psychotropic drugs are

often issued as a first line of treatment, without taking into

account the wide range of alternative options that are available and

often more appropriate.

 

Normal everyday life can cause ups and downs bringing about feelings

which include happiness/sadness, euphoria/despondency and

laughing/weeping. Sometimes one can understand and relate to why

they are feeling this way. For example, it is normal for one to feel

sad following a bereavement, just as it is normal for one to feel

euphoric when they have passed an exam that they worked hard for or

been offered a job which they really wanted. However, people's

experiences of depression vary from person to person and it is often

very difficult for an outsider who has not been there to understand

exactly what that person is going through for depression is more

than simply feeling down; it can incapacitate sufferers to such a

degree that they feel totally isolated, imprisoned and immobilised.

It can affect anyone, at any time, of any age - nobody is immune.

 

Around 25% of the population may experience some form of depression

at some point in their lives and statistics show that women are

slightly more susceptible than men. There are many contributing

factors to depression which include lifestyle, behaviour and

relationships.

 

Depression frequently follows some life shattering event such as

bereavement, serious illness in the family, redundancy, divorce,

bankruptcy or other financial difficulties and in many situations

all that is needed is good support. Symptoms include changes in

appetite leading to weight gain or loss; changes in sleeping habits,

ie. insomnia or constant sleeping; feelings of being out of control;

hyperactivity or total lethargy; loss of interest and sex drive;

reduced energy and fatigue or listlessness; feelings of

worthlessness or guilt, lack of concentration and finally, thoughts

of death or suicide. Depression is likely to be diagnosed if any

five of these symptoms are experienced and last for a period of one

month.

 

Poor diet can have a disastrous effect on memory, co-ordination,

concentration, powers of reason, behaviour and mood although this is

very rarely recognised or looked into by medical professionals in

the UK.

 

Mental distress is linked to a deficiency of iron, magnesium

and B-complex vitamins.

 

Zinc deficiency can also be a major factor in causing depression and

leads to loss of appetite, subsequent poor

nutrition, inevitable chronic fatigue and finally, depression. Many

people who go to their doctor complaining of fatigue are often

wrongly assumed to be suffering from depression and prescribed anti-

depressant drugs which doctors in the UK often use as a first line

of treatment.

 

Unfortunately, many of these drugs can interfere with zinc

absorption. Low levels of zinc in the body can not only lead to

a loss of appetite and fatigue (which can be exacerbated by anti-

depressants) but can also be a factor in the cause of depression

itself.

 

It is therefore important to get adequate amounts of zinc in

your diet in order to prevent a downward spiral from forming.

 

Sources of zinc include: shellfish, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, soya

beans, wheat products (especially wheatgerm and wheat bran), sesame

seeds, cocoa, sunflower seeds, sweetcorn, rice, wholemeal bread,

oats, cheeses (especially cheddar and edam), legumes (especially

aduki beans), peas, barley, nuts (especially almonds), peanuts and

peanut butter, wholegrain flours, buckwheat and brown rice.

 

The majority of women and many children have diets that are

deficient in iron, and zinc levels appear to be falling as the

consumption of convenience foods rises.

 

Consequently, it is hardly surprising that depression is becoming

more common. Excessive

consumption of caffeine which can be found in tea, coffee, fizzy

drinks or chocolate and large amounts of bran interferes with

mineral absorption and can therefore trigger the onset of

depression.

 

Overstimulation of the central nervous system by

caffeine can cause extreme mood swings.

 

A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates and sugars is a common

factor in depressive illness and alcohol can also have a severe

depressant effect. Vitamin deficiencies may have specific effects on

mental states. These are detailed below:

 

Vitamin C: generalised depression, extreme tiredness, outbursts of

hysterical behaviour.

 

Vitamin C can be found in oranges, kiwi fruits, broccoli,

blackcurrants and potatoes, red pepper, parsley,

green leafy vegetables (especially kale), green pepper, tomato

puree, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage (especially savoy),

strawberries, watercress, spinach, grapefruit, melon (all types),

peas, raspberries, spring onions, swede and turnip, tomatoes.

 

Vitamin B12: general mental deterioration; psychotic behaviour,

depression, loss of memory and paranoia. Vitamin B12 can be found in

organic cheeses (especially cheddar, parmesan and edam), fortified

yeast extract such as marmite and organic milk.

 

Vitamin B1 (thiamine): depression, irritability, loss of memory,

loss of concentration and exhaustion. Sources of Vitamin B1 include

organic  breakfast cereals, peas, sunflower seeds, millet, wheat

germ, sesame

seeds, organic soy beans, nuts (especially brazil, cashew nuts,

almonds and

walnuts), legumes (especially split peas, blackeye beans, kidney

beans, lentils, chick peas), whole grains (especially brown rice and

oatmeal), whole wheat, rye and potatoes.

 

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): Psychosis, mental deterioration and

depression. Sources of Vitamin B6 include wheat products (especially

wheatgerm and oatmeal), nuts (especially walnuts), legumes,

(especially organic soy beans, lentils, butter beans, haricot

beans),

barley, bananas, peanuts and peanut butter, avocados, buckwheat,

wheat and rye, raisins and brussels sprouts.

 

Folic Acid: fatigue, irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness and

confusion. Folic Acid can be found in dried baker's yeast, fortified

yeast extract such as marmite, blackeye beans, kidney beans, endive,

broccoli, legumes (especially chickpeas), soy beans, vegetables

(especially spinach, brussels sprouts, spring greens, okra,

cabbage), almonds, beetroot, parsnips, walnuts, oatmeal, brown rice.

 

Vitamin B3 (niacin; niacinamide): loss of memory, mood swings,

depression and anxiety. Sources of Vitamin B3 include fortified

yeast extract (such as marmite), brewer's yeast, peanuts and peanut

butter, sesame seeds, brown rice, wholemeal flour, wheatgerm,

wholemeal spaghetti, wholemeal bread, barley, legumes (especially

split peas).

 

Biotin: severe lethargy, depression and constant sleeping. Biotin

can be found in organic eggs.

 

Pantothenic Acid: insomnia, fatigue, depression and psychosis.

Sources include broad beans, peanuts and peanut butter, legumes

(especially split peas and organic soy beans), buckwheat, mushrooms,

nuts

(especially cashews and hazelnuts), avocados, broccoli and oatmeal.

 

Some commonly prescribed drugs can lead to depression too, examples

of which include antibiotics; barbiturates; amphetamines;

corticosteroids and the long term use of steroids, pain killers;

ulcer drugs; drugs used in the treatment of arthritis; drugs used to

treat slipped discs; anticonvulsants; beta-blockers; medicines used

for the treatment of high blood pressure, drugs used to treat heart

conditions, especially if they contain resperine; drugs used to

treat cardiac arrhythmias; the contraceptive pill; antiparkinsonian

drugs; psychotropic drugs and drugs used to treat alcoholism.

Although many people claim that they smoke to relieve tension,

nicotine is another chemical which combined with raised blood levels

of carbon monoxide, can have a detrimental effect on mood and brain

function.

 

 

Improved nutrition can be used to relieve depression and enhance

overall mental health, mental ability and performance. Key nutrients

can be obtained from a variety of sources which include eating a

wide variety of vegetables, fruit and salads, plenty of wholegrain

organic cereals, all types of beans, pasta and brown rice.

 

Grapes, millet,wheatgerm, brewer's yeast, oats, buckwheat,

molasses,  berries, figs (fresh or dried), unsalted seeds and nuts,

shellfish, nutmeg, ginger, basil, and rosemary all have a key role

to play in eating to beat depression.

 

..

In order to function properly, the brain needs a constant regular

supply of natural sugar but when the level plunges from hyper (too

much) to hypo (too little), the effects on mood and behaviour can be

devastating.

 

Consequently, eating too many chocolates can cause one's mood to

plummet as the high sugar content plays havoc with the blood-sugar

levels. Chocolate contains the chemical

theobromine which triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. 

 

Of all the potential triggers, attention to nutrition is the easiest

and most basic first step to recovery. Ideally, investigating the

nutritional aspect of one's diet should be the first step that is

taken by any medical practitioner when someone presents with such

conditions but in practice, this is very rarely the case.

 

Keeping

blood-sugar levels on an even keel is a primary requirement in order

to avoid hypoglycaemia, as well as eating the vitamin B-rich foods

previously mentioned.

 

An adequate supply of good calories, healthy

proteins and all the essential minerals are all essential in

maintaining good mental health. However, it can sometimes be very

difficult to persuade someone who is feeling extremely depressed to

eat or to dissuade them from binging on high-fat, high-sugar foods

of poor nutritional quality.

 

Frequent small meals that are

appealing, attractive and nourishing for example home made soups,

freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices and plenty of good

wholegrain cereals could help to form the ideal basic menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/27/03 5:41:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, apchat

writes:

 

 

> (For the record, I tried St. John's Wort, Luvox, and Serzone, but

> the Prozac was the best for me. SJW does work, but it wasn't an

> mind-altering as the Prozac. I think that Dr. Glenmullen's

> book " Prozac Backlash " said it all: That Prozac does stimulate the

> serotonin system, but it throws off the other neurotransmitters to

> give facial tics, sexual side effects, etc. The drug companies

> don't seem concerned by this, and go out of their way to cover it

> up, believe it or not.)

>

> Any suggestions or words of wisdom you could impart? Any

> information you can provide would be great. Many thanks.

>

 

SAM-e, and/or 5-htp plus omega2 fatty acids found in fish oil two grams of

EPA daily.

 

And, re your liver...... milk thistle, dandelion and raw beets are also

helpful.

 

Do some checking for yourself in the archives.

 

Hope this helps

 

MJH

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> Maybe I'm neglecting some other form of therapy that could work

> together with the acupuncture or alone? Any suggestions?

 

Hello Glenn,

 

I think that your liver is compromised and the following suggestions should

help it to recover. Your regime of no dairy, tea or coffee is a good one but I

would suggest that you go much further.

 

The liver is the main organ of metabolism and as such is largely responsible for

our health and energy. It is the largest internal organ and the most complex, as

it is the organ that filters our blood (more than a litre a minute!) of toxins

and breaks them down into substances that can be excreted via urine or faeces.

It manufactures heparin which helps the blood to clot, bile (bile helps with the

absorption and digestion of fats and excretion of toxic substances) and creates

chemical changes in proteins, fats and carbohydrates that enables them to be

used by the body. These are a very small number of the functions that this

remarkable organ performs.

 

Because of high fat/low fibre diets; exposure to toxic chemicals; overindulgence

in alcohol and tobacco and other factors, the incidence of 'sluggish liver' and

gallbladder problems is very high in the more affluent nations of the world. A

few of the innumerable symptoms of a sluggish or otherwise malfunctioning liver

are: fatigue, allergic reactions, digestive problems, a feeling of 'being under

the weather' and PMS.

 

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is one of the most potent treatments for the

liver. It is used to supply important nutrients and to treat cirrhosis, chronic

hepatitis, gallbladder inflammation and other problems of the liver. 'It has the

ability to block the effect and reduce the damage caused by liver toxins

(alcohol and drugs' [Mowrey, D.B. (1986) The Scientific Validation of Herbal

Medicine, Lehi, UT:Cormorant Books.]

 

Internal treatment

 

Eat lots of fresh vegetables, steamed or raw, grains, pulses, nuts, fresh fruit

(particularly pineapple).

 

Drink fresh juices such as beetroot, carrot or lemon juice, all of which

increase the flow of bile (that helps with excretion of waste products).

 

Cut down on red meat (avoid fatty meat). Eat fish and free range chicken.

 

Avoid all fried foods, fast foods and foods containing refined sugars.

 

Restrict fat consumption to 1 teaspoon butter and 1 tablespoon (20ml)

monounsaturated olive oil a day (this includes cooking, dressings, sauces and

the 'hidden' fats in biscuits, cakes and sweets.).

 

Drink 8-10 glasses of filtered or bottled water daily, cut down on tea, avoid

coffee and alcohol.

 

Daily supplements

 

1,000mg vitamin C with bioflavonoids twice daily

1 vitamin B complex

1,000mg choline

Dandelion coffee 3 times daily

Milk thistle as recommended on container

 

Cheers,

 

Nerys

My latest books at:

www.neryspurchon.com

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/27/03 10:47:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

ravenna writes:

 

 

> Hi,

>

> Yes, raw beets are one of the best remedies for the liver.

>

> Glen...if you could find someone to make this following tonic/cleanser for

> you

> I'm sure that you would benefit from it.

> It's made up of tinctures and you take 40-50 drops in 2 tablespoons water 2 x

> daily

>

> TONIC & BLOOD CLEANSER TINCTURE

> 2 parts burdock root

> 2 parts red clover

> 2 parts yarrow

> 2 parts astragalus root or 1 part extract

> 1 part mallow root

> 1 part dandelion root

> 1 part dandelion leaf

> 1 part turmeric

>

> Nerys

> My latest books at:

> www.neryspurchon.com

>

>

 

Nerys

Interesting your inclusion of tumeric here.... and, if you make your own

tinctures, wich parts of the yarrow do you use-- flowers, seeds, leaves,

roots of, I assum, A millefolium.

thanks

 

MJH

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> And, re your liver...... milk thistle, dandelion and raw beets are also

> helpful.> MJH

 

Hi,

 

Yes, raw beets are one of the best remedies for the liver.

 

Glen...if you could find someone to make this following tonic/cleanser for you

I'm sure that you would benefit from it.

It's made up of tinctures and you take 40-50 drops in 2 tablespoons water 2 x

daily

 

TONIC & BLOOD CLEANSER TINCTURE

2 parts burdock root

2 parts red clover

2 parts yarrow

2 parts astragalus root or 1 part extract

1 part mallow root

1 part dandelion root

1 part dandelion leaf

1 part turmeric

 

Nerys

My latest books at:

www.neryspurchon.com